Getting Married in Japan

August 31st, 2010By Category: Uncategorized

As a foreign national living in Japan, you can choose to be married either under Japanese law or under the laws of your country. Regardless of your choice, make sure that you meet the requirements of both countries if you wish the marriage to be valid under both laws.

If you wish to get married under your country’s laws, you could do this either abroad or, in Japan, normally through your country’s embassy or consulate. To learn more please seek advice at your embassy/consulate as this is only intended as a short intro.

If you are marrying a Japanese national abroad, he or she may need to submit a certificate of marriage qualification (kon-in-yoken-gubi-shomeisho 婚姻要件具備証明書) which is available from the regional branch office of the Legal Affairs Bureau.

If you wish to get married under Japanese law, either to a Japanese national or a foreign national, you will need to register your marriage at a municipal office in Japan. At the municipal office, you need to fill out a marriage registration (kon-in-todoke 婚姻届). The marriage registration must be signed with signatures and hanko by two adult witnesses. The registration form is available at your municipal office.

Along with the registration, a foreign national will need to submit “A certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage”, a document issued by your home country to certify that you meet the requirements to get married under the laws of your home country and available from your embassy.

The general requirements for marriage under Japanese law are:

  • Male must be 18 years of age or older and the female partner has to be 16 years of age or older.
  • A person under 20 years of age must have parental approval to get married.
  • A person who already has a spouse cannot get married.
  • A woman cannot get married within 6 months of the dissolution of her previous marriage.
  • Persons in a lineal blood relationship or a collateral blood relationship within the third degree cannot get married.
  • Persons in a lineal in-law relation cannot get married.
  • Parent and child by adoption cannot get married.

Do you have any more legal info to add?  Please feel free to comment as this is only designed to serve as a basic introduction.

Photo credit: Christopher Bauer

Author of this article

GaijinPot

GaijinPot is an online community for foreigners living in Japan, providing information on everything you need to know about enjoying life here, from finding a job and accommodation to having fun.

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Comments

  • Thomas Lindsey says:

    Hello and thank you for whatever facts you can provide.
    I am writing for assistance. My Fiance Faith (she is 50 years old) and is a citizen of and living in the Philippines. She and I want to marry and would like to accomplish this in Tokyo
    I am a citizen (age 65) of the United States and also live here in Los Angeles area.
    We both plan to fly to Tokyo on a near weekend, marry during that week, and depart back to our home countries within one week.
    WE both have a valid passport. (mine from USA and Fe from the Philippines)
    Fe’s marriage was annulled on March 3, 2016, and I was divorced in 2009
    Can you please provide us with what services you think might assist us?
    I would so much appreciate any information,directions or service that you are aware of that might assist me. Specifically the address of the location to register marriage, and any one that might assist us with translation and guide.
    Thank you very much for your assistance.
    Thomas Lindsey
    tlindsey3417@gmail.com

  • Kent says:

    By The Way, I Married a Pakistani Female, so in relation to this post I think I should post what came to my mind when I read these comments.

    Either, He was trolling for fun, which I found pretty funny, hahaha (but not justifiable on his side, or he was serious, you never know). ALTHOUGH, You are right about the pathetic part, he shouldn’t be doing this if he finds this to be a joke or he was plain idiotic to post it here. Also you shouldn’t be bashing on someone if he posted something idiotic, their are many people on the internet that post ridiculous commentary (not only from Pakistan, but almost all of Asia and USA, Europe are added to huge posts they make based on their opinion or expressive view), Pakistan is country which comprises of 43% illiterate individuals in ration to population which is a high figure, yet it is a developing country you on the other-hand should be literate enough and not post something based on your hate or plain bashing attitude. Who knows what were the intentions of the individual who posted above you, but placing a commentary that intentionally seeks to create and promote hate is unjustifiable. Therefore, please refrain from posting commentary that undermines other human beings. Thank you , if you are educated enough to understand or comprehend to what I am pointing out.

  • Men says:

    You’re pathetic…

  • Zahirbanto says:

    hi every body girls of japan.
    i want to marry with japanese girl who have dashing personality and being young ability and virgin girl.
    i am from  pakistan.
    zahirbanto@hotmail.com

  • Sachiko says:

    This is an English wedding planning service in Kyoto.
    http://kyoto-weddings.jp

  • Warning:Caveat says:

    CAVEAT! have a kid with a japanese, make SURE you have them nationalized to YOUR country. if not… when you get divorced, you can then be deported and never see your kids again.

    you have been warned!

  • Gili Meno says:

    If I marry my Japanese partner as an American expat, what visa status would I be entitled to in Japan? Must I be a ‘dependent’? is it possible to work freely without restrictions? Can anyone who has actually been through the process recently give an info please? Many thanks.

  • Konbini says:

    Hey Lez. Not really sure what the difference between your advice and the article’s is. You both pretty much state the same thing except the article is a little more specific.

  • Lez says:

    Here is some real, free, and proper advice. If youre foreign (love being called that all day every day) then ask your embassy or go online to your government’s site. If you are Japanese, call city hall and speak to the correct department. Do not read this article and rely on it, as it states it is ‘only designed to serve as a basic introduction’ and is not based on anything more than someone’s meanderings

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