The single status certificate Malaysia is an important document, especially for citizens living overseas. This article will discuss what is the certificate , how to obtain it and how long it usually takes.
Single Status Certificate Malaysia’s Role
Usually, when our citizens immigrate or live overseas, they are on visitor passes or another type of visa. When their current visa status is going to expire, they may consider marrying a foreigner from that foreign country as part of the process to obtain a spouse visa which may bring better benefits.
Before holding the wedding and doing any marriage preparation, the prospective spouses of Malaysian citizens or their fellow brides must get a new single status certificate from Malaysia (sometimes known as the 'Single status certificate Malaysia ').
This is to prove that the relationship status of the applicant is single or has been divorced if they were previously married in Malaysia.
For marriage purposes, most countries recognise monogamous marriages, and those who want to register a marriage must be single before they can register a marriage overseas. Thus, overseas countries require Malaysian citizens to get this certificate from the related foreign marriage registry, that is from our country for this purpose. Single means "bujang" in Bahasa Malaysia.
How to Obtain the Certificate
You can apply yourself, or you can appoint a law firm to apply for these single certificates on your behalf.
It is recommended to entrust a law firm to handle the application as they understand the right process and are familiar with family law in Malaysia and the property division in divorce in Malaysia for non-Muslims (sometimes known as ‘prosedur perceraian jpn bukan islam’).
Besides, they can handle the paperwork and point you in the right direction: The application process is explained below:
Application: The applicant or law firm submits the relevant forms together with supporting documents to the National Registration Department, Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN).
JPN, Malaysia is our country’s Marriage and Divorce Registry, whereby the headquarters is located in Putrajaya. Its main purpose is for marriage registration and recording the details of marriages and divorces under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 1976.
On the queries ‘how to check marital status in Malaysia’ and ‘how to get a marriage certificate Malaysia’, JPN is the place to go.
JPN office has several branches in Malaysia and usually the marriage and divorce registry is located on the ground floor where you can walk around to look for one.
Depending on the day of the week, there can be many people for whom you need to get numbers, and it can take minutes to hours before your turn. Usually, they have a nice lady, as a receptionist staffing the counter.
Some of the necessary documents and details are as follows:
(a) Photocopy of Malaysian ID card and passport
(b) Photocopy of birth certificate (may be required in some cases)
(c) Passport pages (showing current passport cover). Usually, an expired/old passport is not required)
(d) Divorce certificate (if previously divorced)
(e) Marriage certificate
(f) Single status declaration signed by the applicant and witnessed by Commissioner for Oaths- This is sometimes known as ‘JPN single status letter’.
(g) Such other information as may be requested by JPN.
Processing: JPN officer will process the application. This whole process takes approximately 3-4 weeks.
Collection: Once the results are ready, JPN will notify the applicant or representative to come and collect them. The contents of the certificate will state the applicant's marital status. As our process, our law firm will send the certificate to the client.
Translation and notarization (if necessary): Some overseas countries may require certificates and other documents to be translated into the official languages of that country such English or Chinese, and then be notarized by local embassies.
If this is the case, Malaysian embassies and consulates abroad will be able to help translate and provide embassy legalization/notatization.
You can find branches and addresses of Malaysian embassies overseas on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia. Once the Malaysian Single Certificate is issued, it is valid for 150 days from the date of issuance.
Guide for Overseas Applicants
If you are overseas (not in the country), you can also apply by yourself through the following methods (this may be a bit troublesome):
Via embassy: Single applicants submit applications and supporting documents to the overseas Malaysian embassy in their country of residence. The embassy is usually located in the country's city. Each embassy may have slightly different requirements.
Mailing: You can also post the form to a JPN branch in our country. Since each embassy has different requirements and there may be a risk of loss in the mail, we recommend that you hire a Malaysian lawyer to apply as they can help you get the certificate faster.
How long does it take and how much does it cost?
Usually, this process takes about 3-4 weeks from the date of application to get a copy of the certificate. As for the fees, there are 2 types:
Legal fees: This is the fee charged by the lawyer to help you apply
Expenses: This includes travel expenses, fees charged by JPN for the form, and other expenses.
If you need any help with this certificate, please contact us for a free quote.
Conclusion
The Single Certificate Status Malaysia is an important document for citizens and its future spouses who want to get married overseas. If you need any info or assistance with the single status certificate application, please contact us by calling our number. Our law firm will help you to get the abovenamed certificates.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where can I get a Malaysian divorce certificate?
A Malaysian divorce certificate is an order from the High Court of Malaya that certifies that a person is divorced. It can only be obtained from the courts.
