
Marriage of Indian citizen outside India is governed by the Foreign Marriages Act 1969. Section 4 states that marriage between parties in case one party is an Indian citizen can be solemnized under this act or under a marriage officer in a foreign country if
Neither party has a spouse living
Neither party is idiotic or lunatic
The bridegroom has completed 21 years of age and the bride has completed 18 years of age.
And the parties are not within degree of prohibited relationship.
Section 3 states that the central government may by notification appoint its diplomatic officers as a marriage officer in that foreign country.
Section 5 states that parties to a marriage under this act should send a notice as prescribed in First Schedule of this Act stating intent to marriage to the marriage officer of the district within whose local limits any one of the parties resided at least 30 days preceding notice was given. The notice shall also state that party has resided in that place. This marriage notice shall be kept as a record and shall be recorded in a “Marriage Notice Book”
Section 7 states that marriage officer shall publish this notice in his office and in India or country in which party is ordinary resident. Section 8 states that any person may in writing can raise objection to marriage on any ground specified in section 4 of the act within 30 days from date of the notice.
In case no objection is raised then by virtue of section 9 marriages shall be solemnized under this act and the marriage officer shall issue a certificate under section 14 of the Act confirming the solemnization of marriage under the act which shall be a conclusive proof of marriage. The parties to marriage may register marriage with the marriage officer under section 17.Section 18 states that marriage solemnized under this act may prefer relief under Special Marriage Act, 1954. Section 23 states that the central government is if satisfied that the provision of marriage in a foreign country is similar to provision of this act then may by notification in the official gazette declare marriage solemnized under law of foreign country shall be recognized as valid marriage by the courts of the country.