Being an NRI, you need to have a certificate to show that you are single and have no dependent from previous marriage.

How do you get it?

Here are some ways to get it.

To know how to get a certificate of no impediment, you need to follow two ways:

• by applying in person at the Indian Embassy in the country where you live
• by sending documents signed in front of a local Public Notary via post

First Method: From Embassy

• Make an appointment at the Embassy as earlier as one month before the marriage to notify that you are going to marry with a foreigner
• Enclose photocopies of all supporting documents needed to verify your claim for the single status affidavit in India
• Show proof of your employment and residence in the foreign for the Certificate of No Impediment by means of residence permit, air ticket, etc.
• Annex the original Decree Absolute if you have been married before and divorced/ marriage annulled
• Show the Notice of Marriage and affidavit of your parents

Second Method: Attesting Documents from India

For this, you need to send the documents for attestation and notarization to the competent authorities like the court, SDM and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Checklist of supporting documents:

• Aadhaar Card
• Scanned copy and origin Notice of Marriage
• Affidavits for notarization and attestation or apostille
• Dully filled application form for the certificate
• A certified copy of your valid passport
• If widowed, Death Certificate of previous spouse (and Marriage Certificate)
• Deed Poll if you have changed your name

The non-residents may send all these documents to Embassy by themselves or relatives or friends can also do this job on their behalf. If you have an attorney, make sure that he has a signed letter that reads about the given authority.

Fee Structure

• SDM attestation – INR 2000 to INR 3000 (as per location)
• Fee for Notary – INR 350
• Fee for Attestation – INR 105
• Fee for Apostille – INR 50

How long does it take?

Since it’s a time-consuming task, you need to raise a request one or two months before your marriage. The attestation may take many weeks, as it has to go through many stages from the competent authorities in India.

Besides, you need to keep into account that there are four authorized outsourcing agencies that are competent to place a request for attestation with. You need to ask them, as the MEA or the state government does not attend any direct request for this.

What does it read?

As aforementioned, you need to enclose two affidavits, one –for yourself and another-for your parents. Being a sworn statement, it should include all these details so that the authorities can verify them with the enclosed supporting documents.

• Date of birth:It is compulsorily asked by the authority before attesting.
• Passport number: It is a legal document that shows nationality and also the authentication number, which one has to mention for getting this certificate.
• Complete address:This detail helps the competent authority to tap the affiant’s country and residential information.
• Witness’ statement: This statement is essentially required to support affiant’s claim of this certificate. So, provide it with the applicant’s docs & affidavit.
• Competent authority’s verification: The competent authorities verify the authenticity of the presented documents. Therefore, the affidavit’s closure should mention this sentence:
  “I solemnly confirm that all the above information is true and correct.”
• Date of verification and signature: The applicant has to mention the date of filing for the affidavit along with his/her signature.