To marry abroad (NRI Marriage), apply for a Spouse Visa, or obtain Permanent Residency (PR) in a foreign country, a Single Status Certificate is a highly crucial legal document. In India, it is also known as a Bachelorhood Certificate, Unmarried Certificate, or CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage Record).
There is no single government department in India that issues this certificate directly. It is a 3-tier process involving a Notary, the State Government (SDM/Home Department), and finally, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Single Status Certificate (CENOMAR): Apply Online, Documents & MEA Apostille Guide
A Single Status Certificate certifies that the applicant is currently unmarried, or if previously married, is now legally divorced or widowed.
Internationally, this document is only considered valid when it bears an Apostille sticker issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Today, this MEA attestation process can be completed online through the government’s e-Sanad portal.
Key Information
| Information | Details |
| Service Name | Single Status / Bachelorhood / Unmarried Certificate |
| Primary Use | Foreign Marriage, Spouse Visa, PR Application |
| Issuing Authority (State) | SDM / District Magistrate / State Home Department |
| Final Attestation Authority | Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Govt of India |
| Online MEA Portal | e-Sanad (esanad.nic.in) |
| Applicable For | Never Married, Divorced, and Widowed Citizens |
Important Services
| Service | Purpose | Official Link |
| State e-District Portals | Apply for the base Unmarried Certificate (via ServicePlus framework) | serviceonline.gov.in |
| e-Sanad Online Apostille | Submit digital documents for MEA authentication | esanad.nic.in |
| Outsourced Agency List | Locate approved agencies for physical MEA Apostille submission | mea.gov.in/apostille.htm |
Eligibility Criteria
To obtain a Single Status Certificate, the applicant must be eligible for marriage under Indian law:
| Eligibility Requirement | Details |
| Age Limit (Minimum) | 21 years for men and 18 years for women. |
| Citizenship | The applicant must be an Indian Citizen. (NRIs can also apply by visiting India or through the embassy). |
| Marital Status | The applicant must be ‘never married’, ‘legally divorced’, or ‘widowed’. |
Documents Required
You must possess solid legal documentation to obtain this certificate. Carefully check the list below:
| Document | Required / Optional | Purpose/Notes |
| Sworn Affidavit | Required | A notarized affidavit sworn by the applicant and their parents. |
| Aadhaar / Voter ID | Required | Address Proof and Identity Proof of the applicant. |
| Passport Copy | Required | Valid passport of the applicant (Front & Back). |
| Parents’ ID Proof | Required | Aadhaar or Voter ID of the parents (the affiants). |
| Birth Certificate | Required | Age proof or 10th-grade marksheet. |
| Divorce Decree Absolute | Conditional | The final court order if the applicant is divorced. |
| Death Certificate | Conditional | If the applicant’s former spouse has passed away. |
Application Fee & Processing Time
Because this process involves both state and central governments, the fees and timelines are divided:
| Process Step / Authority | Estimated Fee | Processing Time |
| 1. Notary Affidavit | ₹200 – ₹500 | 1 – 2 Days |
| 2. SDM / State Home Dept Attestation | ₹50 – ₹200 (State Govt Fee) | 15 – 30 Days |
| 3. MEA Apostille (via e-Sanad) | ₹50 (MEA Fee) | 3 – 5 Days |
| Outsourced Agency (if physical) | ₹50 (MEA) + ₹90 (Agency Fee) | 5 – 10 Days |
Note: State-level fees may vary slightly according to the rules of your local e-District portal.
Apply / Access / Track / Download
| User Need | Official Link |
| Apply / Access (e-Sanad) | esanad.nic.in |
| Track MEA Application | esanad.nic.in/status |
| Verify MEA Apostille | esanad.nic.in/VerifyDocument |
| Find MEA Agencies | mea.gov.in/apostille.htm |
How to Apply: The 3-Step Process
Obtaining a Single Status Certificate and validating it for foreign use involves three distinct steps:
Step 1: Draft the Affidavit
First, you must visit a local court or notary in your district to draft a formal affidavit.
- The affidavit must clearly state: “I am unmarried from birth until today” (or divorced/widowed).
- It is mandatory for your parents to sign this affidavit as affiants (witnesses confirming your status).
- It must mention your Passport Number and the purpose of requiring the certificate.
- Get this document attested by a First Class Magistrate or a Notary Public.
Step 2: State Attestation (SDM & Home Department)
Once the affidavit is notarized, it must be authenticated by your state government.
- Log in to your state’s e-District Portal or ServicePlus.
- Select the “Issue of Unmarried Certificate” or “Single Status Certificate” service.
- Upload your Affidavit, Passport, and ID Proofs.
- If your state does not offer this service online, you must physically submit your file to your SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) or District Magistrate’s office.
- After SDM approval, the file is attested by the state’s Home Department (General Administration Dept).
Step 3: MEA Apostille via e-Sanad (Central Government)
The document is only legally valid abroad when the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) affixes an Apostille sticker to it.
- Visit the e-Sanad Portal (esanad.nic.in).
- If your state’s Home Department has digitally pushed your document to the e-Sanad repository, you can fetch it online by entering your Document Number.
- Pay the ₹50 MEA Apostille fee online.
- Within a few days, a digital Apostille will be generated, which you can download.
(Important: The MEA never accepts documents via direct walk-ins. If your state is not fully integrated with e-Sanad, you must physically submit the state-attested documents to an MEA-authorized outsourced agency like BLS International or IVS Global.)
How to Track Application / Status
- State Level Status: Track your initial application by entering your Reference Number in the “Track Application” section of your respective state’s e-District portal.
- MEA / e-Sanad Status: Visit esanad.nic.in/status. Enter your Application Number and Date of Birth to check if your Apostille has been approved and generated.
Common Problems and Solutions
- State not linked with e-Sanad: If your state is not integrated with the e-Sanad portal, online Apostille cannot be done. In this case, you must take your original physical documents to an MEA Outsourced Agency (such as Superb Enterprises, VFS, Alankit, etc.).
- Parents not available to sign the Affidavit: If your parents are deceased, any close blood relative or legal guardian can sign the affidavit as a witness. You must attach your parents’ death certificates as proof.
- Divorce cases rejected: If you are divorced, ensure you have the court’s “Decree Absolute” (Final Order). A Single Status Certificate will not be issued if you only possess a “Decree Nisi” (Temporary Order).
Services for VLEs / CSC Operators
- Application Assistance: VLEs help citizens draft the required legal affidavit and apply for the initial Unmarried Certificate through the state’s Digital Seva / e-District portal.
- Apostille Guidance: Operators assist citizens in navigating the e-Sanad portal or locating MEA-authorized outsourced agencies (like BLS International or IVS Global) to finalize the international Apostille process.
Help & Grievance
- Support for online MEA attestation is available via the main e-Sanad helpdesk portal.
- For local issuance issues, applicants must use the grievance section of their specific state’s e-District portal.
Other Important Links:
Important Note
- Mandatory Three-Step Rule: A valid certificate for foreign use requires Notary validation, State SDM/Home Department attestation, and finally, MEA Apostille/Attestation.
- e-Sanad Limitations: The e-Sanad portal can only authenticate documents if the issuing state authority has uploaded them to a linked digital depository.
- Physical Processing: If a state does not issue digital certificates, applicants must physically submit their SDM-attested paper certificate to an MEA-outsourced agency; direct walk-ins to the MEA are not permitted.