A certificate of no impediment for Indonesia (CNI) is a document from your own country saying you’re free to marry, and the KUA or civil registry will want it before they marry you to an Indonesian. Indonesia doesn’t issue it. Your embassy or home authority does, and every country does it differently.
Last checked: November 2026. Rules and fees change. Confirm with the relevant office or your embassy before you start.
This is practical information, not legal advice. The examples below come from each embassy’s own pages. If your nationality isn’t listed, go straight to your embassy’s website or consular section in Jakarta.
Quick answer
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | Proof from your country that there’s no legal reason you can’t marry (you’re single, divorced or widowed, and of age) |
| Who issues it? | Your own embassy or consulate, or a registry office back home. Never an Indonesian office |
| Who asks for it? | The KUA (Office of Religious Affairs) for Muslim marriages, or Dukcapil (civil registry) for non-Muslim marriages |
| Same name everywhere? | No. It may be called a CNI, an affidavit, an affirmation, a statement, or a consular certificate |
| How long is it valid? | Depends. Some countries set an expiry. Indonesian offices often want it recent |
| Translation? | Usually needs a sworn Indonesian translation if it’s not in Indonesian |
Why Indonesian offices want it
When an Indonesian marries, the local office can check their status through the Indonesian population system. They can’t do that for you. The CNI fills the gap. It’s your country vouching that you’re not already married and are legally able to marry.
The US Embassy in Indonesia sums it up: Indonesian authorities require non-Indonesian citizens to get a Certificate of No Impediment from their embassy before marrying in Indonesia.
How four countries handle it
These four are only examples. Your own country may work completely differently.
United Kingdom: affidavit or affirmation of marital status
British nationals currently get a sworn affidavit (religious oath) or affirmation (non-religious) of marital status from the British Embassy instead of a document called a CNI. Check GOV.UK for the current process.
- Where: British Embassy Jakarta or British Consulate Bali only, according to GOV.UK.
- How: Apply online first, then attend an in-person appointment. Access is by appointment only.
- Fee: GOV.UK’s Indonesia notarial services guide lists £50.
- Before you book: GOV.UK tells you to check with the Indonesian authority (civil registry, religious affairs office or immigration) what they need and that they’ll accept the document.
- Bring: Originals, not copies. Your British passport works as ID. Proof of address must come from GOV.UK’s approved list.
Australia: CNI from the embassy or consulates
- Where: The Australian Embassy in Jakarta or the Consulates-General in Denpasar (Bali), Surabaya and Makassar. Which one depends on where you’re marrying, so check.
- How long: The embassy says it’s usually issued while you wait if your documents are correct and complete.
- Validity: Australia doesn’t set an expiry date, but the embassy notes Indonesian civil registries normally won’t accept a CNI issued more than three months earlier.
- Fee: I couldn’t confirm the current fee on an official page. Check with the embassy when you book.
Germany: Ehefähigkeitszeugnis plus a consular certificate
Germany’s version has two parts, which trips people up.
- You apply for an Ehefähigkeitszeugnis (certificate of capacity to marry) at your local Standesamt (registry office) in Germany. If you have no residence in Germany, the Standesamt I in Berlin handles it.
- The German Embassy in Jakarta then issues a consular certificate for the Indonesian authorities, based on the original Ehefähigkeitszeugnis and both partners’ passports (plus one copy each).
Key details from the embassy’s own page:
- The Ehefähigkeitszeugnis is valid for six months from issue, so the wedding has to happen within that window.
- The consular certificate usually takes about three to five working days.
- No original Ehefähigkeitszeugnis, no consular certificate. The embassy says there are no exceptions.
- The embassy strongly recommends bringing the Ehefähigkeitszeugnis with you if you’re only travelling to Indonesia for the wedding.
United States: statement signed before a consular officer
- How: The US citizen must come to the embassy or consulate in person and sign a statement before a consular officer.
- When it’s ready: The embassy says the document is ready once you and the consular officer have signed.
- Fee and booking: I couldn’t confirm the current fee from an official page. Check the US Embassy’s marriage page and book an appointment.
Step by step: getting your CNI without a rush
- Ask the Indonesian office first. Contact the KUA or Dukcapil that will register your marriage. Ask what exact document they accept from your country, how recent it must be, and whether it needs translation or legalisation.
- Find your embassy’s process. Search your embassy’s website for “marriage in Indonesia”. Note whether the document comes from the embassy or from home.
- Gather supporting papers. Usually your passport, birth certificate, and divorce decree or former spouse’s death certificate if relevant. Some embassies want your Indonesian partner’s ID too.
- Book the appointment. Most embassies in Jakarta and Bali work by appointment only.
- Get it issued. Same day for some countries, days or weeks for others.
- Translate it. Have a sworn translator (penerjemah tersumpah) translate it into Indonesian if the office asks.
- Hand it in quickly. Submit it to the KUA or Dukcapil before it gets too old.
Supporting documents checklist
Not every embassy asks for all of these, but have them ready:
- ☐ Valid passport
- ☐ Full birth certificate (apostilled if it’s coming from abroad)
- ☐ Final divorce decree, if previously married
- ☐ Former spouse’s death certificate, if widowed
- ☐ Proof of address, if your embassy asks (the UK does)
- ☐ Your Indonesian partner’s details or KTP copy (some embassies want them on the form)
- ☐ Deed poll or name change proof, if your name has changed
Common mistakes and delays
- Getting it too early. It’s tempting to tick it off first, but some Indonesian offices reject CNIs older than about three months. Germany’s certificate expires after six months.
- Assuming Indonesia issues it. Indonesian offices can’t help you here. Only your own country can.
- Bringing copies. Embassies usually want originals of your divorce decree and birth certificate.
- Divorce not final. You can’t get a CNI, or marry, until the divorce is final.
- Spelling mismatches. The name on your CNI must match your passport and every other document going to the KUA or Dukcapil.
- Not checking what the local office accepts. The UK and German embassies both tell you to confirm with the Indonesian office before you apply.
- No sworn translation. Some offices accept English, many don’t. Ask.
Some people use a document agency or a lawyer to coordinate translations and appointments, especially when the wedding is outside Jakarta or Bali. It’s optional.
The CNI is one piece of the wider marriage paperwork. Browse our Living in Indonesia guides and, if you’re flying in for the wedding, the Entering Indonesia section. See who we are if you’d like to know where these guides come from.
FAQ
Can I get a CNI from the Indonesian civil registry?
No. Indonesian offices only issue documents for Indonesians. Your CNI or equivalent has to come from your own country’s embassy, consulate or registry.
My embassy doesn’t issue CNIs. What now?
Some countries don’t issue anything called a CNI. They may offer an affidavit, a sworn statement, or a single-status certificate from a home registry instead. Ask your embassy what it provides for marriages in Indonesia, then check that the KUA or Dukcapil will accept it.
Does the CNI need an apostille?
It depends on where it was issued and what the Indonesian office wants. A document issued by your embassy inside Indonesia is often handled differently from one issued at home. Ask both your embassy and the Indonesian office.
How long is a CNI valid for Indonesia?
There’s no single rule. Germany’s Ehefähigkeitszeugnis is valid for six months. Australia doesn’t set an expiry, but Indonesian civil registries normally want one issued within the last three months. Assume recent is safer.
Do both partners need a CNI?
Only the foreign partner gets one from their embassy. If both of you are foreign, each of you needs your own country’s document.
Can someone else collect it for me?
Some embassies allow it, many don’t. The US and UK processes require you to attend in person. Germany allows a third party with a power of attorney to submit the documents for the consular certificate.
