FAQ
MARRIAGE
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For you to change your password, you must be logged in.
There are officially three legally recognized marriage OPTIONS in Nigeria. However, the implications of each marriage type vary from the other significantly.
1. Customary Law Marriage which is intrinsically polygamous in nature
2. Islamic Marriage (Nikka) which also has a polygamous nature
3. Statutory Marriage which is monogamous
Your marriage type could affect succession rights. there is no record by government on Customary and Islamic marriages.
Attestation of marital status is a process of verifying and validating the marital status of an individual/couple
The law governing statutory marriage in Nigeria is the Marriage Act – CAP M6 L.F.N. 2004.
Some very important questions that would help our understanding on statutory marriage in
nigeria are;
1. Marriage Registry
2. Licenced Place Of Worship
Visit the Ministry of Interior Citizenship and Business Department portal at www.ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng to upload the documents online or send the listed documents to the Registrar of the marriage Registry close to you.
1. The Registrar, Federal Marriage Registry, Kingsway Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State
2. The Registrar, Federal Marriage Registry, 28 Borno Street, Area 10, Garki, Abuja
3. The Registrar, Federal Marriage Registry, 11A Gapiona Road, Off Benoni Road, GRA, Benin City, Edo State
4. The Registrar, Federal Marriage Registry, 12 Bishop S.I. Nwaogu Crescent, Adjacent To Owerri
Sports Club, New Owerri, Owerri-Imo State
5. The Registrar, Federal Marriage Registry, 40B Railway Close, D/Line, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State
6. The Registrar, Federal Marriage Registry, 31 TY Danjuman Street, Hotoro GRA, Off Shehu Kazaure
Rd, Kano, Kano State
You are adviced to use NIPOST, FEDEX or DHL to send your documents to the Registrar.
1. Form A (Notice of Marriage)
2. Form C (Licence to Marry or Registrar’s Certificate)
3. Form E (Marriage Licence)
Bachelor/spinster is a man/woman that has never been married.
Single with child/children is a man/woman that has child/children and is not yet married.
Same wife/same husband is a man/woman who is already married to his/her wife/husband under the customary law
No. The licensing of a Place of Worship is only done by the Minister of Interior after submission of the documents for licensing by the Place of Worship.
Divorcee is a man/woman that is no longer married.
Widow/widower is a woman/man whose partner is late (dead).
It’s an offence/perjury under the Marriage Act – CAP M6 F.L.N. 2004 and Matrimonial Causes Act. It could lead to legal action taken against the offender.
At the Federal Marriage Registry, weddings are usually conducted from Wednesdays to Saturdays with exception of public holidays and Sundays.
Please note that special applications are considered on request for Mondays and Tuesdays.
Marriage will not be conducted.
Not possible, because they will be issuing the same certificates if it is a licensed Place of Worship. If it is not at a licensed Place of Worship, the marriage certificate will not be recognized before the law.
No. It is expected that you are not living together before marriage.
No. You cannot get married to someone else, except the previous marriage has been dissolved. According to the Marriage ACT, a person is to be legally married to only one spouse at a time.
If you lose your original marriage certificate, you apply for a certified true copy of it from the marriage registry where the marriage took place.
No, you will not be issued a new marriage certificate. You will only be issued what is called Certified True Copy (CTC).
Only the High Court has the jurisdiction.
No, the Marriage Registry/public Place of Worship cannot dissolve a statutory marriage.
You will need to apply for the Certified True Copy Of Document (CTC) on the eCitiBiz.com portal.
1.Go to marriage on the portal menu
2. Select ‘Apply For Certified True Copy Of Document’.
3. After filling the form and making the necessary payment,
A Certified True Copy Of Document (CTC) would be issued if you meet all requirements.
No, she cannot until the first marriage is finally dissolved by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The bride, the groom, the bride’s father, the groom’s father and marriage registrar/officiating minister.
They serve as witnesses to the statutory marriage.
The Matrimonial Causes Act is the applicable law for the dissolution of any statutory marriage.
