[EN] Marriage Registration in Malaysia for Non-Muslims

1. Registration of marriage is compulsory for a non-Muslim Malaysian.
2. A non-Muslim foreigner living in Malaysia may apply to register their marriage under the Law Reform (Marriage & Divorce) Act 1976.
3. Place for solemnisation and marriage registration:
   • Malaysian
     i. National Registration Department
     ii. Malaysian Representative Office Abroad
     iii. Church / Temple / Association by Assistant Registrar of Marriages
   • MyPR Holders/MyKAS Holders with Malaysian/Non-Citizen
     i.  National Registration Department Offices
   • Malaysian with Non-Citizen
     i. National Registration Department Offices
     ii. Malaysian Representative Abroad 
   • Non-Citizen
     i. National Registration Department

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS  #

1. Applicants are required to submit the application in person to the National Registration Department (NRD) counter or Malaysian Representative Offices Abroad.
2. The place of application is based on the address stated in the MyKad (for Malaysian) or the residential address in Malaysia (for non-citizen). 

This requirement does not apply for solemnization and registration of marriages in churches, temples, and associations.

3. The applicant must reside in the district where the marriage is to take place for at least 7 days + 1 day prior to submitting the application for registration of marriage in the relevant NRD office. 

This condition requirement does not apply for solemnization and registration of marriages in churches, temples, and associations.

4. For marriage applications where one or both parties are foreign nationals, the applicant is required to submit an application in the NRD office. Marriage registration involving foreign nationals is only allowed at the NRD office.
5. Registration of marriage shall take place after 21 days + 1 day and not later than 6 months from the date of application. 

For marriage applications submitted to the Malaysian Representative Offices Abroad, the application will be sent to the NRD office based on the address in the MyKad 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 (with official letterhead).
7. There are special licenses to marry for specific categories

No	License	License to be obtained before submission of marriage registration application & fee applies	License to be obtained after submission of marriage registration application & fee applies
1.	JPN.KC01AApplication for marriage license for parties whose relationships are prohibited under Section 11 Act 164 (subject to the approval of the Chief Minister or Menteri Besar)	RM2.00 if approved	–
2.	JPN.KC01BWritten consent to the marriage for one who has not completed 21 years of age but having completed 18 years  (requires permission of persons listed in paragraph 2 under Section 12 Act 164	No fee is charged	–
3.	JPN.KC01CApplication for a marriage license to dispense with the notice of marriage and certificate for marriage under Section 21(1) Act 164 (subject to the approval of the Chief Minister or Menteri Besar)	A fee of RM100.00 will be charged if approved	–
4.	JPN.KC01DApplication for a marriage license for female below 18 years of age but having completed 16 years under Section 21(2) Act 164 (subject to the approval of the Chief Minister or Menteri Besar).	A fee of RM10.00 is charged if approved	–
5.	JPN.KC01EApplication for a license to solemnise marriage in a place other than the office of the Registrar under Section 21(3) Act 164 (subject to the approval of the Chief Minister or Menteri Besar).	–	A fee of RM500.00 if approved

8. The non-citizen must produce a letter from his/her government to confirm his/her single marital status (Affidavit/Notary/Certificates/Apostille/Statutory Declaration are not accepted). 

A letter issued by the Vietnam government must be re-certified by the Vietnam Embassy in Malaysia.

9. A letter from the Immigration Department of Malaysia in Putrajaya/Sabah/Sarawak/Labuan to verify a non-citizen permit/pass for marriage registration with Malaysian, if required. It is compulsory for Malaysia Student Pass Holder (non-citizen) to submit the letter from the Immigration Department of Malaysia.

10. Myanmar citizens must produce a letter of permission to get married in Malaysia from his/her government.

11. A verification 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 countries, if required).

12. For marriage registration of non-citizen at any of the State NRD offices or District other than Putrajaya, the applicant MUST obtain a Verification of Marital Status Letter (Approval letter) from the Marriage and Divorce Division’s counter, NRD Putrajaya in person or by post (Sabah/Sarawak/Labuan) to the following address:

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 and contactable correspondence address)

13. During the registration of marriage, it is the responsibility of the applicant to engage with an interpreter in the event he/she does not understand Malay or English. Any document containing foreign language submitted to NRD shall be accompanied by Malay or English language translation. For document translation completed in Malaysia by Malaysian court translator/interpreter or Malaysian National Institutes of Translation are acceptable without certification by the respective embassy in Malaysia and recertified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia.

14. For Malaysian citizens who want to register according to customary marriage or religions in churches, temples, or associations by the authorized Assistant Registrar of Marriages, verification of his/her marital status must be obtained from any of the NRD offices prior to the solemnization and marriage registration. A fee is charged at RM20.00 for a marriage certificate.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS #

1. Form JPN.KC02.

Link to sample form: https://www.jpn.gov.my/images/BorangBKC13jan2021/JPN_KC02.pdf

2. One (1) colour passport-sized photograph per applicant.
3. Malaysian / Permanent Resident of Malaysia/MyKAS Holders
   • MyKad, MyPR, or MyKAS (that is still valid)
   • Approval letter to get marriage issued by the head of the department for police/army personnel, if applicable. (official letterhead)
   • Statutory Declaration, if applicable 
4. Non-Citizen
   For marriage registration of non-citizen at any of the State NRD offices or District NRD offices other than NRD Putrajaya, the applicant MUST obtain a Verification of Single Status Letter/Marital Status Letter (Approval letter) from the Marriage and Divorce Division’s counter, NRD Putrajaya in person or by post (Sabah/Sarawak/Labuan) to the following address:

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 and contactable correspondence address)

You will need to provide supporting documents (originals and photocopy) as follows:

• A cover letter stating the purpose of the application, (if application via post – applicants from Sabah/Sarawak/Labuan)
• ORIGINAL passport and photocopy of pages with personal details, the latest arrival date in Malaysia, and a valid visa or pass for a non-citizen. SPECIAL PASSES ARE NOT ACCEPTED.
• ORIGINAL letter verifying marital status/single status of a non-citizen applicant which had been
  – Certified by either the Malaysian representative in the applicant’s home country or the applicant’s Consulate in Malaysia,
  and
  – Re-certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) in Putrajaya, Kuching, or Kota Kinabalu.

Validity of the letter – 6 months from the date of issue if no validity date is stated (Affidavit/Notary Certificate/ Apostille/Statutory Declaration are not accepted).

• The letter from the Vietnam government must be re-certified by the Vietnam Embassy in Malaysia.
• A letter from the Immigration Department of Malaysia Department at Putrajaya/Sabah/Sarawak/Labuan to verify a non-citizen permit/pass for marriage registration with Malaysian if required. It is compulsory for Malaysia Student Pass Holder (non-citizen) to submit a letter from the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
• Myanmar citizens must produce a letter of permission to get married in Malaysia from his/her government.
• A verification 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).
• Birth Certificate (original and photocopy)
• Decree nisi absolute (divorce certificate) (original and photocopy) if applicable.
• Death certificate of the previous spouse (original and photocopy), if applicable.
• All the above documents must be translated into Malay or English by a qualified translator. The translation must include name, signature, position, contact details of the translator, and date of the translation. Documents  translated in Malaysia by Malaysian Court Translator or Malaysian National Institutes of Translation are acceptable without certification by the respective embassy in Malaysia and re-certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia.
• Applicants who do not understand Malay 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.