Proving that you’re unmarried may be difficult in India, where people don’t require any certificate to prove their bachelorhood.

But in foreign countries, NRIs have to present an unmarried certificate as an evidence of being a bachelor.

Now, the question here comes is how non-residents can get affidavit of single status.

However, the internet has hundreds certificate providers supporting NRIs with this service. But, you cannot identify the fake one. There are many scammers who take away money, promising to provide the single status proof from India.

This is why you should rely on your relatives, Indian embassy and your parents to get it if you’re unable to get it in-person from here.

Who issues this certificate in India?

Now, you need to know about whom you should request to here.

The answer is SDM or Sub-Divisional Magistrate. You can check the list of these officers of the area that you belong to over the internet.

Or, you just request your parents to go that office physically. They have a right to apply for this document on your behalf,

Checklist of Supporting Documents

Ensure that whosoever goes there, he/she has all these documents to support your application for the same.

• DoB proof, such as birth certificate/ school certificate/ voter id card/ ration card/ PAN card

• Residency proof, such as driving licence, bank passbook/ passport/ rent agreement (if living on rent)

• Guardian’s identity proof, such as father’s voter ID/ adhaar card/ utility bill

• A notarized affidavit, stating that the applicant is unmarried

• A decree absolute, if the applicant is a divorcee

• Death Certificate of deceased partner, if the last spouse is no more

Here, it should be clear that the unmarried certificate represents the status of the bearer as single. It means that the person may be married and has got a divorce. Or, the spouse of the applicant has been passed away. In both conditions, the person will be considered single or unmarried as per law.

Steps to Get

Let’s move to the steps of getting it:

• Go to the SDM office for filling up the application form.

• Mention the reason, as why you want it.

• Fill up all necessary details asked in the form to put there.

• Attest all copies of identity/address based documents by self and by guardian.

• Get them enclosed with the affidavit of the candidate and two witnesses, who can be parents and close relatives. They should be notarized.

• The SDM verifies them.

• Once he is satisfied, your application will be approved.

• The original certificates or proofs would be returned upon verification.

• Then, you need to get the stamp from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on it.

• Finally, get it attested by the Indian and foreign consulate respectively.

Here, you should remember that only authorised agencies can help you to get it attested from the MEA. This authority does not consider any request for attestation directly from individuals. So, make sure that you have hired the authoritative person for this.

It is necessary to know that applicant with fake documents can be imprisoned or penalized. Being an experienced, the competent officer can easily detect the fraud. So, attempting cheating is strictly a punishable offence.

Once you get this certificate, it will be a proof that you’re unmarried. It allows NRIs to choose your life-partner and get married where you temporary work or live.