Registering a marriage in Malaysia for Malaysians is not difficult. However, it can become slightly more complex for Malaysians marrying foreigners. If you are marrying a foreigner, don’t worry, because it can still be easily done at Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN) or by private civil marriage registrars. Read on for a guide for marriage registration for Malaysians marrying foreigners.
Marriage Registration Procedures at JPN For Malaysians Marrying Foreigners
Declaration of the foreign partner’s marital status (single, divorced, widow/widower) has to be made and attested at a notary public. Ensure at least two original copies are attested for submission to the relevant authorities.
Apply for a single status letter from the relevant High Commission or Embassy in Malaysia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia (Wisma Putra) with the attested declaration. If the letter is not in English, a translated version will be required for submission to JPN. If the foreign partner is from China (Taiwan), Indonesia, India (Sri Lanka), Phillipines, Myanmar, Vietnam or Thailand, an additional approval letter from the Marriage/Divorce Division of JPN is required before the relevant documents can be submitted for the registration of marriage.
Documents Required For Marriage Registration To Foreigners In Malaysia
The bride and groom to be are required to submit the following documents at JPN if they are registering their marriage there:
-
Malaysian’s IC
-
Foreign citizen’s passport
-
Photostat copy of foreigner’s passport for the first page (where most of the particulars are) and most recent entry stamp into Malaysia
-
Single status letter with endorsement from Wisma Putra
-
Single status declaration from Notary Public
-
1 passport size photo each (background has to be blue)
Cost Of Registering A Marriage To A Foreigner In Malaysia
If you are registering your marriage with JPN, the cost is RM30 which is similar to the fee locals pay. However, you will have to incur additional notary and other charges for the marital status attestation and letter by the Embassy. Endorsement of the letter by Wisma Putra is RM20.
Other Conditions For Malaysians Marrying Foreigners
-
The foreign partner must reside in Malaysia at least 7 days before application of marriage.
-
The marriage application can be made with a minimum of 21 days and a maximum of 6 months before the registration ceremony.
-
During the 21 days, the foreign citizen is allowed to leave and enter the country before the ceremony is performed.
Many modern marriages today cross cultural and geographical boundaries as the world becomes a smaller place. Hence, it is great to know how easy and fast the process is for Malaysians who are marrying a foreigner in Malaysia.
With Love,
Elle
{ 1 trackback }
{ 78 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Julia,
I chance upon your website when I was surfing the net for “Declaration of Marital Status (single)”. My boyfriend is from Malaysia (Pontian) and I am from Indonesia. As we need to register our marriage in Indonesia, he will need to have the Declaration of Letter to prove that he is single but I have asked the Malaysian High Commision in Singapore and they said that they can’t provide this letter. Can you please advice me what my boyfriend should do and what documentation that he need to prepare? Must we personally go to KL to get this letter?
Thank you so much and hope to hear from you soon.
Hi Lina – Thanks for your query. It will be best for your boyfriend to check back in KL with the Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara to ensure you have all the administrative details done properly.
Hi, i’m wondering can the registration be done at private places…eg. outdoor like garden?
looking for the marriage which is different from the typical style..
thanks.
Hi Joanne – Yes, you can do your registration in private places. All you need is a private registrar which will cost slightly more than doing it in JPJ (around RM200 to RM300).
Dear Elle, thank you very much for your information. It is very helpful. Meanwhile, may I have the contact for the private regsitrar if it’s available? I would like to enquire about their service. I am Malaysian and my fiance is foreigner. We both working abroad. Having an agent to assist us will be ideal. Thanks again!
Hi,
I want to marry a british citizen. he is widow and we plan to marry by this march 2010. what are process and documentation need to marry him
Hi Elle,
My bf and i are planning to marry in dec. when do u think is the right time for us to apply for marriage? can we apply it in june? will there be any possible delays in the application?
