Unmarried Certificate in Nepal

Apply at the Ward Office of your permanent address. Submit: citizenship certificate, application form, and affidavit declaring unmarried status. The certificate is usually issued the same day or within a few days after verification through civil registration records.

Required documents:

• Citizenship certificate (original + copy)
• Application form
• Affidavit/self-declaration of unmarried status
• Passport (if for overseas use)
• Photographs (as per Ward Office requirements)

For domestic use, notarization is not required. For international use, the certificate must be notarized at a notary public and then attested at the Department of Consular Services, Kathmandu. Some countries may also require embassy verification.

The validity depends on the requesting authority, but typically 3–6 months from the date of issue. Always check with the destination country's requirements — some embassies require a certificate issued within the last 3 months.

Yes. NRNs can: (1) visit a Nepal Embassy/Consulate abroad, (2) authorize someone in Nepal via Power of Attorney to collect from the Ward Office, or (3) obtain it during a visit to Nepal.

Yes. After divorce is finalized, you can obtain an unmarried certificate by providing the court divorce decree to the Ward Office. The certificate confirms your current single status regardless of previous marriage history.

Ward offices may require verification of single status before issuing a marriage certificate. While a formal unmarried certificate may not always be required, the Ward Office verifies marital status through civil registration records before proceeding with marriage registration.

Attestation (legalization) is done at the Department of Consular Services, Kathmandu to make the certificate valid for international use. This verifies the document's authenticity. Some countries additionally require embassy verification. Nepal is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so full attestation is needed instead of a simple apostille.

Currently, there is no fully online process for obtaining an unmarried certificate in Nepal. You must visit the Ward Office in person (or send a POA holder). Some Ward Offices may accept online requests for initial processing but require in-person collection.

If the Ward Office refuses (e.g., records show a marriage, discrepancies in documents), you can: (1) resolve the discrepancy with supporting documents, (2) get a court order clarifying your status, or (3) file a complaint with the municipality. Contact a lawyer if the refusal seems unjustified.

No. An unmarried certificate confirms single/unmarried status. A no-objection certificate (NOC) is a different document — usually issued by an employer or government body stating no objection to a specific action (travel, study, employment). They serve different purposes.

The Ward Office charges a nominal fee (typically a few hundred rupees) for issuing the certificate. Additional costs include notarization fees and attestation fees at the Department of Consular Services (~NPR 500). These are subject to change.

A widow/widower's certificate would typically state current single status rather than 'unmarried.' The Ward Office issues a certificate reflecting your current marital status. Provide the spouse's death certificate along with your application.

Name discrepancies between documents can delay or prevent issuance. Ensure your name is consistent across citizenship, passport, and national ID. If there's a discrepancy, get it corrected at the DAO before applying for the unmarried certificate.