How to Get Married in Japan

for the Filipina who wishes to marry a Japanese man

Hello, Kababayan!

Are you wondering how getting married in Japan can be done?

The process is very meticulous but I hope you’d find it worth your while.

I decided to write this since I remember struggling to find a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on HOW to Get Married in Japan as a Filipina. From the beginning of our marriage proceedings, I really wished someone wrote about it…

This documentation started from March 2023 to March 2024. An amazing one-year adventure… I believe it should not take that long, now that you have this guide.  

CAVEAT: Please take note that this may only apply to someone living in West Japan (under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General- Osaka). Those coming from East Japan (under Philippine Embassy- Tokyo) have different rules and procedures.

If you live in Kyoto, Wakayama, Shimane, Tokushima, Mie, Hyogo, Tottori, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Nara, Okayama, Ehime, Saga, Miyazaki, Osaka, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Fukuoka, Oita, Shiga, Hiroshima, Kochi, Kagoshima and Okinawa, then you are on the right page.

STEP #1: Make an appointment with the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) Osaka.

Here is the link for making an appointment with them. https://philippineconsulategeneralosaka.setmore.com/bookappointment

Click the LCCM/Marriage License icon and choose a date most convenient for you.

NOTE: I booked an appointment last April 1^st and the earliest available date was May 26^th. I’m afraid you may have to wait longer than that so it is important that you make an appointment first before getting the required documents which I will mention in steps #2 to #4.

STEP #2: Get PSA authenticated copies of your birth certificate and CENOMAR from the Philippines.

There is no need to fly back to the Philippines to get these documents because you may request for them online.

Simply go to the website: https://www.psaserbilis.com.ph/#! to request for a delivery of your birth certificate and CENOMAR.

I was really impressed by the speed of PSA Serbilis’ service. I requested for my documents on March 12^th  and received them right through my doorstep around March 15^th.

Price:

Birth Certificate- 20.30 USD

CENOMAR- 25.30 USD

Please take note that the prices may have changed by the time you read this blog.

STEP #3: Fill out the LCCM form.

What does LCCM stand for? Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage

My understanding of why they need this document first hand is to know if you can get married in the first place. There are people who may not be allowed to proceed to marriage due to being under-aged or due to having a “history”. If you are coming from singlehood then this should be a smooth process.

Here is the link to download the LCCM application form.  

https://osakapcg.dfa.gov.ph/images/2023/Consular_Requirements/LCCM/v1_Application_for_Legal_Capacity_to_Contract_Marriage.pdf

STEP #4: Get your Japanese fiancé’s koseki tohon, juminhyo, and passport.

The following documents will be coming from your Japanese fiancé, so please communicate about this with him accordingly.

• koseki tohon

This is a family register document. Its kanji is 戸籍謄本. It contains the name and address of your Japanese fiancé with the name of the head and/or members of his family including their birthdays. After getting married with your fiancé, your name will be included in this document. *wink*

• juminhyo

This is a residence certificate. A simple proof of one’s residence in a specific town or city. Its kanji is 住民票.

• Japanese passport

In case your Japanese fiancé has never been abroad, remind him that a passport is a very reliable identification tool. Having a passport before your LCCM appointment at the PCG Osaka will not only be an advantage but also guarantee preparedness for future overseas adventures together. *wink*

STEP #5: Go to PCG Osaka.

Here’s the Google map link to their office: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RLdyTehjTkmbT3sX6

Things to bring:  

• PSA authenticated birth certificate
• PSA authenticated CENOMAR
• filled out LCCM forms (from both parties- you and your Japanese fiancé)
• original and photocopies of your passport (and your Japanese fiancé’s)
• residence card
• three passport sized photos (40×30 mm)
• 戸籍謄本-koseki tohon (family register)
• 住民票-juminhyo (residence certificate)
• letter pack from JP Post worth 520 yen
• your favorite signing pen
• money

Price:

Notarial and Miscellaneous Services- 10,500 yen

Translation Services- 7,000 yen

Letter Pack- 520 yen

Please take note that the prices may have changed by the time you read this blog.

STEP #6: Fill out a marriage certificate form.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Reading STEP #8 before proceeding is highly recommended.

While waiting for your PCG-Osaka-approved LCCM documents, you need to get a form called kon-in todoke from the nearest local city hall from your place. Its kanji is 婚姻届. Simply fill it out and get signatures from (2) witnesses. Witnesses to your marriage are called 証人 (shounin).

STEP #7: Get married at the local city hall.

As soon as you have received the Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage (LCCM), you are ready to get officially married in Japan!  

Submit the following documents at a nearby local city office;

• original and photocopy of LCCM (Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage) Certificate;
• original and photocopies of your passport (and your Japanese fiancé’s);
• original and photocopy of your PSA authenticated birth certificate;
• translation/s of all the above-mentioned (1-3) documents; and
• completely filled out 婚姻- kon-in todoke (Marriage Certificate)  

This may not be “ceremonious” but I really appreciate the attention and support we were given as we were filing our marriage documents at the local city hall. They tried to get it done beyond official office hours and even gave us a post card which serves as a wedding gift that you can claim later on.

