South African nationals abroad are often asked to present a Letter of No Impediment intending to marry internationally. here, we will discuss what exactly this letter document is and how we can assist you obtain and fast track your letter of no impediment.
What is a Letter of Non Impediment?
When a citizen of SA wishes to marry abroad, the Foreign Authorities may require him/her to provide a letter confirming their marital status in South Africa. In order to prove that the person is still single, a letter of non impediment is issued by the Home Affairs Department of South Africa. The letter of non impediment is valid for a period of six months from the day on which it was issued. Though it is officially called a letter non impediment, it may sometimes be called by other names, such as:
Various names for letter of no impediment
• Non-Impediment Letter
• No-Impediment Certificate
• Declaration of Non-Impediment to Marry
• Certificate of Freedom to Marry
• Statutory Declaration of Single Status
• Single Status Letter / Certificate
• Statement In-Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad
• Affidavit of Intended Marriage
If you’ve been married before, you will need a letter of non impediment together with a divorce decree to prove that you’re no longer married or to confirm your current marital status as divorced. This document is required in most countries, so that you can get married within their borders or have a marriage registered there.
If you have an original Letter of no impediment, you can have it legalized or Apostilled with us either at DIRCO or at the High Court.
Furthermore, The South African Department of Home Affairs is able to confirm that a Letter of No Impediment is issued, stamped, and signed by authorized Home Affairs officials. If you have a Letter of No Impediment that was issued at a Regional Home Affairs office, such letter may not legally be used abroad. Only letters of non impediment issued by the Department of Home Affairs Head Office can be used abroad.
Who often needs to assistance with a Letter of Non Impediment?
You may be required to provide an apostilled letter of no impediment to foreign authorities if you wish to get married outside South Africa. The purpose of your letter is to confirm that you are entitled and allowed to be married under the law. If you’re going to a courier that is a member of the Hague convention, you will need to also have the letter of non impediment apostilled.
The process however can be much more different if you plan to get married in a country which is not part of the Convention or countries that do not accept apostilled documents. If this is the case, your Letter of No Impediment will have to be authenticated as part of a three-level process. But regardless of whether or not you are getting married in a signatory country, the Letter of No Impediment is still essential for you to obtain your visa and permits.
How do I apply for a Letter of No Impediment in South Africa?
In order to assist South African nationals in applying for and obtaining legal documents for use abroad, we dedicate our time and effort. When applying for a letter of no impediment, applications can be lodged with the Department of Home Affairs or a SA High Commission office (very, very long waiting period).
You will need to fill out a form namely DHA1155 and pay an application fee when applying for a letter of non impediment. The processing of your application and the issue of a letter may take up to 6 months depending on the number of applications submitted at any one time by the High Commission Office.
It is advisable to re check your marital status before you apply for your Letter of No Impediment. Fraudulent marriages are reported to the South African Department of Home Affairs on a daily basis. We can further assist you to check your marital status before you apply for a letter of non impediment.
How long does it take to obtain a Letter of No Impediment?
Processing times for a letter of no impediment may vary. It can take up to six months for you to receive your Letter of No Impediment through a SA High Commission or consulate. We are able to assist you in either 3 – 5 days or 5 – 10 working days.
What is important about a letter of non impediment?
These Letters of no impediment are official confirmations by the South African government of a person’s marital status. They further provide information indicating that a thorough search has been conducted on your personal credentials and that no record of marriage could be found on your name.
A letter of non impediment is valid for a period of six months and may be used for legal processes both inside and outside of South Africa, including visa and residency applications, as well as marital procedures.
How we can help you obtain a Letter of No Impediment
If you need to obtain a Letter of No Impediment, but do not wish to stand in queues at Home Affairs, or are unable to, we can take the stress out of the situation.
You will need to send the following to us:
• Your ID document or passport in a clear PDF scan
• A completed form – filled in DHA1155 form with black ink and PDF scanned to us.