Bali is a great place to get married. It’s also not that hard to do it legally. However, before you opt to tie the knot on Balinese shores, this is what you need to know about marriage in Indonesia.
We’ll ensure you have all the right paperwork and understand the ins and outs of ceremonies, wedding planning and more.
Why Get Wed In Bali?
People choose Bali for their weddings because it’s a beautiful place in the tropics with gorgeous beaches, rice terraces, waterfalls, etc. that can serve as a wonderful backdrop to your special day.
It’s also an amazing place for a honeymoon and there’s nothing quite like finishing up with the wedding and getting straight into married life here on the island.
Bali’s exceptional tourism industry ensures that wherever you book to cater to your wedding party and honeymoon, you’re going to get great service, food and more.
It’s also going to cost less money to have a wedding in Bali than it is to get married back home often even when you account for flight tickets for the wedding party.
Can Foreigners Get Wed In Bali?
The short answer is, yes foreigners are allowed to marry in Bali and can do so entirely legally in most cases.
However, there are some specific rules relating to a legal ceremony here in Indonesia that must be adhered to and for some foreigners, these may not be possible.
In these instances, you can always opt for a blessing ceremony in Bali, which has no legal requirements and have your legal wedding elsewhere.
When’s The Best Time To Tie The Knot In Bali?
There are only two seasons in Bali. The wet season and the dry season. Normally, we don’t think there’s much difference in coming to Bali in either season as it rarely rains all day in the wet season and it can rain in the dry season.
However, there’s no doubt that it rains less, it’s less humid and a bit cooler during the dry season and that’s why we’d recommend you have your wedding in Bali between April and October to boost the chances of your big day not having to deal with any weather-related problems.
What Are The Legal Requirements To Get Wed In Bali?
In principle, there are only three conditions to get married here in Bali and one of them is negotiable to some extent. They are:
The two people to be married must be of the opposite sex from each other and this refers to the sex on their original birth certificates, only. Indonesian law currently makes no provision for gender reassignment.
The two people to be married must be of the same religion and the religion must be one recognized in Indonesia (that means Islam, Protestant, Catholic, Buddhist or Hindu). This is, somewhat, negotiable.. The law recognizes that someone may marry into a different faith but in this instance, one party must provide a letter that states they consent to being wed into a different faith. However, if your religion isn’t recognized in Bali, you may not legally marry here.
Finally, you will need a bunch of documentary evidence to satisfy the Indonesian authorities. These need to be submitted, at least, 6 weeks prior to the marriage. You will need:
Passport or KTP copy for each person
A copy of the birth certificate for each person
Either a.) Certificate of Single Status, a copy of the divorce certificate, or a death certificate for your previous partner AND b.) a certificate of no impediment to marriage.
8 photographs, 4 x 8 cm including both partners side-by-side
A letter from a priest, imam, etc. to say that you are a formal part of a given religion of Indonesia and that there is no impedement to your marriage. Christians may need to be baptised or can be baptised on the day of the ceremony here in Indonesia.
Passport or KTP copies for two witnesses that will be present during the marriage (two witnesses’ passports are essential too, not optional)
A letter stating where you will be staying in Bali during the period of the religious ceremony
A completed form from the Indonesian Civil Office in Bali.
Members of the Catholic Church must provide a reference letter testifying to their single status from the parish church of each applicant. A marriage course certificate of completion from a parish church and a delegation letter from your parish church to the church in Bali.
Members of the Islamic faith are required to bring a wali nikah (a proxy from the bride’s family to lead the ceremony).
Members of the Buddhist faith must bring a blessing application which has been obtained from their Vihara wedding administration office.
Members of the Hindu Faith must have a statement letter confirming that both the bride and groom are to be wed in the Hindu faith and that neither party has been forced into the marriage by another party.
Finally, you must bring your original documents to the pre-ceremony preparations or your wedding ceremony will not be allowed to take place.
In short, while Indonesian marriage law doesn’t raise any bars to celebrate your wedding day in the country: Getting a marriage certificate and making it through the civil registry office in Indonesia is quite challenging.
Legal Wedding Or Symbolic Ceremony?
If you want to be legally married in Bali, you will need to conduct a legal wedding which results in an official marriage certificate.
However, many people find that this process is complicated and tedious and that it’s easier to have their legal wedding ceremonies in their own country.
Then, when they arrive in Bali, they opt for a symbolic blessing ceremony rather than a legal wedding.
This is much easier to arrange and it’s cheaper than a legal wedding. There’s no legal paperwork required and no marriage certificates will be issued at the end of the day.
It really doesn’t matter where you get married, nearly every country on Earth is part of the Hague Convention on marriage and that means a legal marriage in one country is recognized in any other country.
