AFFIDAVIT OF COMPETENCY TO MARRY

In Japan, all foreigners wishing to marry a Japanese national must obtain a Certificate of Competency to Marry and have a copy in both Japanese and the native language of the foreigner who is to be married. The Certificate of Competency to Marry is required under Japanese law so the state can recognize the marriage as lawful. Foreigner who marry a Japanese national without a Certificate of Competency to Marry are not considered to be legally married under Japanese family law.

In Japan, marriage by way of religious ceremonies alone is not considered to be a valid marriage. Couples must file a notification of marriage with the local government office (which includes the Certificate of Competency to Marry for foreigners). There are three reasons why this must be done in order to satisfy Japanese Civil Code.
1. To prove that the male is at least 18 years of age and the female is at least 16 years of age. If either is under 20 years of age, they must have parental approval of the marriage.
2. To prove that the woman in question has not been married within 6 months prior to avoid confusion as to who the child's father is if one was born close to the time of the previous divorce.
3. Those people related by blood are not able to legally marry in Japan.

For more information on the Certificate of Competency to Marry please visit United States Embassy in Japan's web site here.