The formalities of an international marriage with a Philippine national can be carried out in either Japan or the Philippines first.

However, due to the effort involved and the certainty of the procedure, we recommend that the marriage procedure in the Philippines is carried out first if at all possible, so we will explain the procedure here.

1. Obtain a “Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage” from the Consulate-General of Japan in Manila or the Japanese Consulates in Cebu or Davao.

Documents required for Japanese nationals: A copy of the family register issued within 3 months of the date of issue, a copy of the family register or a revised family register issued within 6 months of the date of issue (if the applicant has been married in the past), passport, marriage consent (for minors).

Required documents for Filipinos: Birth certificate (issued by PSA (formerly NSO)), Notice of Absence of Birth Record (if birth certificate is missing or difficult to see; issued by PSA).

2.Apply for a “Marriage License” and attend a seminar at the City Hall of the area where the Filipino fiancé(e) has been residing for at least six (6) months (may not be required).

It will be issued after a 10-day public notice period from the date of application. The certificate is valid for 120 days from the date of issue, during which time the wedding must be performed by an authorised officiant (judge, priest, etc.). Please note that the seminar is separate from the CFO seminar described below.

Required documents for Japanese nationals: Marriage Certificate, passport, personal seal and photograph.

Required documents for Filipinos: Birth certificate (issued by PSA (formerly NSO)), photo

3. Wedding Ceremony in the Philippines and Signing of Marriage Certificate

In Japan, a wedding ceremony may or may not take place and is not part of the legal marriage ceremony. In the Philippines, however, a wedding ceremony is considered a legal marriage, and should be distinguished from a reception.

Please remember to bring your wedding rings and take a snapshot of the ceremony. The snapshot will be required when you apply to the Immigration Office.

Once you have signed your marriage certificate, you are now legally and officially husband and wife.

4. Obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the PSA (formerly the NSO)

After the ceremony, the fact of your marriage will be registered with the PSA and you can apply for a certified copy of your marriage certificate.

The Philippine spouse can either go to the NSO office in Quezon City to request for the certificate, or request for it by mail or online through the E-CENSUS website.

If the marriage took place in a non-urban area, it may take several months (usually about 10 days) for the marriage to be registered with the PSA.

5. Attend a seminar conducted by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), a government agency.

Filipino spouses (not required to attend for Japanese) must attend this seminar. The seminar must be attended prior to applying for a passport and will include lectures on Japanese culture, customs and life in Japan, as well as a Japanese language course.

Without a certificate of attendance, you may not be able to apply for a new passport, or even if you are issued a visa, you may be stopped at the airport and not be allowed to leave the Philippines.

The seminar is currently held in only two locations, Manila and Cebu.

6. Register your marriage at the local government office or at the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines.

Normally, a marriage registration is required to be signed by two witnesses, but since you have already been married in the Philippines, this is not necessary.

Please note that this must be done within 3 months of your marriage in the Philippines.

Required documents: Marriage Certificate (Japanese translation required), Birth Certificate (Japanese translation required), Copy of Japanese Family Register (if registering at a government office other than the applicant’s domicile).

The required documents vary depending on the place of application and changes in the law, so please check with the place of application beforehand.

If you wish to live together as a couple in Japan, you will need to apply for a visa (status of residence) to the Immigration Bureau after completing the above procedures.