Why, When and What Attestations Are Required for a Marriage Certificate in India?
In India, a marriage certificate is a legal proof that two persons are married. So, when it comes to proving that the other person is your spouse or vice-versa, then you can show this document as proof. However, when you are traveling to another country, such as the UAE, you need more than this to prove your marriage. The only way to show that your marriage certificate is not forged is to present a properly attested marriage certificate.
In other words, marriage certificate attestation is mandatory to authorize the legalization of your marriage certificate. You will essentially need it when applying for a resident visa for the spouse and various other reasons.
When should I apply for marriage certificate attestation in India?
While living with the partner is the most common reason for having a marriage certificate attested, there are also other reasons when you will need an attested marriage certificate. Some of these are:
Name change in the passport (adding or removing)
Applying for a family visa
To admit your wife for delivery in the hospital
When filing a divorce
To adopt a child as ex-pats
Applying for the passport of children
Applying for family insurance
For school admission of your child as ex-pats
What is the process of marriage certificate attestation in India?
The process of completing marriage certificate attestation in India involves the following standard steps that everybody needs to follow:
Acquire attestation from the local notary as it is the first step for attestation in India for both personal and educational documents.
Legalize your marriage certificate by the State Home Department.
You might also need to get the marriage certificate attested from the SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) of the concerned state in India.
Then, apply for MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) attestation/apostille.
After that, you need to submit your marriage certificate for embassy attestation as it is a necessary step for all those who go abroad from India.
In the end, you also need MOFA attestation as it is required when you travel to a foreign country.
How long does it take to get a marriage certificate attested in India?
As per the rules, marriage certificate attestation can complete within 3 to 4 days. However, most often, government employees take up to ten to fifteen working days. Thus, if you are planning to go abroad with your spouse or you are going to stay with your spouse who is living in a foreign country, you should apply for marriage certificate attestation in India at least two weeks before. When you hire attestation services from a reputable agency, they will put their maximum efforts into completing marriage certificate attestation as early as possible.
Hence, if you are in hurry or you prefer convenience, getting in touch with attestation experts for marriage certificate attestation in India is the best route for you. All you need is to contact them after due diligence.