Marriage to an Australian citizen does not automatically guarantee that a citizen of another country can move to Australia and live there legally. A valid visa is always required. According to Indonesia`s Marriage Law No. 1 of 1974, the couple must belong to the same main religion. If this is not the case, the bride or groom must sign a letter stating that he or she intends to marry in one of the agreed religions without coercion from his or her partner; The letter must be legalized by the consulate or local government. In Indonesia, the following major religions are recognized: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. To get married legally in Bali, you must have a religious and legal ceremony (except for Muslim couples). The religious ceremony and the legal ceremony must take place on the same day at the same place. This means that both representatives are present at your wedding ceremony: from your religion (priest, monk, pastor, etc.) and from the Indonesian civil registry office (cantor Catatan Sipil). And you even get 2 certificates. In the future, you will only need a legal certificate and religious may be for your memory.
When an Australian citizen marries overseas, it will be recognised as a valid marriage in Australia if it was valid under local law at the time of the marriage and would have been recognised as valid under Australian law if it had taken place in Australia. The rules governing the validity of a foreign marriage under Australian law are contained in the Marriage Act 1961. An official or legal wedding in Bali is possible for almost any couple. Legal marriage registration in Bali is not expensive and the procedure is quite clear and simple. The possession of religious and civil (or legal) wedding ceremonies in Bali is recognized as legal by most other countries. Please note that the legal marriage procedure in Bali may vary slightly depending on your nationality and whether your country has a consulate or embassy in Bali or Indonesia. That`s why we recommend that you contact us first and check all the details before proceeding. The following information on Australia`s legal position on the recognition of foreign marriages was compiled by the Office of the Attorney General in November 1992: Although you cannot register a foreign marriage in Australia, in most cases the marriage is legally recognised in Australia. The rules relating to the validity of a marriage under Australian law are contained in the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth).
The Department of Justice administers Australia`s family law and marriage policies. This includes who can marry and who can get married. It also includes foreign marriages recognized by Australia. In short, you have two options: do all the legal part in Bali (very doable – although there are firm requirements), or do the legal part in Australia before or after your stay in Bali and simply hold your wedding reception there (probably the easiest option). For Muslims, there is no need for an additional civil marriage. The religious ceremony is held by a representative of the “Cantor Urusan Agama”, which translates as “The Office of Religious Affairs”. And this ceremony is already considered a legal wedding in Bali or Indonesia. If you decide to get married abroad, there may be additional legal requirements that you need to be aware of to ensure that you can get married there. To find out the specific requirements for a valid foreign wedding in the country where you wish to get married, you must contact the embassy, consulate or high commission of that country. A marriage celebrated under Indonesian law is recognized in most other countries, including Australia. However, many couples choose to have the legal part of their marriage done in Bali, Australia.
This is often due to the Indonesian government`s requirement that both parties belong to the same religion (agnosticism is not recognized). A legally binding marriage is your other option. Although this means leaving the island officially married, you will have to do the paperwork to get there. To confirm if your foreign marriage certificate is valid, seek legal advice. A lawyer can advise you on the validity of your foreign marriage in Australia. Indonesia requires a religious ceremony to take place at the same location on the same day as a civil marriage to be considered legal. The couple to be married must also profess their faith, and only Christian, Catholic, Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic denominations are recognized in Indonesia. It should also be noted that atheism or agnostic views are not recognized by Indonesia`s marriage law. Many assume that the registrar is the only option, but if you choose a wedding officiant, you may have something more personal. Think of a sunset on the beach with a bottle of champagne or lunch with a few family members who can`t make it to Bali for your wedding – or just sign the paperwork before grabbing a few beers at your favourite pub! Depending on the flight schedule, it may be nice to do the legal part at the airport before boarding your flight? Your “legals” could then become an integral part of your “honeymoon”. However, the easiest way is to celebrate your wedding in Bali first and then “fill out the paperwork” when you return to Australia.
This way, your special day in Bali will be where you take your vows. Exchange rings and publicly declare your love and commitment to each other for the first time. An overview of the Australian legal situation with regard to the recognition of foreign marriages is attached. If more detailed information is required, members of the public should consult a private lawyer or legal aid agency. It should be noted, however, that this document provides only a rough overview of the relevant legislation. In particular, as noted below, a marriage that is not recognized under the new rule may be considered valid under the common law rules. For detailed advice on these issues, citizens should consult a private lawyer or legal aid service. There are two ways to get married in Bali. One option is simply to hold a non-legally binding commitment ceremony.
You can plan it as you would on your wedding day, but you won`t be legally married until you return to Australia to sign paperwork (essentially a courthouse wedding…). Price for legal wedding arrangements when booking a wedding package with us: $650 Not all marriages contracted overseas are recognised by the Australian Government. The Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) recognises most marriages abroad, with the following exceptions: You can also look for a Catatan Sipil (registrar) or a Cantor Urusan Agama (Directorate of Islamic Religious Affairs) in the case of Islamic marriages. In the case of a vessel on or after 1. A marriage entered into in August 1991 in which one or both of the parties were domiciled in Australia at the time of the marriage is not recognised if one of the parties was not at least 18 years of age at the time of the marriage. The Act also provides that a valid marriage may be entered into if one of the parties to the proposed marriage is under 18 years of age but over 16 years of age and has the consent of the guardian(s) of that child and the approval of a judge or judge of any Australian state or territory. If neither party resided in Australia at the time of the marriage, the marriage will not be considered valid at any time as long as one of the parties is under the age of 16. On 7 April 1986, new rules for the legal recognition of marriages contracted abroad came into force in Australia. In addition, the rules governing marriage in Australia of persons legally resident abroad have also been amended. The purpose of this document is to explain the general principles of the new rules for those who wish to know the usual rules for their situation or advise others. If you got married overseas, there is no need to register the marriage in Australia. The Marriage Act 1961 provides that an original or certified copy of a marriage certificate or marriage certificate issued by the competent authority of another country is proof of the foreign marriage and the validity of the marriage.
A competent authority is an authority defined in the Marriage Regulations 1963 or another competent authority under the law of the country in which the marriage was contracted. Australian citizens (and permanent residents residing in Australia) must apply in person at the consulate during public office hours. In most cases, the certificate can be changed the same day. The Australian applicant must sign a declaration in front of a consular officer and present their original passport as proof of identity, as well as original proof of dissolution of marriage, if applicable (i.e. absolute divorce decree or death certificate if widowed).