How to Get Married in Japan

A traditional Japanese wedding may be lovely, but it may not be legal.

Whether you're choosing Japan for your romantic destination wedding or whether you are marrying a Japanese native, you have to do more than just buy a plane ticket and book a reception hall. There are specific rules to follow and paperwork to fill out. Not only that, but in Japan, you can have your religious ceremony wherever and whenever you choose, but the only place to have a legally binding marriage service is in a local ward or city office. So before you say, "I do," take the time to do some pre-planning to ensure you're on your way to internationally wedded bliss.

Things You'll Need

• Birth certificates
• Passports
• Affidavit of Competency to Marry
• Kon-in Todoke
• Certification of Acceptance of Notification of Marriage

Instructions

1. Make sure you are eligible to get married. You must be 18 years old if you are a male, 16 if you're a female. If your home state requires you to be 18, however, you must abide by that requirement. If you are under 20, you must have your parents' consent to get married. If you are a woman and are divorced, you must have been legally divorced for at least six months (in case there is a pregnancy from the previous marriage or any confusion over who the father is).

2. If you are American, make sure you have the necessary documents. You will need birth certificates, passports and an Affidavit of Competency to Marry. You can print out a copy of the affidavit from the website of the U.S. Embassy in Japan (see References). One part is in English, one in Japanese. You must then make an appointment with the embassy to notarize the affidavit. Bring your passport with you and money for the notary fee.

3. If you are marrying a Japanese native, make sure her paperwork is in order, as well. Your Japanese partner must complete a Kon-in Todoke, a Japanese municipal government form to register a marriage. There must be two 20-year-old witnesses to sign it. Sometimes, the Japanese partner will be asked to supply a certified copy of her family register, issued within a month of the marriage.

4. Once you have completed the paperwork, go to a Japanese municipal government office. Be sure to bring your birth certificate and a translated Japanese copy of your birth certificate.

5. After the ceremony is completed, you get a Certification of Acceptance of Notification of Marriage. It is your only proof of marriage. They maintain no records of marriage in Japan, so write down the name and address of the government office that married you to obtain proof if you need it in the future. The United States requires no registration of your legal marriage in Japan.

Tips & Warnings

• If your partner isn't Japanese or American, he should contact his embassy for marriage procedures required by his country.

• Some hotels and companies provide wedding packages in Japan and help with the legal paperwork. Decide on the city you'd like to be married in. Then contact hotels in that area to see what packages exist in your chosen area.

• You might want to pay to get an English translation of your Japanese Certification of Acceptance of Notification of Marriage. It helps if your spouse needs to apply for a Social Security card in the United States.

• Visas can take up to four to six months to obtain. Start planning early, especially if you want your new Japanese spouse to be able to come to the United States with you.

References

• Embassy of the United States: Marriage in Japan