Expert Explanation! We teach about passports and nationality of internationally married people.
International marriages are increasing in Japan. Unlike marriages between Japanese, various procedures are required. Among them, questions arise as to what will happen to one’s nationality after an international marriage and whether or not it is acceptable to keep one’s passport as it is. We will explain this point in detail.
What is an international marriage?
What procedures are required when a Japanese national marries a foreign national in Japan?
First of all, the necessary documents include a marriage notification, a copy of the family register, a passport, and a Certificate of Legal capacity to contract marriage.
The marriage notification is available at the local municipal office, just like a marriage between two Japanese nationals. The two persons who are to become husband and wife must fill in their names, addresses, and dates of birth, as well as the names, addresses, and dates of birth of two witnesses. Both parties and witnesses must affix their seals.
A copy of the family register must be obtained from the municipal office of the place of legal domicile if the person is not registered at the municipal office of the city, ward, town or village where the marriage registration is to be submitted. Foreign nationals do not have a family register and do not need one.
If a foreign national resides in Japan, it is necessary to prove his/her nationality. For this purpose, a passport is required. Japanese nationals must also prepare a passport if they do not have a photo identification such as a driver’s license or my number card.
A certificate of legal capacity to marry is a document that certifies that the foreign national is single and that there are no problems in getting married according to the laws of his/her country. This document can be issued by the embassy or consulate of the foreign national’s country of origin in Japan.
What about nationality?
Just because a Japanese and a foreigner get married, the nationality of one of them does not change. Basically, the nationality will remain the same.
However, if a Japanese woman marries a foreign man, procedures will be required depending on the country of the partner.
For example, if the foreign man is from France, Thailand, etc., the man’s nationality remains the same. However, if the Japanese woman wishes to keep her Japanese nationality, she does not need to follow any procedures. However, if she wishes to acquire the other man’s nationality, she must go through the “declaration of intent procedure. If you follow this procedure, you can acquire the man’s nationality, but at the same time you will lose your existing Japanese nationality.
If the foreign man is from Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, etc., the man’s nationality will remain the same. However, a Japanese woman, upon marriage, also acquires the nationality of her partner’s country. In other words, she will have what is called “dual nationality. However, since Japan does not recognize “dual nationality,” the woman must choose either nationality by submitting a “notification of nationality selection” within two years of marriage.
What happens to my passport?
If you marry internationally but remain a foreign national, you will not be able to possess a Japanese passport. However, if the couple changed their nationality to Japanese upon marriage, or acquired Japanese nationality through naturalization, they may possess a Japanese passport after completing the prescribed procedures.
Conclusion
When a Japanese man and a foreign woman marry, no special nationality-related procedures are required. However, when a foreign man and a Japanese woman marry, procedures may be required. In addition, even after an international marriage, unless you lose your Japanese nationality, you can still possess a Japanese passport.
