Singleness Affidavit Apostille in India for a Marriage Abroad
Planning to marry abroad, or to marry a foreign national? The registrar there will want proof that you are free to marry, and from India that is often a singleness affidavit with an MEA apostille. Timing matters more than people expect, because the proof must be recent when you file. This post plans the affidavit around your wedding date and destination.
Quick answer
Singleness affidavit apostille is the MEA apostille on a notarised affidavit declaring that you are single and free to marry. A foreign marriage registrar or court in a Hague Convention country accepts it without an embassy stamp. The affidavit is notarised, authenticated by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
INFINITYGRO charges Rs 1,000–1,500 per document, all-inclusive, usually 2–3 working days in Delhi; courier is extra. Make the affidavit close to the filing date: proof of single status is often accepted only if recent. For the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait or China, MEA attestation and embassy legalisation replace the apostille.
Affidavit, certificate or both: what the foreign registrar wants
Indian citizens can show single status in three common forms. The registrar’s checklist decides which one, and some ask for more than one.
| Singleness affidavit | Your sworn statement on stamp paper, notarised |
|---|---|
| Single status certificate | Issued by a local government office in some states |
| Bachelorhood certificate | Issued by a revenue office, or made as an affidavit |
Working back from the wedding date
Proof of single status is the one document in a marriage file that can be too old. The Netherlands IND, for example, accepts a single status declaration only if it is no older than 6 months, and marriage registrars elsewhere often set similar limits.
- 1Find the limitRead how recent the registrar wants the proof to be, and from which date it counts.
- 2Swear the affidavitClose to that window, so it is fresh when filed.
- 3ApostilleUsually 2–3 working days in Delhi plus courier.
- 4Translate if askedAfter the apostille, so the stamp is translated too.
- 5File abroadWith the rest of your marriage documents.
Singleness affidavit for marriage abroad: route by country
Apostille only
The UK, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, the USA, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Oman and other Hague countries. No embassy stamp.
Attestation and embassy
The UAE (plus MOFA online, usually 5–7 working days), Qatar, Kuwait, China and other non-Hague countries. Embassy fee extra.
Papers that usually travel with the affidavit
- Birth certificate, apostilled or attested by the same route
- Passport copy; some registrars want it apostilled
- Divorce decree or spouse’s death certificate if you were married before
- Translations, where the registrar does not work in English
Send all originals in one courier to our New Ashok Nagar office, or drop them off in Delhi. INFINITYGRO does not issue certificates or confirm anyone’s marital status; we authenticate what you hold.
Singleness affidavit apostille: cost and time
| MEA apostille, personal or educational document | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, all-inclusive: notary, SDM attestation, the Rs 50 MEA fee and our service |
|---|---|
| Usual time | 2–3 working days in Delhi after the document reaches us |
| Courier | Extra, both ways |
| Translation | Quoted by language and page |
Each document in the set is charged separately. For non-Hague countries the MEA attestation stage costs the same and the embassy fee is extra.
FAQs: Singleness Affidavit Apostille in India for a Marriage Abroad
What is a singleness affidavit apostille?
It is the MEA apostille placed on a notarised affidavit in which you declare that you are single. After SDM authentication and the apostille, a registrar or court in a Hague Convention country can accept it without any embassy stamp.
How early should I make the singleness affidavit?
As late as your schedule safely allows. Many offices want proof of single status that is only a few months old; the Netherlands IND sets 6 months for a single status declaration. Allow 2–3 working days in Delhi for the apostille plus courier time.
Is a singleness affidavit enough to marry in Italy or Spain?
It depends on the registrar there, which may want a certificate instead of, or as well as, an affidavit. Italy and Spain are Hague countries, so whichever Indian document is accepted needs only the MEA apostille.
I am marrying in Germany. Will the apostille work?
Yes, in our experience. Our clients use the MEA apostille for Germany and German registry offices have not asked for German Embassy legalisation. The office may want a German translation, which we can prepare.
What about a wedding in Dubai?
The UAE is not a Hague country. The affidavit needs MEA attestation, UAE Embassy legalisation in New Delhi and UAE MOFA attestation, which we complete online. The whole chain usually takes 5–7 working days once the original reaches us.
How much does singleness affidavit apostille cost?
Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, all-inclusive of notary, SDM attestation, the Rs 50 MEA fee and our service. Courier is extra. Translation, if the registrar asks for it, is quoted by language and page.
I was divorced. What changes?
The affidavit should say that the earlier marriage was dissolved and give the decree details. Registrars abroad usually want the divorce decree too, with its own apostille or attestation. Send both together so they move through the MEA at the same time.
Do you handle the paperwork with the registrar abroad?
No. INFINITYGRO prepares the Indian documents only: the apostille or attestation, and a translation if the registrar needs one. Filing your papers and the wedding formalities are handled by you with the registrar or court in the country where you marry, under its own procedure.
Official sources
Plan your singleness affidavit around the wedding date
WhatsApp a photo of your document and the country it is for. We confirm the route, time and total in writing before you send anything.
Office: C – 5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi – 110096 · Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM · office drop-off or courier, no home pickup
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Disclaimer: INFINITYGRO is a private document facilitation service, not a government office or embassy. Apostilles and attestations are issued only by the Ministry of External Affairs and the embassies concerned; we do not issue, correct or verify certificates. Rules and fees can change, so check the requirements of the authority that will receive your document.
Last reviewed: October 2026