Marriage & divorce
Marriage in Indonesia requires a religious wedding ceremony and the subsequent marriage registration.
For a so-called mixed marriage to be recognized in Indonesia as well as the foreigners’ native country, the religious ceremony and the civil procedure must abide by and comply with the religious ordinances and civil rules respectively of both parties.
The laws of both countries must be respected with regard to marital age, consent, gender and registration.
A marriage which is not wholly legitimate can be a happy one nonetheless, until a dispute arises between the spouses or with a third party, after which you may be faced with unpleasant surprises.
Although not assumed during the wedding preparation, a marriage can eventually end in a divorce which has its own legal and financial implications, especially if the terms of the marriage contract are not properly agreed upon beforehand.
Mixed marriages
A marriage between a foreigner and an Indonesian is commonly referred to as a mixed marriage.
Foreigners who want to get married with an Indonesian man or woman in Indonesia, should consider legal assistance from the very beginning. This may sound odd, but the bureaucracy involved can be quite overwhelming.
This stems from the fact that in matrimonial affairs we are dealing with (national) civil law, (Islamic) family law and local (adat) customary laws, as since its inception the Republic of Indonesia is a multi-cultural and multi-religious country.
If a foreigner does not have a (recognized) religion, one must be declared before he/she can get married.
The Indonesian government recognizes six religions, being: Islam, Catholic, Protestant, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
Inter-faith marriages are not recognized in Indonesia. Note that agnostic beliefs or atheism are not accepted as a faith.
Besides the rules in Indonesia, the foreigner must also take into account the policies of its native country if he/she wants the marriage to be recognized there as well.
The preconditions for a foreigner to be able to marry in Indonesia are that:
- The parties must be of the opposite gender; same-sex marriages are forbidden.
- The man and woman must have the same religion; if one does not have a recognized religion, you must declare one.
- A minimum age of 21 years old is required for both men and women; a parental letter of consent is required if one is younger.
A public announcement 10 days before the intended wedding date may be requested.
Laws and procedures differ per country and religion, so it goes too far to get into every possible detail.
However, hereafter we provide an overview of mixed marriage arrangements that are most common in Indonesia.
Note that ‘hush & hurry’ marriages are ill-advised.
Please contact AdvintA well in advance if you have decided to get married in Indonesia, so we can inform you about the particular procedures and assist you with the appropriate documentation.
Muslim marriage
The population of Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, which is reflected in the family laws.
Most mixed marriages take place between foreign non-Muslim men and Indonesian Muslim women, in which case a conversion of faith is required.
Conversion to Islam
According to Islam, it is forbidden for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man.
So if your wife-to-be is Muslim and you are not, you first have to convert to Islam before you can marry her in Indonesia.
This can be done in a separate ceremonial before the wedding by an Imam of the local Mosque (Mesjid) or at the wedding day itself by a clerk of the local Religious Affairs Office (Kantor Urusan Agama) upon prior request.
The Imam or religious affairs officer can inform you beforehand about the details and will guide you through the procedure.
Note that (unlike in Christianity) Islam has no official clergy. Among others, that means that an Imam is usually appointed by the local community rather than by a higher religious institution.
Meanwhile, an official of the local Religious Affairs Office (KUA) is a civil servant employed by the government.
In contrast to a Muslim woman, it is permissible for a Muslim man to marry a Christian (Catholic or Protestant) woman, based on shared historic-religious roots.
Because Islam is a so-called patri-lineal religion in which the man is the head of the family, he is expected to raise any children resulting from this marriage as Islamic.
The wife can either remain Christian or convert at a later stage.
After conversion if applicable, the pre-marriage documentation must be arranged.
Muslim marriage documentation
There is a substantial amount of paperwork involved for the foreign national as well as the Indonesian citizen when getting married.
This table provides a basic overview of the documentation required.
getting married.This table provides a basic overview of the documentation required.
Muslim mixed marriage documentation*
| Person | Documents | Authority | Notes |
| Foreign national |
|
|
|
| Indonesian citizen |
|
|
|
| Jointly |
|
|
|
*This information is not legally binding and may be subject to change. Document provision and marriage customs may vary per country and region. Contact your embassy and local KUA office for more information.
If you are residing in Indonesia as an employee, entrepreneur or retiree, the following additional documentation may be required:
- Local ID card (KTP).
- Police report endorsement letter (STMD).
- Tax settlement letter.
