Congratulations on the marriage!
Planning a wedding is extremely hectic, and sorting out the paperwork can complicate the whole process. If you are a Malaysian marrying a foreigner, you will most probably need to obtain a ‘Certificate of Single Status’ from Malaysia before you can register your marriage in a different country.
Most importantly, you must apply for the Certificate of Single Status before you register your marriage in any country.
This Certificate of Single Status can only be obtained from the National Registration Department (NRD), known as Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN). The process can be quite complicated and troublesome. To make things worse, I couldn’t find a proper updated guide online to help me with my application! After going through all the troubles and hiccups obtaining the certificate, I have decided to blog about the process in details to guide my fellow brides-to-be so you can be well-prepared!
Basically, there are only 3 steps:
- Statutory declaration – swear your oath @ Istana Kehakiman (Palace of Justice)
- Apply for the certificate of single status @ JPN (NRD Headquarter)
- Get the certificate endorsed by Wisma Putra (Ministry of Foreign Affair)
Here’s the bad news for you, if you are living overseas, then you will have to come back to Kuala Lumpur personally to get this done. I’ve seen on the website that they accept postage application, but when I tried to call them to verify, I’ve gotten different answers all the time. Therefore, I highly suggest that you come back and spend one day on this. It is quite unavoidable.
Here are some very important reminders:
1. Statutory declaration
Initially, the JPN officer told me that I could authorise my family to apply for the certificate of single status on my behalf, but I will have to do the statutory declaration in the presence of a local consular officer. I called the Malaysian Embassy in Singapore to clarify, and they confirmed that it is possible to do it at the Embassy (it was also stated on their official website that they do statutory declarations for single certificates).
I visited the consulate but returned empty-handed, as apparently they have stopped providing this service. Therefore, if you really need to do it remotely from overseas, plan well in advance. In case you are not able to do the statutory declaration, you’ll have time for a backup plan. For example, you could look for a Malaysian Commissioner for Oath, if any, in your residing country and swear in front of him/her.
2. Public holiday and closures
Though JPN is opened on Saturday, the Palace of Justice for statutory declaration is closed. You can’t proceed without swearing the oath, unless you visited a Commissioner for Oath in advance to swear in front of him/her.
Public holidays on a Thursday may be changed to the next day, Friday, to make it a long weekend. It is best to avoid a Friday near public holidays like these.
3. Address on the forms
Make sure that all your forms, including the statutory declaration, have the same address as in your Malaysian MyKad. If you apply on a Saturday, remember that the Palace of Justice for statutory declaration is closed so you’ll not be able to proceed with your application.
4. Birth certificate
Very likely, if you need a certificate of single status, then you will also need an extract copy of the birth certificate. You can conveniently apply for it after you get your certificate of single status as it is done in the same building, and will take less than 5 minutes. Moreover, the extract copy is in both Malay and English.
In addition, you can also ask the officer to make some certified true copies for you, just in case.
5. Documents Required
For the application, you will need to prepare the following documents:
1. *Form JPN.KC09 (original) – fill up section A & C only
2. MyKad (original and photocopy)
3. Passport pages with personal details of prospective spouse who is a non-citizen (photocopy)
4. **Application Letter (Letter of Reason) stating the purpose of the application (original)
5. Statutory declaration form (original)
If you are applying for an extract copy of the birth certificate, then you will need to prepare these documents as well:
1. *Form JPN.LM12 (original)
2. MyKad (original and photocopy)
*The official website states that you cannot use the online forms, but only the forms collected from JPN. I used the online forms anyway and there were no problems, just be prepared to use the hardcopy forms at JPN.
**I have confirmed with the officer that applicants can use any self-written letter. This is a letter I drafted for the application as close to the original as possible, feel free to use it or write your own letter. Otherwise, you can also collect from JPN directly.
3-Step Application for the Certificate of Single Status
Once you have everything prepared, then you can follow the steps below to obtain the certificate:
Step One: Statutory declaration – swear your oath @ Istana Kehakiman (Palace of Justice)
Basically, this step will also take you less than 5 minutes as long as you have your declaration form and MyKad ready. It is also located at Putrajaya, a 7-minute walk away from JPN.
The declaration will cost you RM4. I did this step with an external Commissioner for Oath and paid RM4 as well, though some others may charge differently.
Update 2 Aug 2022: As many readers have commented, there is now an office on the ground floor of JPN (near the ATM machine) where you can do the swearing of oath as well.
Address:
Pejabat Ketua Pendaftar
Mahkamah Persekutuan Malaysia
Aras 3, Presint 3 Istana Kehakiman
Federal Territory of Putrajaya
Wilayah Persekutuan
62506 Putrajaya
Hours:
Weekdays: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Sat / Sun / PH: Closed
Tel: +603 8880 3500
Step Two: Apply for the certificate of single status @ JPN (NRD Headquarter)
If you already have done your statutory declaration in advance, you can come ~10 minutes before the opening time. You do not need to come too early ahead as the escalator is closed and you’ll not be able to enter.
