The British Embassy can assist in the process of announcing a marriage here in Kathmandu. However, we cannot become involved in the process of the ceremony, religious or otherwise.

Marriage in Nepal is regulated by the Registration of Marriages Act of 1971. Foreigners wishing to marry in Nepal are subject to the same laws as Nepalese citizens.

Marriages may be solemnised according to the customs and usages of the individual’s religion, caste, community or family, provided that those customs do not violate any of the law’s provisions. The minimum legal age for marriage in Nepal is 21 for men and 18 for women. Men and women under these ages can only marry with the consent of their parents, providing the man is at least 18 and the woman is at least 16 years of age.

To ensure the legality of a religious marriage, the couple should register the marriage. It is also possible to have a civil ceremony. In both cases the civil authorities will issue a marriage certificate.

In order to start the process, the individuals concerned need to have been resident in the Kathmandu Consular District for at least twenty-one days. At this point, you may apply to Consular Section of the Embassy to give Notice of Marriage. This involves an oath to be made confirming that the persons intending to marry are legally free and of age to do so. The Notice of Marriage will then be displayed in the Consular Section waiting room for twenty-one days, after which time, if no impediment has been shown to exist, we will issue a letter of No Impediment and an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry. On issue of these documents, the couple has three months within which to marry.

On receipt, the documents supplied by the Embassy plus the documents listed below, should be taken to the Chief District Officers (CDO) office. After a period of approximately 15 days, the couple will need to return to the CDO to sign the marriage register following which; the CDO will issue a marriage certificate written in both Nepali and English.

The Embassy fees for supplying the two documents are set in pound sterling and converted into Nepalese Rupees at the current Consular Rate of Exchange.

Notice of Marriage NR 8,555.00
Letter of No Impediment NR 8,555.00

Documents required from the applicants to begin the above process are:

• Decree Absolute if married previously/or death certificate of previous spouse
  
• Original Passport at the time of application
  
• Photocopy of the data page from passport
  
• Photocopy of entry visa into Nepal

The arrangements for any religious ceremony required will have to be made by the couple intending marriage. But, it should be noted that on its own, a religious Ceremony does not impart legality to a ‘marriage’, a certificate from the CDO will be required. The whole process, from first applying, assuming that twenty-one days have already been spent in the Kathmandu Consular district, to receiving the Certificate of Marriage from the CDO should take approximately five weeks.

The Address for the CDO Office is
CDO Office
Babar Mahal
Kathmandu
Tel: 009 771 4262828, 4262478
Fax: 009 771 4267619

British Consular Officers can register the birth of a child born in Nepal to British Nationals who themselves born, registered or naturalised in the UK on payment of the necessary registration fee (see separate page for current fees) . We can also register the death of British National in Nepal. Details of the documentation required and application forms for birth and death registration are given below. Rules may differ for the first time applicant.

The documents required for Birth Registration:

• Completed the form
  
• The child’s municipal or hospital Birth certificate
  
• Both parent’s passports Parents marriage certificate. If the marriage took place in Nepal, the couple should have registered their marriage with the Chief District Office (CDO). Please see advice for Marriage in Nepal for more details.
  
• Divorce certificate and if appropriate evidence of the termination of any previous marriage of either parent;
  
• The father’s long birth certificate of if born outside the United Kingdom, documentary evidence of his claim to British Nationality, e.g. naturalisation or registration certificate. 
  
• The mother’s long birth certificate or if born outside the United Kingdom, documentary evidence of her claim to British Nationality 
  
• Fee in case if you are calling personally at the consular section counter.