Registering an International Marriage in Japan: Certificate of Eligibility and Procedures

When marrying a foreign national, many people are unsure about the first steps, such as “Do I just submit a Marriage registration to a Japanese municipal office?”, “Are there any procedures required in my spouse’s home country?”, or “Where do I obtain documents from my spouse’s home country?”. This is because international marriage registration, unlike marriage registration between Japanese nationals, involves both Japanese law and the law of the spouse’s home country. This article, based on the Ministry of Justice Civil Affairs Bureau’s Family Register Q&A, clarifies the differences between the “Japanese method” (registering in Japan) and the “foreign method” (establishing marriage first in a foreign country), the Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage required from the foreign national and its substitute documents, and the procedures for family registers, Status of Residence, and Residence Cards after marriage.

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1. Conclusion: 5 Key Points to Remember

• When a Marriage registration is submitted to and accepted by a Japanese municipal office, an effective marriage is established (Japanese method of marriage). In this case, the foreign national is generally required to submit a Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage (with a Japanese translation) to prove that they meet the legal marriage requirements under their national law.
• Some countries do not issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage. In such cases, an affidavit made before a consul in Japan, or substitute documents such as a copy of the national law or a birth certificate, must be submitted.
• If the marriage was first established in a foreign country in accordance with the law of the spouse’s home country (foreign method of marriage), a certified copy of the marriage certificate (with a Japanese translation) must be submitted to a Diplomatic Mission Abroad or the municipal office of the registered domicile within three months from the date of marriage establishment.
• Even after marriage, a family register is not created for the foreign spouse. The fact of marriage is recorded in the Japanese national’s family register, and if the Japanese national is not the head of the family, a new family register will be created. If you wish to change your surname to that of your foreign spouse, you can do so by simply submitting a notification within six months from the date of marriage.
• Even if the Marriage registration is accepted, the foreign spouse’s Status of Residence does not change automatically. An Application for Change of Status of Residence to “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” must be filed separately. Furthermore, mid- to long-term residents whose names have changed due to marriage must submit a notification of changes to the particulars on their Residence Card within 14 days.

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2. Concept of Governing Law: Establishment by “National Law,” Form by “Law of the Place of Celebration”

The reason international marriage differs from marriage between Japanese nationals is that more than one law applies. Article 24 of Japan’s “Act on General Rules for Application of Laws” (hereinafter, the Act on General Rules) stipulates the following:

Item	Provisions of Article 24 of the Act on General Rules	Practical Implication
Establishment of Marriage (Requirements)	Governed by the national law of each party	Japanese nationals are judged by Japanese Civil Code (18 years or older, not bigamous, etc.), while foreign nationals are judged by their national law.
Form of Marriage	Governed by the law of the place where the marriage is celebrated	If marrying in Japan, follow the Japanese notification method (Marriage registration).
Exception to Form	A form conforming to the national law of one of the parties is also valid. However, this excludes cases where the marriage is celebrated in Japan and one of the parties is a Japanese national.	When a Japanese national and a foreign national marry in Japan, the foreign national’s national method cannot be used, and a Japanese Marriage registration is required.

In other words, the basic structure is that “whether one can marry” is determined by the laws of each country, and “how to register” is determined by the law of the place where the marriage takes place. Municipal offices require a Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage from foreign nationals to examine these “requirements under their national law.”

The requirements for Japanese nationals are judged by the Japanese Civil Code. The marriageable age for both men and women is 18 years old (Civil Code Article 731), and those who have a spouse cannot marry again (Civil Code Article 732). The Marriage registration requires the signatures of two or more adult witnesses (Civil Code Article 739).

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3. Submitting a Marriage Registration in Japan (Japanese Method): Required Documents and Submission Location

3-1. Basic Required Documents

When a Japanese national and a foreign national, or two foreign nationals, marry in Japan, they submit a Marriage registration to the family register notification counter of a municipal office. When both parties are recognized as meeting the requirements for marriage and the notification is accepted, an effective marriage is established.

Party	Documents to Submit	Key Point
Japanese National	Family Register (Due to the Law Revision of the Family Register Act on March 1, 2024, submission is generally no longer required even at offices other than the registered domicile.)	Requirements under Japanese Civil Code (age, marital status, etc.) are confirmed by the office using the family register.
Foreign National	Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage + Japanese translation	To confirm requirements under their national law (age, marital status, etc.).
Common	Marriage registration (signed by two or more adult witnesses), identity verification documents	State the surname to be used by the couple, etc. (Article 74 of the Family Register Act).

All documents written in a foreign language must be accompanied by a Japanese translation, and the translator’s name must be indicated. The Ministry of Justice states that “the translator may be the applicant themselves.” While it is not necessary to rely on a professional translation service, information such as name, date of birth, and nationality must be translated accurately.

