Unmarried Status Affidavit for Visa Applications

Need to prove you're single for a visa application, marriage abroad, or legal purposes? An unmarried status affidavit (also called a single status declaration or certificate of no impediment) is the document you need. Here's how to create one.

What Is an Unmarried Status Affidavit?

An unmarried status affidavit is a sworn statement declaring that you are not currently married. It confirms that you are legally free to enter into marriage or for any other purpose requiring proof of single status.

This document is different from a Single Status Letter from Home Affairs, though both serve similar purposes.

When You Need This Affidavit

Common situations requiring proof of unmarried status:

• Marriage abroad: Many countries require proof you're not already married
• Visa applications: Fiancé(e) visas and some immigration applications
• International adoption: Some adoption agencies require marital status verification
• Legal proceedings: Family law matters and estate planning
• Insurance and financial products: Some applications require marital status declaration

What to Include

Your unmarried status affidavit should contain:

• Your full legal name as per ID
• Your ID number
• Your date of birth
• A clear statement that you have never been married, OR
• A statement that any previous marriages have been legally dissolved (divorce or death of spouse)
• The purpose of the affidavit

For Marriage Abroad

If you're getting married in another country, you'll likely need:

• Unmarried status affidavit (this document)
• Full unabridged birth certificate
• Valid passport
• Divorce decree (if previously married)
• Death certificate of former spouse (if applicable)

Important: Many countries require documents to be apostilled. Contact the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) for apostille services.

Embassy Requirements

Different countries have different requirements. Before creating your affidavit:

• Contact the embassy of the country where you'll marry
• Ask for their specific requirements for South African citizens
• Find out if they require an apostille
• Check if the affidavit needs to be notarised (not just commissioned)
• Ask about document age limits (usually 3-6 months)

Single Status Letter vs Affidavit

What's the difference?

Single Status Letter:

• Issued by the Department of Home Affairs
• Based on their marriage records
• Takes longer to obtain (weeks)
• More widely accepted internationally

Unmarried Status Affidavit:

• Created by you, commissioned at police station
• Available immediately
• Accepted by many institutions
• May not be sufficient for some countries

For marriage abroad, check which document the destination country requires.

If You Were Previously Married

If you've been married before, your affidavit should state:

• That you were previously married
• How the marriage ended (divorce or death)
• The date the marriage was dissolved
• That you are currently legally single

Attach supporting documents (divorce decree or death certificate) to strengthen your affidavit.

Apostille Requirements

For international use, you may need an apostille:

1. Get the affidavit commissioned (not notarised at this stage)
2. Have it notarised by a notary public
3. Apply for an apostille from DIRCO (Department of International Relations)
4. Submit to the embassy or use for your intended purpose

This process can take several weeks, so plan accordingly.

Tips for Success

• Start the process early - international document requirements take time
• Confirm requirements with the destination country's embassy
• Keep multiple copies of your commissioned affidavit
• Consider getting a Single Status Letter from Home Affairs as backup
• Have documents translated if required by the destination country