Getting Married in Japan for New Zealand Citizens: What You Need to Know
Kia ora! I’m Dave Higgins, a legal translator based in Okinawa, Japan, and I’m here to help New Zealand passport holders navigate the process of getting married in Japan.
Let’s get right to it: when it comes to legally tying the knot in Japan, the focus is all on the paperwork. While you may want to have a celebration or ceremony, remember that these are entirely optional and don’t affect the legality of your marriage in Japan.
For New Zealand citizens, there’s one crucial document you’ll need:
- Certificate of No Impediment to Marry
You must obtain this document from New Zealand before arriving in Japan. Offices for Births, Deaths, and Marriages are located throughout New Zealand, and you can find their contact information in the description box below.
If your fiancé is a U.S. citizen, they 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 (Note that while the passport usually doesn’t require translation into Japanese, the birth certificate or naturalization document does.)
At Dave Higgins Office, we offer translation services to ensure your documents are ready for submission in Japan. You can send us scans or photos of your documents, and we’ll handle the translations for you.
Once all translations are completed, we’ll assist you in filling out your marriage application. It’s essential that this application is completed only after all your documents have been translated into Japanese. The translations must precisely match the information on the original documents, and having all documents translated by the same service can help prevent any inconsistencies.
Your marriage application will also require two witnesses. My wife and I are available to serve as your witnesses, and since we’re both Japanese residents, there’s no need for us to accompany you to the city office. If you’d prefer your own witnesses, simply provide us with their full names, birth dates, nationalities, and local addresses. They’ll need to be present with you at the city office on your wedding day.
Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll need to submit your documents to the city office closest to where you’re staying in Japan. If you’re planning to submit your documents to a town or village office, they may require additional documents, so it’s a good idea to consult with us to ensure everything goes smoothly.
After your marriage is registered, you’ll receive a marriage certificate written in Japanese. We can translate this certificate into English and provide you with certified copies so you can report your marriage to the relevant authorities in New Zealand.
And that’s it! If you have any questions or need assistance with the process, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to make getting married in Japan as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
