Download Affidavit of Single Status for Visa in Nigeria

The Affidavit of Single Status for Visa is a specialized sworn statement designed to meet the rigorous requirements of foreign embassies and immigration departments.

While similar to the standard 'Affidavit of Bachelorhood/Spinsterhood,' this version is specifically tailored for international use. It is the primary document used to obtain a 'Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage' from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, which is often a prerequisite for a Nigerian to marry a foreign national in that foreigner's country.

Purpose: International Marriage and Immigration

When a Nigerian citizen applies for a fiancé visa (such as the K-1 visa for the USA) or seeks to register a marriage in countries like Germany, Italy, or the UK, the foreign government must be assured that the Nigerian is not already married. Bigamy is a crime in most jurisdictions, and immigration fraud is taken very seriously. This affidavit declares that a search of the marriage registries in Nigeria would yield no record of an existing marriage for the deponent.

Authentication and Legalization

Unlike a local affidavit used for a bank change of name, this document almost always requires further processing. After being sworn at a High Court in Nigeria, it usually must be taken to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 'Legalization' (Red Seal) to be valid abroad. The text of the affidavit is drafted to be clear and unambiguous to foreign officials, explicitly stating the deponent's freedom to marry.

Content

The affidavit must state the deponent's full name, date of birth, occupation, and passport details. It must declare that the deponent is single (never married, divorced, or widowed—with proof attached if the latter two). It frequently mentions the specific country where the marriage is intended to take place and may even name the intended foreign spouse. This specificity helps visa officers verify the intent of the document.