If the former spouse was a Japanese citizen, the Family Register showing termination of marriage may also be used. The Consulate can provide you with addresses of U.S. state offices where you can write to obtain needed documents, but cannot obtain them for you. Please check with the appropriate ward or city office for additional information on necessary documents. We recommend that you ask for the large version, which includes the witnesses' names. This document is your primary proof of legal marriage.
Most registrations of marriage take less than one hour to complete.
There is no requirement to register your marriage in Japan with the U.S. government or with any U.S. state government. Your Japanese marriage is recognized by the U.S. government. In the United States Anyone who knows both English and Japanese well can translate the Certificate of Acceptance of Marriage. The translator can then go to a notary public in the United States to have the translation notarized. For information on obtaining a visa to enable a non-Japanese national to live in Japan, please contact the appropriate Japanese Immigration authorities.