Upon arriving, head towards the escalator and stand around it. When it is the opening time, the security guard will release the escalator and you can then quickly go one level up to the 1st floor to take the queue number for the application.
When it is your turn, the officer will take around 10 minutes to process your application. After that, you’ll be asked to wait for your name to be called to collect the certificate. My name was called after about 15 minutes.
Reason to come early: The officer takes quite a really long time to process each queue number, so if you’re not rushing, by all means take your time. A good gage is approximately 15 minutes for 1 queue number.
The application costs RM5.
*Remember to apply for the extract copy of birth certificate after this step if you have not done so, it is in the same building (level 3) and will take you less than 5 minutes.
Address:
Ketua Pengarah
Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara
(Bahagian Perkahwinan dan Perceraian)
No. 20, Persiaran Perdana Presint 2
62551 Putrajaya
Hours:
Weekdays: 7:30am to 6:00pm
Sat: 9:00am to 2:00pm
Sun / PH: Closed
Tel: +603 8000 8000
Step Three: Get the certificate endorsed by Wisma Putra (Ministry of Foreign Affair)
The Consular Section at Wisma Putra only (not even at the Consular Section of Malaysian Embassy in Singapore) will need to endorse the Certificate of Single Status. I went at around 9:30am, submit the documents to be endorsed, and then received them back after about an hour.
I have also requested the original extract copy of birth certificate to be endorsed, in case the foreign marriage registry needs them to be done the same way as the certificate of single status. You’ll pay more for this, but it’s better to be safe.
The endorsement costs RM10 for the certificate of single status, and RM20 for the birth certificate.
Address:
Wisma Putra
No 1, Jalan Wisma Putra
Precinct 2 Wilayah Persekutuan
62602 Putrajaya
Hours:
Weekdays: 8:30am to 4:00pm
Sat / Sun / PH: Closed
Tel: +603 8887 4000
When I first started searching, I could not find a very detailed guide online. As a result, I’ve wasted so much time and money that could have been avoided.
Hence, I have written this guide from my experience to help more people in need of a little guidance. If you’re reading this for your marriage preparation, I wish you a smooth application process and a blessed marriage ahead!
I am so glad that I found your website! Thank you very much for this, very informative and helpful!
You’re welcome! I’m glad that it helped you, happy marriage!
Thank you for writing this guide, it is really helpful and you help to solve so many doubts.
I’m happy that this guide helped you, Dan!
I am actually flying home on Friday morning just for this, it’s ridiculous! Although JPN is open Saturday, step 3 that needs done in Wisma Putra is not open Saturday. We are starting this process Friday noon, hoping to get step 1 and step 2 done same Friday afternoon, taking into account the long Friday prayers. It’s so frustrating! When you were talking about birth cert “extract”, did you meant have it printed out and certified as true copies? Thanks.
I can absolutely relate to the frustration, hang in there!
Regarding the birth cert extract – It’s not a printout. When you’re waiting at JPN, head to the counter at Aras 3 that issues birth certificate. You can request for an original birth certificate with form JPN.LM12, but it will be an original ‘extract copy’. Meaning, you will see a ‘Date of Extraction’ on the bottom left – this is the date of your request. Remember to get this endorsed at Wisma Putra too, to be very safe.
Sorry to sound silly but did you printed your forms double sided or single sided? I was planning to head straight to Istana Kehakiman when I get there 🙂 Thanks so much!
It’s not silly but a valid question 🙂
You should print them single-sided, government bodies can be quite strict about this.
I hope you’ll get to complete all in one day, good luck!
Thanks so much for all your response! We will try to get it sorted same day! else we are prepared to hang around the weekend and go back Monday, think that’s the best! Do you know what happens when you do not register your marriage abroad within 150days when the documents expire? Do you get penalized?
I did ask the JPN officer about this: You will need to re-apply for the single certificate once it expires.
They will issue you the cert as long as you are still single.
Thanks so much, your response has been really helpful! Do they issue the birth cert extract in dual language? Is there English on them? Just finish filling in all the forms and they are in Bahasa only! Wondering if there will be translator service within the same building. We need it in English unfortunately.
Yes, the extract copy of birth cert is in both Malay and English 🙂
May I ask if photocopy of foreign spouse’s passport was actually required during your application process? Or is just filling up the spouse’s details on the form enough?
Hi Shel, thanks for stopping by!
The passport’s photocopy of your foreign spouse is one of the listed required documents. The JPN officer did ask for this during my application, so I’d recommend you to prepare this.
