To get married in Japan as a foreigner, you file a completed marriage registration form (Kon-in Todoke) at a municipal office, along with proof that you are legally free to marry under your home country’s law, a valid passport, a birth certificate, and Japanese translations of any foreign-language documents. There is no ceremony, no officiant, and no waiting period. The date the office accepts your paperwork is your legal wedding date.
Who Can Legally Marry
Both people must be at least 18. Neither can already be married; Japan prohibits bigamy, so each party has to prove they are legally single under both Japanese law and the law of their home country.1Japanese Law Translation. Civil Code
One rule catches people off guard: a woman must wait 100 days after a divorce before remarrying. The rule exists to prevent paternity disputes and does not apply if she was not pregnant at the time of the divorce or if she has since given birth.2Japanese Law Translation. Civil Code The municipal clerk verifies this when processing the registration.
Japan does not currently recognize same-sex marriage. Several courts have found the prohibition unconstitutional, but the Civil Code has not been amended, and Japan remains the only G7 country without legal recognition for same-sex couples.
Proof That You’re Free to Marry
The municipal office needs written proof that you are legally free to marry under your home country’s laws. This document is generally called an Affidavit of Competency to Marry (婚姻要件具備証明書, Kon-in Yoken Gubi Shomeisho). How you obtain it depends on your nationality.
U.S. Citizens
As of September 1, 2025, the U.S. Embassy and consulates in Japan no longer notarize Affidavits of Competency to Marry. Instead, the Embassy provides a downloadable PDF statement that you print and present to your local ward or city office, explaining that the U.S. government does not issue such a certificate.3U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan. Marriage in Japan Older guides that tell you to visit the Embassy for notarization are outdated.
Some municipal offices accept this PDF without issue. Others still want a notarized document. If your ward office falls into the second category, the Embassy suggests looking into remote notarial services offered by certain U.S. states and confirming with the office that a remotely notarized statement will be accepted.3U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan. Marriage in Japan Call or visit the specific office where you plan to register before you prepare anything. Requirements genuinely vary from one ward to the next.
British and Australian Citizens
The UK Embassy in Japan issues a marital status affirmation or affidavit confirming that a British national is free to marry. The affirmation is a non-religious oath and the affidavit is a religious one; the content is identical.4GOV.UK. Confirm You’re Free to Get Married in Japan Australian citizens need a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) issued through the Australian Embassy’s notarial services.5Australian Embassy Japan. Marriage and Divorce
Other Nationalities
Most countries issue some version of this document through their embassy or consulate in Tokyo or another major city. Contact yours well in advance. Processing times and appointment availability vary widely, and some embassies require you to appear in person while others handle it by mail.
Other Documents to Bring
- A valid passport, which the office uses to verify identity and nationality.
- Your original birth certificate, to confirm parentage. Some offices waive this if the affidavit already includes the information.
- A full Japanese translation of every foreign-language document. The translation does not need to be professionally certified, but the translator must include their name and address on each translated page. You or a bilingual friend can do it.6U.S. Army Japan. Marriage in Japan
If a Japanese citizen is one of the partners, they need their family register (戸籍謄本, Koseki Tohon), obtained from the municipality that holds their permanent family record. That is a separate document from a residence card or health insurance card.
The Marriage Registration Form
The Kon-in Todoke (婚姻届) is the form that actually creates the marriage. You can pick one up at any city hall or ward office in Japan.6U.S. Army Japan. Marriage in Japan It asks for both partners’ names, dates of birth, addresses, and parents’ names. For a Japanese partner, it asks for the registered domicile (本籍, honseki). For a foreign partner, it asks for nationality.
Two adult witnesses must sign. They can be any nationality and do not need to be present when you submit the form. They just need to have filled in their names, addresses, dates of birth, and signatures beforehand.3U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan. Marriage in Japan The Civil Code requires the signatures of both parties and at least two adult witnesses for a valid marriage notification.1Japanese Law Translation. Civil Code Japanese citizens typically use a personal seal (hanko) rather than signing, but foreign nationals can sign normally.
Accuracy matters here more than you might expect. A single wrong character in a name or address, a miswritten domicile, or a missing field can cause the clerk to reject the form on the spot. If you are not confident in your Japanese, have a native speaker review the completed form before you go.
