Marriage Certificate Attestation
Marriage certificate attestation is the legal verification
and authentication of a marriage certificate for international use. This
process confirms that the document is genuine, valid, and accepted by
government authorities abroad. It is a critical step for couples who intend to
move or reside together in another country.
Why Marriage Certificate Attestation Is Needed
- Applying
for dependent or family visas to join a spouse overseas
- Proving
spousal relationship for immigration and permanent residency applications
- Adding
a spouse’s name to official documents such as passports
- Accessing
medical or social benefits abroad
- Registering
a marriage with foreign authorities
- Required
for family reunion programs, sponsorship, and official registrations
Attestation Process Overview
- Notary
Attestation: The marriage certificate is first authenticated by a
local notary public.
- State
Authentication: It is then verified by the Sub Divisional
Magistrate (SDM), Home Department, or similar state-level authority.
- Ministry
of External Affairs (MEA) Attestation/Apostille: The MEA
legalizes the certificate for international use—either by attestation or
with an Apostille for Hague Convention countries.
- Embassy
Attestation: For countries not part of the Apostille Convention,
the respective embassy legalizes the document after MEA attestation.
- Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MOFA): Some destination countries require a
final validation after arrival.
Required Documents
- Original
marriage certificate (unaltered)
- Passport
copies of both spouses
- Visa
copy, photographs, or other supporting documents as specified
Timelines and Practicalities
- The
process usually takes 8–15 working days, depending on state/embassy
processing times and requirements.
- Only
original, genuine documents are accepted for attestation—duplicates or
altered certificates are not valid.
Key Significance