Legal Wedding

Bali is part of the Republic of Indonesia and is subject to Indonesian Laws. Every couple whom is considering getting married in Bali must comply with these Laws. In accordance with Indonesian Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning marriages in Indonesia (Article 2 (1): "marriage is legitimate if it has been performed according to the laws of the respective religious beliefs of the parties concerned".

The couples, who are planning to get married in Bali or other part of Indonesia, are required to declare a religion. Agnosticism and Atheism are not recognized A Civil Registry office of Indonesia will only able to record marriages from the person with the religion that recognized by Indonesian government. There are 5 religions in Indonesia which recorded by Indonesia Civil Registry Office which are; Moslem, Christian - Protestant, Christian - Catholic, Buddhist and Hindu. Both Bride & Groom must have the same religion. Otherwise one of them should make a written declaration of change of religion

There would be two types of ceremonies: the religious part will be performed first, followed by a civil ceremony. The religious part will be conducted by a representative of the couple's own religious believe (i.e. a Priest for Christian - Catholics, a Minister for Christians - Protestants, a Celebrant for Hindus and Buddhists, and a Penghulu for Moslem).

The religious ceremony is usually perform first by the Religious Officer from 5 religions above and should be recorded by the Civil Registry immediately upon the ceremony. Without the registration by the Civil Registry these marriages are not legal. The religious ceremony would require additional documentation apart from the existing local legal documents based on its religion.

For any information about basic requirements, download the documents below:

LegalWedding.pdf

Basic Requirements

For civil ceremony, the following basic requirements are required by latest 10-12 weeks prior to wedding date in order to process your marriage certificate by five recognized faith in Indonesia as follows:
in order to process your marriage certificate by five recognized faith in Indonesia as follows:

The CNI (Certificate of No Impediment), to obtain this Certificate you need to: apply in person at the Embassy during office hours, sign an application form in front of a Consular Officer, show original passport, birth certificates as proof of identities, provide original proof of dissolution of marriage / marriages (if any). This document contains general advice in regard to requirements for a legal wedding in Indonesia. Requirements can vary with each Embassy but generally the procedure is much the same. The time taken to produce the CNI (Certificate of Non Impediment) is usually one day but can take longer by some Embassies. For detailed information, contact the Consular Representative of your country for details well before the intended date of marriage. Also note that some Embassies have Consulates in Bali that can issue the CNI but others must be obtained in Jakarta prior to travelling to Bali for your Wedding.
Copies of each passport, which should be valid for at least six (06) months following the date of arrival in Bali.
Copies of both birth certificates.
Full name,religion,occupation and domicile of both parties
Copy of decree(s) absolute if either person is divorced

Copy of death certificate if either person is a widow/widower.
Copy of evidence of parental consent in the form of a sworn affidavit stamped by a Notary Public if either person is under 21 years old.
Name and full address of the parents of both parties.
Eight (08) pieces of passport sized photographs (4 x 6 cm) are required. You must be photographed as a couple, bridegroom on the left side and bride on the right side (as you look at the photo). The photographs are in colour with red background.

(Copies of documents can be faxed to us at least 10-12 weeks prior to the wedding date. All originals must be brought to Bali with you for presentation and verification by the authorities prior to your wedding)

Religion Ceremony

Choose by religion

Christian
Catholic
Moslem
Buddhist
Hindu

The Christian Protestant wedding ceremony which may take place in church, chapel or any venue of your choice. You will need to take note that during major religious holidays there will be no wedding ceremony. Divorced Protestant is able to marry again with other Protestant person; in such case dispensation

The Christian Protestant ceremony is the easiest wedding ceremony and it doesn't require much paperwork. The couple will receive 2 Certificate of Marriage (one for Bride and one for Groom) from the Christian Protestant Church in Bali and the couple able to continue to have the Civil Ceremony to legalize the wedding at the same time and the same venue, then couple will get one more certificate of marriage from Civil Minister. All the certificates in English and Indonesia and these certificates are will be legal in your country too.

