General Information

All information provided in this leaflet is based on the knowledge of the German Embassy Kuala Lumpur at the time of publication. The Embassy does not guarantee completeness or current validity, as legal regulations and procedures may change at any time.

Important Note:
Weddings cannot be conducted at the German Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

1. Civil Marriage in Malaysia – Only for Non-Muslims

A civil marriage before a Malaysian Registrar is only permitted if both partners are non-Muslims. If one of the partners is Muslim, only an Islamic marriage is allowed. In this case, the non-Muslim partner must convert to Islam. According to Sharia law, this conversion is irrevocable.

For further information, please contact the Islamic Religious Authority (Jabatan Agama Islam).

2. Required Documents

The Malaysian Registrar and the Islamic Religious Authority generally require the following documents from the foreign partner:

• Valid passport
• Birth certificate
• One passport photo with a blue background
• For divorced persons: Final divorce decree with English translation
• For widowed persons: Death certificate of the previous spouse with English translation
• Single status letter (Ledigkeitsbescheinigung) issued by the German Embassy Kuala Lumpur in English

Important Note:
The single status letter is issued exclusively based on a Certificate of no impediment of marriage (Ehefähigkeitszeugnis) issued by the competent registry office in Germany. Other documents, such as an extended registration certificate (erweiterte Meldebescheinigung) or a certificate from the registration office in Germany, will not be accepted. There are no exceptions.

3. Certificate of no impediment to marriage and Application

The certificate of no impediment to marriage must be jointly applied for by both partners at the competent registry office in Germany. The German registry office is solely responsible for issuing this certificate, not the Embassy.

The competent registry office is determined by the current or last place of residence in Germany. If there is no such residence, the Standesamt I in Berlin is responsible.

The application form can be obtained at the Embassy or downloaded from the Embassy’s website.

Typically, the following documents are required by the German registry office:

German Partner:

• Passport
• Birth certificate
• If applicable: Divorce decree or death certificate of former spouse

Malaysian Partner:

• Passport
• Birth certificate
• Certificate of single status from Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara or from the religious authority (for Muslims)
• If applicable: Divorce decree or death certificate of former spouse
• Sometimes: Affidavit regarding previous marriages, to be submitted before a notary (not before the German Embassy)

Please check directly with the competent registry office in Germany to confirm which documents are required in your specific case, as the requirements can vary depending on the region and the individual circumstances.

4. Legalisation and Translation of Malaysian Documents

Please refer to the Embassy’s website for detailed information on the legalisation of Malaysian documents:
Legalisation

5. Issuance of the single status letter

Once the certificate of no impediment has been received from the registry office in Germany, the Embassy will issue the single status letter in English. This letter can then be submitted to the Malaysian Registrar or the Islamic Religious Authority.

6. Special Notes for Third-Country Nationals

If the foreign partner is a national of a third country (e.g. Thailand, India), their documents must be legalised or apostilled by the competent authorities in their home country. The responsible German mission in that country can provide further information.

7. Notes for the States of Sabah and Sarawak

For partners from Sabah or Sarawak, the initial authentication is not carried out by Wisma Putra but by the respective local authorities:

Sabah:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia
7th Floor, Block A, Kompleks Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu
Phone: 088 – 488 881
Email: pwsabah@kln.gov.my

Sarawak:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia
3rd Floor, Bangunan Sultan Iskandar, Jalan Simpang Tiga, 93300 Kuching
Phone: 082 – 230 755
Email: pwsarawak@kln.gov.my

8. Recognition of Marriage in Germany

Both Islamic and civil marriages conducted in Malaysia are recognised in Germany. The prerequisite is the authentication of the Malaysian marriage certificate by the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and subsequent legalisation by the German Embassy. An official translation is strongly recommended.

Please be particularly careful with Islamic marriages conducted abroad (e.g. in Southern Thailand) that are later registered by Malaysian authorities. These marriages are often not recognised in Germany. Early consultation regarding recognition is strongly recommended.

06/2025