When Apostille Is Not Enough
If you’re an NRI or Indian citizen planning to marry in UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, or 50+ other countries, a simple MEA Apostille won’t work.
These nations do NOT accept Apostille under the Hague Convention. Instead, your Single Status Certificate (Bachelorhood / Unmarried Certificate) must go through full document attestation — a 5-step legalization process involving Indian authorities + foreign embassy.
Full Attestation = 5 Mandatory Steps
| Step | Authority | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SDM / Court | Issues original certificate |
| 2 | State Home Department | Counter-attestation |
| 3 | MEA (New Delhi) | Indian government verification |
| 4 | Foreign Embassy in Delhi | Final legalization |
| 5 | MOFA (in destination country) | Optional final stamp abroad |
We handle all 5 steps remotely — no need to visit India.
Countries Requiring Full Attestation (Updated List – 2025)
| Country | Requirement | Popular Among NRIs? |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates (UAE) | Attestation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Qatar | Attestation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Kuwait | Attestation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Saudi Arabia | Attestation (Apostille accepted only after Dec 2022 in some cases) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Thailand | Attestation | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Malaysia | Attestation | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Vietnam | Attestation | ⭐⭐ |
| Egypt | Attestation | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Indonesia | Attestation | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| China (except Hong Kong/Macao) | Attestation | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Taiwan | Attestation | ⭐⭐ |
| Afghanistan | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Algeria | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Angola | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Bangladesh | Attestation | ⭐⭐ |
| Cambodia | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Cameroon | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Congo (Democratic & Republic) | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Cuba | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Eritrea | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Ethiopia | Attestation | ⭐⭐ |
| Ghana | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Iran | Attestation | ⭐⭐ |
| Iraq | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Jordan | Attestation | ⭐⭐ |
| Kenya | Attestation | ⭐⭐ |
| Laos | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Lebanon | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Libya | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Myanmar | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Nepal | Attestation | ⭐⭐ |
| Nigeria | Attestation | ⭐⭐ |
| Palestine | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Rwanda | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Sudan | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Syria | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Tanzania | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Turkmenistan | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Uganda | Attestation | ⭐ |
| Yemen | Attestation | ⭐ |
Note: Saudi Arabia joined Apostille in 2022, but many embassies still demand full attestation for marriage documents. We verify case-by-case.
Why Full Attestation Takes Longer (But We Make It Faster)
| Factor | Standard Time | With LLC Lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| SDM + State | 7–10 days | 3–5 days |
| MEA | 3–5 days | 1–2 days |
| Embassy | 7–21 days | 3–7 days (priority slots) |
| Total | 4–6 weeks | 10–18 days |
Fast-Track Available | 100% Remote | Doorstep Delivery Abroad
Documents You Need (We Prepare Everything)
- Passport & Aadhaar
- 2 Photos
- Affidavit (we draft)
- Divorce/Death Certificate (if previously married)
- NRI? → Notarized abroad + courier to us
Pro Tips from LLC Lawyer
- Start 2 months early — especially for UAE/Qatar weddings
- Get 2–3 original copies — embassies keep one
- Translate into Arabic (UAE, Qatar, Egypt) — we provide certified translation
- MOFA in destination country — we guide or coordinate
Ready to Get Your Certificate Attested?
Tell us your wedding country → Get free eligibility check + quote in 5 minutes
📱 WhatsApp/Call: +91-9999641341 📧 info@legallightconsulting.com 🌐 www.legallightconsulting.com
Legal Light Consulting – LLC Lawyer “From India to Embassy — Fully Attested, Fully Delivered.” Educational Blog | For Legal Awareness Only
