Marriage under the Tunisian Law

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GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET V

MARRIAGE UNDER THE TUNISIAN LAW

My fiancé(e) and I wish to marry in Tunisia. Is this possible?

Yes, under the local law of Tunisia, if you meet all the requirements of the law. For example: - To marry here you have to be over 20 years of age or have your father’s consent. A divorced woman cannot re-marry until a period of 3 months has lapsed since her divorce, a widow until 4 months and 10 days after the death of her spouse. Marriage of a man younger than 20 or a woman under 17 is not allowed. A Moslem woman cannot marry a man who is not a Moslem. No marriages are solemnised at the Embassy.

What form will the marriage ceremony take?

A civil ceremony (i.e. not a religious one) conducted by the registrar at a town hall (Municipalité) of any town, or at a private address before two notaries. The marriages rites are prescribed in Arabic. In some localities they may be solemnised in French if you request it.

What do I, as a British citizen, party to the marriage, have to do?

You or your fiancé (e) should enquire at the registrar’s office for authoritative advice on all formalities connected with the ceremony. The attached notice listing documents likely to be required is intended as a general guide to procedures involving the British party to a local marriage. When both parties to the marriage have presented the full complement of documents, the registrar will be able to give an appointment for the marriage to take place: usually within a few days. Documents are required to be in either French or Arabic. We can help with translations of your documents from English (see fees on last page).

What about witnesses?

The law requires the marriage to be solemnised in the presence of two male witnesses of full age (over 20 years old). The marriage registrar has to approve their capacity to stand as witnesses and would expect them to be able to understand the declarations made during the ceremony.

Will my marriage under the local law of Tunisia be recognised in the UK?

This is a legal question and ought to be put to a lawyer. However, certainly for administrative purposes, the marriage is likely to be recognised as valid in the UK, provided both partners were free to marry under the laws of their own countries.

Can a record of my marriage be deposited in the public records in England & Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland?

Yes. You should submit, to this Consular Section, an extract of your entry of marriage in French. Provided that the certificate has been issued by the proper authorities and there is no reason to believe that the marriage may be invalid in the UK, it will be translated officially into English and transmitted to the appropriate Registrar General. Thereafter, the Registrar General will issue, on request and on payment of a fee, a certified copy of the Tunisian marriage certificate in English translation.

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