Single Status Certificate for Bahrain

Getting Married in Bahrain with U.S. Documents

Before a marriage is concluded or registered in Bahrain, whether before a Sharia court or registry for Muslim marriages, or through the procedure that applies to non-Muslim couples, the authority checks that each spouse is legally free to marry. For a U.S. citizen or resident, Bahraini offices usually ask for a document often called a “certificate of no impediment” or “single status certificate”. Because the United States has no national marriage register, that document has to be built from the right U.S. paperwork.

The sworn statement at the center

The most widely used answer is an affidavit of single status: a sworn statement, signed before a U.S. notary, in which you declare your full name, date and place of birth, nationality, passport number and that you are not currently married. If you were married before, the affidavit states how that marriage ended. It is apostilled by the Secretary of State of the notary’s state.

Supporting records

Bahraini authorities often want the sworn statement backed by official records. If you were divorced, include a certified copy of the final divorce decree. If you were widowed, include your former spouse’s death certificate. Some states and counties can also issue a no-record-of-marriage search, which adds official weight for those who have never married. These are public records: certified by the issuing office and apostilled by the state that issued them, never notarized.

Signing while already in Bahrain

If you are already living in Bahrain, signing before a U.S. notary may not be practical. U.S. citizens can ask the U.S. Embassy in Manama about consular notarial services, and should confirm with the Bahraini office that will register the marriage whether it accepts a consularly notarized statement. Alternatively, you can sign in the U.S. on a visit, or use a remote online notarization only if the Bahraini office will accept it. Always ask before relying on it.

Timing, names and translation

Bahraini offices generally expect the affidavit to be recent, so sign it close to the planned marriage date. Use your name exactly as in your passport, and make sure every supporting record shows the same spelling. The documents are translated into Arabic by a certified translator in Bahrain. Bahrain has accepted apostilles since December 31, 2013, so no U.S. Department of State or Bahrain Embassy legalization is needed for the U.S.-issued documents.