How to Get Single Status Certificate in India

How to Get Single Status Certificate in India

Single status certificate is the proof of a person’s bachelorhood that its holder is single and is free to get married. The reason why it’s necessary in some countries is because cases and complaints were coming against people for having more than one spouse in different countries. This is why many Asia-Pacific countries like China, Philippines, Japan, Malaysia and also most of the European countries have made it mandatory to show the certificate of bachelorhood.

single status certificate

Why you need CENOMAR?

If your journey to aforementioned Asian nations is on card and your ticket is booked, then first check out your single status certificate, in case you are a bachelor or spinster. FOR WHAT you need it while leaving for the foreign country?

  1. Fear of Detention:Future is uncertain and hassles wait for none. You may be detained over wrong allegations on alien land. At that mean time, this certificate will rescue you from getting handcuffed by foreign sheriff.  It will authenticate your actual status of bachelorhood certificate. So apparently, it will help you to gain green signal over clearance from foreign police.
  2. For Issuing Passport: When you plan to say ‘goodbye’ to that nation for landing on another country, you may be asked for this certificate again for passport. Therefore, get it in your wallet before the problems knock at your door and cause delay to your upcoming dreams.

Is it easy to get?
Yes, you can have it in India conveniently by two ways. Let I acknowledge you how easy it is to get.

In person: The certificate in India is issued by the first class magistrate and Ministry of External Affairs, India. To obtain the certificate, you have to go to the nearest magistrate’s office and fall in the line to be able to get one. Be prepared as it can eat-up your time & money too. So, hit the ministry office in person when you have a lot of leisure time.
Through online: Those, working and living abroad or settled outside their city and cannot make it to their home city, online services for NRI are a great option to get the bachelorhood certificate. Not only does it save time and unnecessary hassle of running about government offices, but also money that you might spend on the travels. What all you need for taking advantages of S2NRI:

  1. Click and open the S2NRI’s web portal.
  2. Fill the requisite details of yours.
  3. Send it through your personal email. This process will consume relatively less time than that of getting it in person. And, hurdles will never take their advances to you.
  4. You will get revert in the least of an hour.

CENOMAR certificate includes:

  • Complete name of the person
  • Complete name of the father
  • Complete maiden name of the mother
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Complete name and address of the requesting party
  • Number of copies needed
  • Purpose of the certification

As this certificate signifies single status, thus, the applicant can be divorcee or widow/widower. In such case, the following documents are needed for obtaining Single Status Certificate:

  • An affidavit from Indian national parents. It should have clear statement that the applicant or Indian national is not committed to anyone in India. It also showcases the number of the children, in case the spouse is divorcee or widow/widower.
  • The foregone affidavit is stamped by SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) or Executive Magistrate or District Magistrate (DM) or court authority in India.
  • The attested affidavit will be forwarded to the home department of the state government for further attestation.
  • The final step is to get the stamp from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Patiala House, Tilak Marg in New Delhi.

After the aforementioned procedure, the applicant must visit Indian embassy to go through the interview round with the consul. The one-o-one session is carried on during working days.

FAQs

What is Single Status Certificate?

Single Status Certificate is also called CENOMAR or “Certificate of No Marriage Record” or Bachelorhood Certificate, “Certificate of No Impediment” or “Nulla Osta”. It’s an affidavit-a legal document, mentioning that the bearer is single and has no dependent from previous marriage (if it has happened). It clearly reads that the bearer is not in a marriage contract. He or she may be a divorcee or widowed, which also depicts singleness.

Why do you need this certificate?

You may require it for tying a knot with someone in the foreign country, especially in Europe, Philippines, Australia, the USA, the UK and many other countries. The external affairs department in those countries prevents the rights of their natives, seeking single status certificate.

Apart from that, the employer or academic institute in abroad may also seek it from NRIs or call to show it up during and after immigration for employment or study purpose.

Where can you apply for it in India or abroad?

If you are in India, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or District Magistrate is the competent authority to be applied with. It also needs notarization from notary public (court) and legalization (i.e. attestation/authorization/apostille) from the State Home Department and then, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Then only, it would be accepted as a valid proof of singleness.

As an NRI, you can apply with the Indian embassy in the country where you live.

What do you mean by legalization of Single Status Certificate?

Legalisation means validating the certificate, which is backed with the verification of all supporting documents. These documents show authentic proof of the bearer’s identity, address, birth, citizenship and guardians. The competent authorities in India, such as SDM and then, MEA, put the stamp on this affidavit upon cross-examining the details of the person who applies for it in the docs. Once it is done, the authorities attest or apostille the certificate to make it acceptable across the globe.

