Getting married in Malaysia

Tie the knot on a beautiful beach -- or in a ceremony led by tribal chieftains in the Borneo jungle...

What’s the wedding paperwork?

• Residency You must be resident in Penang for a minimum of 7 days, including the day of your arrival, before you can get married -- unless you apply for a Special Licence beforehand.
• Proof of ID You must produce your birth certificates (showing the names of both parents) and your passport, plus four individual passport-size photos each. 
• Divorced If you are divorced you must produce your Decree Absolute.
• Widowed If you are widowed you’ll need to show the death certificate of your deceased spouse and previous marriage certificate.
• Age restrictions To marry in Penang you must be at least18 -- and anyone under 21 must have written consent from their father in the form of a sworn affidavit.
• Name change If your name has been changed by Deed Poll you must provide the legal proof stamped and signed by a solicitor. This also applies if you are a divorced woman and have reverted back to her maiden name.

How do I obtain a marriage licence?

The normal procedure for marrying in Penang involves submitting an application at the District Registration Department once you’ve been resident for at least 7 days. The Registrar then displays a notice of your intended marriage for 21 days, after which you are issued with a marriage licence. Your marriage must take place within 6 months of the certificate being issued.

However, it is possible to obtain a Special Licence that will dispense with the residency requirements. For this, you need to submit an application at the Chief Minister's Office, requesting to dispense with the Notice Requirement, as soon as you arrive in Penang. If the Chief Minister is satisfied with the Statutory Declaration that there is no lawful impediment, he will grant a licence for marriage, which must take place within a month.

Where can I find further information?

Tourism Malaysia
17^th floor
Menara Data’Onn
Putra World Trade Centre
45, Jalan Tun Ismail
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 00 603 2615 8188
www.tourism.gov.my

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board
57 Trafalgar Square
London
WC2N 5DU
Tel: 020-7930 7932
Fax: 020-7930 9015

Malaysian High Commission
45 Belgrave Square
London
SW1X 8QT
Tel: 020 7235 8033

The Registrar of Marriages
National Registration Department
46551 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehson
Malaysia
Tel: 00 603 7955 1255

Disclaimer

confetti makes reasonable efforts to obtain data from reliable sources and to keep the contents reasonably accurate. However, specifications and requirements may change and confetti cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the content or information. We strongly advise you to consult other sources of information including the embassies or consulates of the countries in question or local lawyers.

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