The documents require for Christian - Protestant Ceremony:

Copy of passport(Bride and Groom)
Copy of birth certificate (Bride and Groom)
Copy of decree absolute if divorce
Widower must present a copy of death certificate of the former spouse.
Copy of passport of the two witnesses
4 Pieces of photograph size 4 x 6 together, the groom in the right side
Letter of recommendation from the Christian - Protestant church from couple's country to be addressed to the Sinode Council of Protestant Church Denpasar (Bali), requesting Bali church to bless the wedding.
If one of the couple is not Protestant, he/she needs to write a statement stating his/her agreement to be blessed in Protestan.

Proved of Baptism.

Services included for Christian - Protestant Wedding:

Document processing
English speaking Priest
Liturgy
Religious certificate of marriage presented on the day
Pre-wedding meeting service with Varawedding Concierge Team
Assistance of Varawedding Concierge Team during the ceremony

The Roman Catholic wedding is a sacrament of matrimony. The ceremony consists of at least biblical readings, the exchange of vows, the rings blessing, prayer of the Faithful, the nuptial blessing, continue with a communion sacrament then closing with prayers and appropriate music. Usually a few days or a week before the ceremony, the couples should take a sacrament of confession/ reconciliation with the priest.

Exceptional days for the wedding schedules are 40 days before Easter including Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and 40 days before Christmas including Christmas Eve. Christian Catholic ceremony will required much paper works and both partner must be single status. Catholic Church will not allow for divorce person to marriage again except if the former spouse is not Catholic.

The marriage ceremony usually takes place in a Church with a nuptial mass, and may be attended with the family members and colleagues. However, nowadays the ceremony is allowed to perform at other venue outside the Church as well. The Priest will come to the hotel/villa where you perform the ceremony the couple can have the civil ceremony to legalize the wedding by Civil Minister from our Government in same day and same time after the religious ceremony.

The documents require for Christian - Catholid Ceremony:

Copy of passport(Bride and Groom)
Copy of birth certificate (Bride and Groom)
Baptism certificates (both partners)
Liberty status from Parish, contact the Priest in your country (both partners).
Delegation letters from Parish, contact the Priest in your country (both partners) Canon investigation from Parish, contact the Priest in your country (both partners)
Copy of passport of two witnesses
4 (Four) pieces of photograph size 4 x 6

Proved of Baptism.

Services included for Christian - Protestant Wedding:

Document processing
English speaking Priest
Liturgy
Religious certificate of marriage presented on the day
Pre-wedding meeting service with Varawedding Concierge Team
Assistance of Varawedding Concierge Team during the ceremony

Moslem marriage is a simple wedding procession it is not too complicated as long as the requirements are complete. The procession conducts by a Moslem officiant or called "Penghulu" in a Mosque or other place agreed by both parties. A few months or at least two weeks before the wedding ceremony date, the couples should register themselves and submit the papers to the Office of Religious Affairs/ KUA (Kantor Urusan Agama).

Couples should also prepare marriage offering guarantee (mahar or mas kawin), which will be provided by the groom. The marriage offering guarantee may in form of jewelry set, sum of money, or a set of praying costume and a Holy Al Qur'an or other things. The marriage require a guarantee (mahar or mas kawin) as a guarantee of spiritual support and responsibility of the groom to marry the bride and give her the happiness, spiritual support and prosperity as long as their marriage lives. The bride needs to be accompanied and lead by a male proxy or protectorate from her family member the most suitable person is her father, her uncle or brother who is also a Moslem. Witnesses are also needed during the procession; for couples below 21 years old should be witnessed by their parents and have their permits in papers. The witnesses should hold the same religion Moslem.

If the couple married in Moslem, they will not need to register their marriage in Indonesia Civil Registry Office (Kantor Catatan Sipil) as Moslem marriage is legalized automatically by the Indonesian government. However if you want to move to other country which require marriage certificate legalized by their law, you may register your marriage at the Indonesia Civil Registry Office or translate the marriage books and legalize it at the Public Notary and submit it to the related Consulate Office.

