Unmarried Affidavit Apostille: Getting the Affidavit Right Before the MEA
An unmarried affidavit is your own sworn statement that you are not married. Foreign consulates, employers and residence offices ask for it with dependant visas, residence permits and job files. Because it is a private document, it only gets an apostille after a notary and the SDM have authenticated it. Most rejections come from the affidavit itself, so this post starts there.
Quick answer
Unmarried affidavit apostille is the MEA apostille placed on a notarised affidavit in which you declare that you are not married. The MEA lists affidavits among the personal documents it apostilles. Before that, a notary authenticates your signature on the affidavit and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) authenticates the notary, which gives the MEA a signature it can rely on.
INFINITYGRO handles the SDM and MEA stages for Rs 1,000–1,500 per affidavit, all-inclusive, usually in 2–3 working days in Delhi. We do not decide anyone’s marital status; the statement is yours. For non-Hague countries such as the UAE, the affidavit takes MEA attestation and embassy legalisation instead.
What an unmarried affidavit usually states
There is no single national format, and the receiving office may give you its own wording. Where it does not, these are the details foreign offices normally expect to see.
Who you are
Full name exactly as in the passport, parents’ names, date and place of birth, address.
Passport number
Lets the foreign office tie the affidavit to your passport.
The statement
That you have never been married, or that a previous marriage ended, with the date and the decree or death certificate.
Purpose
The country and reason, for example a residence permit or dependant visa.
Verification
A closing verification paragraph, your signature and the date.
Notary’s part
Seal, signature, date and register entry of the notary.
Your affidavit or a parent’s?
Sworn by you
The usual form for adults. Some offices accept nothing else, because the statement must come from the person concerned.
Sworn by a parent
Some offices accept a parent’s affidavit that their son or daughter is unmarried, often when the applicant is abroad. Check before relying on it.
Unmarried affidavit apostille process in Delhi
- 1Photo and countryWhatsApp the affidavit and the destination. We confirm apostille or attestation, and the cost.
- 2Original to our officeCourier it with your passport copy, or drop it at New Ashok Nagar. No home pickup.
- 3SDM authenticationThe SDM authenticates the notary’s seal and signature.
- 4MEA apostilleLodged through the MEA outsourced centre with your passport copy.
- 5ReturnBy Blue Dart or another secure courier, or collection from our office.
Why an unmarried affidavit gets refused
- Name or passport number does not match the passport
- No notary register entry or an unclear notary seal
- Written on plain paper when the office expects stamp paper
- Old date: many offices want proof of single status made recently
- Divorced or widowed but no reference to the decree or death certificate
For a marriage abroad, a single status certificate from a government office may be preferred. Our single status certificate apostille page covers that document.
Unmarried 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 |
For the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait or China the MEA attestation stage costs the same and the embassy fee is extra, confirmed in your written quote.
Unmarried Affidavit Apostille: Getting the Affidavit Right Before the MEA: real sample
A real document from our files, with personal details hidden. Check the stamps on your own document against it.
FAQs: Unmarried Affidavit Apostille: Getting the Affidavit Right Before the MEA
Can an affidavit be apostilled by the MEA?
Yes. The MEA lists affidavits among the personal documents it apostilles. Because an affidavit is a private statement, it must first be notarised and then authenticated by the SDM, so that the MEA has an official signature to certify.
Who needs an unmarried affidavit for visa purposes?
Applicants for dependant visas, residence permits or jobs abroad whose receiving office wants proof that they are single. Requirements differ by country and office, so follow the checklist you were given; it will say whether an affidavit is acceptable.
Should the affidavit be on stamp paper?
Usually yes. Most receiving offices and notaries expect an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper of the value applicable in your state. A plain-paper declaration is more likely to be questioned at some stage.
How recent should the affidavit be?
The apostille does not expire, but proof of single status ages quickly. The Netherlands IND, for example, accepts a single status declaration only if it is no older than 6 months. Make the affidavit close to the date you will submit it.
What does unmarried affidavit apostille cost?
Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per affidavit, all-inclusive of the notary, SDM attestation, the Rs 50 MEA fee and our service. Courier is extra. If the receiving office needs a translation, it is quoted by language and page.
Is an apostille enough for the UAE?
No. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so it does not accept the apostille. The affidavit needs MEA attestation, UAE Embassy legalisation in New Delhi and UAE MOFA attestation, which we complete online; that usually takes 5–7 working days in all.
I am divorced. Can I make an unmarried affidavit?
Yes, but it should state that the earlier marriage was dissolved and give the decree details. Many offices also want the divorce decree itself apostilled. See our divorce deed apostille page, and send both documents together.
Will you confirm to the embassy that I am unmarried?
No. INFINITYGRO does not verify or certify marital status. The apostille confirms the signatures on the affidavit, not the truth of what it says. The statement is your own, made on oath before the notary.
Official sources
Send a photo of your affidavit before posting it
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
Related guides
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