Identity & family
Indonesian–foreign marriage guide
Prepare a mixed-nationality marriage, foreign documents, registration, spouse visa E31A and passport implications.
English edition. Official forms and source documents may be in Indonesian.
QUICK ANSWER
What does an Indonesian need to marry a foreign national?
Marriage to a foreign national does not automatically swap passports, confer a spouse’s passport or change citizenship. Register the marriage with the competent authority, then the foreign spouse may assess family visa E31A and residence permission. New citizenship requires a separate legal process; check both countries’ laws. One exception: an Indonesian can lose Indonesian citizenship if the spouse’s country automatically confers its nationality on marriage; they may declare that they wish to remain Indonesian after 3 years of marriage, unless this would create dual nationality (Law 12/2006, Article 26). Muslim couples register the marriage at the KUA; other couples marry under their religion and then register with the civil registry (Disdukcapil).
See 21 official references ↓Open the official service ↗jabar.kemenag.go.id
Guide contents
What you need to marry a foreign national in Indonesia
- Indonesian spouse’s KTP-el, Family Card, birth record and marital-status evidence.
- Foreign spouse’s passport, no-impediment or home-country records, certified translation and legalisation where required.
How to marry a foreign national in Indonesia
Decide location and registry
Muslim couples register at the KUA; other couples marry under their religion and then register with Disdukcapil. Check foreign-document requirements with the relevant KUA or Disdukcapil before booking, and register at the KUA at least 10 working days before the akad.
Validate overseas documents
Check certified translation, apostille or legalisation requirements and expiry of home-country documents.
Register and update records
Keep the marriage certificate; update Family Card and KTP-el as applicable. Overseas marriages require separate reporting.
Assess spouse residence
Review E31A in Immigration’s catalogue and apply through e-Visa if eligible. Assess work permission separately.
How much it costs to marry a foreign national in Indonesia
Marrying at the KUA on working days and hours costs Rp0; marrying outside the KUA or outside working days and hours costs Rp600,000 in state revenue (PNBP), or Rp0 for people on low incomes or disaster victims. Civil registration is free, but late reporting can be fined up to Rp1,000,000. E31A and stay permits have government fees tied to duration; check Immigration’s live invoice. Translation, apostille or legalisation and notarial deeds are paid separately. A new citizenship or passport is not part of the marriage fee.
| Route | Who it is for | Main steps | Deadline | Official fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KUA | Muslim bride and groom | Register intention, pre-marriage guidance, check, announcement, akad before the registrar | Register at least 10 working days before the akad | Rp0 at the KUA on working days and hours; Rp600,000 outside the KUA or outside working hours |
| Civil registry (Disdukcapil) | Non-Muslim couples or followers of indigenous beliefs | Religious or belief ceremony, then registration and marriage certificate | Report within 60 days of the marriage | Rp0; late-reporting fine up to Rp1,000,000 |
| Abroad | Indonesians marrying outside Indonesia | Register locally, report to the Indonesian mission, then to Disdukcapil (and the KUA for Muslim couples) | 30 days after return (Disdukcapil); 1 year (KUA) | Local fees abroad; reporting to Disdukcapil Rp0 |
Check current requirements, availability and charges through the official reference ↗ before applying or paying.
Passports and nationality after marriage
The Indonesian spouse keeps an Indonesian passport while remaining Indonesian; the foreign spouse keeps their own nationality passport. Naturalisation, possible loss of nationality and dual-nationality rules must be assessed separately. Children of mixed marriages have distinct rules.
The KUA route for Muslim couples
Muslim marriages are now registered under Minister of Religious Affairs Regulation (PMA) 30/2024 on Marriage Registration, in force since 30 December 2024, which replaced PMA 22/2024. Register your intention to marry at the KUA where the ceremony (akad) will take place, or online through SIMKAH, at least 10 working days before the akad. With less notice, the couple needs a dispensation from the sub-district head (camat) or a signed statement with duty stamp giving the reason.
The foreign partner provides a certificate of no impediment to marriage from their embassy or mission; for apostille countries, a document from the home authority with an apostille certificate is accepted. If the country has no mission in Indonesia, the certificate can come from the competent authority at home. Also attach copies of the passport and birth certificate, details of both parents, and a divorce or death certificate if previously married. Foreign-language documents, except Malay, need an official translation into Indonesian (PMA 30/2024, Article 4).
After registering, both partners must attend pre-marriage guidance. The marriage check takes place at the KUA with the bride, groom and guardian (wali) present and faces uncovered. Once the file is complete, the KUA head announces the intended marriage; Government Regulation (PP) 9/1975, Article 10, says the marriage takes place after the tenth day from the announcement. The marriage book (Buku Nikah) and marriage card are handed over straight after the akad.
Fees: Rp0 at the KUA on working days and hours; Rp600,000 in state revenue (PNBP) outside the KUA or outside working days and hours (PP 59/2018). On 14 September 2026 the Ministry of Religious Affairs stressed that no extra charges are allowed, and that a Rp0 rate may apply to people on low incomes or disaster victims who marry outside the KUA.