Make sure that the documents submitted to the KUA office are complete and valid, not only to conduct the wedding ceremony, but also to register the marriage and the subsequent issue of the marriage booklets (Buku Nikah).
Legalization & translation
The foreign pre-marriage documentation usually has to be translated in Bahasa Indonesia by a verified translator and then legalized.
The authenticity of the Indonesian documentation has to be verified.
The Indonesian Directorate-General for Consular Affairs in Jakarta regulates legalization, translation and validation requirements and can inform you regarding current procedures and revisions if any.
After completing the pre-wedding paperwork, a marriage requires the following 2 formalities to be fulfilled in Indonesia:
- A religious wedding ceremony.
- A prescribed marriage registration.
The wedding ceremony has to be held first, after which the marriage can be officially registered.
Muslim wedding ceremony
A mixed-marriage Muslim ceremony should be held at the local KUA office, so that afterwards the marriage can be directly registered at the KUA by the Religious Affairs Officer.
Two adult witnesses should be present at the ceremony. If you cannot provide these witnesses, employees of the KUA office may act as witnesses.
Besides these witnesses, a marriage guardian (wali nikah) must be present which should be the father of the bride.
The wedding ceremony is being lead by the KUA officer as the marriage leader (penghulu nikah) who abides by the Muslim marriage requirements called ‘ijab kabul’.
The religious affairs officer can inform you beforehand about the preparations and will guide you through the ceremonial procedures.
Note that after the wedding ceremony, a wedding feast with family, friends and neighbors (walimah) may be held at another venue, such as a hotel or the family home.
If you do not wish to do so, it is advisable however to have some Indonesian relatives present at the wedding ceremony to show that the Indonesian spouse's family endorses the marriage.
Muslim marriage registration
After the wedding ceremony, the marriage is registered at the local KUA office, after which the KUA office will issue the marriage booklets to the newly-weds.
A Muslim marriage does not have to be recorded separately at the local civil registry office, known as Kantor Catatan Sipil (KCS).
That’s because the KUA office itself (unlike a church) is a government body that registers the marriage and issues the marriage booklet, which in Indonesia is sufficient proof that the marriage is legitimate.
However, if the married couple moves abroad, you can present your marriage booklets to the civil registry office and request a civil confirmation paper. Thereafter, get a sworn translation from the consulate of your Muslim mixed marriage for use outside Indonesia.
Indonesia has no central depository of civil actions, including marriages. So it may be difficult to obtain an official record of your marriage abroad when you have relocated to a third country.
If the couple wants the mixed marriage to be registered in the foreigners’ home country as well, you should contact your embassy in Indonesia on how to proceed.
Thereafter, you can obtain a version of your marriage certificate from your native country.
Marriages will not be officially registered at foreign embassies, as the act of marriage is a local government matter.
Unregistered Muslim marriages
Above all, a marriage in Indonesia is seen as a religious act.
According to religious customs, Muslim marriages that are not officially registered are therefore still recognized to a certain extent.
Such a marriage is legal religiously (sah) according to Islamic law as long as it complies with the following requirements:
- Bride and groom present.
- Mutual marital consent (Ijab dan Kabul).
- Under supervision of a marriage guardian (Wali Nikah).
- Two adult witnesses present at the wedding ceremony.
Without the complete paperwork and the presence of relatives of the bride a/o groom (walimah), such a religious marriage will not be officially registered at the Religious Affairs Office (KUA).
This type of religious Muslim marriage is known as a secretive marriage (nikah bawah tangan) or a serial marriage (nikah siri).
These religious ceremonies are performed quietly, for example if family members of the bride or groom are opposed to the marriage or if the groom is already married but wishes to have an additional wife without official consent.
Because this type of marriage is not officially registered at the KUA office this means that:
- No marriage booklets will be issued.
- The husband/groom will not be stated on the birth certificate if a child is born.
- The foreign partner cannot obtain a spouse residence permit for Indonesia and the Indonesian partner cannot obtain a spouse visa of the foreigners’ native country.
Indonesian Islamic law provides an opportunity to get an unregistered marriage administratively acknowledged on the following grounds:
- A marriage performed by a couple who was legally free to marry.
- In order to file for a divorce.
- Uncertainty about the legitimacy of the marriage re fulfillment of all the marriage requirements.
- Claim loss of the marriage booklets.