Filing at the Municipal Office
Bring the completed Kon-in Todoke and supporting documents to the family registration desk (戸籍課, Koseki-ka) at any municipal office in Japan. You do not have to file where you live, though filing in your home ward can simplify things because the office already has the Japanese partner’s family register on hand.6U.S. Army Japan. Marriage in Japan
Both partners should be present. The clerk reviews every document against the Civil Code requirements, and having both people there speeds up any questions about names, dates, or spelling. If everything checks out, the marriage is registered on the spot. Straightforward filings often take under an hour.
Most city halls have an after-hours drop-off window that operates around the clock, including holidays. Couples sometimes use this to secure a date with personal significance. The catch: no specialized staff are on duty to review foreign-language documents outside business hours, and if any error surfaces when regular staff process the form the next business day, the registration date gets pushed back to whenever the corrected version is accepted. For international couples with more complex paperwork, filing during regular hours is safer.
Proof of Marriage After You File
Japan does not issue a marriage license or certificate the way most Western countries do. Once the clerk accepts your registration, request a Certificate of Acceptance of Marriage Report (婚姻届受理証明書, Kon-in Todoke Juri Shomeisho). This is the primary document proving your marriage was legally recorded.3U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan. Marriage in Japan
Two versions are usually available: a standard A4-size document for around 350 yen and a larger, decorative version on higher-quality paper for around 1,400 yen.3U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan. Marriage in Japan The standard version works for all legal and administrative purposes; the fancy version is a keepsake. Ask for multiple copies of the standard version. You will need them for immigration paperwork, embassy reporting, and other bureaucratic steps.
The updated family register (Koseki Tohon) of the Japanese spouse is the other important document. It will now show the marriage and the foreign partner’s details. Some agencies and embassies prefer a certified copy of the register over the acceptance certificate, so having both available saves trips. The register update can take a few days to a few weeks depending on the municipality.
Surname Rules for International Couples
When two Japanese citizens marry, the Civil Code requires them to share one surname. International couples get an exception: because a foreign national has no entry in Japan’s family register, each spouse keeps their own surname by default. The Japanese spouse’s family register notes the marriage and records the foreign partner’s name, date of birth, and nationality, but the foreigner does not become a formal member of the registry.
If the foreign spouse wants to adopt the Japanese partner’s surname, they can file a separate notification at the municipal office within six months of the marriage registration. After that window closes, a family court petition is required. The reverse direction, with the Japanese spouse taking the foreign partner’s surname, also requires a court petition.
Changing Your Visa Status
Registering a marriage does not change a foreign spouse’s immigration status. If you are on a tourist, work, or student visa, you need to separately apply to change your status of residence to “Spouse or Child of Japanese National.” This is handled by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, not the municipal office where you registered.7Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. VISA
The application asks for your marriage registration details, employment and income information, a guarantor (usually the Japanese spouse), and an explanation of how the household will be financially supported.8Immigration Services Agency of Japan. Application for Change of Status of Residence Expect the immigration office to also request a copy of the Koseki Tohon showing the marriage, photos of the couple together, and a written explanation of how you met. Processing times vary; several weeks to a few months is typical.
If you are applying from outside Japan, you generally need a Certificate of Eligibility first. The Japanese spouse applies for it at a regional immigration office in Japan, and once approved it is sent abroad and used to apply for the actual visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate.7Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. VISA Do not overstay a tourist visa while waiting on paperwork. Ask the immigration office about proper timing.
Recognition in Your Home Country
A marriage legally performed in Japan is generally valid in most countries, but each country has its own rules about what it will recognize. For U.S. citizens, the State Department does not issue a blanket confirmation. Their guidance is to contact the Attorney General’s office in the state where you live to find out whether the marriage is recognized and what documentation you need to provide.9U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs. Marriage In practice, states overwhelmingly recognize marriages validly performed abroad, but having your Certificate of Acceptance and a certified English translation ready smooths the process.
Report the marriage to your country’s embassy or consulate in Japan as well. The U.S. Embassy notes that no separate U.S. marriage certificate will be issued. Your Japanese marriage documents are the only proof of marriage you will have.3U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan. Marriage in Japan Keep certified copies in a safe place, and get an apostille if your home country requires one.