Loves flies from one lovely branches to another. Sometimes, you will find yourselves finding the love of your life, from another country.. or further.. another continent.
I'm Indonesian. He's Dutch.
Mixed marriage, people say.
Unfortunately, the realm is still not friendly with gathering two people coming from a different country.
I mean, even in Indonesia, it is still not common to see couple with different religions being together.
Since we're planning to do the legal and the religious wedding ceremony in Indonesia, there are some stuff we need to think about:
1. Pre Nuptial Agreement (in Bahasa: Perjanjian Pra-Nikah).
Whether we like it or not, we need to have pre-nup. Not only that it will protect us as individuals (bring on the worst-case scenario of being divorced), but it will also protect the assets of the Indonesian spouse from being taken by the government. Attention for you who got property or land ownership in Indonesia.
2. Religion.
“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.” - Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning marriages in Indonesia Article 2 (1)
There are five big religions that are acknowledged in Indonesia: Islam, Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, and Buddha. The couple will need to be married under the same religion. I have learned that all of my friends who got a partner from abroad has asked their partners to convert to their religion; with the hope that he/she is willing to go through all the hassle of converting into a religion.
To be a Moslem, I suppose doesn't really take that long.. maybe around 2-4 weeks of intense lessons. I got this info from a friend. However, to become a Catholic (which is my religion) will take up to 6 months.. or more, if the partner do not have any Christian/Catholic background. Just address your intention to marry as soon as possible to your parish. To learn to be Catholic in Jakarta, you can go to St. Peter Canisius International Catholic Parish (St. Theresia Church) located nearby Sarinah, or call Ibu Yohana: (021) 391 7806.
3. Translation for Documents.
There will be translation needed for documents such as the Birth Certificate (Akte Kelahiran) and many more. See below.
Non-Moslem couples must hold the religious ceremony first, then record the marriage with the Civil Registry. The Civil Registry will in turn issue a Marriage Certificate which is evidence that you are legally married. Nowadays, recording by Civil Registry officials can be arranged directly after the religious ceremony for an additional fee.
Documentation needed for non-Moslem mixed marriage:
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Valid ID. Prepare your ID (For Indonesian: KTP), Passports, and make copies.
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Birth Certificate (Akte Kelahiran). Also translated, legalized by the consul/embassy. Make copies.
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Declaration of Status (Surat Keterangan Belum Menikah). If you're single, then you need to have a statement issued by local authority.
- Copy of proof of legal termination of any and all previous marriage i.e.
Absolute Divorce Decree (if applicable) or
Death Certificate. For Catholic marriage, if you were married before, then there should be a statement that your previous spouse have deceased (Death Certificate).
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Copy of passports of two witnesses. For Catholic wedding, both witnesses need to be a couple married under Catholic blessing.
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Photos. Six identical 4x6 cm photographs of you together with your spouse (with the groom on the right side); red background. This photograph will be used in your Marriage Book (Buku Nikah).
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Letter of No Impediment. Stating that you are legally free to marry from Embassy in Jakarta;
Indonesian Police Certificate stating that your intend to get married in Indonesia and no-crime committed before.
- For non-Moslem, it is required to file with the Civil Registry Office in the Regency where they are staying first a
Notice of Intention to Marry as well as a
Letter of “No Impediment to Marriage” (Surat Keterangan tentang tidak adanya halangan terhadap perkawinan) obtained from their consular representatives.
Whoah.. a lot to be prepared!
Source
here.
