A single status affidavit is a sworn legal document in which a U.S. citizen declares, under oath before a notary, that they are not currently married and are legally free to marry. It is also called an affidavit of single status, certificate of no impediment, or certificate of freedom to marry. Foreign governments routinely require an apostilled single status affidavit before granting a marriage license to a U.S. citizen marrying a foreign national or marrying abroad.
When You Need a Single Status Affidavit
- Marriage abroad — required by Mexico, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Philippines, Brazil, and most other countries before issuing a foreign marriage license to a U.S. citizen
- Spouse visa applications for fiancé(e)s — to confirm the U.S. partner is legally single before petitioning
- Religious wedding ceremonies — Catholic and Orthodox dioceses often require it
- Divorce and remarriage — to prove the prior marriage is dissolved before you can wed again abroad
What’s Inside a Single Status Affidavit
- Your full legal name, date of birth, and citizenship
- A statement that you are not currently married (or have never been married)
- Names of any prior spouses and the date / nature of any divorce or death
- The intended spouse’s full legal name and country of marriage
- Your signature in front of a notary public, plus the notary’s seal
How to Get a Single Status Affidavit Apostilled
- Draft and notarize the affidavit. Many U.S. states do not issue these — the document is prepared by you (or by an attorney) and signed in front of a notary.
- State certification — in most states, the county clerk first certifies the notary’s commission, then the document is sent to the Secretary of State.
- Apostille — the Secretary of State of the state where the affidavit was notarized issues the apostille.
- Translation — most non-English-speaking countries require a certified translation of the apostilled affidavit.
Our apostille services handle the entire workflow, including drafting the affidavit, arranging the notary, and routing it through state certification.
Important Notes
- The single status affidavit is not a government-issued certificate in most U.S. states — it is a sworn statement you sign. The U.S. State Department typically will not issue one on your behalf.
- Single status affidavits are usually only valid for 3 to 6 months from the date of notarization — don’t get yours apostilled too far in advance.
- If your destination country is not a Hague member, you’ll need consular legalization instead of an apostille.
- If you are divorced, you may also need an apostilled divorce certificate alongside the single status affidavit.