Fees and steps checked on
Canada single status certificate attestation is for Canadians who plan to marry in the UAE and are asked for proof that they are free to marry. Canada has no single status certificate, so the proof is a provincial marriage search letter, often with a Global Affairs Canada statement in lieu. Every paper in the set is apostilled in its province or by Global Affairs Canada, then goes to the UAE Embassy in Ottawa and finally to MOFA attestation.
Price: AED 1,900 plus VAT for each letter or statement, usually 4 to 6 weeks door to door, with official fees and courier covered. See attestation fees.
Two Canadian documents, two purposes
Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad. Global Affairs Canada prepares it, now as an electronic document, and Canadian offices abroad can prepare paper copies. It only says that Canada does not issue certificates of non-impediment. It does not mention your civil status. Global Affairs Canada itself warns that some foreign governments may not treat it as enough proof.
Marriage search letter. This comes from the office that registers marriages in your province or territory. It states whether a marriage is registered for you there. This is the document that does the real work in a UAE file.
| Province | Issuing office | Name of the document |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | ServiceOntario | letter of proof (marriage search) |
| British Columbia | BC Vital Statistics Agency | Marriage Search Certificate |
| Alberta | a registry agent office, for Alberta Vital Statistics | marriage search letter |
| Elsewhere in Canada | the marriage registry of that province or territory | marriage search or no record letter |
British Columbia searches its records from your 15th birthday to the application date. Ontario lets you choose the range of years. Checked on .
Who asks for it in the UAE
- Courts and marriage registrars that marry foreign residents usually want proof that neither partner is already married.
- Places of worship in the UAE that hold weddings may ask for the same papers.
- Embassies of the other partner may want it before they issue their own paperwork.
After the wedding, the UAE marriage certificate has its own route, explained on marriage certificate attestation.
The attestation chain for single status papers
- Notary Public in Canada. A Canadian notary certifies the letter where the apostille office needs it. A sworn declaration of single status, if your UAE office accepts one, is signed before the notary at this step.
- Apostille. Letters from Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec or Saskatchewan go to that province. Letters from other provinces, and the federal statement in lieu, go to Global Affairs Canada, formerly DFAT. Global Affairs Canada charges no fee, has no express service and is working on requests from about 25 business days back, plus 5 to 10 business days of post.
- UAE Embassy in Ottawa. Booked through the MOFA portal and VFS Global. Online payment only, with at least 3 to 5 business days.
- MOFA UAE. The final stamp before you hand the papers to the court or registrar.
The UAE is not in the Apostille Convention, which Canada joined on 11 January 2024. An apostille on its own is not accepted. See attestation vs apostille.
Documents to send
- The original marriage search letter and, if your UAE office wants it, the statement in lieu
- A copy of your passport
- If you were married before, the certificate of divorce or the death certificate of your late spouse, see Canada divorce certificate attestation
- The checklist from the court or registrar, if you have one
Common problems with Canadian single status proof
- Statement in lieu sent alone. It confirms nothing about you. Pair it with the search letter.
- Electronic statement. The apostille step works on paper documents with an original signature. Send us the file first and we confirm the route before anything moves.
- Divorce not shown. A search letter can list a past marriage without the divorce. Attach the divorce papers.
- Wrong province. Search the province where you lived and could have married, not only where you were born.
- Letter in French. A Quebec letter needs a legal translation into Arabic or English.
Other Canadian records are on Canada certificate attestation.
Official sources
- Global Affairs Canada: statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad, checked
- Travel.gc.ca: marriage overseas, checked
- Ontario: forms you need to get married outside Ontario, checked
- British Columbia: search of marriage records to prove freedom to marry, checked
- Alberta: order a marriage certificate or marriage document, checked
