Certificate of no Impediment
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PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE OF NO IMPEDIMENT
British nationals (including dual nationals), who are permanent residents in Australia may be issued a Certificate of No Impediment by the Australian authorities. British nationals resident in Australia should therefore check first with the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT), R G Casey Building, John McEwen Crescent, Barton, ACT 0221 on 02 6261-3644 (Fax 02 6261-2820) www.smartraveller.gov.au or the appropriate State or Territory Office.
For British nationals not resident in Australia or for those whom the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade cannot issue a CNI, the procedure below must be followed.
i) The British citizen must give public notice inserted in one edition of his/her local newspaper (in Australia).
ii) The newspaper notice should be in the following terms:
“I, [full name], bachelor/widower/divorcé, of [full address] intend to marry [full name of fiancée], spinster/widow/divorcée, of [full address] at [name and address of place where marriage is to be solemnised] on [date of marriage]. Any person knowing of any lawful impediment to the marriage should notify without delay the Consular Section, British High Commission, 39 Brindabella Circuit, Brindabella Business Park,
Canberra Airport ACT 2609.
iii) The British citizen should send the whole page of the newspaper in which the notice appears to the Consular Section in Canberra. If no objection to the marriage is received within twenty-one (21) clear days the Consular Officer in Canberra, will inform the Consular Officer in the consular district where the marriage is to take place. Subject to the applicant swearing an affidavit in Australia in front of a Notary Public to the effect that the applicant is free to marry and producing other necessary documentary evidence, the Consul may issue a Certificate of No Impediment.
iv) The statutory consular fee for this service is £35.00, payable in local currency at the Consular office in the district where marriage is to take place.