Hope this helps 🙂
Hai Admin,
Thanks for sharing the info. I have done all the above today and got received my single status cert after almost spent 5 hours at PJ.
Slight differences in the forms which you have shared in the link. Its advisable to fill the form which you can collect from the counters. Its easy and the staffs are very helpful and friendly at all the 3 places which i got visited today. I spent 10 mins at the Palace of the Justice. The other places i have waited almost 1 hour plus just to get the cert at JPN and finally endorsed it at Wisma Putera.
I am from Johor Bahru. So imagine i have spent my whole day just to get the single status cert and now finally on my way back to home sweet home. Good luck to all bride to be!
Thank you once again Admin for the guidance. God bless you sweet heart.
Regards
Ranjini Sureshkumar
Thanks Ranjini for sharing 🙂
I am marrying abroad. May I please ask:
1) Does JPN post anything to the address on your MyKad, that you used on the JPN KC 09 form, after the whole JPN saga? The address on my MyKad is outdated (as my family in Malaysia has shifted homes) and I’ve already obtained my Statutory Declaration at the Malaysian Embassy in Tokyo with the outdated address. Just wondering if this affects anything.
2) My family in Malaysia is able to apply for my Single Status Certificate on my behalf. I received 2 JPN KC 09 original forms from them. Am I required to submit both forms or just one will do?
This is extremely frustrating but I must persevere. 🙁
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Hi Lori, thanks for stopping by 🙂
1 – JPN has never posted me anything to my address on MyKad, and the process has end for a few months now.
I’d recommend you to keep the same address in MyKad for both the statutory declaration and JPNKC09 forms, they were extremely strict about this when I was there.
2 – You will only need to submit 1 copy, but an additional copy is good in case you need a backup.
I completely understand how frustrating this can be, hang in there and it will all be over soon!
Feel free to ask me any other questions 🙂
Thank you so much, your reply has definitely put my mind at ease.
Did you endorse your Birth Certificate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well?
I’d have to remember to renew my IC when I return the next time haha. Also, I am contemplating writing my own experience for future Malaysian-Japanese couples as the procedure here is so different from what I read online. And information about Non-Muslim Malaysian-Japanese marriage procedure is practically ZERO.
Yes, I have submitted the birth certificate together with the single cert to be endorsed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
I’m glad that I did that, because it was required when I did the marriage transcription. I highly recommend that you do the same (extra RM20), it’s better to be safe!
Please link me up if you’ve decided to post your own experience, I’m very interested to read your story!
All the best to your journey, I’m sure the hardest part will be over very soon 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I am just wondering did you get the swear on oath paper back in English version? How about the Single Status Certificate? Is it all in English version? Sorry, I am a bit nervous as I am in overseas, will be going back to Malaysia to apply for the Single Status Certificate. Hope that you can reply me 🙂
Hi Karen 🙂
You don’t need to translate the oath into English as it is only for JPN, you won’t need it after.
The Single Cert is in English, you should be able to use it in any country that accept English documents 🙂
Thanks for your reply. I am going to register in China, and in need of Single Certificate and the swear on oath paper 🙁
Just wondering if the paper will be given back after you got the Single Certificate?
I just clarified with a family member of mine (Malaysian), who got married in Beijing a few years back. She remembered that she did not submit the oath paper, she did not get it back anyway (me too).
Perhaps they have changed and require the oath paper now, it would be best if you can double confirm this. If you need the oath paper back, you can just show the JPN officer proof that you’ll need it for China (maybe a statement from the website?).
Otherwise, you can ask the commissioner for oath if both of you can sign on two oath papers. No harm trying ^^
The single Certificate once apply how many month only will Expired ?
Hi Ken, the single cert is valid for 150 days from date of issuance.
Thanks for your detailed post on this. I will be flying back soon to do this and was concerned that I could not get it done within a day. Do you know if there are runners to do this outside the area?
Hi Kevin, thanks for popping by! Unfortunately I don’t know anyone who does this 🙁
Will you be adding on how you registered your marriage with Malaysian Gov as well?
Hi 🙂
Would to clarify that is the Application form and Statutory Declaration form can be obtained in JPN? Or we have to draft our own copy of letter?
Thank you.
Yes, all forms can be obtained from JPN 🙂
This is super helpful! Thank you for taking the time to share these steps. A quick (and perhaps silly question): I noticed that you mentioned all three offices were in Putrajaya, would it be possible for me to get these done at the PJ branch?
Thanks Christy! No it’s not silly 🙂
Though I am pretty sure that you are only allowed to do these at the Putrajaya main branch 🙁
THANK YOU SO MUCH for this post! You saved my day. I plan to do this when I go home in 6 months and hopefully I could get it ALL done in a day.