Requests for administrative acknowledgement (isbat nikah) have to be filed at the Religious Islamic Court.
The request can be filed by the husband, the wife, their children, the marriage guardian, or another party who has a legitimate interest in the marriage.
A court hearing will be part of the proceedings which includes witnesses and examination of the evidence provided. If granted, the court will issue a decree that the religious marriage previously performed has been acknowledged and that the KUA office shall issue official marriage booklets.
Christian marriage
As with all marriages in Indonesia, the Christian couple must also have the same religion, so if a Catholic wants to marry a Protestant, one of them has to adopt the faith of the other.
A written declaration of conversion is sufficient; inquire at the church where you intent to get married about the conventions of such a letter.
Christian marriage documentation
A couple of non-Islamic faith is required to file a ‘Notice of Intention to Marry’ at the Civil Registry Office (KCS) of the district where you a/o your Indonesian fiancée is residing.
This table provides a basic overview of the documentation required.
Christian mixed marriage documentation*
|
Person |
Documents |
Authority |
Notes |
| Foreign national |
|
|
|
| Indonesian citizen |
|
|
|
| Jointly |
|
|
|
*This information is not legally binding and may be subject to change. Document provision and marriage customs may vary per country and region. Contact your embassy and local KCS office for more information.
If you are residing in Indonesia as a foreign employee, entrepreneur or retiree, the following additional documentation may be required:
- Local ID card (KTP).
- Police report endorsement letter (STMD).
- Tax settlement letter.
- Family book or birth certificate of your children (if applicable).
Make sure that the documents submitted to the KCS office are complete and valid to prevent any delays.
The KCS office has a fixed waiting period of 10 working days from the date of filing during which the KCS officer can check whether the marriage prerequisites have been fulfilled.
Note that this waiting period may be waived for foreign tourists by presenting a guest registration form.
If no obstacles to marry exist, the civil registrar can publish an ‘Announcement of Intention to Marry’.
Legalization & translation
The foreign pre-marriage documentation usually has to be translated in Bahasa Indonesia by a verified translator and then legalized.
The authenticity of the Indonesian documentation has to be verified.
The Indonesian Directorate-General for Consular Affairs in Jakarta regulates legalization, translation and validation requirements and can inform you regarding current procedures and revisions if any.
Ten days after the wedding announcement, the actual wedding can be held; this requires the following 2 formalities to be fulfilled in Indonesia:
- A religious wedding ceremony.
- A prescribed marriage registration.
The wedding ceremony has to be held first, after which the marriage can be officially registered.
Christian wedding ceremony
A mixed-marriage Christian ceremony should be held at the local church, lead by the pastor or reverend.
Two adult witnesses should be present at the churchly blessing. If you cannot provide these witnesses, employees of the KCS office may act as witnesses.
The church can inform you beforehand about the preparations and will guide you through the ceremonial procedures.
Note that after the wedding ceremony, a wedding party or reception with family, friends and neighbors may be held at another venue, such as a hotel or the family home, but this is not necessary for the marriage to be legitimate.
Christian marriage registration
After the wedding ceremony, the church will issue a religious marriage certificate which should be signed by the bride and groom, the witnesses and the pastor/reverend.
After the religious ceremony, the marriage must be registered within 60 days at the KCS office who will then issue a civil marriage certificate. A Christian marriage which is not registered by the local civil registry office is not considered legitimate in Indonesia, as a church is not a government body.
It is common practice to have civil servants of the KCS office present in church during the wedding, so that the Christian marriage can be directly recorded in the civil registry.
You may request a sworn translation of your civil marriage certificate from your consulate for use abroad.
If as a foreigner, you want the mixed marriage to be registered in your home country as well, you should contact your embassy in Indonesia on how to proceed.
Thereafter, you can obtain a version of your marriage certificate from your native country.
Marriages will not be officially registered at foreign embassies, as the act of marriage is a matter of the local government.
Hindu, Buddha or Confucian marriage
The legal requirements for these 3 types of religious marriages are basically the same as for a Christian mixed marriage in Indonesia.
If conversion of faith is applicable, inquire at the temple on how to proceed.
A mixed-marriage religious ceremony should be held at a temple, lead by the religious leader.
The cleric (together with your fiancée and future in-laws) can inform you beforehand about the preparations and will guide you through the ceremonial procedures.
Marriage performed abroad
Considering the extensive bureaucracy involved regarding mixed marriages in Indonesia, you may prefer to get married abroad.
