Marriage Certificate Apostille in Uttar Pradesh
A marriage certificate apostille in Uttar Pradesh starts with a certificate issued by the Stamp and Registration Department, whose sub-registrar offices register marriages under the Uttar Pradesh Marriage Registration Rules, 2017. Most couples apply through the IGRS UP portal and then visit the office. INFINITYGRO Attestation, a private agency in Delhi, takes that certificate through notary, SDM and the Ministry of External Affairs.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Marriage certificate attestation sample
I registered my marriage at the sub-registrar office in Lucknow. Can it be apostilled for my wife's spouse visa? Yes. A certificate from any UP sub-registrar office can be apostilled by the MEA. For a marriage certificate apostille in Uttar Pradesh, most clients use the Delhi route: notary in Delhi, then SDM, then MEA. It usually takes 2 to 3 working days. If the embassy asks for state verification, the certificate goes to the state authority in Lucknow first.
Start with the IGRS UP record
Uttar Pradesh runs marriage registration through the same department that registers property. Couples fill the application on the IGRS UP portal, book a date and then appear at the sub-registrar office with witnesses. The certificate is printed and signed at that office.
Before you send anything for apostille, check the printed certificate against both passports. Spellings, dates of birth and the father's name should match. A mismatch is easier to fix at the sub-registrar office now than after the stamp is on the back.
Key facts
| State law | Uttar Pradesh Marriage Registration Rules, 2017 (with the central marriage Acts) |
|---|---|
| Who registers | Sub-registrar offices of the Stamp and Registration Department |
| Online portal | IGRS UP (igrsup.gov.in), marriage registration section |
| Certificate language | Usually Hindi, often with English |
| State authentication | Under/Special/Joint Secretaries, HRD/GAD/Higher Education, Lucknow |
| Delhi route | Notary in Delhi, SDM (Delhi), MEA Apostille |
| MEA Apostille fee | Rs 50 per document |
| Usual time (Delhi route) | 2 to 3 working days |
How marriage certificate apostille in Uttar Pradesh works
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issues the apostille. It checks only the signature of the officer who authenticated your certificate. It does not read or judge the content. Since July 2012 the MEA does not accept papers from individuals at its counter, so documents reach it through authorised outsourced centres.
- We receive the original certificate by courier or at our Delhi office.
- A Delhi notary attests it.
- The SDM (Delhi) verifies the notary.
- The MEA places the apostille sticker.
- We return the document by Blue Dart or a similar tracked courier.
The MEA fee is Rs 50 per document. Our all-inclusive Delhi route charge is Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, with courier extra.
Recent tightening of UP registration
In 2025 the Allahabad High Court dealt with fake marriage registrations. It directed the state to amend the 2017 Rules. Until then, the court said, registration should happen where one of the parties ordinarily lives. It also said an unregistered rent agreement is not valid proof of residence, and an affidavit from the person who solemnised the marriage should be filed.
This matters for apostille in a practical way. Embassies sometimes question certificates registered far from the couple's home. If your certificate came from a district where neither of you lived, keep proof of the link ready, or ask us about the state route.
When the Lucknow state route is needed
Some receiving offices abroad want the state government to confirm the certificate before the MEA. In Uttar Pradesh, the authority on the MEA list is the Under, Special or Joint Secretaries of HRD, GAD or Higher Education in Lucknow. After their signature, the MEA apostilles the document.
The time for this route depends on the state department. We tell you the status as it moves. For most spouse visa files, the Delhi route is accepted, so we suggest checking with the embassy or your lawyer abroad first.
If you are not sure which route your file needs, send us the checklist from the embassy or immigration portal. We read it and tell you which route fits before you courier anything.
Couples from Lucknow, Kanpur and Noida/Ghaziabad
Certificates from Lucknow, Kanpur, Noida and Ghaziabad all come from sub-registrar offices under the same state department, so they follow the same apostille route. Couples in Noida and Ghaziabad are close to our New Ashok Nagar office and can drop off and collect documents in person. Clients in Lucknow, Kanpur and other districts courier the original to us. We do not offer home pickup.
Papers to send and the Hindi question
- Original marriage certificate (not laminated)
- Clear passport copies of both spouses
- An affidavit if a name differs from the passport
MEA does not apostille photocopies. A certificate printed mainly in Hindi will usually need a certified translation for countries such as Spain, Italy or the Netherlands. We arrange translation in all major languages.
Countries that will not take the apostille
Apostille does not work for China, because India objected to China's accession in 2023. Germany also does not accept it, since Germany objected to India's accession in 2005 and verifies Indian documents through its embassy. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt are not members. For these, the certificate needs MEA attestation and embassy legalization. Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain accept the apostille.
Read our MEA apostille overview or the all-India marriage certificate guide. Neighbouring pages cover Uttarakhand and Bihar.
Real marriage certificate apostille samples
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Uttar Pradesh marriage certificate apostille FAQs
Can I download my UP marriage certificate and send that print?
A print is fine to send only if it is the signed certificate issued by the sub-registrar office. MEA will not apostille a photocopy. Send the original you received from the office.
My marriage was registered under the Hindu Marriage Act in Kanpur. Does that change anything?
No. The route is the same whether the registration was under the Hindu Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act. What matters is that the certificate is an original signed document.
Is marriage certificate apostille in Uttar Pradesh possible for a 10-year-old certificate?
Yes. There is no age limit on the certificate. Old certificates may be faded or laminated, though. A laminated certificate cannot be stamped on the back, so you may need a fresh certified copy from the sub-registrar office.
Do I need to come to Delhi?
No. You can courier the original from anywhere in Uttar Pradesh. Clients in Noida and Ghaziabad often drop it off at our office instead.
We married in Ghaziabad but now live in Canada. Who can send the certificate?
Either spouse, a parent or any relative in India can courier the original to our Delhi office with passport copies of both of you. We complete the apostille and send the document back by tracked courier to the address you choose in India. Your relative does not need to visit the MEA or any state office.
Is INFINITYGRO part of the UP government or MEA?
No. We are a private document legalization agency. We prepare and submit your papers through the official channels.
Other documents from Uttar Pradesh
- Marriage Certificate apostille
- Birth Certificate apostille
- Degree Certificate apostille
- Diploma Certificate apostille
- PCC apostille
Marriage Certificate apostille in other states
Getting a Uttar Pradesh 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.