Religion is enshrined in the Indonesian way of life. As such, according to local law, only two聽people who practice the same religion can get married in Indonesia. In fact, a religious marriage聽certificate is required, without which your union will not be legally acknowledged by the state.聽This is valid for both citizens and expatriates living in Indonesia.
Therefore, couples who wish to marry in Indonesia must declare their religion beforehand.聽Furthermore, both bride and groom are not allowed to declare themselves as atheists or聽agnostics, and if the couple does not share the same religion, one of them must sign a聽declaration of change of religion.
The Indonesian state recognizes only five religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism and聽Protestantism.
Prior to the marriage, it is strongly advised to make a prenuptial agreement indicating whether聽you wish to marry under a property separation regime or not.
Islamic marriages in Indonesia
As Islam is the official national religion, Islamic marriages (Nikah Siri) in Indonesia are legally聽binding. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a civil marriage for the state to recognize such聽wedlocks. However, this may become a source of problems in other countries, as only civil聽marriages are recognized elsewhere. In any case, all Islamic marriages must be celebrated by聽the Kantor Urusan Agama (KUA), the Office of Islamic Affairs. The ceremony can take place in a聽mosque, a restaurant, a residence or any other place chosen by the couple.
The following documents are required for Islamic marriages:
- Copy of passport
- Copy of birth certificate
- A certificate of non-impediment to marriage, to be requested from the embassy or consulate of聽your country of origin
- A copy of the divorce certificate, if applicable
- Passport photos of you and your fianc茅
- Tax receipt or proof of tax payment (if you work in Indonesia)
- Copy of your temporary residence permit (ITAS) or visa in Indonesia
All foreign language documents must be translated into Bahasa Indonesian by an official聽translator.
At the end of the ceremony, a marriage book (Buku Nikah) will be given to the couple. This is a聽document proving that you are legally united under Indonesian law.
Non-Islamic weddings in Indonesia
In the case of Hindu, Buddhist, Protestant or Catholic weddings, two ceremonies will be聽required. The first is a religious ceremony, and the second is a civil marriage. The religious聽ceremony should be performed by an officiant or priest of the religion chosen by the couple.聽After the religious ceremony, the couple will receive two marriage certificates. The first one will聽have to be given to the religious authorities concerned, and the second one to the Civil Status聽Office.
It is strongly advised that you register your religious marriage with the authorities as soon as聽possible after the ceremony. Otherwise, this could result in serious administrative problems.聽Once the civil ceremony is completed, you will receive a civil marriage certificate. This is聽important because a religious marriage that is not formalized by a civil marriage certificate is聽considered null and void in Indonesia (except in the case of Islamic marriages).
There is normally a 10-day delay between the religious wedding and the civil ceremony.聽However, it is possible to shorten this period and even obtain your civil marriage certificate聽directly after the religious ceremony, provided that you pay an additional fee.
The required documents for non-Islamic marriages are the same as for Islamic marriages,聽except that you will also need to submit a certificate issued by the Indonesian police stating聽that you intend to get married and that you have not committed any crime in the country. In聽advance of the wedding, you will also need to fill out a notice of intent to marry at the Civil聽Registry Office in your area, after which the marriage banns will be published at least 20 days聽before the date of the ceremony.
Divorce in Indonesia
A divorce in Indonesia can only be granted by a court of law. It is also possible to get a divorce聽in Indonesia, even if you were married in another country. To file for divorce in Indonesia, one聽of the parties must meet at least one of the following requirements:
be an Indonesian citizen
reside in Indonesia at the time of the proceedings
have any connection with Indonesia
You should also be aware that divorces are handled differently in Indonesia, depending on the聽marriage regime. The breakup of marriages performed under the Islamic system must be聽validated by an Islamic court, while non-Islamic marriages must go through the normal courts of聽law to be annulled.
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