Religious Affairs Ministry Issues Regulation on Marriage Ceremony in New Normal

Info graphic of marriage services during the new normal. (Source: Ministry of Religious Affairs).

Ministry of Religious Affairs through the Directorate General for Islamic Community Guidance has issued a new policy on marriage services.

The Circular on Guidelines for the Implementation of Marriage Registration Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic Period, which was issued on 10 June 2020, states that the public are allowed to carry out a marriage ceremony outside the local religious affairs offices (KUA) with several requirements.

“With the issuance of the circular, the bride and groom are allowed to hold a marriage ceremony at the KUA, at home, mosque, or meeting hall,” Director General for Islamic Community Guidance Kamaruddin Amin said in Jakarta, Friday (12/6), adding that marriage ceremony at the KUA and at home could be attended by a maximum of 10 people while marriage ceremony at the mosque or meeting hall could be attended by a maximum of 30 people.

He went on to say that the circular aims to prevent the risk of COVID-19 spread during  marriage ceremony in the new normal.

The Circular stipulates the guidelines and provisions for the implementation of marriage services during the COVID-19 pandemic, referring to Regulation of Minister of Religious Affairs Number 20 of 2019 on Marriage Registration.

The provisions in the Circular include:

1. Marriage registration service at the KUA is conducted every working day with a schedule following the existing work system;
2. Registration of marriage can be done online through the website simkah.kemenag.go.id, through telephone, e-mail, or at the KUA;
3. The aforementioned provisions in number 1 and number 2 and/or those related to the process of marriage registration, marriage verification and marriage ceremony are carried out in accordance with health protocols and, to the maximum extent possible, by reducing physical contact with the KUA officers;
4. Marriage ceremony can be held in the KUA or outside the KUA;
5. Marriage ceremony at the KUA or at home can be attended by a maximum of 10 (ten) people;
6. Marriage ceremony at the mosque or meeting hall can be attended by a maximum of 20% of the capacity of the room and must not exceed 30 (thirty) people;
7. The KUA must regulate matters relating to the officers, the bride and groom, the time, and the place so that marriage ceremony can comply with health protocols;
8. In the event that marriage ceremony is conducted outside the KUA, Head of the KUA can coordinate and cooperate with related parties and/or security forces to ensure that the ceremony is held in accordance with strict health protocols;
9. In the event that the health protocol and/or provisions in number 5 and number 6 cannot be fulfilled, the marriage officer must reject the marriage service, supported by a written statement of the reasons for the rejection signed by the security force (the example of form is attached in the appendix);
10. The Head of the KUA coordinates the planned implementation of marriage services during the new normal to the Chairperson of the District COVID-19 Task Force; and
11. Heads of the Office of Ministry of Religious Affairs in Regencies/Cities conducts monitoring and control of the implementation of marriage services during the new normal in their respective regions. (Public Relations of Ministry of Religious Affairs/EN)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana