Indonesia Interfaith Marriage Laws

The Indonesian marriage law has been interpreted as prohibiting marriage between people who follow different religions. However, this interpretation is disputed by some scholars, and the Supreme Court of Indonesia has essentially found that there is a “legal vacuum” in this area. In practice, it has been reported that the law and administrative processes make it difficult to register an inter-religious marriage. Couples may therefore choose to marry overseas or one party may decide to convert to the religion of the other. The laws relating to divorce also distinguish between marriages conducted under different religions, requiring that an application be submitted to either a General Court or a Religious Court depending on the religion involved. Read more…

For an American: Marriage in Indonesia requires a religious ceremony. Indonesian law requires that both parties must be of the same religion and the marriage must conform to the laws of the countries of the parties involved. The Indonesian House of Representatives approved six religions recognized by the government. They are Islam, Catholic, Protestant Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Depending on the type of religious marriage ceremony, there are different requirements to make a marriage in Indonesia legally valid.

If your fiancé is Muslim, the ceremony must be held at the local Office of Religious Affairs (Kantor Urusan Agama (KUA)). The KUA will issue a Marriage Book (Buku Nikah), which is evidence of a legally valid marriage with a Muslim. A Muslim marriage ceremony does not need Civil Registration (Catatan Sipil).

Other religious ceremonies require Civil Registration. If you are a Christian, Buddhist, or Hindu you must hold the religious ceremony first, then record the marriage with the Civil Registry Office (Dinas Kependudukan or Kantor Catatan Sipil). The Civil Registry will issue a Marriage Certificate (Akte Perkawinan or Surat Nikah), which is evidence of a legally valid marriage with a non-Muslim. Read more…

“a marriage is legitimate if it has been performed according to the laws of the respective religious beliefs of the parties concerned. All couples who marry in Indonesia must declare a religion. Agnosticism and Atheism are not recognized. The Civil Registry Office (Kantor Catatan Sipil) can record marriages of persons of Hindu, Buddhist, Christian-Protestant and Christian-Catholic faiths. Marriage partners must have the same religion, otherwise one partner must make a written declaration of change of religion.” Read more…

Australian marriages in Indonesia
A must watch video for any once considering marriage with a Muslim:

Marriage and Divorce Laws,
A Hindu cannot marry a Malaysian Muslim,
Indian marriage laws,
DON’T Fake-convert (focus on Malaysia laws),
Koran on Hindus?,
Malaysia’s Sharia law costs non-Muslims their kids,
Sharis Laws that all non-Muslims should know,
A Hindu cannot marry a Malaysian Muslim,
Singapore marriage laws,
Indian marriage laws,
InterfaithShaadi does not recommend this: I am in Singapore and married to a Muslim without conversion,
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