Hi there,
thanks for the tips
i would like to know whats the difference between
#
Single status letter with endorsement from Wisma Putra
#
Single status declaration from Notary Public
My fiance is from UK…. and we hope to apply for our marriage through JPN at Maju Junction without going to PutraJaya. Is that possible?
regards, Jeamie
Hai..My boyfriend is from nepal but he is and divorcee(im an malaysian).We plan to get maried soon in nepal or malaysia.
a)How is the procuder to get maried in malaysia?
b)Is that will be any problem i maried an foreign?
c)Is that will be any problem if we start any business in malaysia
after maried?
d)Is that can be if i maried in nepal and register in malaysia?
e) Is that will be any problem once we get maried and stay in malaysia ?
f) Is that my hubby can get malaysian citizen ship once we get maried?
Can u help to give me such infomation??
thank u
regards,
lalitha
Hi Elle
I am a Malaysian-muslim and my boyfriend is a newly-converted muslim and a New Zealand citizen. I found your website while browsing around for info on “Malaysian marrying foreigners”. Being muslims, is there any other required documents other than the ones you’ve mentioned above? Really appreciate your assistance… thanks!!
Hi, i am from middle east. i want to marry a malay girl. i am muslem. I want to know if i am given work permit after marriage and if i am given malaysian permanent residence and citizenship? what are the procedures? thank you. My first language is arabic. my second language is english.
thank you for your good work .please how much will it cos two foreigners to do court marriage in Malaysia? i am a Nigerian and my partner is from Australia.and i will also be happy if u can help me with the guide line of the important documents i need to collect after the marriage.
thank your for your assistance and have a nice day.
yours faithfully
Alex Snow
hi Elle,
hi, in my case i am a Malaysian but my boy is from India..he is a divorce man..but his previous marriage was in India and divorce were in america because he is a PR there..so how is the procedure in Malaysia…is tat OK if he submit the american’s divorce certificate to JPN..and do they mention that he is a divorce man during our register day..thank you….
Elle, hi! I am a Malaysian, and planning to marry my girlfriend whom is a Chinese citizen. We would like to register for the marriage in Malaysia. As such, will you be able to provide my some information and advice, on what’s the procedure, and what are the relevant documents for her bring along to Malaysia. Thank you.
Hi Jerry, I’ve dropped you a mail
Hi Naas, I’ve dropped you a mail!
Hi Alex, I’ve dropped you a mail
Hi Alia, I’ve dropped you a mail. Hope it helps!
Hi Shakira, I would recommend that you check with JPN as muslims have a different set of documents required.
Hi Lalitha, please go to http://www.jpn.gov.my to find out more about the documents you need for marrying a foreigner.
Hi Jeamie, I think the single status letter endorsed by Wisma Putra is just a signature from a Wisma Putra representative on the letter prepared by the foreigner’s embassy. The letter signed by the Notary Public will have the additional attestation by the Notary Public to confirm the single status. Hope it helps. Congratulations
Hi Fifi, yes June should be okay.
Hi Hemalactha, do hop over to http://www.jpn.gov.my to read more about the process and documentation required.
Hi B, glad you found it useful. I don’t have any private registrar’s details but you might find some googling up for it
Hi Elle just wondering if you could send me some imformation on marriage here in Malaysia i am an Australian . I want to marry my man from Nigeria at a registry office can you please help and tell me what to do. I am stay in Johor Bahru … Thanks i really appreciate cheers..
Hi Elle, I am a Malaysian muslim trying to marry a Myanmar foreigner. I have an issue where Myanmar citizen can’t get single status letter back from their country. Another proble is im a muslim which makes things more difficult eventhough my partner is willing to convert. Do you have any advise on how shall we get married legally?
Elle, hi! I am a Malaysian Chinese, and planning to marry my girlfriend who is a Chinese citizen. We would like to register for the marriage in Malaysia. Will you be able to provide me with some information and advice, about the procedures, and what are the relevant documents needed for me and her to bring along to Malaysia.
