Marriage and Divorce Certificate Translation in Malaysia
Short answer: to use a Malaysian marriage or divorce document abroad, get the right original or extract, have it translated by a translator Wisma Putra accepts, attest it at Wisma Putra (RM 20 for a certified marriage or divorce certificate and RM 10 for the certified translation, under the Ministry's fee schedule), then legalise it at the destination country's embassy. Foreign marriage documents for JPN must be translated in Malaysia, signed and stamped with the translator's original stamp, or verified by an embassy or Wisma Putra if translated abroad.
We translate and legalise marriage and divorce documents in both directions. Our team is certified by ITBM and DBP and includes High Court interpreters. Send your document on WhatsApp for a quote.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Which Malaysian document you have
Non-Muslim marriages (Act 164, registered with JPN)
Marriage certificate (Perakuan Perkahwinan): RM 10, issued by JPN on registration.
Marriage register extract (Cabutan Daftar Perkahwinan): RM 50 at any JPN office, issued the same day if the record is in the system. A register search costs RM 5 for each year searched (form JPN.KC09).
Marriage status letter (Surat Pengesahan Taraf Perkahwinan): for non-Muslim Malaysian citizens, often needed to marry abroad. Valid for 150 days.
Muslim marriages
Muslim marriages are registered by the state Islamic religious authority; in the Federal Territories, JAWI. JAWI issues the marriage card (Kad Perakuan Nikah) on the day and the marriage certificate (Surat Perakuan Nikah) after 14 working days.
Divorces
Civil divorce: the Decree Nisi Mutlak issued by the High Court. If it is lost, get the original from your lawyer or a certified copy from the High Court that granted it.
Muslim divorce: the certificate of divorce (Surat Perakuan Cerai) issued by the state Islamic religious department after a Syariah court order. JAWI charges RM 20 per couple to register a divorce.
Using these documents abroad
Get the original certificate or a fresh extract.
Have it translated by a translator Wisma Putra accepts (see who can certify a translation).
Attest the document and translation at Wisma Putra.
Legalise both at the destination country's embassy in Kuala Lumpur, if required.
Malaysia does not issue apostilles; this chain replaces one. See apostille in Malaysia and our country guides for each embassy's rules.
Foreign documents for marriage registration in Malaysia
JPN's rules for registering a marriage say every certificate and supporting document not in Malay or English must be translated, and that the certified translation "perlu dilakukan di Malaysia dengan lengkap ditandatangani bersama cop asal penterjemah": it must be done in Malaysia and signed with the translator's original stamp. A translation made abroad must be verified by the relevant embassy or by Wisma Putra. A foreign partner usually also needs a single status document from their home country, legalised for use in Malaysia.
Common questions
Which marriage document do embassies usually want?
Most accept the marriage certificate. If the original is lost or damaged, use a JPN marriage register extract instead.
How long is a marriage status letter valid?
JPN's Surat Pengesahan Taraf Perkahwinan is valid for 150 days. The destination country may set a shorter limit, so check before you apply.
Can a divorce decree in English be used without translation?
For English-speaking countries, usually yes. For countries that need their own language, such as China, Japan or Korea, a certified translation is needed before embassy legalisation.
Do you translate Muslim marriage and divorce documents?
Yes. We translate JAWI and state religious department documents, including the marriage card, the marriage certificate and certificates of divorce.
Related guides
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