Marriage Certificate Translation into Japanese

Marrying under British law makes the marriage valid in the UK, but it doesn't appear in the Japanese partner's family register (戸籍) until it's reported. The report is the 婚姻届, the same form used for marriages in Japan, and it's supported by the marriage certificate, a Japanese translation and identity documents for both partners. The non-Japanese partner's passport usually needs translating as well, so it's worth ordering both together.

Two countries, two sets of paperwork, one wedding. The good news is that the Japanese side mostly wants to see the UK certificate in Japanese rather than a fresh set of vows.

The family register shows Japan's record of the marriage; the UK certificate shows the original. Together they let the immigration officer see that the marriage is recognised in both countries. Spouses of foreign residents applying for Dependent status also use marriage certificates to prove the relationship.

The Agency's rule is straightforward: foreign-language documents need a Japanese translation, and the translator should be identified. Ours are signed by a named translator. The Agency also looks closely at the genuineness of a marriage, so expect other evidence beyond the certificate, which is the part no translation can do for you.

UK marriage certificates have a lot of columns, and the newer ones in England and Wales record both parents of each partner rather than only fathers. Scottish certificates have their own layout again. We translate whatever is on your version, including handwritten entries and certification stamps.

If either of you has a katakana spelling already registered in Japan, give it to us when you order so the translation matches the family register. Family registers are unforgiving about this: as far as the paperwork is concerned, ブラウン and ブラウン゠スミス are two different people.

An apostille confirms the signature on a UK public document, and Japan accepts them as a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. It doesn't change what the certificate says, but it adds a page that usually needs translating too. Our apostille translation page explains the order of play.

If you're marrying in Japan rather than in the UK, the paperwork looks different: the non-Japanese partner typically provides documents such as a passport, a birth certificate and proof of legal capacity to marry to the municipal office. See birth certificate translation into Japanese for the birth certificate part.

Most UK marriage certificates are a single page. Add the passport identity page and any apostille to the same order and you'll see the total before you pay. Every document comes with 2 free revisions if the embassy or ward office asks for a change. We work to ISO 17100 and are members of the ATC.

Reporting the marriage usually means translating the non-Japanese partner's ID too, so see passport translation into Japanese. If a previous marriage ended in divorce, the office may also ask about that: see divorce certificate translation into Japanese. Ready? Use the quote form.