The notification must be submitted to the municipal office of the registered domicile of the person involved in the notification event or the municipal office of the notifier’s place of residence (Family Register Act Article 25). If you reside in Miyazaki City, you can submit it to the Miyazaki City family register counter, or if your registered domicile is outside the prefecture, you can mail it there.

3-2. What is a Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage? / In Cases Where the Country Does Not Issue One

A Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage is a document issued by an Ambassador, Minister, or Consul of the foreign national’s home country, or other authorized person, certifying that the individual meets the necessary requirements for marriage under their national law (e.g., having reached the marriageable age, being single). It is often issued by the foreign national’s embassy or consulate in Japan.

However, some countries do not have a system for issuing this certificate. The Ministry of Justice’s Family Register Q&A organizes the alternatives in such cases as follows:

Stage	Alternative Documents	Remarks
① Affidavit	An affidavit (with Japanese translation) sworn by the foreign national before their country’s consul in Japan, stating that they have reached the legal age for marriage under their national law and that there are no legal impediments to marrying a Japanese national, and signed by the consul.	May be accepted as an alternative to a Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage.
② Copy of National Law, etc.	If an affidavit cannot be submitted: (1) A copy of the national law (with source clearly indicated and Japanese translation attached), (2) Identification documents such as a passport or certificate of nationality, a copy of the civil registration, or a birth certificate issued by a public institution of the foreign national’s country (all with Japanese translation).	To demonstrate that the requirements of the national law are met, both from the perspective of legal provisions and the individual’s personal status.

Which documents will be accepted varies depending on the nationality of the other party, and the review at the counter may take time. It is advisable to confirm with the family register counter of the municipal office or the family register consultation counter of the Legal Affairs Bureau before submitting the notification.

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4. When Marriage Occurs First in a Foreign Country (Foreign Method): Notification within 3 Months

4-1. Marriage May Not Be Established Solely by Holding a Wedding Ceremony

When a wedding ceremony is held in a foreign country, the marriage may be validly established under the laws of that country, or a legal marriage may not be established solely by the ceremony. The Ministry of Justice cites “when a wedding ceremony is held in a church in Japan or Hawaii” as an example of the latter. If it is not established, a marriage registration must be submitted again to a Japanese municipal office (Japanese method).

4-2. If Established, Submit a “Certified Copy of the Certificate” within 3 Months

If a marriage has been validly established under foreign law and a certified copy of the marriage certificate issued by that country has been provided, the fact of the marriage must be recorded in the Japanese national’s family register. Therefore, within 3 months from the date of marriage establishment, a certified copy of the certificate (with Japanese translation) must be submitted to a Japanese Diplomatic Missions Abroad in that country, or submitted/mailed to the municipal office of the permanent domicile (Article 41 of the Family Register Act).

4-3. “Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage (Certificate of Singleness)” for the Japanese National

When marrying according to foreign procedures, the Japanese national may be required by the other country’s authorities to submit a Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage (Certificate of Singleness). According to the Ministry of Justice’s guidance, there are three places where it can be obtained:

Issuing Authority	Required Documents	Language of Issuance	Authentication for Submission to Foreign Authorities
(1) Japanese Diplomatic Missions Abroad (Embassy/Consulate)	Applicant’s Family Register (issued within 3 months), official identification documents such as a passport	Foreign Language	(Not specified)
(2) Municipal Office of Permanent Domicile	Identification documents (e.g., driver’s license)	Japanese	Authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Certification Division, and authentication by the ambassador/consul of the destination country in Japan may be required.
(3) Nearest Legal Affairs Bureau / District Legal Affairs Bureau	Applicant’s Family Register, identification documents	Japanese	Same as above

Whether authentication is required varies depending on the destination country. The mechanism of authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Authentication (Koin-Kakunin) / Apostille) is explained in our office’s article “Differences Between Apostille and Authentication (Koin-Kakunin) | 2026 Edition“.

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5. Family Register and Surname After Marriage: New Family Register and Surname Change within 6 Months

When a Japanese national marries a foreign national, a family register is not created for the foreign national. Instead, the Japanese national’s family register, as the spouse, will record the foreign national spouse’s name, date of birth, nationality, and the fact of marriage. If the Japanese national is not the head of the family register, a new family register will be compiled with that Japanese national as the head.

Even if a Japanese national marries a foreign national, the Japanese national’s surname does not automatically change. If the Japanese national wishes to use the foreign national spouse’s surname, the following applies:

• Within 6 months from the date of marriage: The surname can be changed by simply submitting a notification to the family register counter, without obtaining permission from the Family Court.
• After 6 months from the date of marriage: The surname can be changed by submitting a notification after obtaining permission from the Family Court.