However, if you marry legally in your own country, it saves having to register a marriage certificate with your embassy and government officials. It also means that you have a legal certificate of marriage that’s clearly recognized at home.
And it saves on having to deal with the complexities of Indonesian law and the requirements for a ceremony in Bali.
What Type Of Wedding? Religious And Civil Ceremonies Are Available
To make things complicated. There is no distinction between the religious ceremony and the civil registry office ceremony in Bali.
They both take place at the same time and are part of the same wedding. You will have both a civil and religious officiant present throughout a legal wedding here.
And yes, that means you will need to pay for the privilege. Typical fees start at around $1,000 for a wedding and can be as much as $3,000.
A wedding planner might be able to help you minimize these fees.
Do You Need A Wedding Planner?
Officially? There’s no need for a wedding planner and you can organize your own marriage. However, given that things can be a bit complicated when marrying here in Bali – we’d use a wedding planner if you’re able to.
They will ensure that every piece of paper (such as the death certificate for a widow or the birth certificates of both partners) is available at the right time in the right place to facilitate a smooth and easy wedding.
They can also help negotiate fees, find the right venues, ensure the catering is up to scratch, etc.
Do You Need To Speak Bahasa To Wed In Bali?
No, there is no need to learn Bahasa to get married here in Bali. The ceremony can be conducted entirely in English.
Can Same-Sex Couples Marry In Bali?
There is no law recognizing same-sex marriages in Indonesian law. It’s that simple.
Can you have a blessing here? Yes. However, you should talk to people in the LGBTQ community for tips on doing this safely.
But you can’t, at this moment in time, get married anywhere in Indonesia including Bali.
Tips For Ensuring That Your Marriage In Bali Goes Without A Hitch
We’ve also got some quick tips to ensure your big day goes smoothly here in Bali:
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Starting planning the wedding early (at least a year ahead, ideally) and ideally involve a wedding planner
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Work out the basics first – budget, guest numbers, theme, etc.
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Keep it simple – have the ceremony and reception in the same venue
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Keep the cocktail hour (the hour following the ceremony) entertaining – it doesn’t have to involve alcohol though
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Get suits and wedding dressed done early
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Don’t get hung up on legal weddings in Bali – you can always get the paperwork done at home
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Try and avoid the wet season – monsoon rains aren’t much fun on your wedding day
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Focus on what’s important to you as a couple – your day will be better if you know what you want to get out of it.
FAQs
Can Australians Legally Marry In Bali?
Yes. The full requirements are listed above but Australians who meet these requirements can get legally married in Bali.
Can A Tourist Get Married In Bali?
Yes, tourists can marry in Bali. However, they must meet all the legal requirements outlined above to do so.
How Much Do Weddings Cost In Bali?
It depends on what kind of wedding that you’re planning. But a full legal wedding ceremony can cost $1,000-$3,000 depending on your arrangements and then you have the cost of flights, hotels, reception, etc. on top.
Typically, it will be cheaper to get wed in Bali than at home, but the savings might not be as substantial as you believe.
Is It Hard To Get Married In Bali?
No, it’s not hard to marry in Bali. If you have all the paperwork listed above, it’s actually quite easy. However, it’s often easier still to get married outside of the country and hold a blessing ceremony in Bali as a “destination wedding”.
Is It Expensive To Get Married In Bali?
No, it’s not expensive to marry in Bali. However, it’s not as cheap as you might think, either.
Can Tourists Get Married In Indonesia?
Yes, tourists can marry in Indonesia. However, the rules we’ve listed above are only accurate for Bali. There are different requirements for weddings in other parts of Indonesia.
What Is The New Marriage Rule In Bali?
There isn’t one. There will be a law introduced in 2025 that makes pre-marital sex illegal. However, this won’t be applied to tourists in Bali and will only apply when a wife, parent or child of one of the partners involved lodges a complaint with the Indonesian police.
Can Unmarried Couples Stay Together In Bali In 2024?
Yes. The new law on prohibiting sex before marriage doesn’t take effect until 2025 and even when it does, it won’t apply to tourists.
Do You Need A Witness To Get Married In Bali?
Yes, the the law requires that two witnesses are present on your wedding date and no Bali wedding may proceed without these witnesses.
Where To Hold Pre or Post-Wedding Events In Bali?
FINNS has a great space for pre and post-wedding events. We also welcome Hen’s Nights and Buck’s Parties.
Final Thoughts On Getting Married In Bali
If you want a wedding in Bali, then you will need to conduct both a civil registry office ceremony and a religious ceremony together for it to be considered a legal ceremony.
However, many people opt to tie the knot overseas, and then have a blessing ceremony instead which requires much less paperwork and ensures that they are legally married in their own countries but still allows them to enjoy a wedding venue in paradise.
