[Answer]
If you wish to marry to a Japanese national in
Japan, you need to register your marriage in accordance with Japanese law. Your
Japanese partner needs to submit a certified copy of his/her family register,
while you must present a “certificate of eligibility to contract marriage” (konin-yoken
gubi shomeisho) and other documents including your passport and a certificate
of Alien Registration. Depending on the country you are from, required
documents differ so it is advisable you check with your municipal office where
you are going to report your marriage.
Whether your marriage
performed overseas is valid or not depends on the country of origin even if you are legally
married in accordance with Japanese law. Therefore, contact your embassy or consulate
general in Japan to make sure what kind of additional procedures are required
to make your marriage overseas legally recognized in your country.
A certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage
is a written statement issued
by your governmental agencies, affirming you meet all the legal requirements to
marry and have no impediment to legal marriage. Most countries issue such
document at their embassy or consulate general in Japan but there are some countries
where this certificate is issued by a judge, attorney or notary public at home.
If your country does not issue this certificate, Affidavit of Competency to
Marry or Marriage Certificate can be
used as its substitute. For example, an American planning to marry in Japan
completes an affidavit of competency to marry in accordance with the law of
his/her state and has it notarized by a consul. This affidavit serves as a
certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage. If your country does not
issue the certificate or any other substitute document, following documents can
be used in place of the required document to register your marriage in Japan.
1.
Official
documents showing your nationality (passport, a certificate of nationality)
2.
Copy
of the marriage law of your country
3.
Official
documents certifying you meet the requirements to contract marriage in
accordance with your country (identification certificate, birth certificate)
Some people,
like long-time Korean residents in Japan, may not have records of their marriage
status in their home country. In this case, they are allowed to submit a
certificate of registered matters in their Alien Registration with description
of their family members, and a written statement explaining the reason for
being unable to obtain the certificate. Certificates written in foreign languages
should be accompanied with their Japanese translation and the name of the
translator. Some countries refuse to issue the certificate to their people who
are staying in Japan without valid resident status. If so, they need to collect
documents from their own countries to replace the required certificate.
[Answer]
If you wish to marry another foreign national
in Japan, you can do so in accordance with the law of Japan, where you both
reside. To do so, you must register your marriage at the family register
section of you city office. Each of you must submit a certificate of legal
capacity to contract marriage together with its Japanese translation. Ask your
embassy or consulate general for the certificates. Once your marriage registration
is accepted by your city office, you will be legally married under the Japanese
law. However, it would be advisable you ascertain beforehand from the embassy
or consulate whether marriage registered under the Japanese law is valid in your
country. Your marriage registration certificate will be kept in your municipal
office for 50 years.
If both of you hail
from the same country, you may also be able register your marriage at your
embassy or consulate general in accordance with the legal formalities of your
own home country. If you and your partner do not share the same nationality,
you may be able to follow the formalities of either of your country. However, some
countries do not provide marriage registration service at their overseas consulate
generals, so please check them in advance. Marriage between foreign nationals registered
under the law of their country needs not to be reported to a Japanese
municipality.