If foreign nationals register their marriage in Japan, the registration document will be preserved for 50 years. When proof of marriage is required, an acceptance certificate can be requested from the municipal office where the registration was made. Furthermore, if a foreign national registers their marriage at their country’s embassy or consulate in Japan according to their national law, registration at a Japanese family register notification counter is not required.

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6. Comparison of Japanese and Foreign Marriage Procedures

Item	Marriage under Japanese Procedures	Marriage under Foreign Procedures
When established	When a Marriage registration is submitted to a Japanese municipal office and accepted	When validly established in a foreign country according to its laws
Main documents for foreign national	Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage (or substitute document) + Japanese translation	Follow the procedures of that country
Main documents for Japanese national	Identity verification document (Family Register is generally not required)	The other country may request a Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage for the Japanese national
Reflection in Japanese Family Register	Recorded simultaneously with acceptance (for Japanese national)	Submit a certified copy of the certificate to a Diplomatic Missions Abroad or the registered domicile within 3 months for recording
Marriage registration at Diplomatic Missions Abroad	—	Not possible for Japanese national x foreign national (possible for Japanese nationals only)
Governing law (Article 24 of the Act on General Rules for Application of Laws)	Establishment governed by each national law, form governed by Japanese law	Establishment governed by each national law, form governed by the law of the place where the act was performed

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7. What to Do After Marriage Registration: Status of Residence and Residence Card

7-1. Status of Residence Does Not Change Automatically

Even if a Marriage registration is accepted, the foreign spouse’s Status of Residence does not automatically change to “Spouse or Child of Japanese National.” To change from a Status of Residence such as Student, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, or Specified Skilled Worker, an Application for Change of Status of Residence (Article 20 of the Immigration Control Act) must be filed with the regional Immigration Services Bureau.

Among the main documents required by the Immigration Services Agency, the following two are directly related to marriage registration:

• Family Register (all items certificate) of the spouse (Japanese national): Must contain a record of the marriage with the applicant. If the record is not yet present, a certificate of acceptance of marriage registration must be submitted in addition to the Family Register.
• Marriage certificate issued by an authority of the applicant’s country of nationality (foreign country): If a Family Register is issued in countries such as South Korea, a Family Register issued by a foreign authority stating the marriage of the two parties is also acceptable.

In other words, the preparation for a Status of Residence change includes not only the Japanese Marriage registration but also registering the marriage in the other country and obtaining a marriage certificate. The Period of Stay for “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 6 months. For an overview of required documents and key points for examination, please refer to “Required Documents for Spouse Visa (Spouse or Child of Japanese National).”

7-2. If Your Name Changes, Report to Residence Card Within 14 Days

Mid- to long-term residents whose name has changed due to marriage must report the change of Residence Card particulars other than their place of residence (Article 19-10 of the Immigration Control Act) within 14 days from the date of change. No fee is required.

• Required documents: Notification of Change of Residence Card Particulars, one photograph, passport with the changed name and marriage certificate (Family Register if married to a Japanese national), presentation of passport and Residence Card.
• Note: If your passport has not been corrected or reissued beforehand, a new Residence Card may not be issued on the same day.
• You may be requested to submit a statement of reasons (any format) detailing the reason for the change.

How a foreign spouse’s surname changes under their national law varies by country. If the surname does not change, this notification is not required. However, if it does change, keeping in mind the order of passport change → Residence Card notification can prevent rework.

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8. Implications for Foreign Nationals and Business Representatives

8-1. For Foreign Nationals

• The Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage is generally obtained at your country’s embassy or consulate in Japan. Some diplomatic missions require appointments, and some countries require obtaining a certificate of single status from your home country, so it is safe to determine the date of marriage registration by calculating backward from the document acquisition schedule.
• Japanese translations may be prepared by the applicant, but the translator’s name must be entered.
• After marriage, a separate application for a change of Status of Residence is required. Please proceed with obtaining the certificate of acceptance of marriage registration and the marriage certificate from the other country early so that you can apply by the expiration date of your current Period of Stay.
• If your name changes, complete the passport change first, then notify the Residence Card within 14 days.

8-2. For HR Professionals

• Even if a foreign employee marries a Japanese national, their Status of Residence does not change automatically. Until they receive Permission for Change of Status of Residence, they can only engage in activities permitted under their current Status of Residence. It is advisable to review internal assignments and scope of work after permission for change to “Spouse or Child of Japanese National,” which has no work restrictions, has been granted.
• For employees whose names have changed, please confirm that they have submitted the notification of changes to the information on their Residence Card within 14 days, and reflect a copy of the new Residence Card in your company records. This also links to name change procedures for employment insurance and social insurance.
• Employees may need to visit their home country’s diplomatic mission on a weekday to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage. Considering adjustments to their leave can help prevent delays in the procedures.

