What You Need to Know about International Marriage in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia has enshrined the regulation of marriage in its Law No. 1 of 1974 on Marriage. A marriage between two individuals of different nationalities, or international marriage, needs to comply with Article 57, which notes that a marriage is considered legitimate if it meets all religious requirements and is officially registered in both countries.

However, those who are contemplating a cross-border marriage must be prepared for a deluge of legal requirements that differ considerably from those of traditional marriages.

List of documents required for foreign spouses:

- Certificate of No Impediment (CNI), which is a certificate issued by their consular representatives or the embassy stating that the foreign bride/groom is legally free to marry.

- Copy of ID.

- Copy of birth certificate.

- Copy of passport.

- A certificate stating his/her single status.

- Divorce certificate, if the spouse was previously married.

- Death certificate of previous partner, if deceased.

- Certificate of current residence.

- 4 copies of formal passport-sized photos (both 2×3 cm and 4×6 cm).

- If the marriage is to be held at the KUA, the spouse needs to provide a certificate of conversion to Islam, if the spouse was previously non-Muslim.

Five requirements that must be met to obtain a CNI from the embassy:

- Copy of latest birth certificate.

- Copy of ID.

- Copy of passport.

- Proof of residence or domicile letter. If you don't have one, it could be a copy of a phone or electricity bill.

All documents must be translated into Indonesian by a sworn translator and are then legalized by the Foreigner's Embassy in Indonesia.

List of documents required for the Indonesian citizen:

- Statement Letter of No Impediment signed by Neighborhood and Community Units (RT/RW) Chiefs.

- N1, N2, and N4 Forms from the Sub-District and District Office.

- N3 Form, specifically for those planning to have an Islamic wedding at KUA, or a statement letter of consent to the marriage to be signed by the couple.

- Copy of ID and birth certificate.

- Copy of the ID of the couple’s parents.

- Copy of Family Cards.

- Copy of the parents' marriage certificate if you are the first child.

- Copy of ID of two wedding witnesses during the ceremony.

- 4 copies of formal passport-sized photos (both 2×3 cm and 4×6 cm).

- Latest tax receipt.

- Prenuptial agreement.

List of documents required by the foreign embassy:

- Copy of the birth certificate and original.

- Copy of ID.

- Copy of N1, N2, and N4 Forms from the Sub-District and District Office..

- Copy of prenuptial agreement, if any.

Before submitting all the documents, it is better to have a copy of all the documents as the embassy will not return them.

Processing documents of marriage with foreigners

As summarized from the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, here is the procedure for legalizing the documents:

- Complete all the documents.

- Visit the Embassy and apply for legalization.

- Register the marriage to obtain a marriage book from the authorized agency, namely the Civil Registry Office (for Christians) or the Religious Affairs Office (for Muslims).

- Legalize the marriage certificate at the Department of Justice in Indonesia, the Human Rights Department, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

- Register the document with the Embassy of the foreign national's country of origin.

In Indonesia, fulfilling the required papers, completing the marriage contract and registration process, and meeting legal criteria are all part of an international marriage. Post-marital factors such as citizenship, domicile, property, and children's matters also need to be taken into account.

AULIA ULVA

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