Women’s Charter 1961 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 3 · Solemnisation of Marriages
21. Special marriage licence
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2023. 2 amendments in all.
Subject to the provisions of this Division, the Minister may grant a special marriage licence to 2 parties for either or both of the following purposes:
special marriage licence
“special marriage licence” means a special marriage licence granted by the Minister under section 21;
to authorise the parties to marry without giving a notice of marriage or being issued a marriage licence;
to authorise the parties to marry even though one or both of them are below 18 years of age.
If 2 parties seek a special marriage licence, each of them must submit to the Minister a declaration in the prescribed form, which declaration must include the matters mentioned in section 16(2).
The Minister must not grant a special marriage licence unless the Minister is satisfied that —
apart from any impediment under section 9, the parties to the intended marriage are not prevented from marrying by this Act or any other law;
if the parties are required to attend and complete a marriage preparation programme — they have done so;
if any party is not a citizen of Singapore or permanent resident of Singapore — at least one of the parties has been physically present in Singapore for the prescribed period before his or her declaration under subsection (2); and
no party has made a false declaration under subsection (2) in respect of the matters mentioned in section 16(2)(d) or (e).
If the marriage authorised by a special marriage licence under this section is not solemnised within one month from the date of the licence, the licence becomes void.
The Minister may delegate his or her powers under this section to any person, subject to such conditions as the Minister thinks fit to impose.
[Deleted by Act 3 of 2022 wef 25/09/2023]