I am currently residing in Malaysia, for your info.
THank you
Dear Elle,
Please advise me on how i can check whether my boyfriend has been married before in kota kinabalu,kelantan?
thank u
Hi Elle,
Recently I’m known from my friend that i need to declare of Marital Status in Malaysia. Can you please advice the procedure and the location i need to go for declaration.
I am Malaysian and my husband is Singaporean, both of us been Register of Married in Singapore in last year i.e., 25/12/2009.
Hi, i plan to marry with an Australian, and we will stay in Australia. What documents i should prepare, or we can go for agent to prepare all the partner migrating? Do we needs to marry in Malaysia first? Do you know how to get the letter of personal characters test OR so call police checks? Izzit in JPN? Please reply me to my email, thank you, i wish i can get information from you, have a nice day!
Hi,I just would like to know if Marriage Registration (Daftar Perkhawinan)=Marriage Certificate ? I hv Marriage Registration under special license SEC 21(1)/Form 01C but the foreign bodies (my hubby’s country ) said they only recognise Marriage Certificate, not Marriage Registration. Where can I obtain this ? Pls adv.
Hi Elle
Me and my bf plan to get married in Nov this year the problem is I’m buddhist and he is muslim as I know I have to convert to muslim first right? Do they need any document which shows that I’m muslim?
thank you very much for your answer
hi Elle! am a muslim guy from middle easte i was recently studying in malaysia and i fell in love with a muslim malay girl and we are palnnning to marry and i want to stay and live with her in malaysia so is it possiable to live and work in malaysia after marriage ? thank you …
Hi Elle,
This was really good information. My GF and I have been struggling to find the right information. I as a Pakistani Muslim foreigner am working here with a business development firm since 2008. I wish to marry my Chinese origin Malaysian girl friend.
1. Is there any possibility that she may not have to convert to Islam?
2. In Pakistan you can marry people from of the Book ( meaning Christians etc….without converting) and get it endorsed by the Malaysian embassy in Pakistan. So after coming back to Malaysia will she still have to convert or does she have to get the marriage registered here too?
3. After marrying her will be able to get a Permanent Resident status?
Regards,
ASH
Dear Sir /Madam
Hi how r u ? i am from pakistan and i live in and work in dubai uae
i wanna marry with malaysian girl so would to advice me witch documents are required for that i wanna get married in dubai she is agree with me and her perents are not agree in this condition what can i do ? plz help me and mail me ?
Best Regards Talib Al Balushi
Hi Elle,
My bf and I are both foreigners, studying and working in Malaysia. We want to register in JPN, but got some trouble on single status. My bf is from China, his single status stated that he did not register from 2003 to 2010. As China’s law, he only can get married when he reach 22 years old. But JPN officer want him to get the single status since he was 21 (marriage age in Malaysia).
I come from Vietnam, my country only authenticated my single status until the day I left country. The time I staying in Malaysia has to be authenticated by Embassy in Malaysia. But my embassy asked me to get letter from my school and work place. My school refused to issue letter.
My bf and I really confused now. We really think we cannot get married even in my country or his country.
If you have any third-party able to handle this case, kindly contact me at my e-mail. Thank you.
Hi Elle,
Thanks for all the useful information! Wondering if you could offer some advice:
My boyfriend is British and I’m Malaysian (non-Muslim), and we would like to clarify a few points regarding registration and solemnisation. He doesn’t currently reside in Malaysia so I’m wondering how long the process takes. Is the below correct?
Pre-registration – 7 days in KL
Approval of registration – Is this immediate? I heard that a date is selected for you.
Solemnisation – After 21 days following approval, up to 6 months. Is the marriage certificate given then?
Can all the necessary documents for registration be obtained from Wisma Putra, (such as the Single Status Letter for both him and me)?
The JPN website is a bit confusing so I’d be very grateful for your advice. Thank you!
