Getting married in Japan is refreshingly paperwork-centric. Once your 婚姻届 (kon-in todoke) is stamped at city hall, you are legally wed—regardless of any shrine bells or chapel vows that follow. This guide breaks down every step, from required documents to post-registration life admin, so you can focus on celebrating.
Legal Fundamentals of Marriage Registration
Even the most lavish shrine ceremony cannot substitute the municipal registration required by Japanese law. Couples—foreign, mixed, or entirely non-Japanese—can file at any city or ward office without a prior residency period.
1. Civil vs. Ceremonial Weddings
Japan’s constitution separates religion from state: temples, churches, and hotel chapels serve only symbolic roles.
2. Age, Consent, and Marital Status
- Minimum age: 18 for all genders (since 2022).
- Bigamy is illegal. Divorced women must observe a 100-day waiting period unless certified non-pregnant. (Ministry of Justice, 2024)
- Same-sex marriage remains unrecognised nationally, though partnership certificates exist (see “Partnership Options” below).
Eligibility and Required Documents
Before heading to the counter, confirm you are free to marry under both Japanese law and your own country’s law.
Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)
Issued by your embassy or consulate, a CNI—or notarised single-status affidavit for some nationalities—proves you are legally single. Processing spans same-day to two weeks.
Core Document Checklist
- Passport and residence card
- CNI or single-status affidavit
- Birth certificate (if requested)
- Divorce decree or spouse’s death certificate, if applicable
- Japanese translations of all non-Japanese documents, signed by the translator
- Apostille seal for Hague Convention countries (check local rules)
Step-by-Step Registration at City Hall
Introduce this pragmatic ritual into any travel itinerary—it can take under one hour.
Step 1 – Collect and Complete the 婚姻届
The free pink form requires both parties’ details and two adult witness signatures (any nationality). Use exactly the kanji listed on the Japanese partner’s 戸籍 (koseki).
Step 2 – Submit Originals and Translations
Present everything at the Family Registry counter. Clerks may phone your embassy to verify unfamiliar forms.
Step 3 – Receive Acceptance Stamp
If all is correct, you are married the moment the clerk stamps your form. After-hours drop boxes accept filings 24/7; processing happens next business day.
Step 4 – Obtain Proof
Request:
- 受理証明書 (Certificate of Acceptance)—needed for spouse visa and bank updates.
- 戸籍謄本 (koseki tohon)—if one spouse is Japanese.
Post-Registration Bureaucracy
Visas and Residence Status
Apply for a Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa via a Certificate of Eligibility. Typical processing: ~2 months (Immigration Services Agency, 2025).
Surnames, Address, and Bank Accounts
Foreigners may retain or adopt their partner’s surname; Japanese couples must unify surnames within six months. Update ward office, bank, employer, and embassy records promptly.
Tax and Social Insurance
A registered spouse can join the Japanese partner’s health insurance as a dependent and may trigger income-tax deductions at year-end adjustment.
Partnership Options for LGBTQ+ Couples
Over half of Japan’s prefectures issue partnership certificates granting hospital visitation and tenancy support. These do not confer immigration or inheritance rights, so binational couples usually marry abroad for visa purposes.
Wedding Ceremony & Social Etiquette
Popular Ceremony Styles
Shinto shrine: traditional kimono, priestly blessings
Western chapel: faux-pastor, veil, and organ
Buddhist temple or restaurant reception: relaxed alternatives
Peak dates such as 11 November (ii fufu, “good couple”) book out a year ahead.
Gift-Giving (ご祝儀 goshūgi)
Guests gift crisp bills inside ornate envelopes. Common sums: ¥30,000 (friends) or ¥50,000 (relatives). Couples reciprocate with 引き出物 return gifts.
Family Introductions (お見合い)
Formal dinners where parents bless the union remain common. Expect structured seating and polite small talk.
Quick Reference Checklist
- Confirm legal age and single status.
- Secure CNI; translate and apostille documents where required.
- Complete 婚姻届 with two witness signatures.
- File at city hall; request 受理証明書.
- Update visa, name, tax, and insurance within 3 months.
- Plan a ceremony that celebrates both cultures!
