Getting married in Japan as a foreigner involves more paperwork than locals deal with — but it’s manageable if you know the steps. Here’s the complete process.

Overview of the Process

  1. Gather required documents from your home country
  2. Get documents certified/apostilled
  3. Translate documents into Japanese
  4. Submit notification of marriage (婚姻届) at your local municipal office
  5. Update your Residence Card (if applicable)
  6. Apply for Spouse Visa (if your partner is Japanese and you’re on a different visa)

Step 1: Documents Required

For the Foreign Spouse

You’ll need documents proving your current legal status and that you’re free to marry. Required documents vary by nationality but typically include:

  • Certificate of No Impediment (婚姻要件具備証明書) — proves you are legally free to marry, issued by your home country’s embassy in Japan
  • Passport
  • Residence Card
  • Birth Certificate (apostilled)

Where to get your Certificate of No Impediment: Contact your country’s embassy in Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya. Processing times vary — allow 2–4 weeks. Some embassies require appointments booked weeks in advance.

For the Japanese Spouse

  • Family Register (戸籍謄本) — issued at their local municipal office
  • Residence certificate (住民票) — same office
  • National ID or driver’s license

Step 2: Apostille and Certified Translation

Foreign documents must be:

  1. Apostilled by your home government (certifying they’re genuine)
  2. Translated into Japanese by a qualified translator

Note: Some countries don’t use the apostille system (notably the US, which has no single apostille authority — notarization requirements vary by state). Check with your embassy.

Step 3: Submit the Marriage Notification (婚姻届)

Take all documents to your local city/ward/town office (市区町村役場).

At the office:

  • Submit the 婚姻届 (marriage registration form)
  • Submit all supporting documents
  • Two witnesses are required (can be friends, colleagues)
  • No ceremony required — this is a civil registration only

After submission, you’ll receive a stamped copy confirming registration. The marriage is legally valid in Japan from this date.

Step 4: Update Your Records

Residence Card Address

If your address changes due to marriage, update it within 14 days.

Register the Marriage in Your Home Country

Japanese marriage registration is recognized by most countries, but you’ll need to notify your home country’s relevant authorities. Contact your embassy.

Name Change

In Japan, married couples must share a surname — but this applies to Japanese nationals. Foreign nationals keep their own name unless they legally change it in their home country.

Step 5: Spouse Visa (配偶者ビザ)

If you are on a work or student visa and your spouse is Japanese (or the reverse), you can apply for a Spouse of Japanese National visa status.

Benefits:

  • Full work permission (work any job, any hours)
  • Counts toward permanent residency (after 3 years of marriage + 1 year residence, or 3 years of marriage)

Application: Submit at your nearest Immigration Services Bureau. Processing takes 4–8 weeks.

Required documents:

  • Marriage registration certificate (copy of 戸籍謄本 showing the marriage)
  • Proof of your income or the Japanese spouse’s income
  • Photos
  • Passport and Residence Card
  • Application forms

See our full Spouse Visa guide.

If You’re Both Foreign Nationals

If neither of you is Japanese, you can still legally marry in Japan. The process is similar — you both need the Certificate of No Impediment from your respective embassies. The marriage is registered in Japan and is legally valid here.

Common Issues

  • Long waits at embassies — book appointments early; Certificate of No Impediment can take 4–6 weeks
  • Document translation — use a certified translator; Google Translate is not accepted
  • Witnesses — they must physically sign the form; arrange this in advance