How to Attest a Marriage Certificate in India for Use Abroad
Attestation is the route your marriage certificate takes when the destination country does not accept the apostille. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and China are the usual examples. The certificate is stamped by the MEA and then by that country’s embassy in New Delhi. Here is how the route works for each, and how to tell whether you need it at all.
Quick answer: attestation or apostille?
Marriage certificate attestation in India is the chain of authentications needed when the certificate will be used in a country outside the Hague Apostille Convention, or one where the Convention does not apply with India. The certificate is attested by a notary and the SDM in Delhi, then by the Ministry of External Affairs, and finally legalised by the embassy of the destination country in New Delhi.
For Hague countries such as the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Saudi Arabia or Oman, the MEA apostille replaces all of this. INFINITYGRO charges Rs 1,000–1,500 per document for the MEA stage, all-inclusive; the embassy fee is extra and confirmed in your written quote.
Attestation vs apostille for a marriage certificate
MEA attestation + embassy
Countries outside the Convention, such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia. Also China, where India objected to the accession, and Thailand until the Convention takes effect there on 28 February 2027.
MEA apostille only
Convention countries, including the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, South Korea, and Vietnam since 11 September 2026 for personal documents. No embassy step.
Marriage certificate attestation for the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait
- 1Notary and SDMIn Delhi, for a certificate from any state.
- 2MEA attestationThe Ministry attests the SDM’s signature. This is a stamp, not an apostille.
- 3Embassy in New DelhiThe UAE, Qatar or Kuwait embassy legalises the MEA stamp. Its fee is extra.
- 4UAE MOFA (UAE only)After the UAE Embassy, attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs is completed online; we handle it.
For the UAE, marriage certificate attestation in India and the MOFA stage together usually take 5–7 working days from the day the certificate reaches us. Qatar and Kuwait timings depend on the embassy and are confirmed when we quote.
China, Egypt and other embassy routes
China joined the Apostille Convention, but India objected, so the Convention does not operate between them. An Indian marriage certificate for China therefore goes through MEA attestation and legalisation by the Chinese embassy. The same MEA-then-embassy pattern applies to Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and the other non-Hague countries.
Preparing for marriage certificate attestation in India
- Send the registrar’s certificate; embassies rarely accept a religious certificate on its own
- Check names against both passports; embassies compare them
- Do not laminate the certificate
- Include passport copies of both spouses
- Ask whether the receiving office wants an Arabic or other translation; we translate into any language
INFINITYGRO starts marriage certificate attestation in India from the certificate you already hold. We do not register marriages or correct certificates.
Marriage certificate attestation in India: cost and time
| MEA attestation stage | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, all-inclusive: notary, SDM attestation, the MEA fee and our service |
|---|---|
| Embassy legalisation fee | Extra; set by the embassy and confirmed in your written quote |
| UAE (with MOFA online) | Usually 5–7 working days |
| If an apostille is enough instead | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, all-inclusive, usually 2–3 working days |
| Courier | Extra, both ways |
| Translation | Quoted by language and page |
No embassy fee figure is quoted here because embassies set and change their own fees.
For the UAE, all charges including the embassy and MOFA stages are on the UAE fee page.
UAE embassy attestation feesFAQs: How to Attest a Marriage Certificate in India for Use Abroad
What is marriage certificate attestation in India?
It is the sequence of stamps that makes an Indian marriage certificate acceptable in a country that does not take the apostille: notary, SDM, MEA attestation and then legalisation by that country’s embassy in New Delhi. For the UAE, MOFA attestation online follows.
Do I need attestation or an apostille for Dubai?
Attestation. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so an apostille does not help there. The certificate needs MEA attestation, UAE Embassy legalisation and UAE MOFA attestation, usually 5–7 working days through us.
Is Saudi Arabia attestation or apostille?
Apostille. Saudi Arabia is a party to the Apostille Convention, so a marriage certificate for Saudi Arabia needs only the MEA apostille. No Saudi embassy stamp is required, and the cost is Rs 1,000–1,500 per document, all-inclusive.
How much is the embassy fee?
It depends on the embassy and can change, so we do not publish a figure. It is extra to the Rs 1,000–1,500 MEA stage and is confirmed in your written quote before you send the certificate. Country fee pages on our site have the details.
Does my certificate need State Home Department attestation?
Not on our route. In Delhi the notary and SDM provide the authentication the MEA relies on, for certificates from any state. If a receiving office specifically asks for a state department stamp, tell us before we start.
Can a nikahnama or temple certificate be attested?
Embassies usually want the certificate issued by the marriage registrar. A religious certificate on its own is often refused at some stage. Send a photo and the country name first; we will tell you what is likely to work before you courier anything.
Is Arabic translation required for Gulf countries?
Often, but not always; the receiving office decides. Some want the translation made in their own country. If a translation made in India is acceptable, INFINITYGRO translates into Arabic and any other language, after the attestation so the stamps are translated too.
Do I have to visit the embassy?
No. Neither spouse needs to visit the MEA or the embassy. Courier the original with passport copies of both spouses, or drop it at our New Ashok Nagar office. It comes back by Blue Dart or another secure courier.
Official sources
Get your marriage certificate attested for abroad
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