Don't panic Anonymous

Submitted by Isis (Australia), Sep 23, 2009 at 20:30

Marrying with a contract paper which is certified by a lawyer is an "Orfi" paper. This can be registered in an Egyptian court but it does little to add to the value of the paper. An Orfi marriage is NOT generally recognised as a legal marriage outside of Egypt but I do believe that some Scandanavian countries do accept it as a legal marriage document. An Orfi marriage is not recognised as a marriage in Britain.I don't believe that you can register this paper as a legal marriage document in Britain. You say that you have been with your Egyptian man for 3 years I am surprised that you have not had an Orfi paper drawn up previosly because you would need at least this document to be able to stay with your man in a hotel or a flat. In Egypt it is illegal for an Egyptian man to be alone with a foreign woman in a flat, house, hotel room or evenbe together in the streets without being "married".

As you are British, you lucklily have two options for a legal marriage in Egypt. The first one is to marry at the Ministry of Justice in Cairo. This is a civil marriage and not necessarily a marriage service. It is a signing of ducuments and papers and handing over of money to both speed up the process and of course as with all things Egyptian is smothered in bureaucracy and can take up to four weeks to complete.It may also require interviews if the burocrats decides that the age difference of the couple is too great.

The second option that you have for a legal marriage is to marry at the British Embassy in Cairo. The Briitish Embassy is one of the few consulates that will perform marriages for their citizens. I suggest that you contact them and gather data on all the relevant paperwork that you and your future husband will require for the process. I know a few Egyptian/British couples that have been married there and it is a far easier option than going through the Ministry of Justice.

Another option is to have an Islamic marriage but you would need to convert to Islam.

I am married to an Egyptian. Initially we had an Orfi paper but then had a legal marriage in Australia when he was able to come here as Australian Embassies don't perform marriages.

Hope that this helps.

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