Validity of Foreign Marriage Overseas marriages by Canadian citizens are recognised as legal and valid within Canada provided: The marriage is legal under the law of the country where it took place The marriage would have been legal if it had taken place in Canada. Certificate of Freedom to Marry Most countries require a couple applying for a marriage license or for permission to marry to produce a certificate stating that they are free to marry, often called a Certificate of Non-Impediment. The Canadian system does not have an official form of a certificate of non-impediment; however you can apply for a "Statement In-Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad". Applications must be accompanied by: A certified copy of your birth certificate. If you were not born in Canada, certified true copies of your Canadian citizenship card and Record of Landing form. A statutory declaration of your present marital status and the name and citizenship of your future spouse. A certified copy of a divorce certificate or divorce judgment if divorced or a death certificate of a previous spouse if widowed. Note: There are a number of countries who will not accept this document and require instead that you get a letter or statement at the Canadian Embassy, in the country where you will marry, to the effect that there are no impediments. Registering a Foreign Marriage You do not need to register a marriage which took place overseas when you return to Canada; in fact it is not possible to do so. The foreign marriage certificate will be accepted within Canada for all legal purposes, just as a domestic one would. Useful Contacts Authentication and Service of Documents Section (JLAC) Departments of Foreign Affairs and International Trade 125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A

No, documents that are not in english has to be translated in english example Divorce or Deceased and certified as a true translation of the original document by the court/legal authority in your home country, note you do need to translate your passport

The ceremony will be performed in English or in South African Afrikaans, there is a team of translators to help with other languages

We offer two basic ceremonies – a Christian Ceremony, and a Civil Ceremony. The outline of both ceremonies is more or less as follows (we can adjust this slightly according to your preferences): Welcome Legal Questions A few short comments by the Marriage Officer Vows Exchange of Rings (and Traditional African Wedding Gifts, if required.) Pronouncement of Marriage Signing of the Marriage Register. The Christian ceremony includes readings from the Bible, some prayers, and the few words of counsel that we offer are Biblically based rather than simply from the perspective of a Marriage Counsellor

Please do not email and personal information, you will need to provide your documents prior to the Wedding

Marriage Officer is a Ordaned Minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa?

Most international guests enjoy the inclusion of some Traditional African Wedding Gifts in their ceremony. In Africa these are the equivalent of the ‘European’ wedding ring. We use these in addition to the wedding ring. We provide the gifts and include them in the ceremony in an interesting and enjoyable way. This provides great photographic opportunities and you are also able to take home African mementos of your wedding to show to family and friends who were unable to attend the ceremony. (All Lodges now seem to include this as standard in their wedding package.)

With outdoor ceremonies the Law requires that we sign the register in a permanent building (not in a gazebo, tent or temporary structure). This means that after the ceremony we return to a Lodge, Chapel or private home with the witnesses to sign the register.

International visitors need to bring Passports, plus a photo copy of the passports, you would require a passport photo of both of you preferrably in colour, which gets fixed into the Marriage register. A thumb print is also taken for identity and submitted into the registry, a sworn affidavit will be brought by the Marriage Officer to be signed and completed by both parties prior the Ceremony

Once the ceremony is over we immediately issue you with a Marriage Certificate as proof of your marriage. The Marriage Certificate which South African Marriage Officers issue is hand written and is known as the Abridged (or “Shortened”) Marriage Certificate – this is the only Marriage Certificate that we are able to issue – and it is accepted by other African countries, Great Britain, most of the United States and various other countries. Some countries, however need an Unabridged (or “Full” / “Complete”) Marriage Certificate, which can only be obtained from one of our Home Affairs Offices or a South African Embassy. In addition to this, some countries, particularly in Europe, require an Apostille Certificate, which can only be obtained from a Supreme Court in South Africa or a South African Embassy. If desired, I have an Agent in Cape Town who is able to assist with obtaining this extra documentation for a small fee. Processing takes about 3 to 4 months. Please find out from your own country’s Marriage Registry Office exactly what documents they require before you come to South Africa.

You will need two witnesses to the ceremony who have South African Identity Numbers and who will sign the Marriage Register with you. Please decide in advance who these people will be. They will need to have their SA Identity Documents with them. Lodges are able to provide witnesses for International couples.

Same-sex Unions are conducted by Marriage Officers who have undertaken an additional Course and Exam for this purpose. The respective Church Denominations of my team of Marriage Officers do not permit to conduct Same Sex Unions. Some Marriage Officers from the Johannesburg / Pretoria area have apparently completed these extra requirements and can be contacted through Home Affairs offices in those areas

You will need to bring a copy of afinal divorce order, certified (Legally Authenticated) photocopy for the Marriage Officer or your deceased spouses death certificate legally authenticated photocopy

Canadian and US passport holders do require a passport when traveling to South Africa. The passport must be valid up to 6 months prior to your return ticket and must have at least 2 completely blank pages. A temporary visitors permit will be issued upon arrival, therefore a visa is not required.

It is recommended that travelers to South Africa visit a Travel Clinic who can provide up to date information

Yes, you should never travel to any destination without medical insurance. You always want to ensure that you are prepared for any emergency that you might encounter.

Yes, credit cards & bank cards are excepted in most areas of South Africa. There are ATM’s in most major towns and cities

South African Rand (ZAR)

All the major roads and highways in South Africa are in great condition. Renting a car in South Africa is very easy, however be aware that driving in South Africa is on the left-hand side of the road and general speed limit is 120km on highways, 100km rural roads and 60km in built up areas (usually). Any valid driver’s license is accepted in South Africa, provided it has a photograph and signature of the holder in English

Keep in mind that the seasons in South Africa are opposite to the seasons in North America, although their winters will never be as cold as North America. Summer (mid-October to mid-February) – hot, sunny weather with Autumn (mid-February to April) – very little rain falls, warm but not too hot, getting colder as the season progresses Winter (May to July) –dry, sunny crisp days and cold nights Spring (August to mid-October)

The best time to travel will depend on what you want to do: Animal Watching (safari), the best time to travel is late spring (September & October) Whale Watching – mid June to the end of October Diving & Surfing – outside the summer (April – September) River Rafting – Cape Town at the end of winter and KwaZulu-Natal in the summer Hiking – Spring and Autumn Beaches – mid summer Plant life – April – September

Yes, in order to make long distance calls you must dial the country code, along with area code, then the telephone number. It is recommended that you ask your hotel operator for assistance as some of the hotels will not allow you to dial long distance numbers from the hotel room. Example if you were calling Toronto Canada you would dial 00+1+416+7 digit telephone number

English is widely spoken throughout the country however, South Africa does have 11 official languages – Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Xhosa, Zulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Swati, Tshivenda & Xitsonga