Additional requirements for applicants submitting NikahNamas and Afghan marriage certificates

25 October 2011

The UK Border Agency has announced that from 24 October onwards all the applicants who are submitting a marriage certificate as part of the supporting documents in any visa category, entry clearance officer will need to see the evidence that the marriage is valid.

In short, the following evidence must be provided:

-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 IqrarNama (Afghan equivalent of the NikahNama).

-For Afghan marriages that took place before 2005, the Pakistan NikahNama is valid for Afghan nationals if it is attested by Pakistan MFA and Afghan Consulate.

-For marriages of Afghan nationals that took place after 2005, the Pakistan NikahNama is not valid for Afghan nationals. Afghan Embassy and Consulate-issued marriage books must be attested by both the MFA Afghanistan and the Afghan Consulate for them to be valid in Pakistan.

If you are submitting non-registered or non-endorsed documents your application may be refused.

Contact Definitive Immigration Services for advice and assistance on 0870 240 7825 or via  info@definitive-is.com