MARRIAGES IN MALAYSIA (CIVIL MARRIAGE)

Parties wishing to marry in Malaysia must provide 21 days written notice to the local Registrar of Marriage, although for an additional fee a special license can reduce this to less than 7 days for foreigners, provided all documentation is correct. On arrival couples should contact the local National Registrar’s Office (Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara) in the State in which they intend to marry, or if in Kuala Lumpur at the KL office, to organise the details. (Inquire from your travel agent about resort hotels that provide a package for those wishing to marry in Malaysia)

Document Required:

1.  Statutory Declaration (on the standard Australian form available at a Post Office or Newsagent, witnessed by a Justice of the Peace) This should state:

- Your name, address and country of residence

- Age (legal age for marriage in Malaysia is 21, otherwise consent of parents /or guardians must be given)

- That there is no legal obstacle to the marriage

- That you are not lawfully married to any other person

- That both parties consent to the marriage.

2. Single Status  Search

A document confirming your single status from your Australian State Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. It’s called a Single Status Search document. This must then be attested by your local State office of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (cost $20)

 OR

If previously married, confirmation of dissolution of previous marriage (e.g., a death certificate or divorce certificate or nullity decree). Certified copy by Justice of the Peace.

3. Original Birth Certificate

Attested by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a genuine Australian government document (plus two photocopies of original after it has been endorsed by the Malaysian High Commission)

4. Passport

Original and two photocopies of data front section of passport

5. Two passport size photos of each person.

 

Prior to going to Malaysia for the marriage,

Each person must send the following documents to the Consular Section, Malaysian High Commission 7 Perth Avenue, Yarralumla ACT 2600 for certification.

1. The completed Statutory Declaration for each party to the marriage.
2. The Original Single Status Search document from the State Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages which must be attested by your local State office of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. And, if divorced, those papers also attested by Justice of the Peace.
3. A copy of the Birth Certificate that has been attested by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia. 

Fee: The High Commission of Malaysia will place its official certification stamp on the documents. The Charge for each document is AUD$5.00 (see certification fee charges). Enclose a Post Office Money Order for the amount of the documents need to be certified by the High Commisson (no personal cheques or credit cards accepted) payable to the Malaysia High Commission and  a self-addressed Platinum Express / Registered envelope for the return of the documents

Also provide a contact telephone number.

 

Upon arrival in Malaysia:

Couples will need to visit either the Kuala Lumpur office (if intending to marry there) or the local State office of the Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara - Marriage Registrar’s office - to lodge the documents, make a formal application to marry (Borang JPNKC01) and arrange the time and date of the ceremony. This involves getting the Commissioner of Oaths to place his stamp on the marriage licence and obtaining the approval of the Director of Registration for the marriage to proceed based on the validity of documents submitted to him.

While you may arrange a civil celebrant or some other ceremony, the marriage only becomes legal once the documents are signed and witnessed at the local Marriage Registry office.

Fees currently are: Marriage Certificate RM30, Translation RM50 plus other fees bringing it to about 120 ringgit (about A$45). The exchange rate is currently about 2.7 ringgit to the Australian dollar, although this changes from day to day it rarely falls below 2.5.

Normal office hours for the Malaysian Registrar’s office are 8 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday, and 8 am to 11.30 am, every second and fourth Saturday.

If time is important, you should check before arriving in Malaysia whether any public holidays - national or state- will occur during the time you intend to submit your application. Otherwise, holidays may delay the approval of your application. You may need someone who speaks Malay to assist you at the registrar’s office (the hotel should know this).

Be sure to retain and safeguard the original marriage certificate. (Keep photocopies as well) It is not easy to obtain copies of lost documents, particularly some years after the event, when applying from overseas.