General Information

A marriage concluded in Malaysia in accordance with local law is generally recognised in Germany, provided that both spouses fulfilled the legal requirements for marriage at the time of the marriage.
Registration of the marriage in Germany is not mandatory for recognition purposes. However, spouses may apply to have their foreign marriage subsequently registered in the German marriage register. The application may be submitted directly to the competent German registry office (Standesamt) or through the German Embassy Kuala Lumpur.
At least one spouse must be a German citizen at the time of application.
Either spouse may submit the application independently; a joint application or the consent of the other spouse is generally not required. However, if a name declaration is to be made in connection with the marriage registration, both spouses must appear in person at the German mission.

Further information on name declarations are available here:

There is no deadline for applying for the registration of a marriage concluded abroad. Applications may be submitted regardless of when the marriage took place.
The registry office responsible for the registration is generally determined by the German place of residence or habitual residence of either spouse. Once the marriage has been registered, the registry office may issue a German marriage certificate upon request.

If neither spouse has a residence or habitual residence in Germany, responsibility lies with Standesamt I Berlin.

Required Documents

To submit an application through the German Embassy Kuala Lumpur, the following original documents are required:

• Completed and signed application form
• Original marriage certificate (must not be laminated)
• Passports of both spouses
• Birth certificates of both spouses
• If applicable, birth certificates of the spouses’ children
• If applicable, marriage certificates and divorce decrees from previous marriages of either spouse

Please note that additional documents may be requested in individual cases.

As a general rule, foreign public documents must be submitted with the appropriate legalisation. Documents not issued in English or German must be accompanied by a certified translation. Whether English-language documents require translation is determined by the competent registry office and may vary from case to case.

Further information is available on our list of recognised translators.

Fees

The fees for the registration of a foreign marriage are determined by the legislation of the federal state in which the competent registry office is located. The fees generally range between approximately EUR 60 and EUR 80.
Detailed payment instructions will be provided by the registry office after the application has been processed.
Payment must be made directly to the bank account of the competent registry office upon receipt of the payment request. Registration is usually completed only after payment has been received.

Additional fees apply at the German Embassy Kuala Lumpur for:
• Certification of copies
• Certification of signatures, including any name declaration
Consular fees are payable in Malaysian Ringgit at the current Embassy exchange rate. Payment may be made in cash or by credit card (Visa or MasterCard).
The exact fee amounts can be found here

Appointments

Please book an appointment to submit your application at the German Embassy in Kuala Lumpur:

Appointment System