Salam, If two people got married because just to get visa permits, do they have to then get a proper islamic divorce. Please note there would be two muslim witnesses but not in a nikah form just in a western registry office. Jazakallah
Answer
In principle, the proposal and acceptance from the bride and bridegroom is not sufficient for the validity of a Shar’ee Nikah. The proposal and acceptance must be witnessed by two male witnesses or one male and two female witnesses.
If a civil marriage was contracted and was not in conformity to the Shari?ah laws of a valid Nikah, there is no need for divorce.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai