Quick answer: In English, Kartu Keluarga means “family card”. A Kartu Keluarga translation puts your KK into English for ICA. ICA needs the original and an official translation. That means an embassy or a notary public makes it. A private translation also works once a notary or embassy backs it. Make sure every name, NIK number and date matches your passport.
Many Indonesian families have a KK in their ICA file. They may be applying for PR, a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) or citizenship. This guide explains what the card shows, how a Kartu Keluarga translation works, and what it costs. It also covers other Indonesian papers that need the same care.
What Is Kartu Keluarga in English? (Family Card Meaning)
In English (Bahasa Inggris), Kartu Keluarga means “family card”. The KK is Indonesia’s official family record. Indonesia’s civil registry, called Dukcapil, issues it. Dukcapil says the KK records full data on each family member. It is used for school, banks, health care and passports.
Indonesia’s Population Administration Law sets out what a KK shows. This is Law 23 of 2006, Article 61. Here are the main details.
| On the KK (Bahasa Indonesia) | In English |
|---|
| Nomor KK | Family card number |
| Nama Kepala Keluarga | Name of head of family |
| Alamat | Address |
| Nama Lengkap | Full name |
| NIK | National identity number |
| Jenis Kelamin | Sex |
| Tempat / Tanggal Lahir | Place / date of birth |
| Agama | Religion |
| Pendidikan | Education |
| Jenis Pekerjaan | Occupation |
| Golongan Darah | Blood type |
| Status Perkawinan | Marital status |
| Tanggal Perkawinan / Perceraian | Date of marriage / divorce |
| Status Hubungan Dalam Keluarga | Relationship within the family |
| Kewarganegaraan | Citizenship |
| Dokumen Imigrasi | Immigration documents |
| No. Paspor | Passport number |
| No. KITAP | Permanent stay permit number |
| Nama Orang Tua (Ayah / Ibu) | Parents’ names (father / mother) |
The address block also has local units. These include RT/RW (neighbourhood units), Desa/Kelurahan (village), Kecamatan (district), Kabupaten/Kota (regency or city) and Provinsi (province). Good Bahasa Indonesia to English translation keeps each unit apart. Then the address still makes sense.
Why ICA Asks for the KK
ICA wants to see how the people in an application are related. Birth and marriage certificates show one link each. The KK shows the whole household on one page.
That is why the KK often helps in these cases.
- A spouse applying for PR or an LTVP with a Singaporean or PR partner
- Children listed with both parents
- Parents of a Singapore Citizen or PR
- Proof that names and dates match across all documents
KK or birth certificate: do you need both?
Often, yes. They do different jobs. The birth certificate proves one birth. The KK shows the whole family as it is today. If a name on the birth certificate differs from the KK, the officer will notice. So translate both, and check they match before you upload.
ICA can also ask for more papers while it reviews a case. If the KK is ready in English early, you can answer fast.
Is a Kartu Keluarga the same as a household register?
They do a similar job. Both list the people in one household and how they are related. China uses a hukou, and Taiwan uses a household registration record. The KK is Indonesia’s version. Families with papers from more than one country often ask for household register translation for all of them together, so the English terms match.
ICA’s Rules for a Kartu Keluarga Translation
Is the document not in English? Then ICA asks for the original and an official translation. It accepts three types.
- Embassy translation. Made by the embassy of the country that issued the document. For a KK, that is Indonesia.
- Notary translation. Made by a notary public in Singapore or in Indonesia.
- Private translation. Made by a translator, then notarised by a notary or attested by an embassy.
A notary public is a senior lawyer who can certify documents. Most families use the third type. A translator prepares the English version, and a notary in Singapore signs a certificate for it.
ICA also says it does not endorse any private translation company. So check that the work fits one of the three types.
Can I translate my KK myself for ICA?
Not on its own. A translation you make yourself is not one of ICA’s three types. If you translate it privately, it still needs a notary or the embassy to back it. Most families find it faster to have a translator and a notary handle both steps.
Kartu Keluarga for Your PR or LTVP File? Get Every Name and NIK Translated Correctly
The Digital KK With a QR Code
Indonesia has moved the KK to a digital format. A regional Dukcapil office set out the steps in a 2020 procedure. Here is what it says.
- The KK is signed with an electronic signature (tanda tangan elektronik, or TTE), not by hand.
- It has no wet stamp. Instead, a QR code in the bottom-left corner proves it is real.
- It is printed on plain white 80 gsm HVS paper, which is normal A4-type office paper.
- In some areas, families can print it themselves using a PIN that Dukcapil sends by email.
This confuses some people in Singapore. The digital KK looks like a simple printout. But it is still an official document. The QR code links to Dukcapil’s records.
