Taiwanese-Japanese marriage

Common procedures for marriages between foreigners and Japanese people (common to all nationalities)

In order to marry a foreigner and a Japanese person, to be recognized as a spouse visa applicant, the following three points must be met:

1) Both parties must fulfill the marriage requirements

2) Marriage procedures must be completed in the home countries of both parties

3) Under Japanese social standards, they must be living as a married couple

We will explain each point below.

1) Both parties must be eligible for marriage.

Besides both parties must be 18 years of age or older, and the foreigner must be at the legal age for marriage in his/her home country.

In addition, said marriage must not impede marriage in both countries (i.e., it must be legal under the laws of the home country), so the couples have to be careful if the minimum age for marriage in one country is higher than that of the other, it may be necessary for both parties to be at least the minimum age for marriage in that higher country,

Applicants must also be single before getting married.

If one or both parties have been divorced or widowed in the past, additional documents regarding that situation may be required.

2) Marriage procedures must be completed in the home countries of the Japanese and foreign parties.

Both marriage procedures must be completed at a Japanese municipal office (ward office, city hall, town hall) and in the visa applicant’s home country.

There are two ways to do this:

◆ Japanese method

A method that the wedding ceremony and registration procedures are carried out in Japan, and then a marriage registration is submitted to a foreign embassy in Japan. In some cases, registration in an embassy is not required.

[Required documents]

 Marriage registration (two marriage witnesses are required)

 Copy of Japanese family register (if registering outside the registered domicile)

 Certificate of legal capacity to marry (certificate of single status)

 Other documents for the foreigner, passport, etc.※1

※Documents in a foreign language must be translated into Japanese.

※1 Birth certificate showing the parents’ names and birth dates, nationality certificate (or passport) showing nationality, and divorce certificate if he/she has a divorce history are required. However, the required documents may vary slightly depending on the country, so please see the next section for details.

◆Foreign method

A method that the wedding ceremony and registration procedures are carried out abroad, and then a marriage registration is submitted: submit a marriage registration at the Japanese embassy, ​​or return to Japan and submit a marriage registration at the ward office.

Marriage registration procedures vary depending on the country, so please see the next section for details.

3) Living together as a married couple under Japanese conventional wisdom.

Living together as a married couple under Japanese convention. When applying for a spouse visa, the couple is not only considered to have a marital relationship based on the marriage procedure on paper but is also considered to be “actually living together in Japan as a married couple.”

The key points to consider are whether the couple “lives together” and “whether there is a financial reliance (dependence).”

For detailed information on the procedures and required documents for a spouse visa for a Japanese, please see this article from us.

Point to note to marry between a Taiwanese and a Japanese

Application qualifications

Since the marriageable age in both Taiwan and Japan is 18, this requirement does not pose a problem in international marriages between Taiwanese and Japanese.

Procedures and necessary documents　 Japanese method (method of completing marriage procedures in Japan first)

 ①Obtaining an Affidavit of Competency to Marry (Single Certificate) for Taiwanese nationals.

This document can be obtained from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan.

For more information, please visit the website of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan. https://www.roc-taiwan.org/jp_ja/index.html

[Required documents]

– Taiwan family register (original and one copy (issued within three months, with no omissions in content))

– Taiwanese passport (original and one copy)

– Application fee

If a Taiwanese is going to get married in Japan first, we recommend that they obtain extra copies.　

*However, depending on the Japanese municipal (city, ward, town, or village) office that you will arrange in step ② below, the Taiwan family register, which can prove your marital relationship, may be accepted in place of an Affidavit of Competency to Marry (Single Certificate).

Therefore, please contact the municipal (city, ward, town, or village) office where you plan to get married to check the detailed requirements.

② Register your marriage at a municipal (city, town, or village) office in Japan.

[Required documents]

 Taiwanese national’s Affidavit of Competency to Marry (Single Certificate) you have obtained in step ①  above.

※Depending on the municipal (city, town, or village, a copy) of your Taiwanese family register may be available instead.

 Taiwanese national’s passport

 Japanese national’s family register (only required if submitting to a place other than your domicile)

 Identification document (driver’s license, etc.)

 Seal

③ Report your marriage to Taiwan

The Taiwanese must register their marriage at the family registry office of their Taiwanese domicile or the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan within 30 days of getting married in Japan.

