Consultation Examples

• As a foreigner, I would like to know what procedure I should follow to marry a Japanese in Japan.
• As foreigners, we would like to know what procedure we should follow to marry in Japan.
• I am a foreigner staying in Japan illegally, and am going out with a Japanese woman. Can I marry this person in Japan?
• I married a foreigner 3 years ago and have been living in Japan. Now, I want to get divorced. What can I do?
• We are married foreigners of the same nationality living in Japan. Since we want to get a divorce, what is the necessary procedure?
• I am divorced from a Japanese. My current status of residence is as the spouse or child of Japanese national. Do I have to change my status of residence?

As a foreigner, I would like to know what procedure I should follow to marry a Japanese in Japan.

You must follow the Japanese official way of proceeding with a marriage.

The required documents are as follows.

1. Notification of Marriage (signed and sealed by two witnesses 20 years of age or loder)
2. Family register of the Japanese party
3. Certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage from the foreign partner and its translation
4. Certificate of nationality of the foreign partner (passport, certificate confirming foreign resident registration, etc.)

It is often the case that the embassy in Japan of a marrying foreigner’s country issues a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage. How this is handled, however, differs from one country to another. You must confirm, therefore, the circumstance for each country.

You must attach a translated copy of an original document written in a foreign language, making it clear who has translated it.

Submit the above documents to the municipal (city, ward, town or village) office presiding over the domicile of origin of the Japanese, or the place of residence of the Japanese or the foreigner. For more information, contact the relevant municipal office.

You also need to report the marriage to the embassy or consulate of the foreign spouse’s country in Japan.

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As foreigners, we would like to know what procedure we should follow to marry in Japan.

In this case, you must follow the Japanese official way of proceeding with a marriage. You can file a Notification of Marriage with the municipal office presiding over the place of residence of either one of you.
The required documents are as follows.

1. Notification of Marriage (signed and sealed by two witnesses 20 years of age or loder)
2. Certificates of legal capacity to contract marriage for both partners and their translations
3. Certificate of nationality of both partners (passport, certificate confirming foreign resident registration, etc.)

It is often the case that the embassy in Japan of a marrying foreigner's country issues a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage. How this is handled, however, differs from one country to another. You must confirm, therefore, the circumstance for each country.

You must attach a translated copy of an original document written in a foreign language, making it clear who has translated it.

Whether or not a marriage conducted under Japanese law is legally binding in the countries of origin of the marrying persons can differ from one country to another. You must refer this issue to your country’s embassy in Japan.

【Governing laws regarding marriage and divorce】Laws related to marriage and divorce vary by country. The governing law for international couples is determined as follows.

1. If both spouses have the same nationality → the law of that country
2. If the spouses have different nationalities but live in the same country → the laws of the country of residence
3. If the spouses have different nationalities and live in different countries → the laws of the country most closely related to the couple

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I am a foreigner staying in Japan illegally, and am going out with a Japanese woman. Can I marry this person in Japan?

If you meet the requirements for marriage, you can get married regardless of your status of residence. Having a status of residence is not a requirement for marriage. However, you need to prepare all the necessary documents. The fact of being married does not automatically give you a status of residence. To lead a stable married life, you need to resolve your overstay. Please also note that you may not be permitted to remain in Japan despite your marriage.

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I married a foreigner 3 years ago and have been living in Japan. Now, I want to get divorced. What can I do?

In Japan, you can (1) divorce by mutual agreement, (2) divorce by mediation or (3) divorce by judgement of a court. If you are married with a foreigner, however, a divorce by mutual agreement may or may not be approved depending on which statute is applicable to your case.

The legislations stipulate that the Japanese laws apply if one of the spouses is a Japanese national who has a permanent address in Japan (in practice, being registered as a resident on a family register is sufficient

In the above case, you can get a divorce by mutual agreement under the Japanese Civil Code. Submit following documents to the municipal office presiding over your residence or the municipal office presiding you or your partner's domicile of orgin.

1. Notification of divorce (signed and sealed by two witnesses 20 years of age or loder)
2. Family register
3. Identification document of the submitter (passport, etc.)

To get a divorce by legal judgment, you first have to petition for mediation at a family court. If the mediation is concluded, the divorce becomes legally binding.

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We are married foreigners of the same nationality living in Japan. Since we want to get a divorce, what is the necessary procedure?

If a married couple is both foreigners, they must get a divorce in compliance with the laws of their country of origin. Refer the issue to your country’s embassy or consulate in Japan.

If the laws of your country permit a divorce by mutual agreement, an Application for Divorce by Mutual Agreement can be accepted in Japan. The required documents are as follows.

1. Certificates of nationality
2. A document testifying to the fact of marriage between you
3. A document certifying that a legally binding divorce can be concluded via the Japanese

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I am divorced from a Japanese. My current status of residence is as the spouse or child of Japanese national. Do I have to change my status of residence?

You can stay in Japan until the period of stay under the residence status ends.

However, the status of "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" cannot be renewed after the divorce. If you wish to continue to live in Japan, you are required to apply for a change of residence status to another category such as "Long-term Resident" at the bureau regional immigration

The decision will be made based on your circumstances, including how long you have resided in japan or whether you are caring for Japanese children.

For more information, please contact the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau or the Immigration Information Center.

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