Nikah documents
Nikah documents in India
In India, Muslim marriages follow Muslim personal law and are solemnised by a qazi, who records the nikahnama. Several states also require civil registration, and couples may choose to marry under the Special Marriage Act instead.
Who registers the marriage
A qazi records the nikahnama. State marriage registrars or Sub-Registrar offices handle civil registration under state laws or the Special Marriage Act.
Typical steps
- 1
Agree the mehr and any conditions to write in the nikahnama.
- 2
Hold the nikah with a qazi, the offer and acceptance (ijab and qubool), and two adult witnesses.
- 3
Collect the nikahnama signed by both spouses, the witnesses, and the qazi.
- 4
Register the marriage with the state marriage registrar — mandatory in several states.
Common items to prepare
- Aadhaar card, passport, or voter ID
- Proof of age — 18 for the bride and 21 for the groom
- Passport photos
- Nikahnama issued by the qazi
- IDs of the witnesses
- Divorce or death certificate if previously married
Important notes
Marriage under the Special Marriage Act needs a 30-day public notice. A registered marriage certificate is often needed for passports, visas, and joint bank accounts, so register soon after the nikah.
Family & wali considerations
Involve your wali or family representative early. Agree who attends, who speaks for the family, and how mahr and living plans will be discussed with dignity.
After documents
Once paperwork is clearer, focus on character, deen, and readiness. GoodSpouse helps serious Muslims meet with privacy, verification, and family-aware tools.
GoodSpouse provides general education only. Laws and mosque policies change. Verify every requirement with qualified local authorities before you travel or book a nikah date.
More free tools
Nikah readiness checklist
Track intention, faith, family, practical readiness, and documents before you move toward nikah.
Open tool →Premarital questions
Respectful questions for couples and families — deen, character, lifestyle, money, and the future.
Open tool →Compatibility quiz
A short free quiz on how you communicate and decide — then deepen with full MPTI in the app.
Open tool →Mahr calculator
Convert Mahr Fatimi and the minimum mahr into your currency with today's gold and silver prices.
Open tool →Istikhara guide
How to pray istikhara before a marriage decision, with the full dua and its meaning.
Open tool →Walima budget planner
Estimate your walima costs by category and per guest — and keep the celebration within your means.
Open tool →Biodata maker
Create a respectful marriage biodata to share with families and print or save as a PDF.
Open tool →Ready to meet serious Muslims?
Download GoodSpouse to continue with verified profiles, MPTI matching, Wali support, and Personal Khattabah guidance.