You can check here on our ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng portal to view the location and address of all Federal Marriage Registries.
Check here on our ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng portal to get the contact details for each marriage Registry.
Check here for all requirements regarding marriage applications.
Applying for marriage is very affordable. Check here to view the fee details for marriage applications.
Marriage cannot be consummated the same day but after 21 days for Ordinary Marriage, or 7 days for Special Marriage.
Confirmation can be made at the Federal Marriage Registry.
No, it is not.
In accordance with the Marriage Act, a person is underage if he/she is under 21 years of age.
Any matured relatives. Father/Mother as first witness.
No, they are not the marriage certificate but the property of the Registry and are kept at the Registry.
No. Please check your status online. Once your application is approved or rejected, a message will be sent to your registered phone number and email address.
Applicants are advised to ensure that the information provided is correct before submitting their application. If you submitted incorrect information, contact us at Info@ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng or call +234 (0) 9 462 1505 if need be.
In case you do not receive any confirmation email from us, Please check your SPAM or JUNK mail folder before contacting us. If you still don’t get the confirmation email, Please contact us at info@ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng or Call +234 (0) 908 589 9991 or +234 (0) 908 589 9992.
Payment of the processing fee does not guarantee approval of the service you are applying for. Unfortunately, we are not able to refund as we have clearly stated in our Terms & Conditions.
Under normal circumstance, processing of marriage application can take up to 7days or 21 days, depending on the type of marriage you are applying for. 7days for Special Marriage and 21days for Ordinary Marriage. Therefore, it is advisable to apply early.
Couples are advised to keep their marriage certificates in a SCROLL.
This is a facility available for third party agencies who are seeking to verify the authenticity of the documents provided by the couples, to enable them liaise with the appropriate authorities to verify the provided documents.
Yes, couples who do not want to take their marriage oath at the marriage Registry can inform the marriage Registrar to conduct their marriage oath outside the Registry.
Go to the eCitiBiz Portal, under the marriage menu, provide the following details;
1) The new marriage venue
2) Marriage date
3) The reason for change of venue.
You can get the certified true copy of documents by submitting your application online on the portal under the marriage menu and filling all the necessary fields.
You can celebrate your marriage at any recognized and licensed place of worship. Your Place of Worship must first be registered and licensed by the Federal Ministry of Interior.
A church marriage will translate to statutory marriage when conditions for statutory marriages are fulfilled. A licensed church is authorized to conduct a statutory marriage (after all due diligence).
No. You cannot conduct marriage by proxy or in absentia.
Yes! You can reapply for re-issue of your marriage certificate under the marriage menu on the portal.
No, It Is only marriages conducted at the Federal Marriage Registries that are recognized and legal.
You can apply for Recertification of your marriage certificate through the eCitiBiz portal.
PLACE OF WORSHIP
You need to register with a valid email address and a valid phone number.
Access the ‘Forgot Your Password’ page by clicking on the link on the login screen and follow the prompts.
For you to change your password, you must be logged in.
These are place of worship that have fulfilled conditions for registration by the Federal Ministry of Interior. Documents to submit before a Place of Worship is licensed includes:
1. A letter from the head or parent of the Place of Worship
2. A copy of the constitution of the Place of Worship
3. The pictures of internal and external structure
4. CAC document
5. 2 passport photograph of the Pastor/Imam or Place of Worship representative
6. Pastor’s ordination certificate
7. Pastor’s ID Card, either national ID, drivers licence or international passport
8. Right of ownership/Certificate of occupancy.
9. Payment of fees.
Yes. As long as they are licensed with the Federal Ministry of Interior.
This is a permit that enables licenced Places of Worship to conduct statutory marriage.
Yes. They can conduct marriages but such marriages are not recognized by law.
1. Each licensed Place of Worship is authorized to conduct statutory marriages (after all due diligence)
2. Each registered Place of Worship is entitled to books of marriage certificates which it must issue as evidence of statutory marriage between respective couples.
