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Guidance for applicants from Afghanistan

If you are submitting a marriage certificate as part of your supporting documents in any category please refer to the guidance below on validity of Afghan marriages:

Afghan marriages in Afghanistan

For a marriage which took place in Afghanistan to be valid the marriage must be registered with the Afghan court. Evidence of this should be by a court stamp on the Iqrar Nama (Afghan equivalent of the Nikah Nama). Without this registration the marriage is not valid.

Afghan marriages in Pakistan

The Muslim Family Ordinance (1961) states that for a Muslim marriage to be valid in Pakistan at least one of the parties must be Pakistani, however the provisions are extended to non-Pakistani Muslims and the marriage must be registered with the Union Council in the district where the marriage took place.

The Afghan Embassy and Consulate issued marriage books do not validate a marriage under Pakistani law and therefore the marriage is not recognised as having been properly registered.

If the marriage has not been appropriately validated by either the Afghan court or the Union Council then the application will not be accepted by the Visa Application Centre.