How to Obtain Bachelorhood Certificate from India?

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A Bachelorhood certificate is a legitimate document that the foreign affairs ministry requests to present and prove your single status. Every country recognizes it with a unique name like a Certificate of Impediment, a Single Status Certificate, a Nulla Osta, etc. 

Multiple countries are there to name that don’t like its natives to prove their unmarried status. At the same time, countries like the Philippines exist where having it is compulsory. 

So, what it is and how people can obtain it—these are some burning questions that continue to hit your mind when you are settled abroad and likely to get married soon there. 

This certificate is significant in a legal context. It proves your marital status or singlehood. Typically, it is an affidavit, declaration, or other relevant document that the personal laws in India govern. There are several laws prevalent, like the Hindu Marriage Act, the Muslim Personal Law, the Christian Marriage Act, etc. These all outline what legal procedure to follow and what requirements for marriage can be

As far as its purpose is concerned, there can be different reasons, such as employment or a job visa for abroad, solemnizing marriage there, and more. Any other of these purposes can be served by submitting this certificate or an affidavit of single status. The affidavit should be notarized and attested for its global acceptance. 

Affidavit of Bachelorhood: An Introduction

India recognizes an unmarried certificate or affidavit, which the executive magistrate or a notary public attests later. Punjab is the only state in India that has a competent authority to issue it. Although other states have the sub-divisional magistrate to issue it.

In order to get it, a person has to visit a local notary public or executive magistrate’s office and request that this affidavit be issued. This document won’t be provided unless you enclose a few requisite personal details, a declaration of bachelorhood, and supporting documents like address proof and identity proof. And for non-residents of India or NRIs, Indian consulate or embassy websites are available to request online. 

How to Obtain A Bachelorhood Certificate from India?

1. Application at Local Notary Office

This is the very first step to follow for your bachelorhood affidavit. You can search online or visit the location of a nearby notary public office or executive magistrate office. 

Take identification documents, valid address proof, and other documents along with you to show and verify. 

If required, the notary public will ask some questions to verify if you are an authentic affiant. Once satisfied, he will prepare the affidavit based on the information you provide.

• Documents Required 

• Proof of identity, which can be aadhar card, passport, voter ID, or any other government-issued photo ID.
• Proof of address, which includes aadhar card, passport, utility bills, or rental agreement.
• Parent’s proof, which can be their aadhar card or any other relevant document.
• Birth certificate, which will verify your age. 
• Passport-sized photographs, which should be the recent ones.
• Visit the Sub-Registrar Office

• Once you have the affidavit, visit the local sub-registrar office and show it there. 
• The sub-registrar may ask you to submit the affidavit along with any additional documents they may request.
• Online Application (If Available)

This process is for those who live in India or are connected to it. 

• In order to obtain the single status proof, you can check the website of the local municipal corporation or the state government and discover if it provides the certificate. Click here to discover the form.
• If it does, follow its streamlined process and provide information on the required documents.

Attestation

Attestation is the process of its legalization. As an NRI, or immigrant, you have to get this bachelorhood certificate attested or legalized from the embassy here. You can also know its end-to-end procedure by visiting the government website, which describes the process of authentication in steps.

• For it, you have to raise a request with an authorized NRI consultant that deals in document attestation services. 
• Contact it and follow the process that he requests.
• Send the scanned documents to him through courier or email.
• He will get them attested by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India.
• If you’re likely to have it in a member country of the Hague Convention, it will be apostilled. The consultant can help you learn about it. In return, you have to pay a certain amount as their service charge and attestation fee. 

NRIs to Apply

For non-residents, the Indian Embassy website will be the online place to explore and discover the application form to download. Here is the process:

1. For it, you need to go to the official website of the Indian Embassy in the country where you currently reside, which can be the USA, the UK, or any country.

2. Explore the website and look for specific consular services, visa, or documentation on the website, where the single status certificate or bachelorhood certificate application form will be given.
3. Certainly, there will be this form. Once seen, download the necessary forms for the affidavit or single status certificate.
4. Now, you have to fill out the forms accurately and completely while ensuring that provided all details are accurate and valid. In short, there should not be any discrepancy. 
5. Once done, the site may direct you to get a notarized affidavit. Or, you may have to scan, fill out, and then get it notarized or attested by the notary public office. 
6. In order to get it legalized, you must carry your supporting documents, such as your passport, proof of address, and any other identification documents as required.
7. Now, follow the instructions on the website. If it asks you to submit your application, just upload and submit. Or, you may have to submit it in its physical form along with supporting documents.
8. Finally, you need to check if there are any fees associated with obtaining the bachelorhood certificate. If there is, make the necessary payment. You can thoroughly read the website and acknowledge it. Or, you can read the instructions carefully on this website: https://www.mea.gov.in/apostille.htm
9. After submission, you should track your application status via a receipt of the fee payment.

Important Points to Remember

Consulting this matter with a legal professional or solicitor who has been acknowledged by and assists NRIs regarding how to get an affidavit and successfully submit the requisite documents as per the current legal requirements by the competent authority. 

The process can be different per state or city because India has state laws as well. So, it’s good to read the instructions carefully. Or, you can dial the inquiry number and discover all the guidelines and requirements to fulfill.

The next thing is concerned with government procedures. Always remember that the government can review the process. So, you have to check it beforehand to see if it has updated the procedure. You may check it on its official website or visit the office of the competent authority physically, if possible. 

Your background verification may be conducted. So, you should ensure that all the information provided is consistent and accurate.

Conclusion

The bachelorhood certificate is a vital document to prove your eligibility for marriage. In any foreign country, an emigrant has to provide his or her bachelorhood proof, which can be an affidavit and certificate. The applicant can visit the embassy or its website to discover its application form, fee, and verification procedure.