Marriage in Egypt for US citizens
For US citizens marrying an Egyptian in Egypt, often with a spouse visa to follow. You need a marriage affidavit notarised at the US Embassy in Cairo, the contract is registered at the Ministry of Justice office for foreigners, and for the visa you will need the bilingual certificate from the Civil Status Organization, not the handwritten copy.
Embassy said no?
No certificate from your embassy? We still get you married.
Most no-objection certificates are refused. Others stall for months, or the embassy asks for papers you cannot get. We have another route, and we have taken dozens of couples through it, from every nationality we handle. Your marriage ends up officially registered in Egypt, not orfi.
- You stop chasing the embassy. We take the file from here.
- Works for every nationality on this site.
- Officially registered in Egypt, not an orfi contract.
What United States requires
The affidavit sets out your biographic details and religion and states that you are free to marry. Bring your passport and the dates of any earlier marriages and divorces, then have the affidavit authenticated by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. If you are a US man marrying an Egyptian woman, you also need exceptional approval from the Main Notary Public Authority at 57 Ramses Street, and the embassy warns that affidavits are not accepted in every case. That approval is available but not guaranteed; if it is refused, we have another route and register your marriage anyway.
Embassy in Cairo
US Embassy Cairo, American Citizen Services
The embassy notarises the Marriage Affidavit, also called a No Objection to Marriage letter, by appointment only and not by remote online notarisation. The fee is $50, in cash or by card. It is Egyptian authorities who require the document, and the embassy asks you not to make travel plans or commit money until your notary appointment is booked.
Official websitePapers a citizen of United States usually brings
- US passport and two copies, and an Egyptian residence card: a tourist visa or visa on arrival is not enough, and we arrange the residence card with you
- The marriage affidavit from the embassy, authenticated by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry
- For a US groom marrying an Egyptian woman: the Main Notary Public Authority’s exceptional approval
- If you were married before: the final divorce decree, translated and authenticated by an Egyptian embassy or consulate in the US
- Five recent photos
- Pre-marriage medical examination at a government hospital, for both of you
- Two male witnesses, and an interpreter if you do not speak Arabic
Making the marriage count in United States
For US immigration a marriage is valid if it was valid where it took place, and there is nothing to register in the US. For the I-130 and the National Visa Center you need the official bilingual certificate from the Civil Status Organization, which the Ministry of Justice registers for you. An English certificate from the Ministry of Justice translation office needs no embassy authentication; a translation from the Notary Public Authority needs Foreign Ministry and embassy authentication, for another $50.
Problems we see often
- Booking flights before the embassy notary appointment. The embassy itself advises against making travel plans or committing money until the appointment is booked.
- Arriving on a tourist visa or visa on arrival and going straight to the office. You need an Egyptian residence card before the marriage can be registered, and we arrange it with you.
- Sending the handwritten maazoun or church original to NVC. It is not valid for immigration; only the bilingual Civil Status Organization certificate is.
- An orfi contract is not treated as official until it is registered at the Ministry of Justice and with the Civil Status Organization, so it cannot support a visa.
Questions couples ask
What does the US Embassy charge?
$50 for the marriage affidavit, and another $50 if you need a Notary Public Authority translation authenticated. The Ministry of Justice office charges its own fee, which we confirm before your appointment.
Which marriage certificate do I send to NVC?
The official bilingual certificate from the Civil Status Organization. The handwritten maazoun or church original is not accepted for immigration.
Can I file the I-130 at the embassy in Cairo?
No. The embassy stopped accepting I-130 petitions on 16 August 2011, so you file it in the US.
What if the exceptional approval for a US groom is refused?
You can still marry. The approval is available but not guaranteed, and if it is refused, or the embassy refuses or stalls the no-objection letter, we have another route. We have used it for dozens of couples of every nationality, and the marriage ends up officially registered in Egypt, not orfi.
Official sources
- US Embassy Cairo: Marriage in Egypt
- US Embassy Cairo: Notarial services
- US State Department: Egypt reciprocity and civil documents
- US State Department: Egypt and international parental child abduction
- US State Department (archived): recognition of foreign divorces
Facts checked by Counsellor Mohamed Ali Oraby on October 28, 2026.
Marriage registration in Egypt for foreigners
A registered marriage contract is the first paper of your life together. Residency, registering children and recognition of the marriage in the other partner’s country are all built on it. We take you from preparing the papers to signing at the Ministry of Justice foreigners’ marriage office, and arrange the certificate of no impediment, translations and legalisation on the way.
What this involves: Marriage registrationThe consultation
One session. Your whole route.
Sit down with the counsellor, online or in person. You leave with your exact papers, your route, and a fixed price for the work.
- Your document list, checked against both nationalities
- The authority and route your case takes
- A fixed price for handling the full file
- A written summary afterwards
- Consultation
Credited in full to your case fee if you hire us.
Online by video, or at our Cairo or Alexandria office.