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!
the single cert after endorsed by ministry of foreign affairs need to be notarized by another third party??
I believe once it is legalised by the MFA, it’s basically bullet-proof 🙂
Thanks so much! Everything went well as above for my daughter. She arrived at 11 am, and completed the Single Status, Birth Cert & KLN endorsement before 3 pm. Just a question – would it be better to get a letter of good conduct from Wisma Putra? I know US K1 (Fiance) require local police record, but not too sure if they require the passport holder’s country’s letter of conduct.
Congrats! The letter of good conduct wasn’t required for my case.
Generally if this wasn’t part of the required document list then I wouldn’t bother 🙂
May I know will I get the certificate from JPN at step 2? Then I have to bring it to Wisma Putra for endorsement step 3? Why certificate from government needs to be endorse ?
Yes, you’ll get the certificate (step 2) and then you’ll need to endorse it at Wisma Putra (step 3).
Wisma Putra endorses Malaysian documents to be used by foreign government bodies.
Hi. I wonder if this only for non Muslims as I read through the general terms, it stated that. I’m a Muslim though, and I need the Cert of Single Status as it’s one of required documents for my fiance’s embassy for him to obtain his permission to get married here.
I’m really confused and stuck. I have no idea where to go to right now. If you have the answer, it’ll be a great help for me!
Me and my fiancee have just completed the procedure. We arrived on tuesday, 10-Mar, 12.10pm and was given form to fill up. The first step and second step both can be done at NRD. However, we were told to come back next day morning as there is around 60pax still in queue. We ended up going back on 11-Mar morning around 08.10am and complete the process. Waiting time for NRD and Wisma Putra were around 25 – 40mins.
The Everly Hotel and alamanda shopping centre were near the area. Nice hotel to stay and nice shopping centre for eat and buying of gifts for your family 😉
Hey, Liang. You said that step one and step two can be done at NRD ,do you mind if you can tell me which floor I can do the first step at NRD? Thanks and i will wait for your reply.
I’d just like to express my gratitude! This post has save so much of my time and so clear on the steps. I got it done in a day thanks to you 🙂
Hi ! Does the extract of birth certificate has a validity period ? Or is it like once extracted and certified , it can be used at any time no matter how long has passed from the period of certification ?
The validity usually depends on the requested party.
For example, the embassy that requested for my extracted copy of birth cert stated that it should be extracted within the last 3 months.
hi does this apply for muslim marriage with foreigner as well?
I think it is different, as pointed out by other readers 🙂
Hi beauty of defect, these steps have been so helpful to me, you have no idea. Thank you so much! God bless
Hey there, i just want to know for the borang JPN KC.09 did you have to use the original copy from JPN or can we use the form from the website? Thank you xx
They stated in the website that they only accept the original hardcopy from JPN.
I tried my luck by printing a copy of it and submitted without an issue, I’d say try your luck as well!
However, be fully prepared to fill an actual copy there too!
Thank you!
This is really helpful. I also need to extract my single status certification, but due to covid 19 travel challenge, I can’t go back to Malaysia.
I finally make the declaration at Malaysia high commission in Singapore, however still trying to find a lawyer to do so for me since my family is far from KL.
You have any way that I can tune a way around to get it? It is already quite a $$ damage to ask someone to translate birth certificate and endorsed in Singapore.
Hi can you share more how did you manage to make the declaration at Malaysia High Commission in Singapore? Because when I email them, they replied only able to do at JPN Malaysia…but due to current situation i’m not able to go back as well. Thank you in advance
I did not – Singapore has stopped providing this service. If you can’t do it in Malaysia, the only way I can suggest is to search for a Malaysian Commissioner for Oath who’s residing in Singapore and ask if he/she can do it for you.
hi oXiaoFango!! I was wondering if you managed to hire or lawyer or how did you go abouts with the single status form?
I am also not in Malaysia atm and also unable to go home now, and my family are way far away in Sarawak. Hope to hear from you!! Belinda.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. This blog was so helpful.
The only thing I wasn’t sure of, was whether my partner’s passport copy needed to be certified true (It doesnt). I did have to fill in the ori forms though. The forms have also changed slightly from the online ones.
Hello Beauty of Defect! The powers of internet had brought me to your page. 🙂 I am an expat working in KL for 2.5 years now and I will be getting married to my fiance who is Dutch. However, for us to do so I also need to get the certificate of Single Status in Malaysia since I am a resident here on expat status. Would you know the process for non-Malaysian citizen in obtaining the certificate? I would also appreciate if you point me to the right direction on the process. I have been researching for weeks now and tried contacting the JPN but to no avail. Thanks so much in advance. xxx, Katrina
I would assume that it is the same process since the application is for “Malaysian citizen”, which you are – whether or not they distinguish it by your actual nationality, I’m not sure about that! I would still call JPN to get a definitive answer!
It sounds a little odd that the Dutch administration would want a single cert from Malaysia though. I was a resident in Singapore, but the French administration still asked for the single cert from Malaysia (only). Perhaps double confirm with the Dutch administration again on this 🙂
Good luck!
Hi,
I’m a Malaysian citizen living in India, and my fiance happens to be Dutch. So I’m going through the same process more or less, and yes, they need be to produce an unmarried certificate from both Malaysia and India.
I’m in the process of figuring out a way to get my Malaysian certificate done remotely, fingers crossed. Covid has just complicated everything.
Hello. May I know how can it done remotely? Just in case yiu have done it.
Hello! Thank you so much for sharing this! Do you know if i can still apply for this cert in JPN Putrajaya if i’m from Sabah?
Hi Andrew, any tips on doing this remotely?
Thank you very x100 much~
How to translate the single status certificate from Melayu to English?
Thank you.
The certificate is in English 🙂
Hi.
I am confused about filling up JPN.KC09 Section A: Maklumat Suami/Isteri. I have not yet married with my fiance, so shall I skip to fill up maklumat suami and just fill up for maklumat isteri for my own info？If I am divorced, shall I fill up section B too? Sorry to trouble you but hope you can help me with this. Thank you.
I was told to fill up that section (A&C) with our respective info even though we were not married yet.
Not sure what is in section B (Jon website is down currently as I type) so can’t help you there!