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9. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is the Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage obtained at an embassy in Japan?

The Ministry of Justice explains that it is a document issued by “an ambassador, minister, or consul, or other authorized person” of the home country. Many people obtain it at their home country’s embassy or consulate in Japan, but depending on the country, it may be issued by an institution in the home country, or there may be no issuance system at all. If there is no issuance system, substitute documents as described in §3-2 should be submitted.

Q2. Can I create the Japanese translation myself?

The Ministry of Justice states that “the translator may be the applicant themselves.” However, a translation must be attached to all documents written in a foreign language, and the name of the translator must be indicated.

Q3. I got married abroad first. Do I still need to submit a Marriage registration in Japan?

If the marriage was validly established under foreign law, instead of submitting a Marriage registration again, a certified copy of the marriage certificate (with Japanese translation) must be submitted to a Diplomatic Missions Abroad or the municipal office of the registered domicile within 3 months from the date of marriage. If the legal marriage was not established by ceremony alone, a Marriage registration should be submitted to a Japanese municipal office.

Q4. If I submit a Marriage registration, will my spouse automatically acquire the “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” Status of Residence?

No, they will not. A separate Application for Change of Status of Residence must be filed, and permission must be obtained. The application requires a Family Register (or a certificate of acceptance if the marriage has not yet been recorded) stating the fact of marriage, and the marriage certificate from the spouse’s home country.

Q5. I want to change my surname to my husband’s (foreign national). By when do I need to do this?

If it is within 6 months from the date of marriage, you can change it by simply submitting a notification to the family register counter without permission from the family court. After 6 months, permission from the family court will be required.

Q6. If foreign nationals submit a Marriage registration to a Japanese municipal office, will a record be kept?

Foreign nationals do not have a family register, but the submitted notification documents are preserved for 50 years, and certificates of acceptance can be requested from the municipal office where the notification was filed. If a notification was filed according to the home country’s method at their home country’s embassy or consulate in Japan, no notification to the Japanese family register counter is required.

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10. Summary: Confirm “Where to Obtain” and “Deadlines” for Documents First

What often causes difficulties in International marriage registration is not so much understanding the system, but rather where to obtain documents and their deadlines.

1. Confirm where the foreign national’s Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage can be obtained (at a diplomatic mission in Japan, in the home country, or if there is no issuance system) before deciding on the date for the Marriage registration.
2. Attach a Japanese translation and the translator’s name to foreign language documents.
3. If you married abroad first, submit a certified copy of the certificate within 3 months.
4. If changing to the foreign Spouse’s surname, within 6 months is the deadline for simple notification.
5. After marriage, do not forget the Application for Change of Status of Residence and the Residence Card notification within 14 days if the name has changed.

Marriage registration is handled by municipal offices and the Legal Affairs Bureau, while Status of Residence is handled by the Immigration Services Agency, meaning there are separate windows. Connecting both processes into a single plan is the shortest way to prevent rework.

This article is written based on publicly available information as of September 2026. Details and operation of the system may change in the future. Since the issuance method and required documents for a Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage vary depending on the other country and Diplomatic Missions Abroad, please refer to the official information from the family register counter of your municipal office, Legal Affairs Bureau, or Immigration Services Agency, or contact our office for actual registration.

Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Authorized to File Applications, Satoshi Nakayama
Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office
Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture

Sources (Primary Information)

• Ministry of Justice, Civil Affairs Bureau “Q&A on Family Registers Regarding International Marriage, Birth Abroad, etc.” https://www.moj.go.jp/MINJI/minji15.html
• Ministry of Justice “Regarding the Act Partially Amending the Family Register Act (Enforced on March 1, Reiwa 6)” https://www.moj.go.jp/MINJI/minji04_00082.html
• e-Gov Law Search “Act on General Rules for Application of Laws” Article 24 https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/418AC0000000078
• e-Gov Law Search “Family Register Act” Articles 25, 41, 74 https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/322AC0000000224
• e-Gov Law Search “Civil Code” Articles 731, 732, 739 https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/129AC0000000089
• Immigration Services Agency “Status of Residence ‘Spouse or Child of Japanese National’ (When the applicant is a Spouse of Japanese National)” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/spouseorchildofjapanese01.html
• Immigration Services Agency “Application for Change of Status of Residence” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-2.html
• Immigration Services Agency “Notification of Change in Residence Card Particulars Other Than Residence” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00009.html