Marriage Procedure in Malaysia

In Malaysia, there are two categories of the marriage procedure, namely the
Islamic procedure for Muslim couples and the civil procedure for non-Muslims.

While a formal process of marriage registration is required, wedding ceremonies

are typically also conducted in accordance to the couple’s culture, tradition or
religious customs.

REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE FOR NON-MUSLIM APPLICANTS

[NORMAL REGISTRATION APPLICATION]

 Applicants need to be present at the NRD counter/Malaysian

Representative Offices overseas during application and registration of
marriage.
 Place of application is based on the address stated on the Mykad (citizen)
and address of residence (non-citizen) in Malaysia.
 Non-citizen applicants should reside in the marriage district for a period of
7 days before applying for registration of marriage at the relevant NRD
Office.
 The solemnisation shall be conducted after 21 days but not exceeding 6
months from the date of application.
 Supporting documents:
o Identity card for citizens.
o Passport for non-citizens with photastat copy of personal
information and date of arrival in Malaysia.
o One (1) colour photograph measuring (32mm X 38mm) against a
BLUE background for each person.
o If the applicant is a Divorcee, please submit the Decree Nisi
Absolute.
o If the applicant is a Widower/Widow, please submit Certificate of
Death of spouse.
o Non-citizen applicants – submit Letter of Confirmation of Marriage
Status from the applicant’s country which has been endorsed by
the Malaysian Embassy of that country OR the Embassy of the
applicant’s country in Malaysia and certified by the Consular
Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs(Wisma Putra), Putrajaya
 Application Form – JPN.KC02
 Fees :-
o Marriage Certificate = RM20.00
o Declaration =RM10.00
 *REMINDER ON DAY OF SOLEMNISATION OF MARRIAGE

Ensure that the couple and their witnesses bring their ORIGINAL Identity
Cards/Passports
It is MANDATORY for both sides to be decently attired.
T-shirts (Collared@Non-Collared) / Jeans / Slippers/ Shorts- ARE NOT
ALLOWED.
Two(2) reliable adult witnesses aged 21 years and above

REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE FOR NON-MUSLIM APPLICANTS

[SPECIAL LICENSE REGISTRATION APPLICATION]

 Applicants need to be present at the NRD Counter during application and

registration of marriage.
 Place of application is based on the address stated on the Mykad (citizen)
and address of residence (non-citizen) in Malaysia.
 Types of license:-
 Validity period of JPN.KC01C and JPN.KC01E Licenses is one month
from the date of approval.
 For application of the Special Marriage License (JPN.KC01C), the
requirement of residing in the marriage district for a period of 7 days is
EXEMPTED and the marriage should be solemnised within a period of not
more than one month from the date of approval of the application.
 Supporting documents:-
 Application form – JPN.KC02
 FEES:-

* If the natural father has passed away, the natural mother may gives consent
and if both parents have passed away, the adoptive father and if the adoptive
father has passed away, the adoptive mother, if the adoptive parents have
passed away, the guardian. If all have passed away, a court order is required.

If the natural father has passed away, the natural mother makes the
** application and if both parents have passed away, the adoptive father and if
the adoptive father has passed away, the adoptive mother, if the adoptive
parents have passed away, the guardian.
REGISTRATION OF NON-MUSLIM MARRIAGE THAT HAS BEEN
SOLEMNISED ABROAD ACCORDING TO FOREIGN LAWS (Sec.31, Act 164)

 The couple need to be present at the NRD Counter/Malaysian

Representative Offices abroad during application and registration of
marriage.
 Registration of marriage under Section 31 must be made within 6 months
from the date the marriage was registered under foreign laws. A
PENALTY will be imposed for registration after the 6 months period.
 Supporting documents:-
 Application Form – JPN.KC06
 Fees:-
 Marriage Certificate = RM20.00

* REMINDER
Both husband and wife are advised to be present at the marriage counter during
application and registration of marriage.

REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE FOR NON-MUSLIM COUPLES WHO HAVE

BEEN MARRIED ACCORDING TO ANY LAW, CUSTOM OR USAGE BEFORE
1.3.1982 (Sec. 33, Act 164) [VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION]

 The couple need to be present at the NRD Counter during application and
registration of marriage.
 Supporting documents:-
o Identity Card for citizens
 Passport for non-citizens together with photostat copy of personal
information and date of arrival in Malaysia.
One (1) colour photograph measuring (32mm X 38mm) against a BLUE
background for each person.
 Application Form – JPN.KC06
 Fees :-

INFORMATION
Marriages solemnised according to any tradition, religion, law or custom
before the enforcement date of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act
1976 (Act 164) on 1.3.1982 are regarded as registered under the Act.
Therefore, registration of marriage for such couples is not OBLIGATORY,
although voluntary registration is encouraged for record and documentation
purposes.
REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE FOR MUSLIM COUPLES WHO ARE
MARRIED ABROAD ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC LAWS AND
SABAH/SARAWAK BUMIPUTERA AS WELL AS PENINSULAR ORANG ASLI
COUPLES WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY MARRIED*

 The couple need to be present at the NRD Counter during application and
registration of marriage.
 Supporting documents:-
o Identity Card for citizens
 Passport for non-citizens together with photostat copy of personal
information and date of arrival in Malaysia. One (1) colour photograph
measuring (32mm X 38mm) against a BLUE background for each person.
 Application Form – JPN.KC13
 Fees :-

* Registration of Marriages under the Registration of Marriages Ordinance

1952 for ;-
 Muslims who have been married overseas according to Islamic Law. One
of the couple must be a citizen of Malaysia
 Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputera who have been married according to
their respective tribal customs and traditions.
 Peninsular Orang Asli who have been married according to orang asli
traditions.

