Indonesian Legal Documents for Foreign Nationals: What Should You Prepare?

Common document groups

Frequently requested documents include passports, birth certificates, marriage or divorce certificates, certificates of no impediment, diplomas, employment contracts, powers of attorney, corporate records, and court documents.

• Check names, dates, document numbers, and spelling for consistency.
• Documents issued abroad may require an apostille or legalisation before use in Indonesia.

Official translation is not one-size-fits-all

The words certified, sworn, official, and notarised translation can carry different meanings in different countries and institutions. In Indonesia, a sworn translator may be required for particular uses, while the receiving authority may impose additional format requirements.

• Confirm the requirement with the embassy, immigration office, university, notary, court, or receiving authority.
• Do not rely on marketing labels without checking credentials and document acceptance.

Quotation checklist

Provide the language pair, intended use, receiving country or authority, page count, output format, deadline, and any print, apostille, or legalisation needs. For an initial assessment, a scope summary or redacted first page may be sufficient.

Protecting personal data

Passports, civil records, and case files contain sensitive information. Use an agreed transfer channel, limit access, and ask how files will be stored and deleted after completion.