{"id":288103,"date":"2023-08-18T15:40:35","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T05:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/?post_type=au-article&p=288103"},"modified":"2024-04-12T10:50:33","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T00:50:33","slug":"destination-wedding-bali-legal-ceremony-info","status":"publish","type":"au-article","link":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/articles\/destination-wedding-bali-legal-ceremony-info\/","title":{"rendered":"How do you get legally married in Bali for a destination wedding?"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most popular locations for Australians getting married overseas is Bali<\/a>. Why? Where to start? Lush tropical rainforests, iconic rice fields, and perfect weather are just some of the reasons couples love Bali. It\u2019s a gorgeous wedding destination that allows you to bring your closest friends and family together for multiple days of beach lounging and revelry.<\/h3>\n
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Bali Wedding<\/a>, Photo by APEL Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before heading off to marital bliss, you\u2019ll want to consider whether to have your legally binding ceremony in Bali or back home in Australia. We generally recommend sticking close to home for the legal stuff, but let us explain.<\/p>\n

Indonesia is a very religious country with a largely Muslim population. For Australians looking to marry here, things can get complicated due to the country’s requirements that wedding ceremonies are both religious and legal. Not to worry, though, we\u2019ll happily talk you through the marriage requirements so you can decide what will work best for you and your partner.<\/p>\n

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Understanding Indonesian marriage requirements<\/h3>\n

As an Australian couple, you’ll need to comply with both Indonesian law and Australian law to ensure your marriage is recognised.<\/p>\n

Indonesia has fairly strict religious rules in place when it comes to legally marrying, not the least of which is that you must identify as Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Islam, or Protestant in order to have a legally recognised marriage under Indonesian law. And your ceremony must be performed by a religious minister or civil registrar.<\/p>\n

The workaround that we typically recommend is to first marry legally in Australia before heading overseas. It doesn\u2019t need to be anything grand \u2014 save the big impression for Bali! Simply have your legal ceremony at your local registry office and then it\u2019s on to planning your symbolic and ceremonial Balinese dream wedding with the legal stuff out of the way before you arrive.<\/p>\n

By following this path, you\u2019ll avoid any red tape around legally marrying in Bali, not to mention streamlining your planning process significantly. You don\u2019t even have to tell guests if you don\u2019t want to \u2014 a lot of couples keep it a secret to ensure the focus remains on the romance and emotion of the wedding day.<\/p>\n\n

Legal requirements for an Indonesian wedding<\/h3>\n

As a foreigner, planning a legal wedding ceremony in Bali requires time, patience, and planning ahead. You\u2019ll need to bring your passports, original birth certificates, and additional documentation proving you\u2019re free to marry your opposite-sex partner. You\u2019ll also need to be able to communicate with officials in the local civil registrar’s office or bring along an interpreter to help. And, importantly, you\u2019ll need to arrive in Bali at least ten days prior to your wedding in order to file your Intention to Marry in a timely manner in person.<\/p>\n

If you decide to move forward with the legal wedding ceremony in Bali, here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n