Quick answer
A foreign national marrying in India under the Special Marriage Act files a notice with the Marriage Officer of the district where one partner has lived for at least 30 days, and Marriage Officers commonly ask the foreign partner for proof of single status. One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs — $220, 5–7 business days.
- Issued by
- You, under oath before a Florida notary.
- Florida state fee
- $10 — included in $220
- Route
- Apostille only — Hague member since 2005
- Online notarization
- Available as an add-on
- Consulate serving Florida
- Consulate General of India in Atlanta
- Translation
- Florida documents are in English, which Indian authorities use, so translation is rarely needed.
How a Florida single status affidavit is used in India
A foreign national marrying in India under the Special Marriage Act files a notice with the Marriage Officer of the district where one partner has lived for at least 30 days, and Marriage Officers commonly ask the foreign partner for proof of single status. Florida doesn't issue a government certificate, so a sworn affidavit of single status, notarized and apostilled, fills the gap. If you were married before, add the certified divorce judgment or death certificate. Requirements vary by state and district, so ask the Marriage Officer for the list.
Getting a single status affidavit Florida will apostille
A sworn affidavit with a complete Florida jurat stating that you are not married and are free to marry and, if you were married before, the date, place and court or record that ended that marriage. Names must match your passport, and it must be signed within the window the foreign registry allows.
Use the registry's template if it has one, then swear to it before a Florida notary or through our online notarization add-on: $40 for the first document ($10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee) and $20 for each additional document. First confirm that the country accepts a notarized affidavit rather than a consular or government-issued status certificate. Notarization is not included in our $220.
State fee for this document: $10 — included in our price. Full details on the single status affidavit apostille page.
Who receives it in India — and translation
The OCI system and the Consulate General of India in Atlanta (which serves Florida) handle OCI and consular matters; sub-registrars and state stamp authorities handle property documents; Indian banks handle KYC and inheritance claims; the Ministry of Corporate Affairs handles company filings; Marriage Officers handle Special Marriage Act weddings; and CARA handles adoptions from India.
Florida documents are in English, which Indian authorities use, so translation is rarely needed. When a document is in another language, our rule applies: a translation certified by the translator, notarized by a different notary and apostilled in Florida. The OCI FAQ asks for an authorized English translation only for certificates not in English.
India has no general expiry for apostilled documents. Specific timing rules apply instead, such as stamping a power of attorney within three months after it first reaches India; banks and courts may also want recently issued copies.
Consular office serving Florida: Consulate General of India in Atlanta.
Four steps, one week
Order online
Pick the document and destination country on the order form and pay by card. After we review your documents, FedEx emails you a prepaid label.
Send it — or sign online
Drop the envelope at any FedEx location. Not signed yet? Add online notarization and there is nothing to ship.
We file in person
We review it, then walk it to the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee for the apostille.
Returned to you
Back in 5–7 business days — anywhere in the U.S., or abroad for a flat $100.
Why single status affidavits get rejected
- Signed too long before the wedding date
- Earlier marriage left out, or listed without how it ended
- Acknowledgment instead of a jurat
- Country required a consular or government-issued status document
What it costs for India
$220 per document, $380 for two and $160 each for three or more — the state fee, request form, in-person filing in Tallahassee and FedEx shipping inside the U.S. are included. Shipping the finished apostille to India is a flat $100 per order.
Not included: whatever the issuing office charges for the certified copy or certificate, and notarization (online notarization is $40 for the first document — $10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee — and $20 for each additional one).