This is usually done in the foreigners’ native country (although it is also possible to get married in another country of your choice).
If you want the overseas marriage to be recognized in your native country as well as in Indonesia, then inform yourself about the marriage requirements at the civil registry office in Indonesia and the Indonesian embassy in your home country respectively before you get married.
After the wedding and the marriage registration, you will receive the marriage certificate which is recognized by the foreigners’ national government.
For this overseas marriage to be recognized in Indonesia as well, the following steps should be taken:*
1. Verification by the Indonesian embassy or consulate in the country where you got married.
This should include a certified and sworn translation into Bahasa Indonesia of the marriage certificate.
If it concerns an inter-faith marriage without prior conversion of the foreign spouse, the embassy may not always validate your marriage certificate.
2. Reporting the foreign marriage at the applicable local government registry in Indonesia.
This should be done within 30 days from the date of arrival in Indonesia, at the local government office of the district where the couple will reside. Muslim couples report at the KUA office and all other religions at the KCS office.
3. Registration of the foreign marriage at the applicable local government office
After verification, you will receive a marriage report certificate (Tanda Bukti Laporan Perkawinan), which proves that your overseas marriage is now legitimate in Indonesia.
*This information is not legally binding and may be subject to change. Document provision and marriage customs may vary per country and region.
Be advised that the Indonesian embassy a/o the local registry office may ask for the foreign pre-wedding documentation to be presented to verify and register your foreign marriage certificate.
Prenuptial & postnuptial agreement
When getting married, it is of vital importance that the couple takes into account what will happen with their assets in the event of divorce or death.
It is highly recommended that a prenuptial agreement has been made prior to the wedding, in case the marriage ends in divorce.
If no prenuptial agreement has been made, it is also possible to make a so-called postnuptial agreement regarding the separation of assets during a marriage.
Prenuptial agreement
A prenuptial agreement is a written legal contract entered into by a couple before marriage that primarily specifies the division of their assets in case the marriage ends through divorce.
In a mixed foreign-Indonesian marriage, drawing up prenuptial agreement (prenup) is essential.
Real estate
Without a prenup, the Indonesian law stipulates community of property between the husband and wife.
Community property requires consensus between the husband and wife if one wants to sell the property.
However, assuming community property in mixed marriages interferes with another law that prohibits foreigners to fully own property in Indonesia.
One cannot obtain legal consent from another who has no right to grant it, as the foreigner only has right of use (Hak Pakai).
In that case right of ownership (Hak Milik) has to be assigned to a third party.
Schematic overview:
| Ownership rights | Foreign spouse | Indonesian spouse | Notes |
| Without prenup: | Right of Use (Hak Pakai) | Right of Use (Hak Pakai) | Re joint family home / house |
| With prenup: | Right of Use (Hak Pakai) | Freehold title (Hak Milik) | Re joint family home / house |
Joint ownership of a house for a mixed couple is not possible, because a foreign individual, married or unmarried, cannot have full ownership rights in Indonesia.
Full ownership of the family home for the Indonesian spouse is only possible with a prenup which describes the partition of property between the husband and wife.
With a prenup, the house is in the name of the Indonesian spouse.
The prenuptial agreement may include the condition that in the event of a divorce, the house will be sold and that part of the proceeds will awarded to the foreign spouse.
Prenup contents
Indonesian law does not dictate a prescribed format of a prenuptial agreement, so the couple is free as to which assets are included and how it is divided, as long as it does not violate the law.
To minimize misunderstandings in the future however, the prenup should include full disclosure of all assets and liabilities and specify what each spouse will receive if the marriage is dissolved.
Contact AdvintA well in advance of the intended wedding date, to draft a legally sound prenuptial agreement which suits both partners.
Prenup legalization & registration
As there is no standard format for a prenuptial agreement, you should consult with our lawyer to draft the agreement.
Then the prenup can be signed by the couple in mutual consent and legalized by a notary.
Thereafter, the prenuptial agreement must be registered twice to be legally acknowledged.
This must be done before the wedding date at:
The local KUA office (re Muslim couples) or the KCS office (re non-Muslim couples).
The local district court (re all religions).
When approved by both registrars, the prenuptial agreement will take effect towards both partners and against third parties upon the date of registration.
In addition, these registration requirements prevent the recording of back-dated prenups.