The civil registry route for non-Muslim couples
A marriage is valid when carried out under each partner’s religion or belief and then registered (Law 1/1974, Article 2). For non-Muslim couples, the religious leader issues a statement that the marriage has taken place, and the marriage is reported to the civil registry (Disdukcapil) where it took place within 60 days (Law 23/2006, Article 34).
For mixed-nationality marriages, Law 1/1974, Article 60, requires proof that each partner meets the marriage conditions of their own law. The Dukcapil service page for foreigners asks for the religious marriage statement, colour photos of both spouses, the travel document (passport), a residence certificate for ITAS holders or KTP-el and Family Card for ITAP holders, and marriage permission from the foreigner’s state or its mission (Presidential Regulation 96/2018, Article 37).
Disdukcapil issues a marriage certificate extract, a KTP-el showing married status and an updated Family Card. Population documents are free (Law 24/2013, Article 79A), but late reporting can bring an administrative fine of up to Rp1,000,000 (Law 23/2006, Article 90).
Marrying abroad: report within 30 days
A marriage abroad is valid for an Indonesian if it follows the law of the country where it takes place and does not breach Indonesia’s Marriage Law (Law 1/1974, Article 56). It must be registered with the local authority and reported to the Indonesian embassy or consulate; if the country does not register foreigners’ marriages, the Indonesian mission registers it (Law 23/2006, Article 37).
After returning to Indonesia, report the marriage to the civil registry where you live within 30 days of your return (Law 23/2006, Article 37(4); not changed by Law 24/2013). Bring the mission’s proof of reporting and the marriage certificate (Presidential Regulation 96/2018, Article 39).
Muslim couples who married abroad before a foreign authority must also register the marriage proof at the KUA where they live within 1 year of returning; after that, they must sign a statement on the documents and the reason for delay (PMA 30/2024, Article 33). A marriage that breaches Indonesian law cannot be registered at the KUA.
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and land rights
Constitutional Court Decision 69/PUU-XIII/2015 (read out on 27 October 2016) widened Law 1/1974, Article 29: a marriage agreement can be made at the time of, before or during the marriage, and ratified by the marriage registrar or a notary. It takes effect from the wedding unless it says otherwise, and can only be changed or revoked with both partners’ consent and without harming third parties.
The agreement is made as a notarial deed and then recorded: by the KUA head or the marriage registrar at an Indonesian mission in the Akta Nikah and Buku Nikah for Muslim couples (PMA 30/2024, Articles 39 and 40), or by Disdukcapil or an Indonesian mission for civil registration (Presidential Regulation 96/2018, Article 78). Once ratified, it also binds third parties involved.
This matters for Indonesians married to foreigners. Property acquired during the marriage is joint property (Law 1/1974, Article 35). Government Regulation 18/2021, Article 70, says an Indonesian married to a foreigner can hold the same land rights as other Indonesians, provided the land is not joint property, as shown by a notarial agreement separating their assets.
Things to check carefully
- A visit visa gives no right to work. The right to work or run a business to support yourself and your family comes with an ITAS or ITAP granted because of marriage to an Indonesian (Law 6/2011, Article 61).
- Home-country records and local requirements differ; ask before booking travel.
- The statement that the conditions for a mixed marriage are met lapses if the marriage does not take place within 6 months of its issue (Law 1/1974, Article 60(5)). Also check any validity period printed on the embassy’s certificate.
- Beware of WhatsApp messages, links or QRIS codes claiming to be from the KUA and asking for officials’ transport or accommodation costs. The ministry says the only official charge is the Rp600,000 PNBP for marrying outside the KUA or outside working hours; confirm directly with the KUA where you registered.
- Without a notarial agreement separating assets, land acquired during the marriage is joint property, so an Indonesian married to a foreigner cannot rely on Government Regulation 18/2021, Article 70, to hold land rights like other Indonesians.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Indonesian spouse immediately get the other country’s passport?
No. Marriage and citizenship are separate processes under the relevant country’s law.
What does a foreigner need to marry at a KUA?
A foreigner needs a certificate of no impediment to marriage from their embassy or mission, or an equivalent document from the home authority with an apostille. Also attach copies of the passport and birth certificate, parents’ details, and a divorce or death certificate if previously married (PMA 30/2024, Article 4(3)). Foreign-language documents, except Malay, need an official translation. Both partners must be Muslim and at least 19 years old.
How much does it cost to marry at a KUA?
Marrying at the KUA office on working days and hours costs Rp0. Marrying outside the KUA or outside working days and hours costs Rp600,000 in state revenue (PNBP) paid to the treasury (PP 59/2018). People on low incomes or disaster victims may get a Rp0 rate if they meet the ministry’s conditions. On 14 September 2026 the ministry stressed there are no other charges, including for transport, accommodation or "whatever you wish to give".
How far ahead must we register the marriage?
