How Can You Prove That You Are Unmarried in India?

In India, we issue birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates, but the government does not maintain official records to issue an unmarried certificate that proves a person is single. However, in many Western and European countries, when someone marries a foreign national, an unmarried certificate is required. To address this, the Indian government allows individuals to prepare an affidavit declaring that he or she is single.

The Unmarried Certificate is also known in Hindi as “अविवाहित प्रमाण पत्र”. Although the name is different but the process remains the same.

How to Prepare an Unmarried Certificate Affidavit, or Single Status Certificate in India?

To prepare an unmarried certificate, you first need to create a self-declaration affidavit stating that you are single and have never been married as of a specific date. For this, purchase a ₹100 stamp paper and visit a nearby lawyer. Request the lawyer to draft the affidavit and get it notarized with the official signature and stamp.

How to Apply for an Unmarried Certificate Online in India ?

Applying for an unmarried certificate in India can be difficult, especially for individuals living abroad who need it for marriage purposes in another country. Traveling back to India just for this process is not always practical.

To make things easier, ND Universal has launched an online application service for unmarried certificates across India. We accept applications from all Indian citizens, no matter where they are currently residing.

To apply, candidates simply need to provide a clear scanned copy of their passport (front and back pages), where the name and address are clearly visible. Applicants can either apply online or send their documents via email.

For this process, the applicant’s physical presence in India is not required. However, we do need an authorization letter allowing us to work on their behalf to get the unmarried certificate.

The entire process usually takes around 8 to 10 working days. If there is any urgency or a strict submission deadline, we can also prioritize the application accordingly.

Correct Format for Single Status Affidavit / Unmarried Certificate

In a Single Status Certificate or Unmarried Certificate, basic details must be included, such as the person's name as per passport, date of birth, age, and address (also as per passport). The applicant must also declare that he or she has never been married in India before. Additionally, ensure that the current date is mentioned when preparing the affidavit.

For your convenience, weve provided a downloadable draft of the Unmarried Certificate:

📥 Download Sample Format Here

What Is the Process to Make an Unmarried Certificate Legally Valid Abroad?

When you prepare an affidavit of unmarried or single status certificate, it is not enough to use it for marriage abroad. It must also be legalized by the Indian government. Here are the steps to be followed after getting the unmarried certificate notarized.

• Step 1: It must be attested by either the Home Department of the respective state or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).
• Step 2: It must be apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, located in New Delhi (Indian Embassy).

How Long Does the Entire Process Take for an Unmarried Certificate?

First, we will prepare the affidavit and get it notarized, which may take 1 working day. After that, we will send it to you for your signature. Once we receive the signed affidavit, we will proceed with apostille and attestation, which may take around 3 working days. In total, the entire process—including courier delivery—takes approximately 7 to 10 working days for you to receive the hard copy in your hand.

How to Start the Unmarried Certificate Process with ND Universal?

To start the process with us, we require a copy of your passport (front and back pages) to get your name and address details for the affidavit. Once the affidavit is prepared, we will send it to your address for signature. After receiving the signed affidavit, we will proceed with legalization and apostille attestation from the Indian government. Alternatively, if you have already prepared and notarized the affidavit, you can send it directly to our office for apostille.

if you're ready to proceed or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.📩 Fill out our Contact Form here and our team will get in touch with you shortly.

State-Wise Application for Unmarried Certificate Fill up in India

State	Submission Link
Kerala	കേരളത്തിൽ അവിവാഹിത സർട്ടിഫിക്കറ്റ് സഹായത്തിനായി അപേക്ഷിക്കുക
Tamil Nadu	தமிழ்நாட்டில் திருமணமில்லா சான்றிதழ் சேவைகளுக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்கவும்
Gujarat	Apply for Unmarried Certificate Process in Gujarat
Bihar	Get Unmarried Certificate from Bihar
Karnataka	Apply for Unmarried Certificate Support in Karnataka
Manipur	Apply to Get Unmarried Certificate from Manipur
Punjab	Process to get Unmarried Certificate Services in Punjab
West Bengal	পশ্চিমবঙ্গে অবিবাহিত সনদ সহায়তা
Delhi	Apply Online for Unmarried Certificate in Delhi NCR

For any other states or cities of India, you can directly apply online using our non marriage certificate application form.

Steps to obtain single status certificate in India

If you are residing in India, you can obtain the unmarried certificate this way:

• Put together documents such as passport, birth certificate, voter ID, Aadhar card, address proof, proof of residence, voter ID or aadhar of your parents, and other documents required for the unmarried certificate application.
• Draft a single status affidavit stating that you are single, mentioning your personal details, your address, and names of witnesses.
• Approach your local DC office or the Suvidha Kendra to fill in the unmarried certificate form, and submit it along with the affidavit and supporting documents.
• You may also apply for an unmarried certificate online if you happen to reside in another country. The alternative, if you are an NRI, is to visit the Indian High Commissioner, and submit the form along with the documents as above.

Post submission processes for unmarried Certificate

Obtaining the singlehood status certificate is lengthy, involving these procedures:

• The competent court will direct the police station in whose jurisdiction you are located to depute an officer to visit your address, and examine two witnesses who will attest to your singlehood status.
• The police will send the single status report to the State Home Department for verification and document attestation, and the department will seal and sign your documents.
• This document sent is forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs for the final document attestation from your home country.
• The MEA then authorizes issuance of the single status certificate, and will inform your local high commissioner’s office (if you are residing in another country) about its attestation.
• The authority will issue the unmarried certificate in printed form and may even give the facility of downloading the unmarried certificate pdf from its portal.

The whole process may take anywhere from one month to two months. If there are queries, then you will be required to satisfy such queries, which will extend the time frame. It is important that your unmarried certificate application, and the unmarried status affidavit follows the right format and that there are no discrepancies, for which it is better to engage a professional agency rather than do it yourself. As can be seen, there are several government agencies involved, and it may require follow ups and personal visits to ensure expeditious processing. You may not be in a position to do it yourself due to time constraints, or because you are located in another country. Just leave it to experts and sit back.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What documents are required to get an Unmarried Certificate?

  To get a fresh Unmarried Certificate, the applicant must provide a copy of their passport (front and back). The passport should be issued in India. If the passport was renewed outside India through an Indian Embassy, then a copy of the applicant’s Indian Aadhaar card is also required.

  If the applicant is divorced, a copy of the divorce decree/certificate issued by the court is required.

  If the applicant is widowed and she looking for unmarried certificate proof in this case a copy of the previous husband’s death certificate must be submitted.

• Can parents declare in an affidavit that their son or daughter is unmarried?
  Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) accepted parental declarations that their son or daughter was unmarried. However, this is no longer accepted. At present, the MEA accepts only self-declaration affidavits for an Unmarried Certificate. This means that the individual who requires the Unmarried Certificate must personally apply and declare their marital status.
• What is the validity of an Unmarried Certificate?
  The validity of an Unmarried Certificate is generally six months to one year, depending on the requirements of the country where it is being submitted. However, most countries prefer or require a freshly issued Unmarried Certificate at the time of submission for legal or official formalities. Therefore, it is always advisable to apply for a new Unmarried Certificate close to your submission date.