A back-dated prenup is dated prior to the wedding day, but signed after the marriage and therefore not valid.
Without registration at the district court, the prenup is considered non-existent in case of any future disagreements.
If your wedding will be performed outside Indonesia and you cannot come to Indonesia just to sign a prenuptial agreement, the prenuptial agreement must be governed under Indonesian law and legalized by the Indonesian embassy in that foreign country, after which it can be registered.
Foreign prenup
The Indonesian prenup is only applicable to assets in Indonesia.
If the foreign spouse still has assets in his/her native country, then it is advisable to also have a valid foreign prenuptial agreement in place that is applicable only to those oversees properties.
The foreign prenup can be made in the spouses’ country of origin and should not contradict the contents of the Indonesian prenup. It is recommended that each prenup mentions the other as part of the entire marriage agreement.
This is a so-called ‘back-to-back’ prenuptial agreement.
Postnuptial agreement
Instead of trying to get a back-dated prenup registration, it is advisable to draft a postnuptial agreement (postnup) in case no prenuptial agreement was made and registered before the wedding.
Indonesia’s law on marriages only recognizes prenuptial agreements, but the Indonesian Civil Code of Law provides a special provision regarding property division in the course of a marriage.
The postnup ensures a division of property in a valid, existing marriage from the date of signature, after which the community property regime no longer exists.
So the existing property prior to the postnup has to be determined and partitioned.
The postnup serves as a legal contract between husband and wife and also takes effect upon third parties such as creditors.
Real estate
Postnuptial agreements are usually created to settle property ownership in mixed marriages.
As explained in the prenup section, full ownership of a joint home for the Indonesian spouse in a mixed marriage is not possible without a prenup.
Such a situation creates the legal basis for making a valid postnup during a marriage, which restores the legal right of the Indonesian citizen to wholly own property in Indonesia under the Indonesian Civil Code.
Postnup contents
The grounds and contents of the postnup must be compliant with the Civil Code of Law.
A postnuptial agreement is not a common document so it requires full disclosure of all assets and liabilities, have to be entered into voluntarily by both parties and have terms that are fair and impartial.
After jointly signing the postnup, the assets concerned will be assumed separated.
Then both husband and wife will have control over their individual assets without requiring consent from the other or having to rely on a third party as the legal owner.
Postnup legalization & registration
The postnup agreement must be recorded in a notarial deed and reported to the marriage registrar being:
The KCS office for non-Muslim couples.
The KUA office for Muslim couples.
The application for registering the postnup agreement can be filed by the husband a/o wife or via a power of attorney granted to a third party such as the legal consultant who drafted the agreement.
When approved by the registrar, the postnuptial agreement will take effect towards both partners and against third parties upon the date of registration.
Prenup or postnup review
It is important to keep the marriage agreement up-to-date.
No agreement can take into account all possible future events, such as birth, illness, relocation a/o capital growth.
Besides the need of a legal specialist to draw up the marriage agreement, AdvintA can help you to review the prenuptial or postnuptial agreement periodically to keep it up-to-date regarding your current family situation.
Divorce & annulment
The death of either party will automatically terminate the marriage.
Besides termination of marriages due to death, a marriage can be dissolved by filing for a divorce.
As divorce proceedings are passed through court, it is essential to get legal representation which AdvintA can carry out for you.
Divorce
In Indonesia, the rules for divorce are governed by the applicable marriage laws and can only be settled via a court ruling, as Indonesian law does not acknowledge a divorce by mutual consent.
Either the husband or wife can file for divorce.
For Muslims, a divorce petition must be filed at the local Religious Court, while non-Muslims file for divorce at the local District Court.
Divorce justifications
The legal grounds for filing a divorce apply if one of the spouses:
- Has committed adultery.
- Is addicted to alcohol, drugs or gambling or has other vices which place a heavy burden on the marriage.
- Has resorted to cruelty or abuse, endangering the life of the other spouse.
- Has left the other spouse for 2 consecutive years without consent and without legitimate reasons.
- Has been sentenced to imprisonment for at least 5 consecutive years.
- Has developed an enduring disability or disease, preventing the spouse from fulfilling his/her marital duties.
- Have irreconcilable differences, such as continuous martial disputes with no outlook on a sustainable solution.
In Islam, a marriage may be dissolved due to additional reasons, most commonly being:
- Thalak; the right given to a husband of releasing his wife from the marriage.