At least 10 working days before the akad (PMA 30/2024, Article 3). With less notice you need a dispensation from the camat or a signed statement with duty stamp giving the reason. Once the file is complete, the marriage is announced and takes place after the tenth day from the announcement (PP 9/1975, Article 10). Foreign partners should start on home-country documents much earlier, as apostille or legalisation and translation take time.
Must a marriage abroad be reported in Indonesia?
Yes. An Indonesian’s marriage abroad must be registered with the local authority, reported to the Indonesian mission, and then reported to the civil registry where you live within 30 days of returning to Indonesia (Law 23/2006, Article 37). Muslim couples also register the marriage proof at the KUA within 1 year of returning (PMA 30/2024, Article 33). Late reporting to the civil registry can be fined up to Rp1,000,000.
Can we sign a separation-of-property agreement after the wedding?
Yes. Since Constitutional Court Decision 69/PUU-XIII/2015, a marriage agreement can be made before, at the time of or during the marriage and ratified by the registrar or a notary. Make it as a notarial deed, then record it at the KUA for Muslim couples or at Disdukcapil so it binds third parties. It takes effect from the wedding unless it says otherwise.
Can children of a mixed marriage hold dual citizenship?
Yes, for a limited time. A child of a lawful marriage between an Indonesian and a foreigner is Indonesian (Law 12/2006, Article 4); if the other parent’s country also grants citizenship, the child holds both until 18 or marriage, and must then choose one within 3 years (Article 6). The child can have an Indonesian passport stamped for limited dual citizenship; if they also hold a foreign passport, an affidavit is needed at a fee of Rp500,000. The special naturalisation window in Government Regulation 21/2022 for children who missed registration or the choice ran for 2 years from 31 May 2022 and has now closed.
When can a foreign spouse get a KITAS and KITAP?
Once the marriage is lawful and registered, the foreign spouse can apply for family visa E31A (spouse of an Indonesian citizen), which leads to an ITAS. A switch to an ITAP for family reunification is possible once the lawful, registered marriage has lasted at least 2 years (Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation 22/2023, Article 179(3)). ITAS or ITAP holders married to Indonesians may work or run a business to support themselves and their family (Law 6/2011, Article 61). A foreign spouse can also become Indonesian by declaration after living in Indonesia for 5 consecutive years or 10 non-consecutive years (Law 12/2006, Article 19). Note: Ministry of Law Regulation 15/2026 on citizenship services takes effect on 20 December 2026 and replaces Regulation 36/2016; check the declaration requirements for foreign spouses under the new rules before applying after that date.
Sources and review
Editorial review of public information: . This is not a review by an agency officer or a professional adviser. Reviewed by Kaiser Khan, publisher of Panduan Warga. Official document titles are retained below.
- Kemenag: konsultasi nikah WNI–WNA ↗jabar.kemenag.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- Imigrasi: daftar visa keluarga E31A ↗kanwilsultra.imigrasi.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- UU 12/2006: kewarganegaraan ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- JDIH BPK: PMA 30/2024 tentang Pencatatan Pernikahan ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- Kemenag: tidak ada pungutan tambahan dalam layanan nikah (14 September 2026) ↗kemenag.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- JDIH BPK: PP 59/2018 tentang PNBP Kementerian Agama ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- JDIH BPK: PP 9/1975 tentang pelaksanaan UU Perkawinan ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- JDIH BPK: UU 1/1974 tentang Perkawinan ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- JDIH BPK: UU 23/2006 tentang Administrasi Kependudukan ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- JDIH BPK: UU 24/2013 tentang perubahan UU Adminduk ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- JDIH BPK: Perpres 96/2018 tentang persyaratan pendaftaran penduduk dan pencatatan sipil ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- Dukcapil: pencatatan perkawinan orang asing di wilayah NKRI ↗dukcapil.kemendagri.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- MK: Putusan 69/PUU-XIII/2015 tentang perjanjian perkawinan ↗www.mkri.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- JDIH BPK: PP 18/2021 (hak atas tanah bagi WNI dalam perkawinan campuran) ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- JDIH BPK: PP 21/2022 tentang perubahan PP 2/2007 (kewarganegaraan) ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- Imigrasi: FAQ paspor anak berkewarganegaraan ganda ↗www.imigrasi.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- Imigrasi: biaya keimigrasian (afidavit Rp500.000) ↗www.imigrasi.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- JDIH BPK: Permenkumham 22/2023 tentang Visa dan Izin Tinggal ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- JDIH BPK: UU 6/2011 tentang Keimigrasian ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- Imigrasi: alih status ITAS menjadi ITAP ↗www.imigrasi.go.id · Accessed 25 September 2026
- JDIH BPK: Permenkum 15/2026 tentang Layanan Bidang Kewarganegaraan (berlaku 20 Desember 2026) ↗peraturan.bpk.go.id · Accessed 1 October 2026
Current agency rules take precedence. Editorial method · Report a correction · Markdown version