Name Change - KITAP, MERP & New Passport

[ratu_tuaq]

I will be legally changing my first name only (keeping last name) next year when I go back to Australia for a holiday. After that, I will apply for a new passport in my new name while I am still in Australia. By then I will have a KITAP (soon to be issued) which is spouse-sponsored. My questions are as follows and I would like some advice please:

1. Does anyone know the process for changing my name insofar as my KITAP and new passport are concerned? (I will have a physical KITAP, not an electronic ITAP)
2. Would my KITAP be transferrable to my new name, or would I have to start the process all over again?
3. Would the MERP need to be stamped into my new passport (considering it is a name change, and simply carrying my old passport with my MERP under a different name, would be an issue)?
4. Where else do you think I would need to register a name change here? Capil? Polsek? Kantor Kependudukan? Kantor Wilayah?

Thank you

 

[dafluff]

In Indonesia legal name changes have to be done through petitioning the court. I do not know if they recognize a name change done abroad. You will most certainly need to change the name you are registered under with both Imigrasi and Capil. It may get complicated since now your marriage documents are under a different name.

 

[William King]

It may get complicated since now your marriage documents are under a different name.

That's an understatement.

 

[ratu_tuaq]

In Indonesia legal name changes have to be done through petitioning the court. I do not know if they recognize a name change done abroad. You will most certainly need to change the name you are registered under with both Imigrasi and Capil. It may get complicated since now your marriage documents are under a different name.

Thank you dafluff.

I think it's ok with the marriage documents, since the guy at the KUA where we were married, wrote my old first name anyway in my Buku Nikah. After we were married I took on my new Muslim first name (chosen during conversion) and I then had my name legally changed in Australia (including all documents there - passport, drivers licence, bank accounts etc). But all my friends still call me by my old name, and I still introduce myself as my old name, so I thought I may as well go back to legally using my old name. I don't really fit my new name anyway. LOL.

I was thinking if anything, I'd have to pay the replacement KITAP fee (Rp 1.500.000) to have a new one printed and issued, as well as the replacement MERP fee (not sure the cost of that). Would that make sense to you? I can't imagine it would all be free to change to my new name for KITAP/MERP.

 

[William King]

But all my friends still call me by my old name, and I still introduce myself as my old name, so I thought I may as well go back to legally using my old name. I don't really fit my new name anyway. LOL..

Or do what many Indonesians do and just use your comfortable name and leave your legal name as is.... (they do not need to match)

 

[ratu_tuaq]

Or do what many Indonesians do and just use your comfortable name and leave your legal name as is.... (they do not need to match)

Hmmm, you have a point

 

[Anglian]

I’ve known many expats married to Muslims and not one has changed their passport or other docs to the Muslim name, just use your Muslim name if you like but leave your passport and docs alone, save a considerable hassle

 

[dafluff]

Thank you dafluff.

I think it's ok with the marriage documents, since the guy at the KUA where we were married, wrote my old first name anyway in my Buku Nikah. After we were married I took on my new Muslim first name (chosen during conversion) and I then had my name legally changed in Australia (including all documents there - passport, drivers licence, bank accounts etc). But all my friends still call me by my old name, and I still introduce myself as my old name, so I thought I may as well go back to legally using my old name. I don't really fit my new name anyway. LOL.

I was thinking if anything, I'd have to pay the replacement KITAP fee (Rp 1.500.000) to have a new one printed and issued, as well as the replacement MERP fee (not sure the cost of that). Would that make sense to you? I can't imagine it would all be free to change to my new name for KITAP/MERP.

Oh, so you already changed your name once, now you want to change it back. Did immigration issue you a spousal KITAP/S while showing a buku nikah and passport with different names? If so, that's odd.

I have a feeling you will have to make the records match one way or another at some point. Just not sure what the procedure is for immigration, as I doubt even they would know...

For name changes done in Indonesia you are issued a court decision allowing the change of name, you then have to present this to various offices to get your documents updated. Not sure if a legalized, translated document from abroad will do the same trick.

 

[ratu_tuaq]

Oh, so you already changed your name once, now you want to change it back. Did immigration issue you a spousal KITAP/S while showing a buku nikah and passport with different names? If so, that's odd.

I have a feeling you will have to make the records match one way or another at some point. Just not sure what the procedure is for immigration, as I doubt even they would know...

For name changes done in Indonesia you are issued a court decision allowing the change of name, you then have to present this to various offices to get your documents updated. Not sure if a legalized, translated document from abroad will do the same trick.

Yes immigration can see the different names on my current passport and Buku Nikah, but whenever I deal with them, I provide them with a photocopy of my conversion to Islam certificate, which states my old name on it, so they understand my situation without confusion. They have never questioned me about that, and so far, I haven't had a problem.

Would the procedure for name changes via the court be for WNI only, or for WNA also?

This is exactly why I'm asking questions now, so that I know what I need to do next year when the time comes. So I appreciate your advice. Thank you.