Marriage registration · Chandigarh

Marriage Registration in Chandigarh: DC Office Guide

Chandigarh registers marriages under the Haryana Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2008, which was extended to the Union Territory in 2009. Registration is handled through the Deputy Commissioner's office in Sector 17, with an online appointment system.

By TrueSaath · published 2026-10-22 · checked October 2026

Official portal: Chandigarh DC office: marriage registration

Which law applies in Chandigarh

Chandigarh is a Union Territory and the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, but its marriage registration law comes from Haryana. The Haryana Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2008 was extended to the Union Territory of Chandigarh by a central notification of 4 November 2009, and India Code records the extension. The Act provides for compulsory registration of marriages solemnised in Chandigarh, irrespective of religion. Punjab's 2012 Act extends only to the State of Punjab, so it does not govern a Chandigarh registration.

Two central laws sit alongside it:

the Special Marriage Act, 1954, for civil and inter-religion marriages;
the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, for Sikh marriages, under rules the UT made in 2018.

Who registers

Marriage registration is a service of the Deputy Commissioner's office, Sector 17, Chandigarh. Commentaries on the Act describe a tiered system based on how long after the wedding you apply:

within 90 days: the Registrar of Marriages;
from 90 days to one year: the District Registrar of Marriages, who is the SDM;
after one year: with the approval of the Chief Registrar of Marriages.

Non-registration does not by itself make a marriage invalid. If you are applying late, see registering a marriage after the wedding.

Online appointment system

Chandigarh launched an online marriage registration system in 2018 as part of its e-District services. As the National Informatics Centre described it at launch:

You upload your documents online and pick a fixed appointment slot.
A unique registration number is generated for your application.
On the appointment date, you visit the marriage registrar's office for verification and signatures.
Walk-in applicants can also be served, with a data entry operator uploading their documents.
An online certificate verification facility lets other agencies check a certificate.

The DC office's website lists both "Marriage Registration" and "Online Appointment for Marriage Registration" as services. Some older pages on the system carry notices about suspended services from the Covid period, so if a link does not work, contact the DC office directly. For how online applications generally work, see marriage certificate online.

Anand Karaj marriages

The Chandigarh Anand Marriage Rules, 2018 provide for registering Sikh marriages solemnised by Anand Karaj under the Anand Marriage Act, 1909. Under these Rules:

the Registrar is the Tehsildar (Revenue or Estates) or Naib-Tehsildar of the UT, or another officer the Administration appoints;
the District Registrar is the Deputy Commissioner of the UT;
there are provisions for marriages where one partner is an NRI or a foreign national, including Persons of Indian Origin and OCI cardholders.

See Anand Karaj and Sikh marriage law.

Special Marriage Act in Chandigarh

Couples of different religions, or anyone who prefers a civil marriage, can give notice to the Marriage Officer in Chandigarh if one partner has lived in the UT for at least 30 days. The notice is published, objections can be made for 30 days, and the marriage is solemnised before three witnesses. See court marriage under the Special Marriage Act.

Documents

Expect:

proof of date of birth of both spouses;
residence proof showing the address in Chandigarh, or proof that the marriage took place in Chandigarh;
photographs of the couple and wedding proof, such as the invitation card, ceremony photographs or a certificate from the gurdwara, temple or church;
identity proof of witnesses;
a divorce decree or death certificate of a former spouse, where relevant.

Fees

The fee, including any late fee, is shown when you book or at the DC office.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws, procedures, forms and fees change, so confirm the current steps on the official portal or at the registering office before you apply. For your own situation, speak to a lawyer, or get free legal aid through your District Legal Services Authority or NALSA's toll-free legal aid helpline 15100. More state guides are on our marriage registration hub.

Planning the wedding itself?

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Questions people ask

Which law governs marriage registration in Chandigarh?

The Haryana Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2008, which was extended to the Union Territory of Chandigarh in November 2009.

Where is the marriage registration office in Chandigarh?

Marriage registration is handled through the Deputy Commissioner's office in Sector 17, which also runs an online appointment system.

Who registers Anand Karaj marriages in Chandigarh?

Under the Chandigarh Anand Marriage Rules, 2018, the Registrar is the Tehsildar or Naib-Tehsildar, and the Deputy Commissioner is the District Registrar.

Does Punjab's marriage registration Act apply in Chandigarh?

No. The Punjab Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2012 extends only to Punjab; Chandigarh follows the extended Haryana Act.

Sources

Checked in October 2026. Rules, fees and portals change; confirm on the official site before you apply.

The national guides

Hindu Marriage Registration under Section 8 HMAhindu marriage registration Court Marriage under the Special Marriage Actcourt marriage process Documents for Marriage Registrationdocuments required for marriage registration Inter-Religion Marriage Registration in Indiainter religion marriage registration Marriage Certificate Onlinemarriage certificate online NRI Marriage Registration and Apostille in Indianri marriage registration Late Marriage Registrationlate marriage registration Name Change after Marriagename change after marriage

Other states

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