Question:
I am an Indonesian citizen married to an Australian citizen. We got married abroad. How can I register our foreign marriage in Indonesia?
Answer:
Legal Basis for Registering a Foreign Marriage in Indonesia
Registering a marriage conducted abroad is legally required for it to be recognized in Indonesia. Here are the two key regulations:
1. Registration with Local Authority and Indonesian Embassy Abroad
Article 37(1), Law No. 23 of 2006, as amended by Law No. 24 of 2013 on Population Administration:
“A marriage between Indonesian citizens outside the territory of the Republic of Indonesia must be registered with the local authority and reported to the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate.”
This means your marriage must first be recorded at both the local civil registry of the country where the marriage took place and the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in that country.
2. Reporting Marriage to the Civil Registry (Disdukcapil) in Indonesia
Article 56(2), Law No. 1 of 1974 on Marriage:
“Within one year of the couple’s return to Indonesia, proof of marriage must be registered with the local Civil Registry Office (Disdukcapil).”
This law sets a one-year deadline for reporting your foreign marriage to Disdukcapil after returning to Indonesia.
Required Documents for Registering a Foreign Marriage at Disdukcapil
To legally register your foreign marriage at Disdukcapil, you must prepare the following documents:
- Indonesian citizen’s National ID card (KTP)
- Foreign spouse’s passport
- Family card (KK)
- Foreign marriage certificate or registration proof (translated by a sworn translator)
- Proof of marriage report at the Indonesian Embassy/KBRI
- Prenuptial agreement notarized in Indonesia (mandatory for WNI-WNA marriages)
- Names and photocopies of ID cards of two witnesses
- Completed Disdukcapil registration form
Prenuptial Agreement Requirement for Mixed Marriages
For mixed-nationality marriages between an Indonesian citizen and a foreign national, a prenuptial agreement is usually mandatory. This agreement outlines the separation of property between the spouses and is required for certain legal purposes, such as property ownership in Indonesia.
Legal Assistance for Registering Foreign Marriages in Indonesia
Legal Keluarga provides legal services for registering and reporting foreign marriages in Indonesia. We help with document preparation, translation, and filing at Disdukcapil.
Contact Legal Keluarga
📞 Phone / WhatsApp: 0813-8968-6009
📧 Email: klien@legalkeluarga.id
🌐 Website: legalkeluarga.id
Let us help you ensure your foreign marriage is officially recognized in Indonesia.