Does a Malaysian marrying a Singaporean but lives in Singapore require to register their marriage in Malaysia?
Hi Elle,
I am a Malaysian and my partner is an Indonesian who lives in the UK permanently.We intend to get marry in KL (Malaysia) next year.What sort of documents does my partner require in order to meet the marriage rules in Malaysia before he enters into my country.I have been married in the UK in 2005 and my marriage was completely broken down.Am I still able to register for marriage with my partner in Malaysia?
Please kindly provide me with some helpful advices and informations related to my current situation.
Many thanks.
Regards,
Teo
Hi Elle,
Nice stuff in your site… Hats off to you.
I think im also in the same state to marry a Malay citizen.
I’m krishna(indian citizen) working in germany. I’m in love with Malaysian gal(Malay citizen). But I’m not quite sure whether both parents accept our love.
Is there any procedure that i can marry her even my parents dint agree to give affidavit?
Thanks
Krishna.
me n my japanese bf want to get marry in malaysia…
how he want to take his single status certificate?? we want to register our marriage here. Whats terms n condition… really need ur help but by the way how we get marry when he still work in japan? do he have to resign from his work n apply visa to work in malaysia first??
Hi Elle,
my fiance will be out of germany right before new year..now i’ve been checking online about the ROM. Still a little uncertain about the whole procedure.
my question is since he is still in germany can he get the status declaration from germany? will it be acceptable in malaysia after translation into bahasa? Or do you still advice us to go and get the endorsement done in wisma putra and the notary public?
thanks,
v
Hi Elle,
i am indian married to malaysian.presently iam in penang living on social visa ..how to check my marital status with indian embassy as i have not endorsered her name in the passport..still it will be registered with the indian embassy and with the govt of india…..in my visa they have not specified wat kind of visa it is. its just a social visa ..how i can make suret that its a spouse visa…
hi julia, hope it is not too late to ask u regard the same issue. If my bf is a muslim foreigner, and i am a christian. will it still can be work out. i am not intent to convert bur my bf do. it just that we accidently fall in love and now was struggling a lots to find a way how can we end up this with marrying each other as untill now we cant find the answer and i was almost gave up about the marriage . it is surely tough when it comes to marry a muslim foreigner with converting to muslim. should i give up on this?
hi im malaysian girl n i want to marry a bangladeshi n he is under work permit n We would like to register for the marriage in Malaysia. As such, will you be able to provide my some information and advice, on what’s the procedure, and what are the relevant documents ..hope u will help me….thank you very much elle…
Hi Elle,
i’m Malaysian my girls friend is veitnamess ,we plan to register married in malaysia , will you be able to provide my some information and advice, on what’s the procedure, and what are the relevant documents for her bring along to Malaysia. Thank you.
Actually i hv same case with Lalitha. My boyfriend frm nepal as well. and he also divorce.
I go into JPN website to search but stil hv abit confuse.
Can u help to provide blw information to me as well , and the procedure i wanna to do. ?
1. Since like going to register at JPN more cheaper then register at private ?
2.Is that will be any problem if we start any business in malaysia
after maried?
3) Is that my hubby can get malaysian citizen ship once we get maried?
BR
wen
Hi there,
I am a Malaysian and my boy friend is from India. We are planning to settle down in KL and was wondering how to go about registering our marriage in Malaysia. How long does the process take and what does he require to bring along in terms of documentation. Also upon registration, will it be easy for him to get a job in KL? What are the procedures for him to apply for a job here.
Looking forward to your favourable reply
Thanks
Veen
Hi again,
What is the difference of the below 2
Single status letter with endorsement from Wisma Putra
Single status declaration from Notary Public
Thanks Veen
hai,
1)i need to know that is my husband can stay with me after marry me in Malaysia?i am a Malaysian and my husband Indian citizen.
2)can he change his visiting visa for 30 days after marry me?
3)where he have to get the single certification in India?