How to Register Your Marriage in Mangalore and Udupi
Kudla Matrimony Team · 19 Oct 2026 · 4 min read
In Karnataka, a marriage is registered at the Sub-Registrar's office. You can start the application online on the state's Kaveri 2.0 portal, then both of you visit the office with your documents and witnesses. Karnataka's law asks couples to register within 30 days of the wedding. Here is how it works in Mangalore and Udupi, step by step.
Why register your marriage?
A registered marriage certificate is the proof that banks, passport offices, embassies and courts accept. You will need it to:
- add your spouse's name to a passport, or change the bride's surname;
- apply for a spouse visa, for example to join a husband working in the Gulf;
- name each other as nominee for bank accounts, insurance and provident fund;
- protect both of you, and especially the wife, if a dispute ever arises.
Under the Karnataka Marriages (Registration and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1976, marriages in the state must be registered, and the couple should send the details to the Registrar within 30 days of the wedding. A marriage is not invalid just because it was not registered, but registering it saves a lot of trouble later.
Which law applies to you?
| Your situation | Law | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Both Hindu (including Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists), married with your community's rituals | Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 | You register a marriage that has already taken place |
| Different religions, or a civil wedding without religious rituals | Special Marriage Act, 1954 | You give notice 30 days before the marriage, then marry and register before the Marriage Officer |
| Christian or Muslim wedding | Your community's own law | The church or the Qazi keeps a record; ask them how to get the civil registration done |
Step by step (Hindu Marriage Act)
- Create an account on Kaveri 2.0, the Stamps and Registration Department's portal, using a mobile number linked to your Aadhaar. Choose marriage registration and fill in the details of both of you and the wedding.
- Upload your documents and book a slot at the Sub-Registrar's office for the place where you married or where either of you lives.
- Visit the office together on the booked day with the original documents and your witnesses. Your photographs and fingerprints are taken there.
- Collect the certificate, and ask for a few certified copies at the same time.
The state has also allowed marriage registration at Bapu Seva and Grama One centres. Procedures change from time to time, so check the current steps on Kaveri 2.0 or with your Sub-Registrar's office before you go.
Documents usually asked for
- Age proof for both: birth certificate, passport, or SSLC marks card.
- Identity and address proof for both: Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or similar.
- Proof of the wedding: the invitation card and photographs of the ceremony.
- Passport-size photographs of the couple.
- Identity proof of the witnesses.
- An affidavit if the bride has changed her name.
Most offices ask for three witnesses who attended the wedding. Bring originals and photocopies of everything.
Who can register?
The groom must be at least 21 and the bride at least 18. Neither may have a living husband or wife, and the couple must not be within the relationships the law forbids. For many Tulu families the same bari is a further rule within the community, though it is a custom rather than a legal requirement.
Fees and timing
Registration fees are small, but they change, so check the amount shown on Kaveri 2.0. Register soon after the wedding: it is easiest while your witnesses, invitation cards and photographs are at hand.
Marrying someone who works abroad?
If one of you will live in the Gulf or elsewhere abroad, the certificate will usually need attestation by the Ministry of External Affairs and by that country's embassy before you apply for a spouse visa. Read our guide to marrying someone who works in the Gulf.
Frequently asked questions
Is marriage registration compulsory in Karnataka?
Yes, the state law asks every marriage to be registered, within 30 days. A marriage is still valid if it was not registered, but you will need the certificate for passports, visas and nominations, so it is wise to register.
Can we register years after the wedding?
Generally yes, but late registration may involve extra paperwork or a fee. Ask your Sub-Registrar's office.
Do both of us have to go to the office?
Yes. Both partners are usually asked to appear with their witnesses for photographs and fingerprints.
Where is the Sub-Registrar's office?
Mangalore, Udupi and every taluk have Sub-Registrar offices. Kaveri 2.0 shows the offices you can choose when you book.
This article gives general information, not legal advice.
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