When we translate a digital KK, we mention the e-signature and QR code in English. That tells the reader where the proof of origin sits on the page. We do not “translate” the QR code itself. We describe it.
A common problem we see is an old KK. If someone has married, had a baby or moved since, the KK should be updated first. Otherwise, it will not match your other papers.
Akta Kelahiran: The Indonesian Birth Certificate
The akta kelahiran is the birth certificate. Dukcapil issues it. Newer versions can also carry an electronic signature and QR code.
ICA needs it in English like any other foreign certificate. Check these points.
- The child’s full name matches the passport.
- The parents’ names match the KK.
- The date and place of birth match across all papers.
Getting the akta kelahiran translation done at the same time as the KK keeps every spelling the same.
Buku Nikah and Akta Perkawinan: Marriage Records
Indonesia records marriages in two ways.
| Couple | Who records the marriage | Document |
|---|
| Muslim | KUA (Office of Religious Affairs) | Buku Nikah (marriage book) |
| Non-Muslim | Dukcapil civil registry | Marriage certificate from the civil registry |
The buku nikah is a small booklet. It has several pages, stamps and photos.
Translate every page with writing on it. Include the notes on the inside covers. Say a couple asks for buku nikah translation into English. We keep the page order the same as the booklet. That way, ICA can match each page to the original.
Akta Kelahiran, Buku Nikah and KK Together? Send the Whole Indonesian Set in One Batch
Kartu Keluarga Translation Mistakes to Avoid
These are the errors that slow down ICA files most often.
- Names that differ from the passport. Many Indonesians have one name, or a name spelled two ways. Use the passport spelling and note any variant.
- Wrong NIK digits. The NIK is a long number. Copy it with care and check it twice.
- Date mix-ups. Indonesian dates are written day first. “03-04-2015” is 3 April, not 4 March.
- Mistranslated family roles. “Famili Lain” means another relative, not “other family”. “Anak” means child.
- Skipping the notary. A plain private translation is not enough for ICA.
- Using an out-of-date KK. Update it after a birth, marriage, death or move.
- Assuming an Indonesian sworn translation is enough. Indonesia appoints sworn translators (penerjemah tersumpah) through its law ministry. ICA’s list does not name them. So treat that work as a private translation that still needs a notary or embassy.
In Singapore, the word “sworn” means something else. It describes a translator who signs a sworn declaration or affidavit that the translation is accurate. For ICA, a notary’s certificate is still the usual extra step.
Before you upload, check the rest of your file too. This full list of PR application documents shows what else ICA expects.
How Much Does a KK Translation Cost and How Long Does It Take?
A KK is usually one page, so most agencies price it per page. The price depends on three things:
- The number of pages and people listed
- Whether you need a notary’s certificate
- How fast you need it
The notary’s fee follows a fixed scale in the Notaries Public Rules. On that scale, a notarial certificate is S$75. Checking a translation is not on the scale, so each notary sets that part. For use with ICA in Singapore, you do not need an apostille from the Singapore Academy of Law.
Translating one page is quick. The notary step adds time, because the notary must review and sign. Ask for the exact time when you order. Need the whole set done at once? You can have all the translations notarised in one order. Doing the KK, akta kelahiran and buku nikah together keeps every spelling the same.
Avoid ICA Delays: Have Your Indonesian Family Card Translated and Notarised Before You Apply
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Indonesia part of the Apostille Convention?
Yes. The Apostille Convention came into force for Indonesia on 4 June 2022. An Apostille is a certificate that proves a public document is real. Other member countries can then accept it without embassy legalisation.
Does a digital KK need legalising in Indonesia first?
Usually not. Reports on an Indonesian home affairs rule, Permendagri 104 of 2019, Article 19(6), say this. Digital papers with an electronic signature do not need a local “legalisir” stamp. This is said to cover the KK, akta kelahiran and marriage certificate with a TTE and QR code. This is an Indonesian rule only. ICA still needs an official English translation.
Can I see my KK on my phone?
Yes. The Identitas Kependudukan Digital (IKD) app shows your KK under the “Dokumen” menu. You usually need to activate the app once at a Dukcapil office first. You can also request a printable PDF of the KK through the app.
How soon must a death be reported to update the KK?
A death should be reported within 30 days. The family then uses the old KK and the death certificate (akta kematian) to update it. Late reporting can lead to a fine.
Conclusion
The KK is one of the most useful papers in an Indonesian family’s ICA file. It shows the whole household at once. For ICA, it needs an official English translation, usually a private translation that a notary then certifies.
Translate the KK together with the akta kelahiran and buku nikah, so every name and date matches. Want one team to handle the full set? A translation agency that knows ICA’s rules can prepare the English versions. It can also arrange the notary in one go.
