Single Status Certificate Apostille for Marriage Abroad
A single status certificate apostille is usually the last paper standing between you and a wedding registry abroad. In India the certificate is issued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, tehsildar or a competent court for your area, or replaced by a notarised affidavit where that is accepted. INFINITYGRO takes either version through verification, the MEA and the embassy where needed.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Birth certificate apostille sample
Who issues a single status certificate in India? According to the MEA, a single status or bachelorhood certificate is issued by the SDM or a competent court with jurisdiction over your address; some states route it through the tehsildar or a marriage registrar. It is then authenticated, and the MEA adds a single status certificate apostille for Hague countries or attestation for embassy-route countries.
Unmarried, bachelorhood or single status: one document, many names
Foreign registries ask for proof that you are free to marry. Indian offices and agents call it by different names:
- Single status certificate, the term most registries in Europe and the Gulf use.
- Unmarried certificate or non-marriage certificate, common in north Indian revenue offices.
- Bachelorhood certificate, the older term the MEA also uses, applied to men and women alike.
- Unmarried affidavit, a sworn statement made by you instead of a certificate issued by an officer.
- Certificate of no impediment, the term used in some countries for the same proof.
All of these are now handled on this page. The steps differ only according to whether an officer issued the paper or you swore it yourself.
Key facts
| Issued by | SDM or a competent court for your residential area; tehsildar or registrar in some states |
|---|---|
| Other names | Unmarried certificate, bachelorhood certificate, certificate of no impediment, non-marriage certificate |
| Affidavit version | Unmarried affidavit on stamp paper, sworn before a notary |
| Main use | Registering a marriage abroad, or with a foreign national |
| First step | SDM or state Home Department authentication |
| MEA step | Apostille for Hague countries; normal attestation for embassy countries |
| INFINITYGRO fee | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document on the Delhi route, all-inclusive; courier extra |
| MEA fee | Rs 50 per Apostille; normal attestation is free |
Officer-issued certificate or affidavit: which one to get
An officer-issued certificate comes from the SDM, tehsildar, a marriage registrar or a competent court, depending on your state. The officer usually asks for your own affidavit, ID, address proof and sometimes statements from witnesses or parents. Some offices also check the local marriage records.
An unmarried affidavit is made by you. It is drafted on stamp paper, signed before a notary and then legalized. It is quicker to prepare. Some registries accept it, while others insist on a certificate from a government officer.
Ask the registry abroad which version it accepts before you start. Getting the wrong one legalized means repeating the whole chain.
What the certificate should state
- Your full name exactly as on your passport, with passport number.
- Father's or mother's name and your date of birth.
- Full residential address.
- A clear statement that you are unmarried, or divorced or widowed and not remarried.
- The issuing officer's name, designation, signature, seal and date.
If you were married before, the registry will usually also want the divorce decree or the spouse's death certificate, legalized the same way.
Single Status Certificate route by destination country
Each card shows whether the country takes an MEA Apostille or embassy legalization. Click a flag for that country.
UAEEmbassy legalization
QatarEmbassy legalization
KuwaitEmbassy legalization
Saudi ArabiaApostille
United KingdomApostille
United StatesApostille
ItalyApostille
SpainApostille
FranceApostille
ChinaEmbassy legalization
OmanApostille
BahrainApostille
No country matches. Call us: we handle most embassies in New Delhi.
Apostille MEA Apostille is the final stepEmbassy legalization MEA attestation, then the embassy in New DelhiGerman verification verified through the German Embassy
Single status certificate apostille: the route step by step
The MEA's own guidance says an SDM certificate or affidavit is counter-attested by the state Home Department and then attested or apostilled by the MEA. In practice there are two ways to reach the MEA:
- Delhi route: notary, then SDM in Delhi, then MEA. Many foreign offices accept this for applicants from any state.
- State route: the state Home or General Administration Department of the state where the paper was issued, then MEA. Use it when the registry or embassy names it.
The MEA then adds the single status certificate apostille or, for embassy-route countries, normal attestation. It checks the authenticating officer's signature only. See MEA Apostille for the general rules.
Country by country
Apostille countries include the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, most of Europe, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Turkey. Vietnam joins from 11 September 2026. The MEA Apostille is final for them.
For the UAE, the certificate needs MEA attestation, then the UAE Embassy in New Delhi, then UAE MOFA online; see our UAE attestation page. Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq and Jordan need MEA attestation and their embassy stamp. China does not accept Indian Apostilles. Germany does not legalize Indian documents and may ask its embassy to verify them.
Many European and Latin American registries also want a translation. We arrange it through our translation service.
Timing: why a recent certificate matters
Marital status can change, so registries abroad often accept a single status paper only if it is recent. Many set a window of a few months from the date of issue. The Apostille itself does not expire, but the certificate behind it can be refused as stale.
Plan backwards from the wedding date. Get the certificate issued close to the time you need it, legalize it promptly, and allow time for translation and courier abroad. If the date slips, you may need a fresh certificate.
Already living abroad?
If you live outside India, the Indian embassy or consulate where you live often issues its own certificate or accepts a sworn declaration. Many registries prefer that, because it comes from the country where you are now. If the registry specifically wants an Indian certificate, a family member can apply to the SDM on your behalf in some districts. You may still need to sign an affidavit. Ask us before you start, and we will tell you what the route looks like for your district and destination.
Common reasons for rejection
Registries abroad turn papers back for small reasons. The name on the certificate does not match the passport letter for letter. The certificate omits the passport number the registry asked for. The affidavit was accepted by the MEA, but the registry wanted an officer's certificate. A single status certificate apostille was obtained for a UAE wedding, where embassy attestation was needed instead. Read the registry's checklist twice, and send it to us with your papers.
Sending your papers to INFINITYGRO
- The original certificate or notarised affidavit.
- Your passport copy.
- Your fiance's country and the registry's checklist, if any.
Delhi NCR clients can visit our New Ashok Nagar office; others courier documents in, and we return them by Blue Dart or a similar tracked courier. Our all-inclusive Delhi route fee is Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document and usually takes 2 to 3 working days. Embassy fees are extra. Get a written quote on the contact page.
What the MEA stamps look like
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
State guides
How to get this certificate in these states, then legalize it for use abroad.
Single Status Certificate apostille FAQs
Is an unmarried affidavit the same as a single status certificate?
Not quite. The affidavit is your own sworn statement. The certificate is issued by an officer such as the SDM. Both can be legalized, but registries abroad decide which they accept.
Can a woman get a bachelorhood certificate?
Yes. Despite the name, a bachelorhood certificate is simply proof of unmarried status and is issued to women and men.
I am divorced. Can I still get a single status certificate?
Yes, it can state that you are divorced and not remarried. You will usually need to show the divorce decree, and the registry abroad will likely want that decree legalized too.
How long does a single status certificate apostille take?
Once the certificate is in our hands, the Delhi route usually takes 2 to 3 working days. Getting the certificate issued by your SDM or tehsildar takes as long as that office takes.
My certificate is in Hindi. Will it be accepted?
It can be legalized as issued. Most registries abroad will also want a certified translation, which we can arrange.
Do I need to come to Delhi?
No, if you have the certificate or a notarised affidavit already. Courier the original to us. You only appear in person before your own notary or SDM.
The old site had separate pages for unmarried and bachelorhood certificates. Has anything changed?
No. The process is the same for all these names, so they are now explained together on this page.
Need your Single Status Certificate legalized?
WhatsApp a photo of the document and the destination country. We reply with the route and a written quote.