If you are married in India and planning to move abroad with your spouse, your marriage certificate must be apostilled to be legally accepted in most foreign countries. Apostille is an international authentication issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India, and is mandatory for countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.
This guide explains the apostille procedure for marriage certificates in India, including eligibility, documents required, processing time, costs, and country-specific requirements.
Know more about apostille services in India.
Apostille is a government-issued certification that confirms:
The marriage certificate is genuine
It was issued by a competent Indian authority
It is valid for international use
Once apostilled, the marriage certificate can be used directly in Hague Convention countries without embassy legalization.
Read about marriage certificate apostille procedure.
Marriage certificate apostille is required for:
Spouse and dependent visa applications
Family reunion visas
Permanent residency and settlement abroad
Adding spouse to residence permits
Healthcare, insurance, and tax registration overseas
Child registration and schooling abroad
Without apostille, most immigration authorities will reject Indian marriage certificates.
Learn more about dependent visa apostille requirements.
Ensure your marriage certificate:
Is original and readable
Contains correct names, dates, and registration number
Bears the registrar’s seal and signature
If errors exist, corrections must be done before apostille.
The document is notarized by a registered notary public.
This confirms the document copy matches the original.
Understand the role of notary attestation.
Depending on the state of issue, one of the following is required:
Home Department attestation
SDM Attestation (accepted by MEA)
This step verifies the document at the state level.
After state verification, the document is submitted for MEA apostille:
Issued as a computer-generated apostille sticker
Valid in all Hague Convention countries
Learn more about MEA apostille process.
You will typically need:
Original marriage certificate
Passport copies of both spouses
Aadhaar card or address proof (if required)
Requirements may vary by state and destination country.
Check eligible documents for apostille.
Processing Time
Standard: 7–15 working days
With prior verification delays: up to 30 days
Cost Factors
State of issuance
Type of verification required
Urgency of processing
Costs vary depending on these factors.
Apostille itself has no expiry date
Some countries may request a recently issued certificate
Valid only in Hague Convention countries
For non-Hague countries, embassy attestation is required instead.
Name mismatch between passport and certificate
Submitting laminated certificates
Skipping state-level attestation
Using uncertified translations
Applying too close to visa deadlines
Avoiding these mistakes helps prevent rejection.
If your marriage was registered abroad:
The certificate must be apostilled in the country of issuance, or
Registered with the Indian Embassy/Consulate abroad
Only then can it be used for Indian or international legal purposes.
Marriage certificate apostille is a crucial legal step for spouses planning to live abroad. Proper verification, correct sequencing, and timely submission ensure smooth acceptance by foreign authorities.
For hassle-free processing, professional assistance helps avoid errors and delays.
Get expert help from PEC Attestation
https://pecattestation.com/apostille/marriage-certificate