Now, a marriage certificate is no longer a requirement to include a partner/spouse's name in the passport after marriage. The Ministry of External Affairs has made this provision simpler than ever, which has caused immense relief to millions of individuals.
The marriage certificate is not required
Previously, a marriage certificate was necessary to insert the husband's or wife's name in the passport. This would be quite problematic for states where obtaining a certificate prepared post-marriage is not a usual practice, such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.
Now, the Ministry of External Affairs has accepted the self-declaration, eliminating this requirement. That is, now you will be provided with the facility to include your spouse's name in the passport by simply filling out a simple form, along with some crucial information and a photo.
Annexure J, the formal document,
Annexure J is a joint declaration in lieu of a marriage certificate. Under the new system, a form named Annexure J has been added, which will carry a joint photograph of wedded couples and a few basic details along with the signature. This form will be a declaration, and this document will be taken on record as proof of marriage for the passport authority.
What will be the advantages of this change?
Government documents are no longer required to establish marriage in matters related to the passport. The process is easy, transparent, and time-effective. Name to be added in the passport even if the marriage certificate is not available.
Possibly, the residents of small towns and rural areas will receive relief.
What was the need for this change?
Even today, in most of India, individuals don't get the marriage certificate prepared after marriage, making it a problem to travel abroad or have the partner's name added in government records. Realizing this ground reality, the government has made the procedure flexible, thereby ensuring that the common man will not have to get involved in unnecessary legal formalities. The change is particularly a relief to those individuals who have to incorporate the name of their spouse on the passport in case of international travel, for visa application, or identification at the family level.