- Li'an; spreading falsehoods and non-acknowledgement of a child by the husband, born during the marriage.
- Murtad; if the husband or wife is an apostate of Islam i.e. abandons the Islamic faith.
Divorce documentation
To file for divorce, usually copies of the following documents should be prepared:
- ID card (KTP) or passport.
- Family card (KK).
- Children’s birth certificate if applicable.
- Marriage booklet (for Muslims) or marriage certificate (for non-Muslims).
- Marriage agreement if applicable (prenuptial or postnuptial agreement).
- Proof of ownership regarding assets, such as real estate, vehicles, bank savings, etc if applicable.
- Letters stating the reasons for the divorce.
Divorce consequences
According to Indonesian marriage law, the main effects after the divorce are that:
- The ex-husband has to pay alimony as a contribution to the living expenses of the ex-wife if able.
- Both parents are still obliged to take care of their children if there are any, and are responsible for their education.
- The father has to pay child support if able.
- A separation of assets is determined.
The details should be documented in the divorce papers and are upheld by the courts decision where applicable.
Annulment
Besides getting a divorce, a marriage can also end through an annulment.
Annulment means that a marriage is terminated if one or both parties have failed to comply with the necessary terms and conditions of the marriage under Indonesian law.
Only the court can rule such a marriage as invalid.
A petition for marriage annulment must be filed at the Religious Court for Muslims and at the District Court for non-Muslim couples.
This request can be submitted within the jurisdiction where the marriage was performed or in the district where the married couple resides.
Unlike a divorce, not only the husband or wife can file a request for a marriage annulment.
Besides the couple, an annulment can be requested by:
- Straight line relatives such as parents and siblings of the couple.
- Authorized officials concerned with the marriage requirements.
- Other parties who have a valid interest in the legitimacy of the marriage.
Annulment justifications
The legal grounds for filing an annulment petition are unfulfilled (pre) marriage requirements, such as:
- The husband a/o wife is still married to another person.
- The husband and wife are blood relatives.
- The husband a/o wife is younger then the minimum required marital age.
- The marriage was forged or performed under threat.
- The wedding was not attended by two qualified witnesses.
- The wedding ceremony was performed without the presence of an official marriage registrar or conducted by an unauthorized one.
In Islam, a marriage may be annulled due to additional reasons, such as:
- Polygamy conducted by the husband without permission from the Religious Court.
- The wife was still in the period of ‘iddah’ of her previous husband.
- Cancellation of the marriage known as ‘fasakh’ due to unanticipated circumstances.
Muslim men are only officially allowed to have more then 1 wife in Indonesia upon consent of the first wife and with authorization of the religious Islamic authorities.
Iddah refers to the waiting period wherein a previously married woman may not re-marry, being 90 days due to a divorce and 130 days if due to the death of the previous husband.
Fasakh refers to the annulment of the marriage usually because of financial or family related issues that may hinder the continuation of the marriage.
The husband or wife may submit a petition for marriage annulment in case (one of) the parties were allegedly forced or deceived or if there were further to be specified misunderstandings.
However, if the couple has been living together as husband and wife for 6 months under these circumstances without having requested annulment of the marriage, the issue is considered solved and their right to petition for annulment of the marriage will be void/expired.
In case of annulment, the court basically applies the same procedures as in divorce proceedings.
Annulment consequences
The annulment of the marriage by the courts decision takes effect retroactively from the moment the marriage was entered into.
According to Indonesian law however, a marriage annulment does not terminate:
- The parental relationship and joint responsibility for the children if there are any.
- An agreement entered into with any third party during the marriage, such as mortgage payments if applicable.
In conclusion
The above divorce and annulment regulations basically apply to native (Indonesian) marriages as well as mixed (foreign-Indonesian) marriages.
However, if the husband and wife who file for divorce are both foreign and both reside in Indonesia, then the Indonesian variant of the International Civil Law (ICL) applies to get a divorce in Indonesia.
In such cases you should also contact the foreign embassy of your native country to determine what they require to make the divorce legally recognized.
In any case, it is highly recommended to get in touch with the attorney of AdvintA before starting any divorce proceedings on your own, in order to get best possible divorce settlement.
All changes to your civil status must be reported to the proper authorities during your residence in Indonesia. This not only concerns family matters such as marriage and divorce, but also the birth of a child and the death of the spouse.
These issues will be handled in the legal and finance section of this site