What gift? You may ask. A tree. Yes, a TREE! All we need is to choose among holly tree, Japanese maple tree, olive tree, flowering dogwood tree, etc. We chose Japanese maple. *wink*

STEP #8: Make another appointment with the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) Osaka.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please take note that appointment reservation can be done before STEP #6 and #7 since the waiting time is often very long.

Here again is the link for booking an appointment:

Book Your Appointment with Consular Service Appointment for Other Services (No appointment needed for Notarials and NBI Fingerprinting applications.)

Booking portal for consular transactions other than regular passport appointment

philippineconsulategeneralosaka.setmore.com

Click the Civil Registry (Report of Marriage) icon and choose a date most convenient for you.

By this time, you are already officially married in Japan but not yet officially married in the Philippines. My understanding of why STEP #8 has to be done is because both countries, Japan and the Philippines, must be notified of your marriage.  That’s why another appointment with the consulate must be made. The sooner you could do this, the better. Delayed registration of marriage would cost an additional 3,500 yen.

Things to bring:

• a certified true copy and a photocopy of your 婚姻- kon-in todoke (Marriage Certificate)
• 戸籍謄本-koseki tohon (family register)- a new version that which includes your name
• original and photocopies of your passport (and your Japanese husband’s);
• completely filled out Report of Marriage form (Please see link below.)
• letter pack worth 520 yen (from JP Post)
• your favorite signature pen
• money

Here is the downloadable form for Report of Marriage:

https://osakapcg.dfa.gov.ph/images/Downloads/New-Report-of-Marriage-Template-2022.pdf

Price:

Notarial and Miscellaneous Services- 3,500 yen

Translation- 7,000 yen

Letter pack- 520 yen

Please take note that the prices may have changed by the time you read this blog.

STEP #9: Change the name of your passport.  

Make another appointment for Change of Passport with the consulate.

Here is the link for booking an appointment: https://www.passport.gov.ph/appointment

As there is no rush to STEP #9 (unless you have overseas travel plans) you may want to take advantage of PCG Osaka’s consular outreach to a place near you so you can save precious time and money going back and forth to Osaka (if you live far from it). The consulate advertises their consular outreach via their official and Facebook pages.  

Things to bring:

• completely filled out passport renewal form (with a code on the upper right hand corner)
• original and photocopy of your passport
• your favorite sign pen
• money (for fees and buying a return envelope with stamps)

Price:

Passport renewal fee- 8,400 yen

Letter stamps- 1,191 yen  

Please take note that the prices may have changed by the time you read this blog.

STEP #10: Change the name of your residence card.

The key is that the name in your passport and residence card would match in order to make it convenient to apply for a spousal visa later on…

This can be done quickly at a Japanese Immigration office near you.

Things to bring:

• original passport (with your married name)
• residence card
• filled out application form for permission to change residence. Here is the link:

在留資格「日本人の配偶者等」（外国人（申請人）の方が日本人の配偶者（夫又は妻）である場合） | 出入国在留管理庁

www.moj.go.jp

Note: If you have already moved to your husband’s house then the new address must be included in your new residence card.  

STEP #11: Get a spousal visa.

This step is the most challenging. We spent restless nights to complete the requirements due to time constraints. But if you plan this ahead of time while you don’t have travel plans outside Japan, and if you can gather the required documents over a long winter or summer break, then everything’s gonna be OK.

In order to secure a spousal visa, you will need to make an appointment with the Japanese Immigration.  

Things to bring:

• your original passport
• residence card (which has your married name and new address)
• 2 passport sized photos (40x30mm)
• 戸籍謄本-koseki tohon (family register)- the new version that includes your name
• 直近年度の住民税の課税証明書・納税証明書 (certificate of taxation of residence tax for the latest year/tax payment certificate)
• 5 or more snapshots of you and your husband
• 10 or more screenshots of your exchange of email and/or LINE messages
• 身元保証書(identity warranty)

在留資格「日本人の配偶者等」（外国人（申請人）の方が日本人の配偶者（夫又は妻）である場合） | 出入国在留管理庁

www.moj.go.jp

• 質問書 (questionnaire to be filled out by your husband)

在留資格「日本人の配偶者等」（外国人（申請人）の方が日本人の配偶者（夫又は妻）である場合） | 出入国在留管理庁

www.moj.go.jp

The questionnaire asks for a detailed written explanation of the developments from the time you first met to happenings that lead you to your marriage. Specific dates must be documented with as much detail as possible by your Japanese husband.

Note: I think this serves as proof that the marriage between you and your Japanese husband is not fake and/or that you are not potentially going to use the spousal visa for irrelevant purposes.

Price:

passport photo- 800 to 1000 yen

koseki tohon and tax certificates- 200 to 500 yen

Please take note that the prices may have changed by the time you read this blog.

This is all I have.

Please feel free to comment if you have questions or anything. Now, I’m curious how marriage process is done over East Japan (under Philippine Embassy-Tokyo’s jurisdiction).

I wish you all the best.

~Asian Santa

March 4, 2024