Births Marriage and Divorce and Death Notifications（出生届、結婚届、離婚届、死亡届）

Where to register

Please go to the citizen services division nearest you for births, marriage/divorce, and death notifications. All divisions are on the first floor.

Mizusawa: 市民環境部、shiminka kankyo

Esashi: 市民生活グループ、shimin seikatsu guruupu

Maesawa: 市民環境課、shimin kankyo

Isawa: 市民生活グループ、 shimin seikatsu guruupu

Koromogawa: 市民福祉グループ、 shimin fukushi guruupu

Marriage

With international marriages, the Japanese national will need a copy of their koseki (family register,) inkan (personal seal,) and their personal ID. The non-Japanese national must procure a kon'in-yoken gubi shomeisho (婚姻要件具備証明書) which is a certificate of eligibility for marriage, their passport, and other documents depending on country of citizenship. You will also need two adult witnesses, parental consent if either party is under age 20, and signatures and personal seals. Please consult the citizen services division for details.

When you marry in Japan, the marriage may be valid in your country of origin, or you may need to do additional procedures. Check with the country's consulate/embassy to confirm.

If you're going to marry a non-Japanese national (whether you share nationality or not), you will both need a certificate of eligibility for marriage from your consulate/embassy and its translation in Japanese.

Since you both live in Japan, the marriage will be valid under Japanese law, but not necessarily that of your/your spouse's country of citizenship. Check with the consulate/embassy for details about this.

Divorce

What to bring

• Personal seal (inkan, 印鑑) of person submitting notification (if they have it)
• Certified koseki copy of the Japanese partner (or Oshu honseki) (if applicable)
• Personal ID

Note

In the case of a court divorce (saiban rikon) the plaintiff must submit documents within 10 days from the date specified by the court. Divorces by agreement (kyogi rikon) require signatures and personal seals from two adult witnesses. In the case of minor (under 20) children, a custodial parent must be decided. Forms relating to surnames are separate.

※ International divorce procedures vary considerably by country. Please consult a lawyer to confirm what needs to be done.

Notification of birth (shusshotodoke, 出生届)

When you give birth to a new child.

What to bring

• Birth certificate (shusshoshomeisho, 出生証明証)
• Mother and child health handbook (boshikenkotecho, 母子健康手帳)
• Personal seal (inkan)

Note

Please submit this notification within 14 days of the birth. You can only use joyo (common-use) kanji, jinmeiyo (name-use) kanji, katakana, or hiragana for the name of your child. You'll need to make arrangements at your local city hall for child support allowance and certificates for medical care.

If at least one parent has Japanese citizenship, the paperwork ends here. If neither parent has Japanese citizenship, and plan on staying in Japan for more than 60 days since the birth (including the birth as the first day), the baby must be registered as a foreign resident with immigration as well.

When you get your birth notification from city hall, also obtain a  shusshotodoke-jurishomeisho (出生届受理証明書、a kind of receipt.) Bring this receipt, along with other documents (see below) to your local immigration bureau and register the birth there.

What else to bring

• Application for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence (zairyushikakushutokukashinsei, 在留資格取得許可申請)
• Copies of both parents' residence cards and passports
• Certificate of Employment (zaishoku shomeisho, 在職証明書、from the working parent(s), issued from the workplace)
• Tax Payment Certificate (nozei / kazei shomeisho, 納税・課税証明書、most recent)
• Personal Details Form (shitsumonsho, 質問書)
• Letter of Guarantee (mimoto-hoshosho, 身元保証書)
• Mother and child health handbook (boshikenkotecho, 母子健康手帳)
• Residence Certificate (juminhyo, 住民票、including the baby)
• Child's passport (only if you have it)

※ Other documents may be required depending on circumstances.

Lastly, report to your country of citizenship's embassy/consulate. The details for this process will vary, so check with them directly to confirm.

Notification of death (shibotodoke, 死亡届)

When someone passes away.

What to bring

• Personal seal of person submitting notification
• Death certificate (shibohandansho, 死亡診断書)
• Notification for planned cremation (kasoba yoyaku tsuchisho, 火葬場予約通知書), only if you have planned a cremation

Note

Please submit this notification within 7 days of when you learned of the death. You will not be able to have a burial or cremation until 24 hours after death. You'll need to make arrangements for national pension and national health insurance at the deceased's local city hall.

Depending on the deceased's country of citizenship, it may be necessary to notify the consulate/embassy and local Japanese police as well. Information on repatriating remains can be found through the relevant country's consulate/embassy. Repatriating remains can be a complicated and expensive process at a challenging time; please contact the ILC Promotion Dept. for help with translating documents, figuring out logistics, or other support.