A single status affidavit in the UAE (Arabic «إقرار عدم الزواج») is a sworn declaration before a notary that you are not currently married: never married, divorced or widowed. Marriage registries, courts and embassies ask for it before a wedding, and some visa, inheritance and name-change files use it too. Wordcraft drafts it in Arabic and English, arranges the notary and handles legalization.
Affidavit vs Embassy Certificate of No Impediment
| Document | Who issues it | When it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Single status affidavit | You make the declaration; a UAE notary notarizes your signature and oath | When the receiving authority accepts a sworn declaration made in the UAE |
| Certificate of no impediment or single status certificate | Your embassy, or a civil registry in your home country | When the authority wants proof from your own country's records |
Some authorities accept a notarized affidavit, others insist on a certificate from your home country or embassy, and a few want both. A certificate issued abroad must be attested before use in the UAE: authentication at home, then the UAE embassy, which now completes MOFA digitally. We find out what your registry or embassy expects before you sign anything. For attesting the marriage certificate after the wedding, see marriage certificate attestation.
What a Single Status Affidavit Says
- Your full name exactly as in your passport, with nationality, date of birth and passport number
- Your current status (never married, divorced or widowed) with divorce or death details where relevant
- Your parents' names, if the receiving authority asks for them
- The purpose, for example marriage to a named person in a named country, if required
- A statement that you understand a false declaration has legal consequences
A divorced or widowed applicant usually attaches the divorce decree or death certificate, attested and translated if it was issued abroad. For other declarations, see our sworn affidavit services.
Marrying Abroad: MOFA, Embassy and Translation
An affidavit notarized here for a wedding in another country takes the full legalization chain: the UAE notary, MOFA attestation (digital, verifiable online), then the destination's embassy or consulate in the UAE. The UAE does not issue apostilles, so there is no shortcut around the embassy where the destination requires it. If the destination works in another language, we translate the affidavit before or after legalization, whichever that authority prefers; the same applies to a marriage certificate translation later. See notarization for use abroad and MOFA attestation.
What to Send Us
- Your passport, plus your Emirates ID if you live in the UAE
- Details for the text: parents' names, address and purpose, if required
- A former spouse's divorce decree or death certificate, where relevant
- The receiving authority's template or checklist, if you have it
From Draft to Sworn Declaration
Tell us where you are marrying. Your written quote, sent within 10–30 minutes, says whether that authority wants an affidavit, a certificate or both. We draft the bilingual affidavit in the format it expects, you approve it, and you swear it before the notary in person or by video. Legalization follows if needed, and you receive the finished affidavit electronically and in original, with any translation as a separate file.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a single status affidavit?
A sworn statement, notarized by a UAE notary, that you are currently unmarried: never married, divorced or widowed.
Is an affidavit the same as a single status certificate?
No. The affidavit is your own sworn declaration, while a certificate comes from your embassy or home-country registry. Some authorities take either, others only one, and we check first.
Can I use a UAE single status affidavit to marry abroad?
Often, yes, after MOFA attestation and legalization by the destination embassy, plus translation where needed.
Can I sign the affidavit without an Emirates ID?
Yes. Dubai Courts notarization requires a valid Emirates ID, so without one we arrange the affidavit through the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) with your passport, usually by video. Your quote confirms the option for you.
What if I am divorced?
The affidavit states that you are divorced, and the divorce decree is usually attached, attested and translated if issued abroad.
Last updated: September 2026
