MEA Apostille, Birth Certificate Reissue & Single Status Certificate for NRIs (2026)

Why these documents come up

Immigration and family events abroad often need Indian civil documents. USCIS asks for a birth certificate for green card applications. Canada wants civil documents for PR. Getting married abroad often needs a certificate showing you are single. Many older Indians never had their birth registered, or the certificate lacks their name. This guide explains how to get each document and have it apostilled by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) without travelling.

Birth certificates: reissue and name inclusion

Birth certificates are issued by the municipal corporation or local registrar where the birth took place. If you have an old handwritten certificate, apply for a computerised reissue. If your certificate shows no name, apply for name inclusion; most states allow it within 15 years of registration, with late inclusion possible by affidavit.

1. Apply online on the municipal or state Civil Registration System portal, or through a relative with an authorisation letter.
2. Provide date and place of birth, parents' names and hospital details.
3. For name inclusion, submit school certificate, passport and parents' affidavit.
4. Receive the computerised certificate, often in 2–4 weeks.
5. Get it apostilled through MEA (see below).

Non-Availability of Birth Certificate (NABC) for US green cards

If your birth was never registered, USCIS accepts secondary evidence, but first requires proof that a birth certificate is not available. In India, this is the Non-Availability of Birth Certificate (NABC) issued by the municipal registrar, together with two affidavits from older relatives who know the circumstances of your birth.

Single status (bachelorhood) certificate

A single status certificate confirms you are unmarried. NRIs can obtain it from the Indian mission abroad, based on an affidavit, or from the local Tahsildar or Sub-Divisional Magistrate in India through a relative. Some countries require it to be apostilled or attested.

• At the Indian mission: apply through the outsourcing centre with passport, affidavit of single status, and proof of address; issued in a few days.
• In India: a relative applies with your affidavit, passport copy and local address proof; issued by the revenue authority, then apostilled.
• Divorced applicants also need a certified copy of the divorce decree.
• Widowed applicants need the spouse's death certificate.

Getting an MEA apostille via e-Sanad

MEA authenticates documents through authorised outsourcing agencies and, increasingly, the e-Sanad online platform, which verifies documents digitally from issuing authorities.

1. Get the document verified by the issuing state: Home Department or General Administration Department for personal documents, Education Department for educational documents. Some documents go straight to MEA.
2. Submit to an MEA-authorised outsourcing agency or apply through e-Sanad where your document type and state are supported.
3. Pay the fee (₹50 per document to MEA plus agency charges).
4. MEA affixes a computer-generated apostille sticker with a unique ID verifiable online.
5. Documents are couriered back; e-Sanad apostilles can be delivered electronically.

Timelines and costs

Start early. For green card filings, gather and apostille documents before your priority date becomes current.