Updated for 2026 · For Tamil Nadu residents. Confirm current steps on the official TN Registration Department portal.
- Apply on the TN Registration Department / TNREGINET portal.
- Fee is ₹100 under the Hindu Marriage Act.
- Needs proof of marriage, age, identity, address + photos and witnesses.
- Includes in-person verification at the Sub-Registrar Office.
- The certificate is legal proof for visa, name change, bank, insurance.
Why register your marriage
A marriage certificate is the official, legal proof that a marriage took place. In Tamil Nadu it's needed for a wide range of purposes: a spouse's visa or passport, changing a surname, opening joint bank accounts, nominating a spouse in insurance and PF, claiming spousal benefits, and property matters. Even where a ceremony was elaborate, without registration you have no easy legal proof — so registering soon after the wedding is worth the small effort.
Which law you register under
| Act | For |
|---|---|
| Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 | Couples where both are Hindu, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh |
| Special Marriage Act, 1954 | Inter-faith marriages or civil marriages (with a notice period) |
Most couples in Tamil Nadu register under the Hindu Marriage Act, where the fee is ₹100. The Special Marriage Act route involves a notice and waiting period and is used for inter-faith or civil marriages.
Documents you'll need
- Proof of marriage — wedding invitation or temple/marriage receipt; a priest's certificate if married in a place of worship
- Age proof — birth certificate, school certificate or passport of both
- Identity proof — Aadhaar, voter ID, driving licence or passport
- Address proof — ration card, utility bill or Aadhaar
- Passport-size photographs of the couple
- Witnesses with their ID proof
How to register — step by step
- On the TN Registration Department / TNREGINET portal, click user registration and create a login (username, password, security question, mobile OTP).
- Log in and select marriage registration.
- Fill the form with the husband, wife and witness details and the marriage details.
- Upload the documents above and pay the fee; save the acknowledgement.
- Attend the Sub-Registrar Office with your witnesses for verification, after which the certificate is issued.
Common issues
- Name mismatches across documents — keep names consistent with Aadhaar.
- Missing priest's certificate for a temple wedding — arrange it in advance.
- Witnesses unavailable on the verification date — confirm their availability first.
The Special Marriage Act route
If yours is an inter-faith or civil marriage, you register under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 rather than the Hindu Marriage Act. The key difference is a notice period: the couple gives written notice to the Marriage Officer, it's published for 30 days to allow objections, and if none stand, the marriage is solemnised and registered before witnesses. It's a longer process, so plan ahead — but it's the correct legal route where the Hindu Marriage Act doesn't apply.
Where you'll actually use the certificate
It's easy to treat registration as a formality, but the certificate is genuinely needed later:
- Spouse visa / passport endorsement and immigration.
- Name / surname change after marriage on Aadhaar, PAN and bank records.
- Joint bank accounts, insurance nomination and PF nomination of a spouse.
- Claiming spousal benefits, family pension and, in some cases, property matters.
- Proof of relationship for government schemes and legal purposes.
Because these come up unpredictably — sometimes years later — registering soon after the wedding and keeping a couple of certified copies safe is simply the sensible thing to do.
Related Tamil Nadu guides
Planning a wedding or a scheme claim? See Finance Guided's guide on the Tamil Nadu marriage assistance scheme (₹25,000–₹50,000 + gold). You may also need a birth certificate for age proof and an income certificate.
Frequently asked questions
How do I register a marriage in TN?
On the TN Registration Department portal, fill the form, upload documents, pay the fee, and verify at the Sub-Registrar with witnesses.
What's the fee?
₹100 under the Hindu Marriage Act (different for the Special Marriage Act).
What documents are needed?
Proof of marriage, age, identity and address, photos, and witnesses.
Is registration mandatory?
Strongly advised — it's the legal proof needed for visa, name change, bank and insurance.
About ComplyKraft. Built by Dinesh Kumar S in Chennai — B.Sc. Mathematics, M.Sc. IT. Plain-language guides and free tools for Tamil Nadu.
Disclaimer: Informational guide, updated 2026. Marriage-registration rules, fees and documents are set by the Government of Tamil Nadu and can change — confirm on the official Registration Department portal.