Islamic Marriage for Malaysian Nationals

Islamic Marriage for Malaysian Nationals can be difficult in Thailand. If you are from Malaysia and wish to get married in Thailand then you can contact us for more information and assistance about your Muslim marriage (Nikāḥ) in Thailand. We can also assist with the conversion process as well as the marriage arrangements. There are certain documents you will need as a Malaysian getting married in Thailand or marriage registration. These have been listed below.

Malaysian Citizens:

· Passport with at least six months validity

· ID Card

· Original copy of Divorce Certificate, photocopies will not be honored (for female party)

· Original copy of Death Certificate, photocopies will not be honored (for female party)

· For those who have converted, the original copy of the Conversion Certificate or Mualaf is required.

English translations would be necessary. If the spouse has not converted, he or she is required to do so prior to the wedding ceremony in Thailand. Men who have reverted to Islam, or who wish to revert to Islam in Songkhla just before marriage, must be circumcised.

Non-Malaysian with Malaysian Citizens:

·  Passport with at least six months validity

·   Depending on the country, Thailand may require a visa from the Thai Embassy.

·   Original copy of Divorce Certificate, photocopies will not be honored (for the female party)

·   Original copy of Death Certificate, photocopies will not be honored (for the female party)

·   For those who have converted, the original of the Conversion Certificate or Mualaf is required.

·  Uncircumcised men may still marry at the office of the Islamic Committee but has to be finalized.

English translations would be necessary. If the spouse has not converted, he or she is required to do so prior to the wedding ceremony in Thailand. Men who have reverted to Islam, or who wish to revert to Islam in Songkhla just before marriage, must be circumcised.

·    Marriage Certificate

·    Marriage letter from the Islamic Committee to the Consulate General of Malaysia Songkhla***

·    Marriage confirmation letter from the Consulate General of Malaysia in Songkhla***

*** (only for Malaysian citizens)

The confirmation letter issued by the Consulate General of Malaysia in Songkhla is a very important document. Without this letter, your marriage in Thailand would not be recognized and cannot be registered.

If you are a work permit holder in Malaysia, applying for the confirmation letter from the Consulate General of Malaysia may not be possible.

If you are connected with the Police or Armed Forces in Malaysia, written consent from your department head would be required before heading to Thailand. Without the written consent, applying for the confirmation letter from the Consulate General of Malaysia may not be possible.

If by any chance the marriage has been performed in other locations not being recognized in Malaysia, it has to go through the main Islamic Council in Thailand so to be issued a recognized and certified marriage document which can be legalized at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then, it has to be authenticated by the Malaysian Embassy in Thailand.

Recently, more and more Malaysian Muslims who are practicing polygamy are getting married in the Southern part of Thailand. Just to cater the increasing demand, the Narathiwat Islamic Council in Sungai Kolok opened a branch office. The council’s Vice-President stated that this was set up under an agreement between the Malaysian and Thai-Muslim religious authorities.

The council office is expecting to receive an out-pour of couples hopeful to enter a polygamous marriage, as it was announced that men who conform to the conditions stated under the Syariah are encouraged to observe polygamy to promote the spreading of Islam and continue the family lineage.

Couples who get married in Narathiwat will be required to have their marriage registered at their religious departments in Malaysia. Other states like Perlis have been planning on simplifying their marriage registration procedures for couples who have been married overseas. Perlis Islamic Affairs Committee chairman stated that the move is aimed to encourage Muslims who had their marriage certified overseas to register with the local religious authorities. For a fact, most Malaysian couples choose to get married overseas because the wali (custodian) disapproves of the union.

See also: Malaysian Islamic marriage as well as Islamic marriage in Thailand as well as see how the prenuptial agreement fits into Islamic marriage and the Thai police clearance you might also need.

There will be some issues that would arise not only for Malaysians but also, for some nationalities that would strictly require specific documentation and approval from their home countries and Embassies in Thailand. Among those are from the UAE, Bahrain, Maldives, and Kuwait.

These are the most common Islamic nationalities which would require a visit to their embassies before moving on with the Muslim marriage in Thailand. Each country requires specific documents from home before starting the process in Thailand. It is highly recommended to speak with the Embassy or a law firm in Thailand for further details regarding the process for Muslim marriage in Thailand. These are the rules for Islamic marriage for Malaysian nationals in Thailand.