Katb el-ketab, the marriage contract, goes smoothly when the papers are ready early. Here is what the ma'zoun usually asks for, and an order that saves you running around in the last week.
The basic papers
- The groom's national ID card, valid, with 3 photocopies.
- The bride's national ID card, valid, with 3 photocopies.
- The ID card of the bride's guardian (her father, brother or an uncle on either side), with one photocopy.
- 6 personal photos of each of you.
- The premarital medical certificate for each of you.
- If the bride is divorced: the official divorce certificate. If she is widowed: the previous marriage contract and her late husband's death certificate.
At the contract itself, two trustworthy witnesses must be present.
The premarital medical exam
- It has been compulsory since 26 February 2023: without its certificate, the contract can't be written.
- It is done only at centres and units approved by the Ministry of Health, not at private labs.
- The result comes out within 14 days of the tests at most, so do it early.
- The certificate is valid for 6 months from the day of the tests, and carries a QR code that protects it from forgery.
- The fee was EGP 220 when the exam became compulsory in 2023. It may have changed, so ask the unit before you go.
The ma'zoun's and registration fees
According to Al-Ahram Gate (February 2026), registering a marriage contract costs EGP 600, plus a fee based on the value of the deferred dowry (المؤخر). Ask the ma'zoun for a receipt for the official fees, and agree on anything extra before the day, not on it.
Once the marriage is registered, you can get a copy of the marriage certificate online for EGP 70.
On Zaghrouta, ma'zouns appear only after we have checked their ID and their syndicate card, and there is no commission.
If you marry in church
The church has its own papers and steps. Ask your church for its list early, because some steps take time.
An order that makes it easier
- Start with the medical exam. The result can take two weeks and the certificate lasts 6 months, so time it around the date of the katb el-ketab.
- Check that your IDs are valid. If one is about to expire, renew it well before.
- Prepare an envelope each. Put the photos and copies in it, so nothing goes missing on the day.
- Agree with the guardian and the witnesses. Settle the time and place, and remind them the day before.
In the katb el-ketab station on Zaghrouta, these papers are a checklist you tick off one by one, and it stays on your phone.