The two people getting married must come together to register.

[Required documents]

 Passport and 3 copies　

 For Japanese nationals: a certified copy of the family register (updated marriage status)

• Chinese translation, issued by Japan

 For Taiwanese nationals: a certified copy of the family register (issued within the last 3 months, with no omitted information), issued by Taiwan.

 Seal

 (Japan side) Certificate of Approval for Chinese Names ※2

※1 If the certificate was issued by a city, town, or village office outside the jurisdiction of the Representative Office where you are reporting your marriage, please have it certified in advance at the Representative Office in Japan that has the jurisdiction.

※2 According to Taiwan’s name regulations, if a Taiwanese person marries a foreigner or stateless person, the Chinese names of the spouse and children must follow Taiwanese customs. The “Certificate of Acquiring a Chinese Name” required for marriage procedures in Taiwan can be obtained from the Taipei Representative Office for Economic and Cultural Affairs in Japan (or from the website): 取用中文名聲明書.pdf (roc-taiwan.org). This “Certificate of Acquiring a Chinese Name” is used by Japanese people to fill in the name they will have listed on their Taiwan family register.

You can use the name you use in Japan or a name completely different from your Japanese name, but it is important to note that the Chinese Character（Kanji）you used must be listed in the Kangxi Dictionary.

Additionally, a representative can submit the marriage notification documents at the municipal office of your Taiwanese domicile on your behalf(a power of attorney is required).

Please check with the municipal office of your Taiwanese domicile for the necessary documents and procedures.  The power of attorney needs to be signed in front of a consul at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, so an appointment is required in advance.

Procedures and necessary documents 　Taiwanese method (in case getting married in Taiwan first)

If the couples are going to submit their marriage registration in Taiwan first, you can submit your marriage registration in Japan through the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association in Taiwan.

In order to get married in Taiwan, there are some documents to obtain in Japan beforehand.

Obtaining the necessary documents in Japan.

Specifically, obtaining a “Certificate of Eligibility to Marry” or family register will be certified at the “Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan”.

 Family register (issued within 3 months) and Chinese translation

 Certificate of Eligibility to Marry

※ Please apply at the Taipei or Kaohsiung office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. The family register and passport mentioned above will required to apply.

※ After that, you must also certify the “Certificate of Eligibility to Marry” by the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Affairs Bureau.

Submitting marriage registration at the local city hall (family registry office) in Taiwan.

Couples will need to go to a municipal office in Taiwan together.

[Required documents] (For the Japanese)

• Passport
• Certified copy of family register (with Chinese translation) or certified marriage eligibility certificate in ①
• Certificate of Acquiring a Chinese Name
• Seal

[Required documents] (For the Taiwanese)

• ID card
• Seal
• Identification photo

Reporting marriage to your municipal hall in Japan

After marriage registration in Taiwan, you must also apply for marriage registration at your local city hall in Japan within three months.

To apply in Japan, couples would go directly to the municipal office or by mail. If applying by mail, please check with your municipal office in Japan first.

[Documents required for filing in Japan]

 A marriage certificate issued by a municipal office in Taiwan and a Japanese translation

 A Taiwanese family register (your spouse should be listed) and a Japanese translation

 (Taiwanese) Passport

 (Japanese) Identification documents

 Japanese family register (only required if submitting to a place other than your domicile)

Summary

This time, we have briefly explained the process of marriage between a Taiwanese person and a Japanese person, and the necessary documents.

Once these procedures are completed and you have met the various visa requirements, you can apply for a “Spouse of a Japanese” Visa and then you can live together in Japan.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions about spouse visa applications or international marriages, we very much appreciate to support.

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We are Yanagi group, which have offices in Osaka (Abeno and Tennoji), and our affiliated offices in Tokyo (Shibuya and Ebisu) are also available for an on-site consultation. We have handled many applications for permanent residence permits, naturalization permits, work visas, college student visas, management visas, etc., as well as visa renewal procedures related to the status of residence with the Immigration Bureau (Immigration Bureau) as a one-stop service. Our experienced administrative scriveners are also available to help you with any problems you may have. We also have staff members who can speak each of the native languages and can assist you in obtaining a visa.

Toll free number: 0120-138-552 

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