Getting Married in Japan as a British Citizen: A Step-by-Step Guide
Hello, I’m Dave Higgins, a legal translator based in Okinawa, Japan. If you’re a British passport holder planning to get married in Japan, I’m here to help you navigate the process with ease.
Let’s start with the basics: in Japan, legal marriage is all about the paperwork. While a celebration or ceremony can be a wonderful addition, it’s entirely optional and doesn’t affect the legality of your marriage.
For British citizens, you’ll need two key documents:
- An Original or Reissued Birth Certificate
- Photocopies are not accepted, so make sure you have the original document.
- An Affidavit of Marital Status
- This document must be notarized by the Consular Section at the British Embassy in Tokyo or the Consulate in Osaka. Please note, you’ll need to book an appointment for this, and it’s essential to complete and print the form before you go. You can find the PDF form in the description box below.
Both the Affidavit and your birth certificate will be in English and must be translated into Japanese.
If you’re marrying a U.S. citizen, your fiancé will need to provide:
- A Single Affidavit notarized at a U.S. legal services office, Embassy, or Consulate.
- A Passport, Birth Certificate, or Naturalization Document (the birth certificate or naturalization document will need translation into Japanese, though the passport usually doesn’t).
At Dave Higgins Office, we specialize in translating these documents into Japanese. Simply scan or photograph your documents and email them to us, and we’ll take care of the translations.
Once your documents are translated, we’ll assist you in completing your marriage application. It’s vital that this application mirrors the information in your original documents, so having everything translated by the same service minimizes the risk of discrepancies.
Your marriage application will also require two witnesses. My wife and I can serve as your witnesses, and since we’re both residents of Japan, we don’t need to be present at the city office with you. If you’d prefer your own witnesses, you’ll need to provide us with their full names, birth dates, nationalities, and local addresses. They will need to be present with you at the city office on the day of your marriage.
Once these steps are completed, you’ll submit your documents to the city office nearest your residence in Japan, which could even be your hotel. Some town or village offices may require additional documents, so we recommend consulting with us to ensure a smooth submission process.
After your marriage is registered, you’ll receive a marriage certificate in Japanese. We can translate this certificate back into English and provide you with certified copies, which you’ll need to report your marriage to the appropriate authorities in your home country.
And that’s it! If you have any questions about getting married in Japan as a British citizen, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
