Visas & status
Can I register a foreign same-sex marriage in Japan?
A same-sex marriage validly concluded abroad can sometimes be recorded or evidenced in Japan for administrative purposes, but Japan's national family-registration system does not treat foreign same-sex marriages exactly like opposite-sex marriages.
VerifiedPrimary topic verifiedLast checked: 18 Aug 2026
What you need to know
Requirements & exceptions
- Recognition differs by purpose: family register, residence certificate notation, immigration and local partnership systems are separate questions.
- A Japanese national's koseki handling can differ from a foreign couple's municipal records.
- For immigration consequences, use the current Immigration Services Agency practice rather than assuming full marital equivalence.
Documents
- Passport
- Residence card (if resident)
- Application form
- Status-specific supporting evidence
Likely cost
A current government fee may apply to the specific immigration application (change, extension, permit, residence procedure or visa issuance); check the exact ISA/consular fee table for that procedure.
Where to act
Immigration Services Agency / Regional Immigration Services Bureau for the relevant residence procedure.