Foreigners, locals now pay more to say 'I do' in Goa -ToI

Murari Shetye, TNN | May 21, 2013, 06.45 AM IST PANAJI: Foreigners and locals tying the knot in Goa are paying a higher marriage registration fee. The government has hiked the registration fees for foreigners' marriages from 100 to 5,000 while the fee for locals has been doubled to 200. Annually around 14,000 marriages are registered in the state, of which 100 figure foreigners. Most of the foreigners' weddings take place on the coast and are registered at the Mapusa and Margao registrar-cum-sub-registrar offices. There are 12 such offices spread across the state. "The fee for registration of a marriage, or transcription of the registration of marriage, or organizing the proceeding of the marriage of a foreign national has been revised to 5,000," law department under secretary Vasanti Parvatkar said. The government has also revised the fees for registration of marriages of locals. The fee for registration of a Hindu and Muslim marriage in Goa, or transcription of registration of marriage done elsewhere by a Goan, or organizing the proceedings of a Catholic marriage has gone up from 100 to 200. The government has also increased the fee for solemnizing a marriage outside the registrar's office when the conveyance is provided by the marriage party by 50%. If the registrar leaves his office for registering a marriage due to illness of the parents or others, or when parents' consent is needed for a minor bride, then the applicant has to pay 200. This was earlier 100. In Goa, if the girl is between the ages of 18 and 21 she is deemed a minor till she completes 21 years and a marriage in such cases requires the parents' consent. In all other cases fees have been hiked from 500 to 1,000. For marriages solemnized outside the registrar's working hours, the applicant has to pay Rs 1,000 if the registrar's services are required on a working day. If the registrar is required on a Sunday or holidays then the applicant has to pay Rs 2,000. The fees were earlier Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 respectively. The government has also increased the fee for the process of endorsement of divorce or enrolment and for process of endorsement of adoption from Rs 3 to Rs 100. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Foreigners-locals-now-pay-more-to-say-I-do-in-Goa/articleshow/20164353.cms