Getting a Marriage Certificate Apostille in Meghalaya
For a marriage certificate apostille in Meghalaya, the document you need is the Form C Certificate of Registration issued by the Registrar of Marriage under the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012. Couples who married under the Special Marriage Act in Shillong get theirs from the Registration Branch of the Deputy Commissioner's office. INFINITYGRO, a private Delhi agency, then handles verification and the MEA apostille.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Marriage certificate attestation sample
Our Form C certificate is from Shillong. Is it enough for a UK spouse visa, or do we need something more? The Form C certificate is the right base document. For a UK spouse visa, it needs an apostille from the MEA. Marriage certificate apostille in Meghalaya usually goes through a Delhi notary and the SDM (Delhi), then MEA, in about 2 to 3 working days. The Political Department in Shillong can verify it instead if the UK office asks for state verification.
Form C and the 60-day memorandum
Meghalaya made registration of marriages compulsory through Act No. 13 of 2012, passed on 14 September 2012. The working details are in the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Rules, 2015. Under these rules, the couple files a memorandum in Form B, with passport-size photos, within 60 days of the marriage.
The Registrar of Marriage enters it in the register and issues the Certificate of Registration in Form C. The rules say this first certificate is free. A late memorandum is still accepted with a fine that rises month by month, capped at Rs 1,000 under the rules.
The Act was amended in 2022. The amendment brought the Inspector General of Registration, Meghalaya, formally into the marriage registration system. It also removed the old wording that made a marriage certificate compulsory for all official purposes. Registration itself is still compulsory.
Key facts
| State law | Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012 (Act No. 13 of 2012) and Rules, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Who registers | Registrar of Marriage; Registrar General of Marriages oversees and hears appeals |
| Special Marriage Act | Registration Branch, Deputy Commissioner's office (East Khasi Hills, Shillong) |
| Online portal | Meghalaya e-District, megedistrict.gov.in |
| Certificate | Form C, issued free; certified copies Rs 10 |
| Language | English |
| State authentication | Secretary / Principal Secretary, Political Department, Shillong |
| Delhi route | Notary, SDM (Delhi), MEA; MEA fee Rs 50 |
Lost the original? Ask for a certified copy
MEA does not apostille photocopies. If your Form C is lost or damaged, do not send a photocopy. The 2015 rules let the Registrar issue a certified copy of the register entry under his seal and signature, for a fee of Rs 10. A certified copy signed by the Registrar is a fresh original document and can go through the apostille process.
A laminated certificate cannot be stamped on the back. If yours is laminated, getting a certified copy is usually the easiest fix.
Your two routes for marriage certificate apostille in Meghalaya
The MEA checks only the signature of the officer who authenticated the certificate. It does not look at the contents. Before MEA, one of these offices must verify the paper:
- Delhi route. A Delhi notary attests the certificate, then the SDM (Delhi) verifies the notary. MEA accepts this for most personal documents from any state. It usually takes 2 to 3 working days.
- Shillong route. The Secretary or Principal Secretary, Political Department, Shillong, authenticates the certificate. Use it when the office abroad specifically wants state verification. Time depends on the department.
Either way, MEA then fixes the apostille through its authorised outsourced centre. Our MEA apostille page explains the sticker and its online check.
Court marriages at the DC office
The East Khasi Hills district website lists marriage certificates under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 as a service of the Registration Branch at the DC office in Shillong. It says the notice must be filed at least 30 days before the intended marriage and that three witnesses must be present. Foreign nationals need to show a visa and passport. The page also points to the state's e-District portal for online access.
Couples from Shillong and the rest of the state
Shillong is both the capital and the seat of the Political Department, so couples who live there can follow up on the state route themselves. Certificates from Tura, Jowai or Nongpoh go the same way. If you already live outside Meghalaya, simply courier the original to our Delhi office. We send it back by Blue Dart or a similar tracked courier. We do not offer home pickup.
Names, language and matrilineal surnames
Form C is printed in English, so most English-speaking countries accept it without translation. A country with another official language may ask for a certified translation, which we arrange through our translation service.
Khasi and Garo families often pass the clan name through the mother. A spouse's surname on the certificate may therefore differ from the passport. Foreign offices usually want the names to match, so an affidavit is the common answer. Tell us early if this applies.
Fees and where the apostille works
MEA charges Rs 50 per document. Our all-inclusive Delhi route costs Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, with courier extra. We are a private agency with no government affiliation. China and Germany do not accept an Indian apostille. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt need MEA attestation plus embassy legalisation. See also our marriage certificate guide and the page for neighbouring Assam.
Real marriage certificate apostille samples
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Meghalaya marriage certificate apostille FAQs
Is marriage registration compulsory in Meghalaya?
Yes. The Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012 requires every marriage in the state to be registered. The 2015 rules give 60 days to file the memorandum, with a fine for late filing.
Can a church certificate be used for marriage certificate apostille in Meghalaya?
Most foreign offices ask for the government Form C. A church certificate on its own may not be accepted. Register the marriage with the Registrar of Marriage and send us the Form C.
Who verifies Meghalaya marriage certificates at state level?
The MEA list names the Secretary or Principal Secretary, Political Department, Shillong. Most of our clients use the Delhi route instead because it needs no visit to Shillong.
My Form C is laminated. What can I do?
MEA cannot stamp the back of a laminated sheet. Apply to the Registrar for a certified copy, which the 2015 rules allow for Rs 10. That copy can then be apostilled.
Do I need to travel to Delhi?
No. Courier the original to our office at C-5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi 110096. Message us first on +91 85955 58517 so we can confirm the route for your destination country.
Can a foreign spouse marry in Shillong and then get the certificate apostilled?
Yes. The DC office accepts Special Marriage Act applications from foreign nationals with a visa and passport. Once the Marriage Officer issues the certificate, it can be apostilled like any other.
Other documents from Meghalaya
- Marriage Certificate apostille
- Birth Certificate apostille
- Degree Certificate apostille
- Diploma Certificate apostille
- PCC apostille
Marriage Certificate apostille in other states
Getting a Meghalaya 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.