Marriage · Affidavit
Affidavit of Single Status: Fill It Out Online
People who fill out this document also need
Also known as: Affidavit of Marital Status · Certificate of No Impediment · Affidavit of Freedom to Marry · Single Status Statement · Declaration of Single Status
Contents
CONTENTS
Who asks for proof that you are single
A couple planning to marry in another country is often asked to show that neither of them is already married. Canada does not keep one national register of marriages that could issue a certificate saying so, so the usual answer is a sworn affidavit of single status. Consulates, civil registries abroad and some religious bodies ask for it under different names: certificate of no impediment, affidavit of freedom to marry, statement of marital status.
The requesting office decides what it needs. Some want the affidavit translated, apostilled or legalized after it is commissioned. Ask them first, so you know the full chain before the wedding date gets close.
Four histories, four wordings
The template asks one question about your past and prints the matching paragraph:
| Your situation | What the affidavit says |
|---|---|
| Never married | That you have never been married, in Canada or in any other country |
| Divorced | That your marriage ended by a divorce, with the date it took effect and the court |
| Widowed | Your late spouse's name and the date of death, and that you have not married again |
| Annulled | The date of the annulment and the court or authority that granted it |
If you were married more than once, tick the box and list the earlier marriages too. A gap in the history is the first thing a registrar notices.
Papers to have ready
Fill in the form from your documents, not from memory. For a divorce, the date it took effect is on the divorce certificate or order, and it is usually 31 days after the judgment. For a death, use the date on the death certificate. Your passport gives the exact spelling of your names, your place of birth and the passport number, which many foreign offices like to see on the affidavit.
Common problems abroad
- Names that differ from the passport. The registrar compares the affidavit with the passport letter by letter. Use the passport spelling.
- An old affidavit. Many countries accept the affidavit only for a few months. Commission it close to the date you submit it.
- Missing the legalization step. Some countries also want an apostille or consular legalization. That is a separate step after commissioning.
- A partner's name with a different spelling. If you name the person you plan to marry, copy their name from their passport too.
Swearing it by video
Press Book and Sign and the affidavit is attached to your booking. On the call the commissioner checks your passport, you swear or affirm that the contents are true and sign on screen, and the commissioner completes the "Sworn or affirmed before me" part. The commissioned PDF arrives by email right after.
Already have it filled in?
Upload your own copy when you book and sign it with us by video.
FAQ
Is this the same as a certificate of no impediment?
It serves the same purpose for many offices, but the name and the exact wording they want vary. Check with the office or consulate that asked.
Can I swear it if I live outside Canada?
Yes. You join the video call from anywhere with your passport.
Do I need to name the person I am marrying?
Only if the office asks. The field is optional.
Can I swear or affirm?
Either. The affidavit says "make oath and say (or affirm)", and you choose on the call.
Can I download the affidavit?
No. It is attached to your booking and sworn at your video signing; the commissioned PDF is emailed to you afterwards.
Do you get the apostille or translation?
No. We commission the affidavit; translation and legalization are done separately.
We don't provide legal advice.
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