How to get legally married in Bali

legally married in Bali

Is a wedding in Bali recognized in my home country ? Is it possible to get legally married in Bali ? Yes it is possible. ? And in this article I will explain to you how and the ‘paperwork’ involved.

DISCLAIMER: While we have thoroughly researched this article we cannot guarantee that all the information provided here is 100% accurate and/or complete. Use this as a guideline only. To get legally married in Bali we strongly recommend that you seek the assistance of a wedding company in Bali.

If you are Malaysian or Singaporean citizen then please read this first:
 Important info for Malaysian and Singaporean couples who want to get legally married in Bali

You can also have non-legal wedding

Before we go into the details you need to be aware that you can also have a wedding in Bali without getting legally married in Bali. A lot of couples do their legal marriage and the required ‘paperwork’ back home. They then have in Bali a non-legally binding blessing ceremony, or commitment ceremony. Doing so you do not need to worry about the legal requirements. It is also cheaper to do so. For this kind of ceremony you do not need any papers and no authorities are involved.

Such kind of Bali weddings are usually performed by a celebrant, who may or may not be a real priest. Some couples choose to have a wedding ceremony that closely resembles a Christian wedding ceremony. Others prefer to have a ceremony that resembles a traditional Balinese ceremony. Weddings where a friend or relative of the couple assumes the role of a ministrant are also common. For this kind of ceremonies there will be no questions asked about your official faith. Between 30% and 40% of all couples having a wedding in Bali choose to have a non-legally binding wedding ceremony.

 

Balinese blessing ceremony

A Balinese blessing ceremony

Here is how to get legally married in Bali

 

If you want to get legally married in Bali then your marriage must be in accordance with the marriage law of Indonesia. Please note that those requirements and the involved paperwork to get legally married in Bali can vary slightly depending on your nationality and whether your country has a consulate or any other legal representation in Bali / Indonesia.

 

To get legally married in Bali  you are required to have both a religious and civil ceremony. Although in recent years the civil ceremony is often consolidated with the religious ceremony. For further details on this please consult with your wedding company in Bali.

Both marriage partners need to declare the same religion. Please note the word 'declare' ! I did not say you must be of the same religion. There can be certain implications with regards to the the truthfulness of such a declaration. Suffice to say that depending on what religion you declare your declaration may not be subject to scrutiny.

The following religions are recognized in Indonesia:

  • Islam
  • Hinduism
  • Buddhism
  • Christian-Protestant
  • Christian-Catholic

The religious ceremony and the legal ceremony must be held at the same location on the same day.

Religious ceremonies under Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christian-Protestant faith can be held at a home, a villa, a hotel, a restaurant, a beach or a purpose built wedding venue. Basically any venue is fine, except Balinese temples.

Muslim weddings in Bali

For Muslims please note that it is not mandatory to have your ceremony in a mosque. But of course you can also get married in a mosque if you chose to do so.  For Muslims it is actually the easiest procedure because there is no need for an additional civil ceremony. The religious ceremony is carried out by a member of the ‘Kantor Urusan Agama’ – which roughly translates into ‘The office of religious affairs’.  And that ceremony is sufficient for you to get legally married. You are also required to produce a document that proves that you are a Muslim.

Catholic weddings in Bali

If you intend to marry under Catholic faith you are required to do so in a Catholic church in Bali. You CANNOT have a Catholic wedding at a villa, in a hotel or one of Bali’s wedding chapels. Read more about that at:  Catholic weddings in Bali no more, or… ? -  how to have a Roman Catholic wedding in Bali.

roman catholic wedding in Bali

Roman Catholic wedding in Bali

Other religions

The vast majority of international couples get married in Bali under protestant faith.

Couples are required to file first a 'Notice of Intention to marry'. This is done at the Civil Registry Office in the regency where they are staying in Bali.

You are also required to present a ‘Certificate of non-Impediment’. This document is usually obtained from your consulate or your embassy in Indonesia. This is where it can get a bit complicated if you country does not have a consulate in Bali. You may then need to obtain this document from your embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital. Which happens to be over 1000 km away from Bali. But don’t worry it still can be done and you may not need to visit your embassy there. Remember: this varies from country to country.

A 'Certificate of non-Impediment' can also be issued by the local authorities where the individuals live in their home countries.

In both instances please do this well before your wedding day in Bali as requirements vary by embassy/consulate. For further and more detailed information regarding 'Certificate of Non-Impediment' please contact your embassy or let your wedding planner/coordinator help you.

The following countries have consulates in Bali where you can arrange for ‘Certificate of non-impediment’: Australia, UK, USA, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, New Zealand and many others. We will soon update this list to completion.


For the Notice of Intention to marry you have to submit the following documents for both partners to the Civil Registry Office in Bali:

    • Passport for foreign citizens
    • Certified birth certificate
    • Certified divorce decree (absolute) or death certificates regarding the termination of all previous marriages if appropriate.
    • Four 4x6 cm photos, both partners side by side, bride on right hand side (with no bare shoulders showing) ( its easy to get these done in Bali )
    • Certificate of Non Impediment to Marriage' issued by your Consular Representative for Bali or Indonesia. All foreigners who are planning to get legally married in Bali are required to present this!


Additionally the following documents are required for both partners:

    • Passports which are valid for a minimum 6 months from the date of entry into Indonesia
    • Valid visas to enter Indonesia - foreign visitors who wish to get legally married in Bali may enter Indonesia as tourists using the tourist visa which is valid for a stay in Indonesia of up to 30 days.
    • Birth Certificates (if a copy, and not the original is presented, then the copy must be legalized by a solicitor or by your countries embassy in Indonesia).
    • Legalized written statements confirming the status of each individual (single/ widow/ widower/ divorcee etc.).
    • Letter from the couple's church. This is only necessary if the couple are both Christians and members of a church and wish to be married in a church in Indonesia. If you plan to get married in a hotel, villa, chapel, beach, etc… this is not necessary.


I hope this article is useful to you and you now have a better idea of how to get legally married in Bali. Feel free to ask us questions on this but we may not have all the answers. We recommend that you involve a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator or another party to assist you to get legally married in Bali.

Let me know if I can help you:

Arrange a legal wedding for you

 

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