At India for NRI, we help you obtain and apostille this certificate without the need to travel to India — saving time, effort, and cost.
What is a Single Status Certificate?
A Single Status Certificate (also known as a Bachelorhood Certificate or Certificate of No Impediment) is a legal affidavit issued in India that certifies a person is unmarried and free to marry. This document is often required by foreign governments before they allow the registration of a civil or religious marriage with an Indian citizen or NRI.
Alternate Names for Single Status Certificate
Depending on the country, this document may be known by different names:
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Single Status Affidavit
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Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)
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Bachelorhood Certificate
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Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage
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Unmarried Certificate
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Certificate of No Marriage Record
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Legal Capacity to Marry
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Certificate of Matrimonial Capacity
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Certificate of Capacity to Marry
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CENOMAR (in the Philippines)
Country-Specific Terms
Here’s what the Single Status Certificate is called in different countries:
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USA / Canada – Single Status Affidavit, Affidavit of Bachelorhood
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UK – Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)
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Australia – Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage
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New Zealand – Certificate of No Impediment
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Germany – Ehefähigkeitszeugnis
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France – Certificat de capacité matrimoniale
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Italy – Nulla Osta
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UAE / Gulf Countries – Bachelorhood Certificate
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Philippines – CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage Record)
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Netherlands – Verklaring van huwelijksbevoegdheid
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Spain – Certificado de Capacidad Matrimonial
When Is an Apostille or Embassy Attestation Needed?
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If your marriage is taking place in a Hague Convention country, the Single Status Certificate must be apostilled by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
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If your marriage is in a non-Hague country like UAE, Qatar, or Saudi Arabia, you’ll need Embassy Attestation after MEA attestation.
Documents You Will Need
To obtain and apostille a Single Status Certificate from India, you typically need:
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Valid Indian passport
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Aadhaar or Indian address proof
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Affidavit on Indian stamp paper confirming your unmarried status
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Passport-size photograph
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If previously married: divorce decree or spouse’s death certificate
India for NRI assists you with everything — from drafting the affidavit to notarization and MEA attestation.