How To Get Married in Malaysia (Non-Muslims)

The following is a reproduction from the National Registration Department's web page:

REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE FOR NON-MUSLIM APPLICANTS GENERAL INFORMATION

1.         Registration of marriage is COMPULSORY for a non-muslim Malaysian.

2.         Non-muslim foreigner living in Malaysia may apply to register their marriage under this act.

APPLICATION CONDITIONS

1.         Applicants are required to be present at the National Registration Department (NRD) counter or Malaysian Representative Office abroad to submit the application for registration of marriage.

2.         The place of application is dependent on the address stated in MyKad (for Malaysian) or the residential address in Malaysia (for non-citizen). This condition does not apply to the application for solemnisation and registration of marriages in churches, temples and associations.

3.         The applicants must reside in the district of marriage for at least 7 days +1 day before applying for marriage at the relevant NRD office. This condition does not apply to the the application for solemnisation and registration of marriage in churches, temples and associations.

4.         For marriage applications where one party or both parties are foreigner, applicants must submit the application to the NRD office. Marriage registration is only allowed at the NRD office.

5.         The registration of marriage shall take place after 21 days + 1 day but not later than 6 months from the date of application. For marriage applications in a Malaysian Representative Office, the application will be sent to the NRD office of the marriage district in Malaysia where each party to the marriage was last ordinarily resident to be displayed for at least 21 days + 1 day.

6.         Police / army personnel MUST get the Approval Letter to get married issued by the head of department concerned.

7.         A licence as listed below, if applicable, have to be submitted with the application for marriage except for the application for a licence using Form JPN.KC01E is to be submitted after the application of marriage at NRD.

7.1.      Application for marriage licence for parties whose relationships are prohibited is to be made using Form JPN.KC01A (subject to the approval of the Chief Minister or Menteri Besar). A fee of RM2.00 will be charged if approved.

7.2.      Written consent to the marriage for one who has not completed 21 years of age but having completed 18 years is to be made using Form JPN.KC01B (requires permission of persons listed in paragraph 2, Form JPN.KC01B). No fee is charged.

7.3.      Application for a marriage licence to dispense with the notice of marriage and certificate for marriage is to be made using Form JPN.KC01C (subject to the approval of the Chief Minister or Menteri Besar). A fee of RM100.00 will be charged if approved.

7.4.      Application for a marriage licence for female below 18 years of age but having completed 16 years is to be made using Form JPN.KC01D (subject to the approval of the Chief Minister or Menteri Besar). A fee of RM10.00 will be charged if approved.

7.5.      Application for a licence to solemnise marriage in a place other than the office of the Registrar is to be made using Form JPN.KC01E (subject to the approval of the Chief Minister or Menteri Besar). A fee of RM500.00 will be charged if approved.

7.6.      The licences JPN.KC01C, JPN.01D and JPN.KC01E are valid for one month from the date of approval.

8.         Student pass or temporary employment pass holder shall get an approval from the Immigration Department of Malaysia to register their marriage in Malaysia.

9.         Non-citizen must produce a letter to confirm their marital status.

10.       Myanmar citizen must produce a letter from their government to allow them to marry in Malaysia.

11.       A confirmation letter from the respective government that the applicant is not a Muslim (i.e. Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh or other Muslim countries or from any other country if required).

12.       Application for an authorisation letter for registration of marriage to a non-citizen at the NRD office in a different state shall be submitted to the Marriage and Divorce Division’s counter, NRD Headquarters, Putrajaya or by post addressed to:

Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (Bahagian Perkahwinan dan Perceraian)

No. 20, Persiaran Perdana Presint 2 62551 PUTRAJAYA

(Documents sent by post must include the correct contactible correspondence address)

13.       It is the responsibility of the applicant to have available an interpreter during the registration of marriage if the applicant does not understand Malay Language or English.

14.       Malaysian couples who wish to register customary or religious marriages in churches, temples or associations are required to go to any National Registration Department office to confirm the information on the marriage application and to pay a fee of RM20.00 for the Marriage Register.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

1.         Form JPN.KC02 that is completed.

2.         MyKad, MyPR or Malaysian green card (that is still valid).

3.         ORIGINAL passport and photocopy of pages with personal details, the latest arrival date in Malaysia and a valid visa or pass for non-citizen.

4.         One (1) colour passport-sized photograph per applicant.

5.         Approval letter from the Immigration department for the student pass and temporary employment pass holders to register their marriage in Malaysia.

6.         Approval letter to get marriage issued by the head of department for police / army personnel.

7.         ORIGINAL and photocopy of the following documents with translation by a qualified translator into Malay Language or English if not originally in either language must be submitted, i.e:

7.1.      Birth Certificate for non-citizen.

7.2.      Decree nisi absolute (divorce certificate), if applicable.

7.3.      Death certificate of previous spouse, if applicable.

7.4.      Letter verifying marital status of a non-citizen applicant is to be:

7.4.1.   certified by either the Malaysian representative in the applicant’s home country or the applicant's consulate in Malaysia, and

7.4.2.   re-certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) in Putrajaya, Kuching or Kota Kinabalu.

7.4.3.   If the letter does not have a validity date, it will be deemed valid for 6 months from the date of issue.

7.5.      Approval letter for a Myanmar citizen to marry in Malaysia from their government.

7.6.      Confirmation letter that the applicant is not a Muslim from their government (i.e. Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh or other Muslim countries or from any other country if required).

8.         Application for an authorisation letter for registration of marriage to a non-citizen at the NRD office in a different state shall be submitted at Marriage and Divorce Division’s counter, NRD Headquarters, Putrajaya or via post shall submit: 8.1.      A cover letter stating the purpose, applicable via post.

8.2.      ORIGINAL letter verifying marital status of a non-citizen applicant which had been:

8.2.1.   certified by either the Malaysian representative in the applicant’s home country or the applicant's consulate in Malaysia, and

8.2.2.   re-certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) in Putrajaya, Kuching or Kota Kinabalu.

8.3.      Approval letter from the Immigration Department of Malaysia for the student pass and temporary employment pass holders to register their marriage in Malaysia.

8.4.      Photocopy of:

8.4.1.   MyKad.

8.4.2.   Passport’s pages with personal details, the latest arrival date in Malaysia and a valid visa or pass for non-citizen.

8.4.3.   Birth Certificate for non citizen.

8.4.4.   Decree nisi absolute (divorce certificate), if applicable.

8.4.5.   Death certificate of previous spouse, if applicable.

8.5.      Approval letter for Myanmar citizen to marry in Malaysia from their government.

8.6.      Confirmation letter that the applicant is not a Muslim from the respective government (i.e. Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh or other Muslim countries or from any other country if required).

8.7.      All the above documents must be translated into Malay Language or English by a qualified translator.

8.8.      ORIGINAL documents must be produced when submitting the marriage application to the respective NRD office.

9.         All documents, if applicable, must be translated into Malay Language or English by a qualified translator and submitted with the application.

10.       Applicants who do not understand Malay Language will need to have the declaration in part D1 or D2 of the form JPN.KC02 translated by a qualified interpreter into the language that they understand.