When planning to marry abroad or move for work or study, a crucial document you’ll need is the Single Status Certificate, also known as a Certificate of No Impediment or Bachelorhood Certificate. This document, when apostilled, ensures its acceptance in other countries. Here, we’ll guide you through three straightforward steps How to get Single status certificate and its Apostille in India.
Detailed Step-by-Step Process to Get Single Status Certificate:
1. Notary Stamp: Many notary public offices are available out there, and you need to visit one of them to get your Single Status Certificate notarized.
2. SDM/Home Department Validation: For the second verification, the notarized certificate must be submitted to the concerned authority, either in the SDM or Home Department.
3. MEA Apostille: Take the certificate to the MEA, where it undergoes the final apostille process.
The following are guidelines that could assist you in preparing the Single Status Certificate or Birth Certificate Apostille for international use, ensuring that your international endeavors are not complicated.
Step 1: Obtain a Notary Stamp
The process begins with notarizing your Single Status Certificate. This step is crucial as it involves the notary public stamping the certificate and attesting to its details, thereby confirming its authenticity before it proceeds to the next stage of validation.
Why Notarization is Essential
Notary services serve as the initial check to ascertain the authenticity of the document and the signatures made on it. In the presence of this particular step, the certificate must move to the other validation stages.
Step 2: Home Department/SDM Validation
After being notarized, they are legalized by either the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or the Home Department. This is another step in verifying the certificate’s authenticity and is mandatory before proceeding to the final apostille process.
The decision between SDM and the Home Department
SDM Validation: Usually faster and mostly adequate for most documents.
Home Department Validation: This may be necessary depending on the country’s importation laws or when dealing with certain documents.
Step 3: MEA Apostille
The last process involves getting an Apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The MEA Apostille is a unique sticker with a QR code attached to the back of your document as an apostille, making it legal in any country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.
The significance of MEA Apostille
The Apostille certifies the place of issue of the document and confirms that it has passed through all required checks. It is the indispensable stamp required for your document to be recognized by other countries.
Also Read: Options for Transfer Certificate Applications in Hindi Medium
Final Thoughts
It may seem daunting to gather all necessary documents and apostille the Single Status Certificate or Birth Certificate Apostille in India. However, if you break the process down into three easy steps, it becomes manageable. Whether it’s for a marriage, a job, or moving to a new country, verifying your documents and having them acknowledged across global borders is essential.