3. Each licensed Place of Worship is regarded as an extension of government as regards the conduct of marriage.
4. Books of marriage certificates shall be kept by recognized ministers of the registered Place of Worship, under lock and key.
5. Each couple wedding in a licensed Place of Worship shall be issued a properly completed statutory federal government marriage certificate as evidence of their marriage.
6. Only one (1) marriage certificate shall be issued to a couple for their marriage.
7. Where a couple has been joined in matrimony at the Federal Marriage Registries, they are validly joined before God and the law. They cannot be joined again in another Place of Worship or issued another marriage certificate. They may however present themselves for celebration and blessing of the marriage.
8. A copy of the marriage certificate shall be issued to the couple.
9. A copy of the marriage certificate shall be retained by the licenced Place of Worship.
10. A copy of the marriage certificate shall be returned by the licenced Place of Worship (not by the couple) to the Federal Marriage Registry where the oath took place not later than ......
It is illegal. The marriage would be considered null and void, and no court proceeding can be carried out if a case arises concerning the marriage. Such a marriage would not be recognized under the Law of the Federation.
Yes. Registration of couples online can be done anywhere and by anyone.
You can contact us for further questions on the ‘Contact Us’ page at www.ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng
Yes. After first registration, subsequently this is done on a yearly basis with the renewal fee of ?30,000 to show or prove that the Place of Worship is still in existence.
No. Please check your status online. Once your application is approved or rejected, a message will be sent to your registered phone number and email address.
Applicants are advised to ensure that the information provided is correct before submitting their application. If you submitted incorrect information, contact us at Info@ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng or call +234 (0) 908 5899991 or +234 (0) 908 589 9992 if need be.
In case you do not receive any confirmation email from us, Please check your SPAM or JUNK mail folder before contacting us. If you still don’t get the confirmation email, Please contact us at info@ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng or Call +234 (0) 908 589 9991 or +234 (0) 908 589 9992.
Payment of the processing fee does not guarantee approval of the service you are applying for. Unfortunately, we are not able to refund as we have clearly stated in our Terms & Conditions.
Under normal circumstance, processing can take up to 30 days though it can be earlier. Therefore, it is advisable to apply early.
CITIZENSHIP
You need to register with a valid email address and a valid phone number.
Access the ‘Forgot Your Password’ page by clicking on the link on the login screen and follow the prompts.
For you to change your password, you must be logged in.
There are three (3) ways for foreigners to obtain Nigerian citizenship
A. Naturalization
- An individual must be at least 18 years of age and has resided in Nigeria for at least 15 years.
- Is of good character
- Plans to remain in Nigeria
- Is familiar with Nigerian language and customs
- Has a viable means of support
B. Registration
- This applies to any woman who is or has been married to a citizen of Nigeria; or
- every person of full age and capacity born outside Nigeria any of whose grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria.
C. Confirmation
- This applies to every person born in Nigeria after the date of independence either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria; and
- Every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria.
Until reports from all relevant agencies are submitted and processed.
The Application will be sent to the Federal Executive Council for approval by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to section 27 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). It is a facility given to foreigner who has
- Resided in Nigeria for a continuous period of fifteen years; or
- Resided in Nigeria continuously for a period of twelve months, and during the period of twenty years immediately preceding that period of twelve months has resided in Nigeria for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than fifteen years.
Subject to the president’s Approval.
You will need to address and revisit the reasons given accordingly, then you may reapply, but you will need to complete a new application form on the portal and pay the fees again. All previously required documents will still be provided.
.If a naturalized citizen lose his/her certificate, he/she can apply for Certified True Copy (CTC) with proof of loss (Police Report) and pay the necessary fees.
Subject to the provisions of section 28 of the Constitution, every person born in Nigeria after the date of Independence (October 1st 1960), either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents belongs or belonged to a community indigenous to Nigeria;
1) Provided that a person shall not become a citizen of Nigeria by virtue of this section if neither of his parents nor any of his grandparents was born in Nigeria. Or,
2) Every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria.
