Intermarriages in Indonesia: What are the Required Documents for Foreigners?
The legal requirements for foreigners and Indonesian citizens to marry can be complex. Firstly, couples who marry in Indonesia must belong to the same religion. There are six recognized faiths in Indonesia:
- Islam
- Protestantism;
- Catholicism;
- Hinduism;
- Buddhism; or
- Confucianism.
As such, to be legally married in Indonesia, the couple must undertake a religious ceremony as defined in one of the six religions above, officiated by government officials.
For Muslim couples, the religious ceremony must be done in the presence of an official from the Religious Affairs Office. Non-Muslim couples will have to perform a religious ceremony followed by registration to the Civil Registry Office.
Muslim marriages: What are the required documents?
Muslim marriages must be conducted by an official from the Religious Affairs Office. The office will issue a ‘marriage book’ which contains the details of the couple.
Foreigners will need to provide the following documents to the Religious Affairs official:
- Copy of passport;
- Copy of birth certificate;
- Passport sized photo withblue background;
- Copy of resident permit card (if applicable);
- Certificate of no impediment to marriage (this certificate must be signed by a consular officer from the foreigner’s country embassy stating that he/she is legally free to marry);
- Certificate of conversion to Islam
- Death Certificate (if the previous spouse has died);
- Divorce Certificate (if the previous marriage terminate by divorce); and
- Prenup (if applicable).
All documents must be translated into the Indonesian language by an authorized translator and all the documents must be legalized at foreigner’s country embassy .
Non-Muslim marriages: What are the requirements?
Same applies to Non-Muslim marriages, that the marriage must be conducted by an official office that is Civil Registration. The office will issue a “Marriage Certificate” which contains the details of the couple.
Non-Muslim couples will need to compile the same documents.
- Copy of passport;
- Copy of birth certificate;
- Passport sized photo with red background;
- Copy of resident permit card (if applicable);
- Certificate of no impediment to marriage (this certificate must be signed by a consular officer from the foreigner’s country embassy stating that he/she is legally free to marry).
- Death Certificate (if the previous spouse has died);
- Divorce Certificate (if the previous marriage terminate by divorce); and
- Prenup (if applicable).
If you want to know more about the legal aspects of marrying an Indonesian as a foreigner, email our attorneys at Jarji Zaidan & Partners. We have in-depth experience in the field of family law. We are also available on WhatsApp +62 821-9000-3273 / +62 813-1403-8907.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on applicable laws and regulations on the day and date this article was published.
