What is the Proof of Nikah or Online Marriage in Pakistan?
The proof of Nikah or online marriage in Pakistan is the registered document of your marriage, commonly known as the manual Nikah Namaor the computerized marriage certificate. These documents can be used as proof of your Nikah or online marriage in Pakistan.
When you conduct your marriage or court marriage in Pakistan, the bride and the groom sign the government-issued Nikah Nama, and the licensed marriage registrar registers it. Once the manual Nikah Nama is registered, a computerized marriage certificate is issued. Therefore, both the manual Nikah Nama and the computerized marriage certificate serve as proof of your Nikah or online marriage in Pakistan.
Manual Nikah Nama
The manual Nikah Nama is the official form in the Urdu language on which both the bride and the groom sign and affix their thumb impressions at the time of the Nikah ceremony. Once this Nikah Nama is registered through a lawyer or a licensed marriage registrar in Pakistan, it can be used as proof of your marriage.
Computerized Marriage Certificate
Once the manual Nikah Nama is registered, the government issues a computerized marriage certificate based on the registered Nikah Nama. This computerized marriage certificate in Pakistan can be used as proof of your marriage in the country.
Oral Nikah is Not a Legal Proof
If someone performs only an oral Nikah or merely conducts the religious ceremony, they may be regarded as husband and wife religiously. However, the non-registration of the marriage does not make them officially recognized as husband and wife. Therefore, in order to prove your marriage, you need a registered document, commonly known as the manual Nikah Nama or the computerized marriage certificate.
NADRA ID Card
Once the computerized marriage certificate is issued, the wife may change her identity card to reflect her husband’s name instead of her father’s name. After the identity card is updated, the husband’s name appears on the card, which may also be used as proof of marriage.
MOFA Attestation of Marriage Certificate
Once the computerized marriage certificate is issued in Pakistan, it can be used as proof of marriage within the country. However, if you intend to use the marriage certificate in another country, it will require attestation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Many countries accept only those marriage certificates that have been attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan.
Legalization of Marriage Certificate from Pakistan
Some countries do not only require MOFA attestation but also require the legalization of the marriage certificate from Pakistan as proof of a registered marriage.
Embassy Attestation
Some countries require the marriage certificate to be attested by their own embassy or consulate in Pakistan before accepting it as proof of marriage. Embassy attestation is obtained after the attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Apostille of Marriage Certificate
Some countries accept a marriage certificate as proof only when it has been apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Pakistan, the apostille is completed by affixing an apostille sticker to the marriage certificate through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Who Conducts the Online Marriage?
An online marriage is conducted through a family lawyer who is acquainted with the family laws of Pakistan as well as the laws of other countries. After the registration of the online marriage, a computerized marriage certificate is issued, which serves as proof of your Nikah or online marriage in Pakistan.
Common Mistake Regarding Proof of Nikah
It is a common misconception that after merely performing the religious ceremony or an oral Nikah, a couple is officially married. Religiously, an oral Nikah may be accepted, but legally it is not accepted as proof of marriage.
Legal Advice
It is always legally advisable to consult a family lawyer when it comes to obtaining proof of Nikah or online marriage in Pakistan.
Our Services
Our law firm deals with family law matters, especially the registration of marriages in Pakistan. We also deal with other family law matters, including:
- Divorce process in Pakistan
- Khula process in Pakistan
- Child custody cases in Pakistan
- Recovery of dowry
- Maintenance of children in Pakistan