Civil Marriage Kenya Fees: Notice, Interview and Steps

Updated 27 October 2026

Civil marriage Kenya fees and steps are published by the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice. For a civil marriage by notice, couples give at least 21 days’ notice on eCitizen, pay a KSh 600 notice fee after approval, then attend an interview with originals. After a successful interview, the civil solemnisation path on the same page lists a further KSh 3,300 online fee before booking. Online marriage services are currently described as Nairobi-only. Updated October 2026.

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Sources: Registration of Marriage by Notice; Getting Married in Kenya (Office of the Attorney General). Fees below are quoted from those pages — re-check eCitizen before you pay.

Civil marriage Kenya by notice: who it is for

The Attorney General’s notice page covers men and women who are Kenyan nationals or registered refugees residing in Kenya and who intend to marry under the civil, Christian or Hindu systems. Notice must be at least 21 days, and the marriage must be solemnised within 90 days from the date of notice.

The Marriage Act, 2014 (summarised on the AG “Getting Married” page) recognises civil, Christian, Hindu, customary and Islamic marriages. This guide focuses on the civil track and the fees the AG publishes for notice and interview clearance.

Documents to upload before you apply

Before filling the eCitizen form (https://www.e-citizen.go.ke), the AG notice page asks you to have ready:

• National ID, valid passport, or valid alien card for refugees
• Birth certificate (names must align in the same order as on the ID/passport)
• One coloured passport-size photo for each applicant
• Death certificate if widowed; divorce decree absolute if previously divorced
• Sworn affidavit confirming marital status if the death certificate or decree is more than two years old
• For the civil interview path: IDs or passports for two witnesses

Christian paths on the same page also reference a minister’s licence, marriage-book serial and wedding invitation card — use those only if you are clearing a church celebration rather than a pure civil ceremony.

Civil marriage Kenya fees published by the AG

Special licence routes (foreign nationals, garden/hotel venues) carry higher published fees on the AG special-licence page (for example KSh 7,200 or KSh 14,200 depending on venue type for Kenyan nationals). Read that page separately if you are skipping ordinary notice.

Step-by-step civil process

1. Assemble matching ID and birth-certificate names.
2. Apply on eCitizen and pay the KSh 600 notice fee when prompted after approval.
3. Wait out the 21-day notice.
4. Book the Registrar interview online; both parties appear with originals (and witnesses where required).
5. Pay the post-interview fee shown for your path (KSh 3,300 on the civil solemnisation bullets) and attend solemnisation within the stated window.

AG notes that online marriage services are only for Nairobi County; elsewhere you may use a local Registrar of Marriages or District / Sub-County Commissioner’s office as listed on the Getting Married hub. Contacts published on the OAG eCitizen marriages portal include marriages@ag.go.ke and phone lines shown on that site.

Budgeting beyond the Registrar fees

Government fees are the small line. Couples still budget attire, transport, photos and a reception. For wider wedding cost planning, keep receipts and a simple spreadsheet; if you later build a wedding planning page for guests, you can compare hosting on Truehost (affiliate link). Money guides that often sit beside a wedding year include PAYE bands 2026 and how to file succession in Kenya for families updating wills after marriage. Mobile money payment proof tips are in how to check your M-Pesa mini statement.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a civil marriage Kenya notice fee?

The Attorney General’s Registration of Marriage by Notice page states a notice fee of KSh 600 on the online platform upon approval of the application.

How long is the notice period?

At least 21 days. The marriage must then be solemnised within 90 days from the date of notice.

Can I complete civil marriage Kenya steps fully online outside Nairobi?

The AG hub states that online marriage services are only for Nairobi County, and points parties elsewhere to local Registrars or commissioners’ offices.

What if one of us was married before?

Upload a divorce decree absolute or a death certificate. If that document is more than two years old, the AG page also requires a sworn affidavit confirming marital status.

Is customary marriage the same as civil marriage Kenya?

No. Customary marriages have a separate registration path and fees on the AG site (including a published KSh 3,900 fee on the customary registration pages). Use the civil track only when you intend a civil solemnisation under the notice process.