Lost Your Marriage Certificate? Attestation of a Duplicate or Certified Copy
If the original marriage certificate is lost or damaged, the registrar’s office that holds the record can issue a duplicate or certified copy. That new document can be apostilled or attested just like the original. This post is for couples who now hold that copy: what to check on it, what happens to any stamps on the lost one, and which route applies.
Quick answer: the copy goes through the same route
Duplicate marriage certificate attestation follows the same route as an original. A duplicate or certified copy issued by the marriage registrar carries that office’s own signature and seal, so a notary, the SDM and then the Ministry of External Affairs can authenticate it. For Hague Convention countries it receives the MEA apostille; for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, China and other non-Hague countries it receives MEA attestation and embassy legalisation.
INFINITYGRO does not obtain duplicates; the issuing registrar does. Once you hold the copy, the MEA stage costs Rs 1,000–1,500 per document, all-inclusive, and an apostille usually takes 2–3 working days in Delhi. Courier is extra.
Who issues the copy, and who takes it from there
The registrar’s office
Holds the marriage register and is the only office that can issue a duplicate or certified copy of your certificate. Its procedure and fee are its own.
INFINITYGRO
Starts once you hold that copy: checks it, then arranges notary, SDM, MEA and, where needed, the embassy and courier back to you.
Six points to check on a duplicate before attestation
Duplicate marriage certificate attestation goes smoothly only if the copy itself is right. Check these points as soon as the registrar hands it over.
Registration number and date
Should match the original entry. If you have a photo of the lost certificate, compare them.
Names
Both spouses’ names should match their passports. Only the registrar can change them.
Live signature and seal
The registrar’s signature and seal should be on the copy itself, not a printout of a scan.
Marked as a copy
Words such as “duplicate” or “certified copy” are normal and do not stop the apostille.
Condition
Do not laminate it. A laminated document usually cannot be attested.
Issue date
Some foreign offices like recent copies. A newly issued duplicate helps here.
If the lost certificate was already apostilled or attested
An apostille or embassy stamp belongs to the paper it was fixed on. When that paper is lost, the stamps are lost with it; they cannot be transferred or reissued on a new copy. The duplicate needs its own fresh apostille or attestation. Duplicate marriage certificate attestation therefore starts from zero, even if the original had been through every stage.
- If a foreign office already holds the old apostilled certificate, ask whether it needs the new one at all
- If you kept a scan of the old apostille, keep it; some offices ask for the old number
- Embassy fees for non-Hague countries are paid again for the new document
Certified copy of marriage certificate apostille or attestation
Apostille
For Hague countries such as the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Notary, SDM, MEA apostille. Usually 2–3 working days in Delhi.
Attestation
For the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, China and other non-Hague countries. Notary, SDM, MEA attestation, then the embassy; the UAE adds MOFA online.
We also offer the online apostille (e-Sanad / QR apostille service) for Hague countries. Done through INFINITYGRO it is usually ready in 2–3 working days; send the document and a copy of your passport, because the passport number is entered online.
Duplicate marriage certificate attestation: 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 non-Hague countries the MEA attestation stage costs the same Rs 1,000–1,500 and the embassy fee is extra, confirmed in your written quote.
FAQs: Lost Your Marriage Certificate? Attestation of a Duplicate or Certified Copy
Can a duplicate marriage certificate be attested?
Yes. A duplicate or certified copy issued by the registrar carries the registrar’s own signature and seal, so it goes through notary, SDM and the MEA like an original. It then gets an apostille or, for non-Hague countries, MEA attestation and embassy legalisation.
Will the foreign office accept a duplicate instead of the original?
Usually, because what matters is that it is issued by the registrar. Netherlands Worldwide, for example, refers Indian applicants to an official copy from the Registrar of Marriages. If the receiving office has a different rule, it will be in its own instructions.
Can you get the duplicate certificate for us?
No. INFINITYGRO does not obtain, issue or correct marriage certificates or copies. The registrar’s office that holds your marriage record issues the duplicate. We start the duplicate marriage certificate attestation once you have it in hand.
Can a photocopy of the lost certificate be attested instead?
A photocopy is not a substitute. Foreign offices expect a document issued by the registrar, and a photocopy of a lost certificate does not carry the registrar’s signature. Send us a photo of whatever you hold and we will tell you honestly what will work.
Our old certificate had a UAE attestation. Is it still valid?
The stamps went with the lost paper. If the UAE authorities already recorded the old certificate, ask them whether they need anything new. Otherwise the duplicate needs the full chain again: MEA attestation, UAE Embassy and UAE MOFA online, usually 5–7 working days.
How much does duplicate marriage certificate attestation cost?
Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document for the MEA stage, all-inclusive of notary, SDM, the MEA fee and our service. For non-Hague countries the embassy fee is extra and is confirmed in writing. Courier is extra.
The duplicate shows a new issue date. Is that a problem?
No. The issue date of the copy is different from the date of marriage, and foreign offices understand that. The marriage date and registration number are what they compare with your other papers, so check those two details carefully on the duplicate.
How do we stop this happening again?
Keep a scan of the certificate and of every apostille or attestation on it. Some couples apostille two certified copies at once, so one stays at home. Never laminate the certificate; it makes later attestation difficult.
Official sources
Send a photo of your duplicate certificate
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