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Visa / Legal Procedures

Registering births, deaths and marriages

Japan has a family registration system for the registration and certification of births, deaths, age and family relationships.  Under this system, all residents of Japan, including foreign nationals, are obligated to report matters such as births and deaths to the ward office.

Foreigners living in Japan should also complete the procedures required by the Immigration Bureau and their home country.  Please contact the Sapporo Regional Immigration Bureau/Immigration Information Center and your embassy or consulate for the specific procedures applicable.

In the case of child birth

Procedure Deadline for notification Items required

Birth notification

(shussho todoke)

Within 14 days
  • Maternal and child health handbook
  • Birth certificate issued by a doctor/midwife
  • Health insurance card
  • Personal seal (inkan) of the father/mother
Alien registration Within 60 days
  • Documents attesting the birth (e.g., maternal and child health handbook, birth certificate)

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In the case of death

Procedure Deadline for notification Items required

Death notification

(shibo todoke)

Within 7 days
  • Death certificate issued by a doctor
  • Personal seal of the applicant (a member of the bereaved family)
Return of the alien registration card Within 14 days
  • The alien registration card of the deceased

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In the case of marriage

Procedure Items required

Marriage notification

(kon-in todoke)

  • Marriage notification (available at ward offices)
  • Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage issued by the foreign national’s embassy or consulate
  • Japanese translation of the above document (the translator’s signature is needed) 
  • Passport of the foreign party
  • A copy of the family register (koseki tohon) of the Japanese party (unnecessary if the domicile of the Japanese party is in the same ward)
  • Seals of both parties

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In the case of divorce

Procedure Items required

Divorce notification

(rikon todoke)

  • Divorce notification (available at ward offices)
  • A copy of the family register of the Japanese party (unnecessary if the domicile of the Japanese party is in the same ward)

  • Seals of both parties
  • * If the applicant is a foreign national, no seal is needed.

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Sapporo Regional Immigration Bureau
TEL011-261-7502
Sapporo Dai-san Godo Chosha, Odori Nishi 12-chome, Chuo-ku
Immigration Information Center (Tokyo)
TEL03-5796-7112
(Japanese/English/Chinese/Korean/Portuguese/Spanish/Thai/French/Myanmarese)

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