Hi all,
I'm a Canadian currently planning to reunite with and marry a Kenyan citizen in the coming months, and trying to ensure we will have all the appropriate paperwork in order to avoid any issues that may put a halt on plans once I have travelled. I have most of the process figured out and in the works, but have some lingering questions I'm having trouble getting an answer on. I thought a post on here might catch someone who's actually gone through the process in Kenya and can advise based on their own experience. My questions are based around which type of documents are required (e.g. standard photocopies, authenticated true copies, authenticated & legalized true copies), but I'll include some additional context first, as it may help anyone that wants to chime in, or anyone reading this in the future for themselves.
First, I found the Registrar of Marriages through the Kenya Office of the Attorney General: https://statelaw.go.ke/departments/registrar-general-division/registrar-of-marriages/
Through that I found Registration of Marriage by Special License: https://statelaw.go.ke/services-to-the-public/getting-married-in-kenya/registration-of-marriage-by-special-license/#1594893519306-3efdc50e-1e7e
Regardless of the type of marriage, where one party is a Kenyan national and the other a foreign national, the main required documents (which are uploaded to the Kenyan eCitizen portal) are:
Requirements for the Kenyan National:
I also found the following page regarding Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage requirements: https://statelaw.go.ke/services-to-the-public/getting-married-in-kenya/application-for-a-certificate-of-no-impediment-to-marriage/
From my interpretation, the Certificate of No Impediment is only required for a Kenyan national when they get married outside the country. I'll be travelling there, so I still require one, but this would not be needed for her in lieu of the Sworn Affidavit. However, I noticed the requirements for this Certificate are:
Requirements for Certificate of No Impediment:
Because I noticed that all copies of Passport / Birth Certificate were listed as "certified copy", I wondered if that was actually also the case for the Marriage License documents, so my main question became:
I also noticed on the Marriage by Special License page, it says: "After submission of the application, both parties to book an appointment on the online platform and appear before the Registrar and submission of original documents verification and interview." Based on this, I suspect regardless of what I upload to eCitizen, we still have to meet with the Registrar and submit original documents... but still unsure which versions will be required at that stage.
There are significant differences between the various stages of documents, and many steps / wait periods to go though the further you go, so I don't want to find out after I've travelled that it's too late and I did not obtain the correct versions. At the same time, aside from these documents I am ready to book my ticket and travel pretty much any time, but am currently held up by this unknown. Some of these wait times are significant enough that I can't commit to a travel date yet, but I may be going through steps / wait periods that are not necessary in Kenya.
At the moment I am playing it safe and assuming the legalized versions of these documents would be required, and have begun gathering them:
Finally, somewhat related, but once I travel I may need documents such as Passport to apply for things such as Kenyan Driving License through NTSA, or possibly Foreigner's Certificate if looking at extending my stay past 90 days, so again not sure if items like these would require legalized documents, or just having my actual Passport available while there.
I realize this is lengthy with lots of questions, but any assistance is very much appreciated. Hopefully helps others as well; wrapping your head around all this is not easy!
Thanks!
I'm a Canadian currently planning to reunite with and marry a Kenyan citizen in the coming months, and trying to ensure we will have all the appropriate paperwork in order to avoid any issues that may put a halt on plans once I have travelled. I have most of the process figured out and in the works, but have some lingering questions I'm having trouble getting an answer on. I thought a post on here might catch someone who's actually gone through the process in Kenya and can advise based on their own experience. My questions are based around which type of documents are required (e.g. standard photocopies, authenticated true copies, authenticated & legalized true copies), but I'll include some additional context first, as it may help anyone that wants to chime in, or anyone reading this in the future for themselves.
First, I found the Registrar of Marriages through the Kenya Office of the Attorney General: https://statelaw.go.ke/departments/registrar-general-division/registrar-of-marriages/
Through that I found Registration of Marriage by Special License: https://statelaw.go.ke/services-to-the-public/getting-married-in-kenya/registration-of-marriage-by-special-license/#1594893519306-3efdc50e-1e7e
Regardless of the type of marriage, where one party is a Kenyan national and the other a foreign national, the main required documents (which are uploaded to the Kenyan eCitizen portal) are:
Requirements for the Kenyan National:
- Copy of National Identity Card / Valid Passport
- Copy of Birth Certificate
- Coloured Passport-size Photo
- Proof of no other existing marriage through: Submit Sworn Affidavit (swear separate affidavits if not married)
- Copy of Valid Passport
- Copy of Birth Certificate
- 1 Coloured Passport-size Photo
- Proof of no other existing marriage through: A Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage
I also found the following page regarding Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage requirements: https://statelaw.go.ke/services-to-the-public/getting-married-in-kenya/application-for-a-certificate-of-no-impediment-to-marriage/
From my interpretation, the Certificate of No Impediment is only required for a Kenyan national when they get married outside the country. I'll be travelling there, so I still require one, but this would not be needed for her in lieu of the Sworn Affidavit. However, I noticed the requirements for this Certificate are:
Requirements for Certificate of No Impediment:
- Applicant's certified copy of Passport
- Applicant's certified copy of Birth Certificate
- Fiancee's certified Passport copy
Because I noticed that all copies of Passport / Birth Certificate were listed as "certified copy", I wondered if that was actually also the case for the Marriage License documents, so my main question became:
- When uploading documents (Passport, Birth Certificate, Certificate of No Impediment) to the eCitizen account for Special License approval, do these need to be:
- Just a photocopy of the originals with no further notarization / authentication / legalization steps taken?