According to section 29 of Nigerian constitution, this is a facility given to Nigerian citizen who wants to take up citizenship of another nationality.
No. Please check your status online. Once your application is approved or rejected, a message will be sent to your registered phone number and email address.
Applicants are advised to ensure that the information provided is correct before submitting their application. If you submitted incorrect information, contact us at Info@ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng or call +234 (0) 908 5899991 or +234 (0) 908 589 9992 if need be.
In case you do not receive any confirmation email from us, Please check your SPAM or JUNK mail folder before contacting us. If you still don’t get the confirmation email, Please contact us at info@ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng or Call +234 (0) 908 589 9991 or +234 (0) 908 589 9992.
Payment of the processing fee does not guarantee approval of the service you are applying for. Unfortunately, we are not able to refund as we have clearly stated in our Terms & Conditions.
Under normal circumstance, processing can take up to 7days, though it can be earlier. Therefore it is advisable to apply early.
EXPATRIATE QUOTA
You need to register with a valid email address and a valid phone number.
Access the ‘Forgot Your Password’ page by clicking on the link on the login screen and follow the prompts.
For you to change your password, you must be logged in.
Business permit is a facility issued to wholly foreign/joint venture companies seeking to establish business in Nigeria.
No. Such company should have obtained their business permit before applying for expatriate quota or both at the same time.
A wholly foreign/joint venture company after acquiring a business permit, changes in either the composition of the board of directors, board resolutions, location of business or line of activities duly registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) may request for the appropriate amendments.
This service is applicable to wholly foreign/joint venture owned companies that are fresh.
- The company is required to fill the company details in the field provided and submit.
- The application will be processed and when approved, the company pay for the business permit.
This service is applicable to wholly foreign/joint venture/indigenous/ngo/state government owned companies.
- The company is required to fill the company details in the field provided and also state the desired positions, position descriptions and basic relevant qualifications of the position for each position required and submit.
- However, the application will be processed and when approved, the company pay for the approved number of Establishment Grant.
It is a facility granted to a company that was earlier granted expatriate quota positions for a period of two (2) years.
A company may seek for additional grant if it already has establishment grant and realizes that it needs some additional relevant positions of whose skills could not be sourced locally to add to its quota.
A company is advised to APPEAL for the under shot to be granted stating necessary reasons for reconsideration. The action acted on any of the expatriate services, e.g:- a company applied for 10 expatriate quota positions and was granted only 4 or less than the numbers applied for, therefore, the company will appeal for the reconsideration of the application .
A quota has a ten (10) year life span after which it is tagged non-renewable. A company may request for Dettaging.
This is a reactivation of a quota position whose 10 years life span has expired.
It is for a company whose ten years life span has expired but still currently requires the services of the expatriate to complete the project at hand.
Yes. In a case where a company has difficulty in filling a particular position owing to exigency of operations, it is at liberty to apply for the Redesignation of the affected position and this will be considered, purely on its own merit.
This is a facility granted to top foreign investors/critical personnels to enable them stay longer in the country to protect their interest for a period of 10 years.
This is the reactivation of expatriate quota position that was not renewed as at when due. It attracts a penalty per slot.
No. Please check your status online. Once your application is approved or rejected, a message will be sent to your registered phone number and email address.
Applicants are advised to ensure that the information provided is correct before submitting their application. If you submitted incorrect information, contact us at Info@ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng or call +234 (0) 908 5899991 or +234 (0) 908 589 9992 if need be.
In case you do not receive any confirmation email from us, Please check your SPAM or JUNK mail folder before contacting us. If you still don’t get the confirmation email, Please contact us at info@ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng or Call +234 (0) 908 589 9991 or +234 (0) 908 589 9992.
Payment of the processing fee does not guarantee approval of the service you are applying for. Unfortunately, we are not able to refund as we have clearly stated in our Terms & Conditions.
Under normal circumstance, processing can take up to 7days, though it can be earlier. Therefore it is advisable to apply early.