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How to Register a Church Marriage in Sri Lanka

Verified · 1 Nov 2026In person only

Christian couples can have their marriage solemnized in their own place of worship under the general marriage law. Give the Notice of Marriage (form B100) to the Marriage Registrar of your division, then get the Registrar's certificate (form B103) from the Registrar of the Additional District Registrar. Give it to the minister of the church, who solemnizes the marriage. Then take the minister's certificate (form B112) to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat where the church is, to get your legal marriage certificate. Registration costs Rs. 900.

At a glance

Fee
Rs. 120
See all 3 fees
Time
At least 14 days after giving notice
Where
Marriage Registrar of the division where you live (notice)
+ 2 more places
Online?
In person only
Form
B100
+ 1 more

Do you need this?

When you need it

  • You are getting married in a church or other Christian place of worship and want the marriage legally registered.

Who can apply

  • Christian couples can have their marriage solemnized in their own place of worship. Church marriages are registered under the general Marriage Registration Ordinance; see the marriage registration guide.
  • Both of you must have completed 18 years of age at your last birthday.
  • You must not be within the prohibited degrees of relationship, and neither of you can have a valid existing marriage.
  • If either of you is divorced, a copy of the decree absolute must be handed in. If you married under Sri Lankan general law and were divorced by a court abroad, you must file a case in a competent court in Sri Lanka and get a decree absolute for the divorce.
  • Residence: both of you lived in the Registrar's division (or each in your own division) for the 10 days before giving notice. If one of you was abroad, the other must have lived in Sri Lanka for those 10 days; if both were abroad, one of you must have lived here for 4 days.
  • If one of you is a foreign national, you also need the Registrar General's licence. See the guide on marrying a foreign national.

Documents you need

Documents to bring

0 of 7 ready

  • Certified by the Marriage Registrar of the division, a Justice of the Peace, a Notary Public or a minister of religion.

  • Used to check your names and dates of birth.

  • Given to the minister of the church.

  • Issued by the minister after the marriage, and handed to the Additional District Registrar.

Only if…

Process at a glance

  1. Step 1
    Fill in the Notice of Marriage

    Complete the Notice of Marriage (form B100) (opens in a new tab) in duplicate and have it certified.

  2. Step 2
    Give notice of marriage

    Hand the notice to the Marriage Registrar of the division where you have lived for the last 10 days. The fee is Rs. 120, paid in cash.

  3. Step 3
    Get the Registrar's certificate

    Get the Registrar's certificate (form B103 (opens in a new tab)) from the Registrar of the Additional District Registrar. The fee is Rs. 120, paid in cash.

  4. Step 4
    Marry in church

    Give the Registrar's certificate to the minister of the church where the marriage is to take place. The minister solemnizes the marriage and issues the minister's certificate (form B112).

  5. Step 5
    Register the marriage

    Take the minister's certificate (B112) to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat where the church is. You get your legal marriage certificate. The registration fee is Rs. 900, paid in cash.

  6. Step 6
    Need more copies later?

    To get certified copies afterwards, use the marriage certificate copy guide (form B121).

  7. You're done

Step by step

  1. Step 01

    Fill in the Notice of Marriage

    Complete the Notice of Marriage (form B100) (opens in a new tab) in duplicate and have it certified.

    • The Marriage Registrar of the division
    • A Justice of the Peace
    • A Notary Public
    • A minister of religion

  2. Step 02

    Give notice of marriage

    Hand the notice to the Marriage Registrar of the division where you have lived for the last 10 days. The fee is Rs. 120, paid in cash. Hand in the following documents.

    • The Notice of Marriage, written in duplicate and certified
    • A copy of each person's birth certificate, to check names and dates of birth
    • Each person's NIC
    • If either of you is divorced, a copy of the decree absolute
    • If you married under Sri Lankan general law and were divorced by a court abroad, a decree absolute from a competent court in Sri Lanka

  3. Step 03

    Get the Registrar's certificate

    Get the Registrar's certificate (form B103 (opens in a new tab)) from the Registrar of the Additional District Registrar. The fee is Rs. 120, paid in cash.

  4. Step 04

    Marry in church

    Give the Registrar's certificate to the minister of the church where the marriage is to take place. The minister solemnizes the marriage and issues the minister's certificate (form B112).

  5. Step 05

    Register the marriage

    Take the minister's certificate (B112) to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat where the church is. You get your legal marriage certificate. The registration fee is Rs. 900, paid in cash.

  6. Step 06

    Need more copies later?

    To get certified copies afterwards, use the marriage certificate copy guide (form B121).

Fees

Fees

Notice of Marriage
Rs. 120

Paid in cash.

Registrar's certificate on a Notice of Marriage
Rs. 120

Paid in cash.

Registration of a marriage solemnized at a registered place of worship
Rs. 900

Paid in cash to the District Registrar.

Where to go

Forms

More detail

Contact the Registrar General's Department

  • Hotline: 1930
  • General lines: +94 11 2889488 / +94 11 2889489 / +94 11 2072017 / +94 11 2072018
  • Marriage Registrars: 10 am to 2 pm on weekdays and Saturdays

Common problems

One of us was divorced abroad after marrying under Sri Lankan general law.
A foreign divorce is not enough. You must file a case in a competent court in Sri Lanka and get a decree absolute for the divorce before marrying again.
The church has married us but we have no marriage certificate.
Take the minister's certificate (B112) to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat where the church is. The legal marriage certificate is issued there.
One of us is a foreign national.
Get the Registrar General's licence before giving notice. See the guide on marrying a foreign national.

FAQ

How much does a church marriage registration cost?
Rs. 120 for the notice, Rs. 120 for the Registrar's certificate and Rs. 900 to register the marriage, all paid in cash.
Who issues the legal marriage certificate for a church marriage?
The Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat where the church is, after you hand in the minister's certificate (B112).
Do I need a decree absolute if I am divorced?
Yes. A copy of the decree absolute must be submitted. If you married under Sri Lankan general law and divorced abroad, you also need a decree absolute from a Sri Lankan court.

Official sources

Checked against these official pages1 Nov 2026

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HowToSriLanka.lk is an independent information platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Sri Lanka.

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