How can you get it apostilled in India?

You can access e-sanad website, which is active in only a few states and districts. In short, you cannot access the services from this government project all across India. Applicants can enclose all supporting documents with the Single Status Affidavit on the official e-sanad website.  Upload documents and pay the requisite fee online. Upon being attested by the MEA, you can see a sticker denoting that it’s been apostilled.

However, the MEA does not accept direct applications for its attestation. You have to contact the outsourcing agency near you to get it done.

Is apostille service for this certificate valid in all countries?

No, it is not valid for all countries. Only 63 countries are members of the Hague Convention, which needs apostille services for all documents.

For rest of countries, you have to visit or contact the outsourcing agency, if in India and embassy, if in abroad.

Which countries need the apostille/ attestation of this certificate? 

Afghanistan, Jamaica, Sudan, Algeria, Jordan, Syria, Angola, Kenya, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Tanzania, Benin, Laos, Togo, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Thailand, Burma (Myanmar), Libya, Turkmenistan, Cambodia, Macedonia, UAE (United Arab Emirates), Cameroon, Madagascar, Uganda, Canada, Malaysia, Vietnam, Chile, Mali, Yemen, China, Mauritania,  Zambia, Congo Republic, Nepal, Zimbabwe, Congo Democratic, Niger, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cuba, Pakistan, Egypt, Palestine, Eritrea, Philippines, Ethiopia, Qatar, Ghana, Rwanda, Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Haiti, Senegal, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Iran, Singapore, Iraq and Sri Lanka

What is the checklist of supporting documents for it?

  • Photographs
  • Original Passport & its photocopy
  • Decree Absolute, if divorced
  • Affidavit (of spouses, parents and witnesses)
  • Death certificate (of deceased spouse, if widowed)
  • Original and photocopy of Aadhaar Card/ Voter ID Card/Driving licence

How much does its attestation cost?

  • Notary/Affidavit: INR 20 to INR 100 (variable)
  • Home Department: Nil
  • Apostille: INR 50 (may be revised)
  • Embassy: Variable (in thousands)
  • MEA: INR 50 (agency charges) + INR 90/- (Service Fee)+ INR 3 per page (Scanning Fee)

How many days does its delivery take?

The postal orders service has been discontinued for normal attestation. So, its delivery can take more than a month.

  • Pingback: Issues, Challenges Faced in NRIs Marriage and Their Solutions()

  • Pingback: How to Get Affidavit of Marital Status from India?()

  • Lovely Sharma

    With the help of this post NRIs can apply easily for single status.

  • Pingback: How to Get CENOMAR in India | Apply Certificate of No Marriage Online()

  • Pingback: Start-to-Finish Steps of Certificate Attestation in India()

  • Pingback: How to Get Single Status Certificate via Outsourcer in India? – NRIs Information Network()

  • Alia verma

    I have been shifted to Philippines. I decided to marry and settle there. But having no single status certificate caused delay in my big day. I am indebted to you S2NRI for parceling it to me. The information on your blog informed me A to Z about it. A big thanks to You!

    • Ashish Kumar Singhal

      Hi Alia… When u said Philippines… It caught my attention. How long did the procedure take? I am also moving there soon and would like to carry this certificate along. What is the validity of this certificate? And how much did u pay.. If you dont mind sharing.

      • Basil george

        hi can u tell me What is the validity of this certificate?

    • Basil george

      hi can u tell me What is the validity of this certificate

      • Ajay

        Thanks for the info. I am going to marry my filipino GF in philipines in this coming JAnuary. I am trying to get this certificate through the process mentioned on the MInistry of External Affairs Web site. but when i visit SDM ofice very few people know about this and i m geting diferent info from different persons overthere. IF i applymy Bacholarhood Certificate through S2NRI services, is it genuine…? and acceptable in Indian Embassy in phillipine. I will appriciate any help. Looking forward . you can write me on rubal1989@hotmail.com. thanks much

    • Cristal

      Hi, was the single status letter from S2NRI accepted in Indian Embassy of Philippines?

  • Juhi Gupta

    As I live in USA, it was impossible for me to get my parents’ Birth Certificate issued from their birth place Delhi. I want them to live with me but was incapable of doing anything. I am very thankful to S2NRI that it released my burden and brought not only their birth certificate but also, Cenomar certificate of mine.

whatsapp this is link