Also called CENOMAR or Certificate of No Impediment, the Certificate of No Marriage is essential to have for tying a knot abroad with a foreign native. This is to manipulate the wrong practice of polygamy or bigamy.
Besides, there are some people who intend to change the status for getting the green card of the foreign nation. It is a legislation that the person who solemnizes marriage with the native of a particular country would become a native of that foreign land by default. So, people often attempt wedding to get it easily.
Why do you need this certificate?
Apart from marriage, there are many other reasons that push you to get this bachelorhood certificate from India. These are to get these visas-Employment/ business visa, student visa, change of status document and visa for dependents from family.
Raise a request with DM/SDM
India has an organized segregation of districts and cities, besides villages. Each district has a competent authority called District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Magistrate. The NRIs can check the list of their DM or SDM to apply for it online, if this facility is available there.
Else, they can ask their parents or someone from their blood relationship to get to the office in person and apply for it on your behalf. Unfortunately, there is no competent authority as Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) here, except for Punjab. So, you need to get to the civil court or SDM office for requesting for the single status certificate.
When can you apply for
Since most of the countries ask to submit this unmarried certificate prior marriage, so it is ideal to apply for it one or two months ago. You will have enough time to sail across challenges to get the CENOMAR.
In the meantime, you should have the checklist of the documents that you need to show up in the support of the single status affidavit. Here is the list:
- Passport with photocopy
- Divorce Paper, if there is any
- Death Certificate of the former Spouse, if there is any
- Photograph of the applicant & 2 witnesses
- Affidavit/ Application for the Unmarried Certificate
- Original/ Photocopy of Aadhaar Card/ Driving Licence/ PAN Card
Counter-attestation & days it takes
- Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Magistrate/Notary: This is the very first phase, wherein you apply for the bachelorhood certificate. The notary public notarises it if it is an affidavit, which takes just a day. So, you can reach at 9 in the morning to get it.
- Home Department: This is valid for the people of those states where there is home department. Some states like UP that do not have it. So, it’s an optional attestation.
- MEA: This is essential to get a stamp from the ministry of the external affairs. You cannot approach there directly. But, you can access the outsourcing agencies, which are four at present. One of these communicates on your behalf. But, it may take a week or more.
- Embassy: This is the last level, wherein you need to inform both embassies, i.e. where you permanently live and where you emigrated to. You can book an appointment and get it done.
Service charges
This service passes through different levels for attestation of the certificate. So, the amount that you need to pay varies at each level. Here is an estimate of the fee that you need to pay for this service:
- Notary/SDM: INR 100 plus
- Home Department: Nil
- MEA: INR 50 for agency plus INR 90 for service charge and INR 3 for scanning per page
- Embassy: Variable
If you still face off any challenge, you can directly raise an issue with these:
- Attestation Section/Apostille Cell
Ministry of External Affairs
Jawahar Lal Nehru Bhawan, Janapath Marg,
New Delhi-110011.
Telephone : 011-49018403011-49018403 (Attestation)
49018404 (Apostille) - CPV Division
Ministry of External Affairs
Patiala House Annexe,
Tilak Marg
New Delhi -110001
Tel No. 011-23387104011-23387104
FAQs
What is the Certificate of No Marriage?
Single Status Certificate is also called CENOMAR or “Certificate of No Marriage Record” or Bachelorhood Certificate, “Certificate of No Impediment” or “Nulla Osta” in different countries. In India, it is issued as an affidavit-a legal document, mentioning that the bearer is single and has no dependent from previous marriage (if it has been solemnized). It subtly says that the bearer is not in a marriage contract. He or she may be a divorcee or widowed, which also depicts singleness.
When is it required?
It is mandatory to submit it in many foreign countries, especially in Europe, Philippines, Australia, the USA, the UK and many other ones if you are willing to get marriage with the foreigner. The immigration authority and external affairs department seek it for preventing their countrymen from being cheated.
Also, the employer or academic institute in the foreign may also ask NRIs to submit it during and after immigration if your purpose of emigration is employment or study.
Where can NRIs apply for it in India or abroad?
If you need it from India, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or District Magistrate is the competent authority to address this request. There is no other authority in India that issues it. You ought to notarize the affidavit while verifying supporting documents with notary public.
Then, legalization (i.e. attestation/authorization/apostille) from the State Home Department and then, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) takes place. This attestation takes place at the back of the stage. Being an NRI, you have the embassy of India as an option to apply with. It fulfills all requirements of attestation or apostille services on its own.
What is legalization of Certificate of No Marriage?
Legalisation means verifying details mentioned in the affidavit while cross-checking if all supporting documents are genuine. These documents check authenticity of the bearer’s identity, address, birth, citizenship and guardians’ proofs. The competent authorities in India, such as SDM and then, MEA, attest and counter-attest respectively this affidavit upon verifying all details of the candidate who applies for it. Subsequently, all foreign countries accept it as an authentic proof of being a bachelor.
Is it necessary to get it attested? How can you get it attested in India?
Yes, it is necessary. You can visit e-sanad website, which is an online service by the government. Unfortunately, it is yet to be available across India. Only a few states and districts have this facility.
Those who are fortunate, they can enclose all supporting documents together with the certificate of no marriage, which is an affidavit. Upload documents and pay the requisite fee online. Upon being attested by the MEA, you get a sticker on your affidavit, 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.
Besides, there are two addresses to contact with in case you face off challenges:
Attestation Section/Apostille Cell
Ministry of External Affairs
Jawahar Lal Nehru Bhawan, Janapath Marg,
New Delhi-110011.
Telephone : 011-49018403011-49018403 (Attestation)
49018404 (Apostille)
CPV Division
Ministry of External Affairs
Patiala House Annexe,
Tilak Marg
New Delhi -110001
Tel No. 011-23387104011-23387104
For NRIs, the consulate does it all by itself. The applicant can fill an online form for this document on the Indian embassy website for the particular country. Then, he needs to select a slot for the interview or physical verification. After that, mark the presence in the consulate and get it immediately.
Is apostille stamp acceptable 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.
If you need it for the country that is apart from those 63 nations, you have to visit or contact the outsourcing agency in India, or, embassy if you’re 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
Which supporting documents are needed to enclose with 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?
The cost may vary, as the competent authority has a right to update it at any point of time. You need to check with the official website of the government or the outsourcing services provider for NRIs.
- Notary/Affidavit: INR 20 to INR 100 (variable)
- Home Department: Nil
- Apostille: INR 50 (may be revised)
- Embassy: Variable (in thousands of Rupees)
- MEA: INR 50 (agency charges) + INR 90/- (Service Fee)+ INR 3 per page (Scanning Fee)
How many days does it take to deliver the document?
The postal orders service has been discontinued for normal attestation. So, its delivery can take more than a month.