The document require for Moslem Wedding:

Copy of passport
Copy of birth certificate
Copy of passport of two witnesses which is should be Moslem too
Copy of death or divorce certificate for widower
Wali nikah/ Proxy of Bride's family to lead the ceremony
6 pieces of photograph size 2cm x 3cm and 4cm x 3cm (Bride and Groom)
Letter of No Impediment to marriage from your consulate in Bali/ Indonesia

For a Buddhist wedding if possible the ceremony should be conducted in a Buddhist temple called Vihara, but for some reasons the ceremony could be held in other venue too. The intention of Buddhist wedding is to build and maintain a harmonious and spiritual family.

You will need to prepare some documentation as the administration requirements at least 3 months before the wedding date. Here below the list of the general requirements to be prepared and submitted to Vihara wedding administration office.

Fill in the Buddhist marriage blessing application:

Copy of Passports
Copy of Birth certificates
Copy of witness' Passports. Witness should be non family related
Widower must present a copy of death certificate of the former spouse.
Copy of passport of the two witnesses
4 Pieces of photograph size 4 x 6 together, the groom in the right side

Services included for Buddhist Wedding:

Document processing
English speaking Monk
Offering for ceremony
Liturgy
Religious certificate of marriage presented on the day
Pre-wedding meeting service with Varawedding Concierge Team
Assistance of Varawedding Concierge Team during the ceremony

Balinese Hindu wedding ceremony or Pawiwahan is a sacred wedding ritual and consists of series of ceremonies that should be followed. Couples who want to marry in Full Legal Balinese Hindu ceremony should prepare them to hold Hindu religion by entering Sudi Wadani ceremony and declared in the paper that you intended to hold Hindu religion without force from other party.

Please also aware that Balinese Hindu wedding ceremony is different from Indian Hinduism wedding ceremony. The same like other religious marriage, Hindu marriage needs to be registered at the Civil Office Registry to get legalization.

The document require for Hindu Wedding:

Copy of Passports
Copy of Birth certificates
Copy of decree absolute if divorced
Widower must present a copy of death certificate of the former spouse (bride).
Copy of passport two witnesses (we can provide the witnesses if required)
Permit letter from the related consulate
Statement letter that bride and groom are intended to get married in Hindu religion and to hold Hindu religion without force from other parties (For Full Legal Wedding in Hindu only)
4 (four) pieces of photograph size 4 x 6 side by side in color (the groom should be on the right hand side of the bride).

If couple don't want bind in to Hindu religion, they might consider a Balinese wedding theme ceremony (Hindu blessing wedding ceremony) instead of Hindu religious wedding. In Balinese wedding theme ceremony couple will be dress up in Balinese traditional wedding costume also entertained by Balinese dances and traditional music. A simple blessing by Hindu Priest (Pemangku) is also available if needed.

Many couple who are already legally married or some reason don't want to be legally married in Bali, but still wish to have experience how marriage by Balinese tradition, they're tried Balinese Blessing Ceremony. It's important to know this is not a legal wedding ceremony and no certification will be presented at the end of it. It is a ceremony where the celebrant should pray for good things such as: safety, health, bright future and happiness for the couple. It takes approximately 20 minutes in total, performed by a Balinese Celebrant and an assistant who guide the couple through the ceremony. It's preferred that couples are dressed in Balinese costume.

Legal Wedding

Basic Requirements

Religion Ceremony

The documents require for Christian - Protestant Ceremony:

Proved of Baptism.

The documents require for Christian - Catholid Ceremony:

Proved of Baptism.

The document require for Moslem Wedding:

Fill in the Buddhist marriage blessing application:

Services included for Buddhist Wedding:

The document require for Hindu Wedding:

Bali Office:

Jakarta Office: