Marriage Certificate
The marriage certificate is a document that let other people know about the relationship between the two people whose name is written. All the important details such as name, place, and time are printed on the certificate. A marriage certificate is an important document of marriage. This certificate is required multiple times. For instance, a child's passport is a necessary document.

Attestation helps in the legalization of the marriage certificate. This gives surety to the foreign country where the certificate is presented. The country comes to know that all the information written is 100% correct. There are three-four levels of authority involved. Notary, State/SDM, Ministry of External Affairs, and Embassy. All the information is checked cautiously. After satisfaction, the documents are attested by the above-mentioned authorities.

Is A Marriage Certificate A Personal Document?
There are three categories of documents. These are as follows:
● Personal Documents
● Educational Documents
● Commercial Documents
A marriage certificate comes under the classification of a personal document.

Why Does A Person Need Attestation Of A Marriage Certificate?
There are numerous reasons that you must know to get an attestation of a marriage certificate.
● An applicant who wants to go abroad. Further, apply for a spouse visa.
● For an applicant who wishes to have dual citizenship.
● Parents who have requested a passport for their children.
● All the individuals who have to settle abroad. Moreover, applied for a permanent resident visa.
● To get ownership of the property.
● For the dependent visa applicants.
● Get a marriage certificate for a family visa.

What Are The Documents That Are Required For An Apostille Marriage Certificate?
There are a few documents that a person should have for an apostille marriage certificate. Let’s have a look:
● Major Documents
1. Original marriage certificate

● Supporting Documents
1. Front- and last-page photocopy of a passport
2. A photocopy of the license.
3. A photocopy of the Aadhar card.

How Much Does A Person Have To Pay For The Attestation Of A Marriage Certificate?
There are a few charges that an applicant has to pay. These expenses change due to the mentioned reasons. If the number of documents is more. Then an applicant has to pay extra charges. The type of document may also alter expenses. Further, the fees of the embassy as well as apostille service provider fees also vary. So, the service provider you have hired can guide you better about the charges.

Let’s see the exact procedure a person has to follow for the apostille marriage certificate
A person has to follow a specific procedure to get an apostille marriage certificate. These are:
● Notary Attestation: The first step is to show all the essential documents to the notary. Here all the documents are checked and compared with each other. After verification, the certificate is stamped and signed by the notary.
● SDM/State Attestation: In this step, the certificate is sent to any of the attestation authorities. The documents are examined by SDM or State. When they found that all the details were correct. Then they attest the marriage certificate with their sign and stamp.
● Ministry of External Affairs: This is the most important step for attestation. As MEA handles all the external affairs so the certificates are finally attested here. For all the countries that are members of the Hague nations, this is the last step. Each and every detail is examined here carefully. When the documents are found 100% true then only the Ministry of External Affairs puts an apostille stamp and sticker.
● Embassy Attestation: This is the last step for all the non-members of the Hague nations. All major and supporting documents are shown here. A specified embassy fee is also submitted. When the investigation of the documents is completed. Then the embassy puts a stamp and sign on the certificate.

Note: It is better to choose SDM attestation as this takes very less time when compared to State. A state attestation takes 3 to 4 weeks. But, the SDM attestation takes a maximum of 5 to 7 days.

How Much Time Does It Take To Get The Attestation Of The Marriage Certificate?
The time that is usually taken for the attestation of the marriage certificate is 10-15 days. However, there is a rush of applications, the time may extend. Moreover, in case of any uncertainty, the time may increase. So, to know the accurate time, contact a trustworthy and reliable apostille service.

Do You Know The Validity Of You Apostille Marriage Certificate?
Every document has its validity. In the same way, an apostille marriage certificate is also valid for 6 months. However, there are a few countries that take an apostille certificate that is more than 6 months. An apostille service can give you more knowledge about document validation. So, register to know about your marriage certificate validity.

What Are The Details Mentioned On The Apostille Marriage Certificate?
1. Certificate No: A unique number is added
2. Certificate issued Date: 00/00/0000 date and time are added
3. Account Reference: ALPHA CODE
4. Unique Doc. Reference: ALPHANUMERIC
5. Purchased by: NAME
6. Description of Document: ARTICLE 4 AFFIDAVIT
7. Description: AFFIDAVIT
8. Consideration Price (Rs.): ZERO
9. First Party: NAME OF PERSON
10. Second Party: N/A
11. Stamp Duty Paid By: NAME OF PERSON
12. Stamp Duty Amount (Rs.): AMOUNT

Why Does A Person Need Attestation Of The Marriage Certificate?
Attestation of the marriage certificate is needed due to the below-mentioned points:
● Compulsory for Hague Nations.
● Helps in identity recognition.
● International Proof.
● Verification becomes easier.
● Fast Process

Does A Hague Nation Require An Apostille Marriage Certificate?
It is essential for a Hague Nation to have an apostille marriage certificate. An apostille stamp is placed on the document. This document contains a unique tracking number. This helps in verifying the details online.

Can A Person Get An Apostille Marriage Certificate Done Themselves?
This was possible for all the applications that were applied before 2012. But now all the applications are applied by an apostille service provider. Due to a greater number of people visiting the Ministry of External Affairs, it was abolished. So, look for a reliable apostille service provider that can complete your work authentically.