Travelling as unmarried couple in Indonesia [duplicate]

My girlfriend and I are travelling to Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Bali this month and we will share the same room throughout the trip. We are both Chinese citizens. Recently I have seen news reporting that Indonesia is finalising a new criminal code that will criminalise unmarried couple living together.

I have googled relevant information but haven't found anything regarding when the new criminal code will be in effect. All I found were some pieces of news in early 2018 reporting the finalisation of the new legislation, but I have no idea whether the new criminal code is in effect or not. Can anyone advise me when the new criminal code will be carried out and if this will be a concern to our upcoming trip? Do we need to use two separate rooms in a hotel in Indonesia?

Best Answer

It shouldn't be much of a concern for your trip since it is a lot of rubbish posted online. The criminalization does happen but it is extremely rare. Places like Jakarta and Bali are fine to go and since you are both Chinese citizens, it won't really matter much since they don't bother tourists much. If anything were to happen, it would usually be them mistaking your female partner are a Muslim.

IMPORTANT NOTE: DON'T VISIT ACEH. It will be the worst place for you and your partner to go to since you are both not married. At ACEH, they still practice The Sharia law. They also have religious police force enforcing the local law in a strict manner. An Indonesian couple was nearly thrown to jail because they didn't bring along their wedding certificate while traveling to Aceh.

Tips: Just to make your trip a lot easier and make it hassle-free, just say that you are both married. It makes your life a lot easier.

Pictures about "Travelling as unmarried couple in Indonesia [duplicate]"

Travelling as unmarried couple in Indonesia [duplicate] - Man and Woman Sitting on Chair Close-up Photography

Travelling as unmarried couple in Indonesia [duplicate] - Man Kissing Woman Wearing Red Dress

Travelling as unmarried couple in Indonesia [duplicate] - Sunset Together

Can unmarried couples stay in hotels in Indonesia?

Yes it will be absolutely fine, no one actually goes around looking for unmarried people sharing a room, it could be your brother/ sister. Just go and have a great time.

Can unmarried couples share a room in Indonesia?

Synopsis. The news might come as a shock, but it's all true. Indonesian government has proposed a new law under which an unmarried couple won't be allowed to stay in a hotel room together in Bali and if they do, it'd be considered a criminal offence.

Can unmarried couples travel to Bali?

The Indonesian government has proposed a new law under which unmarried couples won't be allowed to book or stay at hotels together in Bali. If couples were to stay together in a room, the consequences of the same will be equivalent to that of a criminal offence, landing them in Balinese jail.

Can unmarried couple travel?

Always carry an ID proof Do not miss out on a valid ID proof, ever. Even when you travel alone or with family, you must always carry an ID. The hotel would want to check your ID the first thing if you turn up with an unmarried partner. They will keep the scanned copies of your details and return the originals to you.

How Common Is Polygamy In Indonesia? (Street Interview) | ASIAN BOSS

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Darren Lawrence, Artem Beliaikin, Artem Beliaikin, Nick Wehrli