REQUIREMENTS FOR A LEGAL MARRIAGE IN BALI, INDONESIA.
Weddings at Bali Seascape Beach Club hope the following will give our customers the information they need to understand the legal requirements for marriage in Bali and to help us make your wedding arrangements go as smoothly as possible. It is most important to obtain the necessary papers requested prior to your travel to Bali. We hope the descriptions of the requirements for marriage will be of help and request that prior to your visit to Bali for marriage, both parties obtain all the necessary documents from your home country as described below. We will provide any necessary assistance to obtaining those documents required in Indonesia both prior to and when you arrive in Bali for your wedding. Any worries just E Mail us and we will do our best to help.
LEGALITIES
The Law regarding marriages in Indonesia defines that a marriage is legitimate if it has been performed according to the laws of the respective religious beliefs of the parties concerned. All couples who marry in Indonesia must declare a religion. The Civil Registry Office can record marriages of persons of Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian-Protestant and Christian-Catholic faiths. Marriage partners must ideally have the same religion; otherwise one partner may be require to make a written declaration of a change of religion. Agnosticism and Atheism are not recognised. The marriage should be registered with the district Civil Registrar & the ceremony must be performed under religious rites.
The Religious Marriage under Islam is performed by the Office of Religious Affairs (Kantor Urusan Agama) in a ceremony at a mosque, the home, a hotel or any other place chosen by the couple and is legal immediately after the ceremony. A Christian, Hindu or Buddhist marriage may be performed first in a church or temple ceremony or at our hotel. After the religious ceremony, every non-Islamic marriage must be recorded with the Civil Registry (Kantor Catatan Sipil). Without the registration by the Civil Registry these marriages are not legal. Recording by Civil Registry officials can be performed directly at the religious ceremony for an additional fee. Persons of non-Islamic faith are required to file with the Civil Registry Office in the Regency where they are staying, first a "Notice of Intention to Marry" as well as a "Letter of No Impediment".
Indonesian authorities require that all foreigners planning to marry in Indonesia obtain a "CNI" (Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage) before the wedding. This is simply a letter from your Consulate or Embassy representative in Indonesia stating that there is no objection for you to get married in Indonesia.
For the issue of the Letter of ’’No Impediment to Marriage’’ by your Consular Representative you will need to present for yourself and your fiancé your Passport(s) valid for more than 6 months and Certified Divorce Decrees (absolute/final) and/or Death Certificates regarding the termination of any previous marriages. Please contact the Consular Representative of your country for details well before the intended date of marriage.
The following countries have Consuls or Consular Representatives in Bali.
Australia, UK (Honorary Consulate), France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway & Denmark (Honorary Consulate), Netherlands, Sweden & Finland Spain (Honorary Consulate), Switzerland & Austria, (U.S.A. (Consular Agency).
For the Notice of Intention to Marry you have to submit the following documents for both partners to the Civil Registry Office (show the original and present a photocopy):
SOME USEFULL ADDITIONS
Before the marriage, you and your fiancé may also wish to file, with the Civil Registry, a prenuptial Property Agreement (Surat Pernyataan Harta) which must be signed before a local Notary Public. This contract is necessary if you wish to hold property separately during the marriage. In the absence of such a document, Indonesian marriage law assumes joint ownership of property, and subsequent property acquisitions by the Indonesian partner will be regulated according to the laws restricting foreign property ownership.
Two witnesses over the age of 18 are required. They must show the originals and present photocopies of their passports if they are foreign citizens or KTP (identity cards) if they are Indonesian citizens. Civil Registry employees can also act as witnesses. The Civil Registry office has a Mandatory Waiting Period of 10 working days from the date of filing. This waiting period may be waived for tourists presenting a guest registration form (Form A).
Islamic Marriage Certificates (Buku Nikah) issued by the Office of Religious Affairs (Kantor Urusan Agama) are legally valid in Indonesia and do not require registration with any other agency if you are going to live in Indonesia. All other Marriage Certificates will be issued by the Civil Registry usually on the same or next day. A sworn English translation of the marriage certificate should be obtained for use abroad. It is not necessary for the marriage certificate or translation to be registered by your Consular Agency. However, to have the sworn translation of the marriage certificate verified or a special translation made by the Consular Agency of your home country, or the Consular Agency of your country of residence, might prove useful.
SUMMARY OF NECESSARY DOCUMENTS
The following information will be required in order to process your marriage certificate in Indonesia.
All documents must be original - no photocopies.
a) Certificate of the religious marriage;
b) Passport for foreign citizens, or KTP (Identity card) for Indonesian citizens;
c) Birth certificates for both parties
d) Certified divorce decree (absolute) or death certificates regarding the termination of all previous marriages;
e) Eight ( 8 ) photographs ( 6 x 4 cm) of the couple in same photo. Photo must be of the head & shoulders only, side by side, looking straight ahead. FYI, these photos will be attached to your wedding certificate.
f) Details of religious faith (i.e. baptism certificates)
g) Occupations & domiciles for both parties
h) Written parental consent for any person under the age of 21
i) Details of names, addresses, professions of witnesses. Two (2) witnesses are required. If you do not have any witnesses we can arrange.
j) Foreign citizens
- "Letter of No Impediment to Marriage" issued by your Consular Representative for Bali or
- Indonesia;
k) Indonesian citizens:
- Never married: letter Surat Keterangan Belum Kawin from Kepala Desa or Lurah (mayor);
- Men aged 18-21 and women aged 16-21: parental letter of consent, signed across the meterai/tax stamp Rupiah 6,000.
Catholic Couples must also present:
l) Baptism Certificates - Mandatory. These should be issued not more than 6 months (and preferably not more than 3 months) prior to your wedding date;
m) "Letter of Freedom" issued by your Parish Priest or other Church Official, declaring you have never been married and are therefore free to marry;
n) "Letter of Delegation" issued by your Parish Priest or other Church Official, declaring that they have no objection to your marriage ceremony being performed by a Priest from the Catholic Church in Bali.
o) Pre Nuptial Course
p) Pre Marriage Inquiry
Due to the many rules & regulations related to Catholic Couples, we recommend a minimum of one month preparation period.
We can not confirm the religious ceremony until all documents required by the Catholic Church have been received and verified by the local Church Authorities.
Catholic couples who may not be able to fulfil these requirements may still have a Christian wedding ceremony. They must however make statement that they agree to be blessed as Protestants.
We hope the above descriptions of the requirements for marriage have been of help and request that prior to your visit to Bali for marriage, both parties obtain all the necessary documents from your home country. We will provide any necessary assistance to obtaining those documents required in Indonesia both prior to and when you arrive in Bali for your wedding. We are here to help so if you have any questions please E Mail us and we will be pleased to assist.