Single Status Certificate for Algeria

Proving You Are Free to Marry in Algeria

Before a marriage is concluded in Algeria, whether before an Algerian notary or at the civil registry, each spouse must show they are free to marry. For someone who has lived in the United States, the Algerian office will ask for proof from the U.S. In French this is often called a certificat de célibat or certificat de capacité matrimoniale. The difficulty is that the U.S. has no single national “certificate of single status”. Which document works depends on your history and your state.

Option 1: a sworn affidavit of single status

The most common answer is an affidavit of single status. In it you swear, before a U.S. notary, that you are not currently married, give your full name, date and place of birth and passport number, and state that the affidavit is for marriage in Algeria. Because it is notarized, the Secretary of State of the notary’s state can apostille it. Our affidavit for Algeria page explains the signing rules.

Option 2: an official “no record of marriage” search

Some states and counties will search their marriage records and issue a certified statement that no marriage is recorded under your name. Algerian offices tend to give weight to an official record, so combining it with your sworn affidavit makes a stronger file. It is a public record, so you use a certified copy, and the issuing state apostilles it. It doesn’t need a notary. Bear in mind that it only covers that state or county.

If you were married before

If you are divorced, the Algerian office will expect a certified copy of your divorce decree (or certificate of divorce) showing the marriage ended. If you are widowed, it will expect the death certificate of your former spouse. Both are public records, apostilled by the issuing state, and both should be sent together with your single status affidavit.

The apostille since July 2026

Algeria joined the Hague Apostille Convention, effective July 9, 2026. Every document in your single status file now needs only an apostille from the right Secretary of State. That is the notary’s state for the affidavit, and the issuing state for public records such as a no-record search, divorce decree or death certificate. The Algerian Embassy and the U.S. Department of State are no longer involved.

Algerian nationals and the consulate

Algerian citizens living in the U.S. may also be able to obtain a celibacy certificate from their Algerian consulate, based on its own records and procedures. Ask the Algerian notary or civil registry handling the marriage which form it prefers: the consulate’s certificate, or an apostilled U.S. affidavit with supporting records.

Timing and translation

Proof of single status describes your situation at one moment, so Algerian offices usually want a recently dated document. Sign the affidavit close to the wedding date and allow time for the apostille, courier and an official Arabic translation in Algeria.