Marriage Certificate Apostille in West Bengal
For a marriage certificate apostille in West Bengal, the certificate must come from a Marriage Officer or Hindu Marriage Registrar appointed by the state Law Department. Since December 2018 these officers register marriages on the MARREG system run under the Registrar General of Marriages in Kolkata. INFINITYGRO Attestation, a private agency in Delhi, carries the certificate through to the MEA apostille.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Marriage certificate attestation sample
Our Kolkata registrar emailed a digitally signed copy of our marriage certificate. Can that be apostilled? The MEA needs a physical original with a verifiable signature. For marriage certificate apostille in West Bengal, send us the signed paper certificate from your Marriage Officer or Hindu Marriage Registrar. We take it through a Delhi notary, the SDM and the MEA, usually in 2 to 3 working days. Ask us first if you hold only the emailed copy.
MARREG and the Registrar General of Marriages
West Bengal moved marriage registration onto a web system called MARREG. Couples fill the notice or application online, choose a Marriage Officer, and then visit that officer with original papers and witnesses. The office of the Registrar General of Marriages in Kolkata oversees the system.
The state has a clear rule on who may register. Only Marriage Officers and ex officio Marriage Officers appointed by the Law Department can do it. Advocates cannot, and courts do not register marriages. If your certificate was issued by anyone else, talk to us before sending it for apostille.
Key facts
| Laws and rules | Hindu Marriage Act 1955 with Hindu Marriage Registration Rules 1958; Special Marriage Act 1954 |
|---|---|
| Who registers | Marriage Officers and Hindu Marriage Registrars appointed by the WB Law Department |
| Online system | MARREG (rgmwb.gov.in), online since 1 December 2018 |
| Oversight | Office of the Registrar General of Marriages, India Exchange Place, Kolkata |
| Certificate language | Usually English, sometimes with Bengali |
| State authentication | Section Officer / Joint Secretary, Home (Foreigners & NRIs), Kolkata |
| Delhi route | Notary in Delhi, SDM (Delhi), MEA Apostille |
| MEA fee | Rs 50 per document |
Digital copies and certified copies
For MARREG registrations, a copy of the certificate is emailed, digitally signed by the Marriage Officer or Hindu Marriage Registrar. Certified copies of older records can be requested on the MARREG portal, and some certificates also appear in DigiLocker.
These digital copies are handy, but the MEA apostilles a physical document carrying a signature that a notary and the SDM can verify. Keep the paper certificate safe and unlaminated. If you have lost it, request a certified copy from the registrar before you start.
Our process for marriage certificate apostille in West Bengal
- You courier the original certificate and both passport copies to our Delhi office.
- A Delhi notary attests it.
- The SDM (Delhi) verifies the notary.
- We file it through an MEA-authorised centre. The MEA has not accepted papers from individuals since July 2012.
- The MEA apostilles it, and we return it by Blue Dart or a similar tracked courier.
The MEA checks only the authenticating signature. It does not look into the content. The MEA fee is Rs 50. Our all-inclusive charge for this route is Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, with courier extra.
The Home (Foreigners & NRIs) desk
If a foreign office wants state verification, the West Bengal authority on the MEA list is the Section Officer or Joint Secretary, Home (Foreigners and NRIs), in Kolkata. The MEA apostilles after that signature. The time taken depends on the department. Most spouse visa files accept the Delhi route, so check before choosing.
Send us the receiving office's checklist if you are unsure. We read it and tell you which route fits before you courier the original.
Couples registering in Kolkata
Kolkata has many Marriage Officers and Hindu Marriage Registrars listed on MARREG, and couples choose one when they apply. Wherever in the state your officer sits, the certificate follows the same apostille route. Courier it to our New Ashok Nagar office from Kolkata or any district. We do not run a pickup service.
If you have not yet picked a Marriage Officer, the MARREG portal lists those available. After registration, collect the signed paper certificate from the officer. That is the copy to send us. Keep the emailed digital copy for your own records and for any visa portal that accepts uploads.
Bengali entries and name spellings
Certificates are often in English, but older ones or local entries may include Bengali. Check that the names match both passports exactly. Bengali names often have more than one English spelling, such as Mukherjee and Mukharjee. If they differ, add a name affidavit. When the destination wants a translation, we arrange certified translation in all major languages.
Common destinations for Bengal couples
Couples from West Bengal often use their certificate for the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia. All four accept apostilles. The certificate typically supports a spouse visa, a green card file, a permanent residence application or a citizenship case.
Some couples also need it for Bangladesh-related family matters or for work in the Gulf. Rules differ for each, so check which countries are Hague members before you start. If your spouse works in Dubai or Doha, the apostille will not help. That file needs MEA attestation and embassy legalization instead, which we also handle. See our UAE attestation fees for that route.
Destinations outside the apostille system
China and Germany do not accept Indian apostilles. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt are not Hague members and need MEA attestation and embassy legalization. Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain accept the apostille.
See also the MEA apostille guide and our pages for Odisha and Sikkim.
Real marriage certificate apostille samples
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
West Bengal marriage certificate apostille FAQs
Our marriage was registered by a lawyer in Kolkata. Is that valid for apostille?
West Bengal says only Law Department appointed Marriage Officers may register marriages. Send us a scan. If the signatory is not a Marriage Officer, you may need to register properly first.
Can marriage certificate apostille in West Bengal be done for a pre-2018 certificate?
Yes. Certificates issued before MARREG went online can be apostilled if the original is clear and signed. A certified copy from the registrar also works.
Does the DigiLocker copy count?
No. Use it for reference, but send the physical signed certificate for apostille.
How long does the Kolkata state route take?
It depends on the Home (Foreigners and NRIs) department. We cannot promise a fixed time. The Delhi route usually takes 2 to 3 working days.
Can someone else courier my certificate from Kolkata?
Yes. A parent or relative can send the original with passport copies of both spouses. We return it by tracked courier to any address you choose.
Is INFINITYGRO linked to MARREG or the MEA?
No. We are a private agency. We prepare and submit documents through official channels.
Other documents from West Bengal
- Marriage Certificate apostille
- Birth Certificate apostille
- Degree Certificate apostille
- Diploma Certificate apostille
- PCC apostille
Marriage Certificate apostille in other states
Getting a West Bengal marriage certificate ready for abroad?
WhatsApp a photo of the document and the destination country. We reply with the route, the timeline and one total price.