Marriage and Divorce

Getting Married in Japan

Registering your marriage with the municipality

・What you need to register your marriage:

　　　　　　〇Japanese People　・An official copy of your family register

　　　　　　〇Foreign Residents　・Affidavit of Single Status

→This can be obtained from the Consular Desk at the Embassy of your home country in Japan. It must be translated into Japanese.

Please Note: 1）Depending on the country, it’s possible that this identification form isn’t used. In that case, please submit an equivalent document (e.g. Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage etc)

　　　　　 2）Please include the name of the translator with materials translated into Japanese. The people submitting the documents can translate the documents themselves.

・Validity in your home country

A marriage registered in Japan is of course valid in Japan, however that doesn’t guarantee it’s validity in your home country. Please consult with the Consular Desk of your home country to check the validity of a marriage certificate created in Japan.

Divorcing in Japan

If you mutually decide to get a divorce, you need to register a notification of divorce with your partner to the municipality.

・ The regulations vary depending on the place you live in and your nationality, so please consult with your local municipality to get the most accurate information.

・ If your partner does not consent to divorce, then you can go through the divorce courts and get a divorce by arbitration.

（１） Validity of Marriage in your home country

A marriage registered in Japan is of course valid in Japan, however that doesn’t guarantee it’s validity in your home country. Please consult with the Consular Desk of your home country to check the validity of a marriage certificate created in Japan.

（２）Rikon Fujyuri Moushidesho (form to prevent non-consensual divorce)

Situations where one party initiates divorce without consent from the other.

If you are worried that your Japanese partner will submit a notification for divorce without your consent, you can submit a copy of your Japanese partners Family Register or your home address alongside a Rikon Fujyuri Moushidesho (form to prevent non-consensual divorce) to the municipality in advance. You can protect yourself from being fraudulently divorced in this way.

In order to protect yourself from fraudulent divorce, submit a Rikon Fujyuri Moushidesho (form to prevent non-consensual divorce).

Rikon Alert（Action Group for Divorce by Agreement）

Link→https://atoms9.wixsite.com/rikon-alert

Consultations with a Legal Specialist

Please consult about your personal situation with a Legal Specialist regarding International Marriage/ Divorce.

Link→ HICE’s Legal Specialist