First of all, those intending to marry should confirm with their country’s respective diplomatic offices in Japan if marriage procedures can be carried out in Japan.
If they cannot, or if the couple decides to marry according to the Japanese standard procedure, the two must register their marriage at the local government office where they will live after marriage. The following documents are required.
1. A Report of a Marriage form (can be obtained at local government offices) and must have the signatures of both persons and the signatures of two witnesses.
2. Official documents to prove that there is no impediment to marriage (a certificate to prove one is single) issued by the diplomatic office of each of the couple’s respective country. In the case where an individual’s country does not have a diplomatic office in Japan, or if there are circumstances peculiar to the individual’s country, individual consultation should be made. (Japanese translations of all documents should be attached.)
3. Passport (or equivalent document)
4. Certificate of Alien Registration
When the registration procedures have been completed and accepted, the local government where the documentation was submitted will issue a Certificate of Acceptance of a Report of a Marriage. To validate the marriage in one’s country, the country’s diplomatic or its government’s representative office should be consulted and the required procedures followed.
If it is necessary to change one’s Status of Residence, as a general rule, proof of marriage from both partners’ countries is required. However, if according to the laws of the countries involved documentation cannot be issued, individual consultation should be made as other measures may be possible.
If you do not understand Japanese, contact any of the following organizations where interpreters are available to help in your language.
[Main Consultation Offices with English Language Service]
http://www.clair.or.jp/tagengo/consult/en/
*NGO GQ-net: 078-232-1290
Languages: English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese
Consultation: Monday, Wednesdays, Friday 2-8pm