- Copies that have first gone through the entire Notarized / Certified True Copy -> Authentication with Global Affairs Canada (GAC, previously DFAIT) -> Legalization with Kenya High Commission / Embassy (in Canada)?
Reference: ImmiGroup - Authentication And Legalization: https://www.immigroup.com/authentication-and-legalization
Reference: ALSC - Apostille, Authentication and Legalization: https://www.alscanada.ca/the-difference-between-apostille-and-authentication-and-legalization/
I also noticed on the Marriage by Special License page, it says: "After submission of the application, both parties to book an appointment on the online platform and appear before the Registrar and submission of original documents verification and interview." Based on this, I suspect regardless of what I upload to eCitizen, we still have to meet with the Registrar and submit original documents... but still unsure which versions will be required at that stage.
There are significant differences between the various stages of documents, and many steps / wait periods to go though the further you go, so I don't want to find out after I've travelled that it's too late and I did not obtain the correct versions. At the same time, aside from these documents I am ready to book my ticket and travel pretty much any time, but am currently held up by this unknown. Some of these wait times are significant enough that I can't commit to a travel date yet, but I may be going through steps / wait periods that are not necessary in Kenya.
At the moment I am playing it safe and assuming the legalized versions of these documents would be required, and have begun gathering them:
- Certified True Copies of my Passport: Went through Service Canada Passport to obtain with Form PPTC 516: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/certified-true-copies.html
- Certified Copy of Birth Certificate: Went through Service Ontario to obtain (only had extract version before): https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-or-replace-ontario-birth-certificate
- Statutory Declaration of Single Status: Drafted this using a few templates I found online, e.g.: https://www.immigroup.com/news/how-prove-single-status-marriage-abroad
- Marriage Search Letter: Went through Service Ontario to request this for the last 15 years (roughly from when I was 18). This one may not be required, but figured it wouldn't hurt, so applied anyways due to the 15 business day wait time: https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-get-copy-ontario-marriage-certificate-online
- Notary Public: Arranged a meeting to notarize my Declaration of Single Status, as well as get a Certified True Copy of my Birth Certificate: https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-notary-public-or-commissioner-oaths-taking-affidavits
- Statement In Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad: Would then go through Global Affairs Canada to request this by mailing my notarized Declaration of Single Status along with Certified True Copy of Birth Certificate or Passport, and Form GAC-AMC 2165: https://www.international.gc.ca/gac-amc/about-a_propos/services/authentication-authentification/lieu.aspx?lang=eng
- Authentication of Documents: Through GAC, at the same time as requesting the Statement In Lieu would also include both my Certified True Copies of Passport and Birth Certificate and request Authentication on the same Form GAC-AMC 2165: https://www.international.gc.ca/gac-amc/about-a_propos/services/authentication-authentification/step-etape-1.aspx?lang=eng
- Legalization of Documents: Through the Kenya High Commission (Embassy), once I receive Authenticated Documents back from GAC, would then look into having them legalized for use abroad: https://kenyahighcommission.ca/certificates/legalization-of-documents/
- Legalization Requirements:I notice on the High Commission page:
- Application Letter detailing the need for legalization, signed & dated by the applicant: Would this Letter need to be notarized?
- Original and copy of each document to be legalized issued by a Government Authority: Does this mean in the case of a Birth Certificate or Passport, I would have to submit both the authenticated true copies from GAC, as well as my original documents (e.g. my actual Passport)? Or does this mean the authenticated true copies from GAC, along with a regular photocopy of those true copies? I would be concerned about sending both my original documents along with their true copies for so many things in the mail where they could all potentially be lost or held onto for some time.
- Copy of identity of the applicant: Any specific identity they are looking for? If I'm already sending my Birth Certificate / Passport, would that cover it?
- Mailing Documents: Steps are provided for mailing the documents and payment to High Commission, but does anyone know if there is an in-person option for this as well, either at the High Commission office in Ottawa or Consular office in Toronto?
- Processing Times: Does anyone have any idea of processing times from the High Commission? GAC states a 15 business day processing time for their authentication, so I'm curious what timeline I may need to account for here.
Finally, somewhat related, but once I travel I may need documents such as Passport to apply for things such as Kenyan Driving License through NTSA, or possibly Foreigner's Certificate if looking at extending my stay past 90 days, so again not sure if items like these would require legalized documents, or just having my actual Passport available while there.
I realize this is lengthy with lots of questions, but any assistance is very much appreciated. Hopefully helps others as well; wrapping your head around all this is not easy!
Thanks!