SEARCH / EXTRACT OF MARRIAGE OR DIVORCE REGISTER

 Applicants* need to be present at the NRD Headquarters counter OR the

relevant State NRD Office.
 Supporting documents:-
o Identity Card for citizens
o Passport for non-citizens together with photostat copy of personal
information and date of arrival in Malaysia.
o Letter of application from Legal Firm if the search/extract
application is made through lawyers.
 Application Form – JPN.KC09
 Fees :-
o Extract of Marriage/Divorce Register = RM5.00
o Extract of Marriage Register (English Version) =RM10.00
o Extract of Marriage Register under the Registration of Marriages
Ordinance 1952 =RM4.00

* Only one of the couple or the appointed lawyer can apply for extract/search of
the marriage/divorce register.
INFORMATION
For a marriage record that has been updated in the computer system, the
processing period is not more than 30 minutes. If the marriage record has still not
been updated, physical search of the record has to be made first before the
record can be updated and verified in the computer system. Therefore, the
maximum period to make a Search and Extract of the record is 7 working days
and the Extract can be collected at the counter or mailed to the address of the
applicant.

APPLICATION FOR CONFIRMATION OF DIVORCE/ ANNULMENT OF

MARRIAGE

 Applicants* need to be present at the NRD Headquarters counter for

divorce confirmation/marriage annulment application.
 Applications can be made at the counter or by post
 Supporting document :-
o Identity Card for citizens (Copy if application is made by post)
o Passport for non-citizens
o Decree Nisi Absolute/ Marriage Annulment Order (ORIGINAL or
Copy Certified by the Court)
o Application letter from Legal Firm if application is made through
lawyers.
 Application Form – JPN.KC15
 Fees :-
o Free

* Only the applicant or the appointed lawyer can make the confirmation
application.

MARRIAGE TRIBUNAL APPLICATION*

 Applicants need to be present at the NRD counter for the application.

 The applicants are required to submit the application at the NRD Office in
the area in which they reside or the last address in which they had resided
together**
 Supporting documents :-
 Application Form – JPN.KC14
 Fees :-
* The referral of matrimonial difficulty by husbands/wives to the Marriage
Tribunal for resolution is in line with the provision of the Law Reform (Marriage
and Divorce) Act 1976, (Act 164).

** Based on the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, (Act 164), if one of
the parties to the marriage has converted to Islam (Section 51) or the couple
has mutually agreed to a divorce (Section 52), referral to the Marriage Tribunal
IS NOT REQUIRED, instead they can petition for divorce at the High Court.

Application To Correct Factual And Clerical Errors In The Marriage Register

 Applicants need to be present at the NRD counter for the application.

 Supporting documents:-
 ORIGINAL Identity Card of the applicant
 ORIGINAL and Photostat copy of Marriage Certificate
 Declaration under the Statutory Declaration Act 1960
 Other supporting documents (if required)
 Application Form – JPN.KC08

Fees :-

 Application = RM6.00
 Clerical amendment = RM2.00
 Factual amendment = RM2.00
 Application = RM6.00
 Clerical amendment = RM2.00
 Factual amendment = RM2.00

LETTER OF CONFIRMATION OF MARRIAGE STATUS

 Applicants need to be present at the Putrajaya NRD Headquarters counter

for the application.
 Applications can be made at the counter or by post and processed within;-
 The validity period of the Letter of Confirmation of Marriage Status is 150
days from the date the letter is issued.
 Supporting documents :-
 Application Form – JPN.KC09 (Part C only)
Fees :-

* Only the applicant or family members, close friends or the appointed lawyers
can make the application.

* REMINDER

The Letter of Confirmation of Marriage Status issued by the National Registration

Department Headquarters in Putrajaya needs to be certified by the Consular
Division of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Wisma Putra before it can be used
overseas. Application for the Letter of Confirmation of Marriage Status can only
be applied by CITIZENS OF MALAYSIA for the purposes of marriage, work,
study or official matters overseas.

Application For Objection Against Marriage (Caveat)

 The applicant needs to be present at the relevant NRD counter where the
marriage application has been accepted.
 A caveat can only be made against a marriage application that has not
been issued a Certificate for marriage, i.e. within a period of at least 21
days it is posted on the NRD notice board.
 No caveat application can be accepted for special marriage license
application (JPN. KC01C)
 Supporting documents :-
 Identity Card of applicant
 Other supporting documents as proof of objection (if required)
 Statutory Declaration under the Statutory Declaration Act 1960
 Application Form – JPN.KC04

Fees :-

 Application = RM20.00

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Latest Updated: 07 Jul 2010