How to Get Married in Japan: A Guide for Nepali Citizens
Namaste! I’m Dave Higgins, a legal translator based in Okinawa, Japan. If you’re a Nepali passport holder planning to get married in Japan, you’re in the right place. Let me guide you through the steps to make your marriage legal and hassle-free.
First, let’s clear up any confusion—getting legally married in Japan is all about the paperwork. Any celebration, party, or ceremony you have is completely separate and optional. What matters for legal recognition in Japan is the documentation.
Before you arrive in Japan, you’ll need to gather several important documents from a legal ward office in Nepal:
- Valid Nepali Passport
- Relationship Certificate
- Certification of Marital Status
- Birth Registration Certificate
Make sure you have these documents ready before heading to Japan. If you’re marrying a US citizen, your fiancé will need to gather the following:
- A single affidavit notarized at a US legal services office, US Embassy, or US Consulate.
- A passport, birth certificate, or naturalization document. While the passport usually doesn’t need to be translated into Japanese, the birth certificate or naturalization document will need to be translated from English to Japanese.
Once all your documents are in order, they’ll need to be translated into Japanese. At Dave Higgins Office, we specialize in providing translation services to ensure your documents are accurately translated and ready for submission. Simply scan or photograph your documents and send them to us, and we’ll handle the translations for you.
After the translations are complete, we’ll assist you in filling out your marriage application. This step should only be done after all documents have been translated into Japanese. It’s crucial that the information on your marriage application matches the translated documents exactly. By having all your documents translated by the same translator, you reduce the risk of any discrepancies.
Your marriage application will also need two witnesses. My wife and I are available to be your witnesses, and since we’re both residents of Japan, we don’t need to accompany you to the city office in person. If you prefer to have your own witnesses, just 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 your wedding day.
Once the paperwork is complete, you’ll submit your documents to the city office nearest to where you’re staying in Japan. If you’re planning to submit them to a town or village office, there may be additional requirements, so it’s a good idea to consult with us beforehand to ensure everything goes smoothly.
After your marriage is registered, you’ll receive a marriage certificate written in Japanese. We can also translate your marriage certificate into English and provide you with several certified copies, which you’ll need to report your marriage to the authorities back in Nepal.
And that’s it! If you have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to help you navigate the process with ease, so you can focus on enjoying this exciting chapter of your life.
