Recognition of foreign marriages

[Bread]

This text shows up on a couple of sites when i search for information regarding the subject:

"Until very recently same-sex partners were not considered dependents under Japanese law. However, the Japanese government has now made it possible to sponsor a same-sex partner´s entry into Japan. The couple must be married and the marriage must be recognized in the country of origin. If the couple does not qualify for sponsorship under these regulations it may still be possible to apply for a special visa for a same-sex partner. For more information check with the Japanese Immigration Bureau."

I want to know if there's any chance of this being true or if it's a miss-interpretation of a recent law that supposedly (according to people's interpretations) was made to enable Japanese people to marry same-sex foreign partners outside of Japan, while still not being recognized as so in Japan.

 

[Glenski]

I doubt it, but would you at least show a link or two where you found this?

 

[Bread]

Japan Guide: Family, How to bring your family to Japan: If you are moving your family to Japan you need to

There's this and some other site quoting it, as well as many pages of people not being able to find out what some new law really means.

 

[Mike Cash]

"For more information check with the Japanese Immigration Bureau"......or their JREF branch office.

I have tried googling this, and have come up with an assertion on a Wikipedia page that it is true, but following the link to the supporting source yields only a dubious article which references a Japan Times article from 2009 about a proposed change, not something which was a done deal.

This is one of those questions where providing the answer will turn into a case of us essentially doing a lot of googling for the OP rather than providing definitive information we are already in possession of. It really would be the best, most responsible, and kindest to suggest, "for further information contact the Japanese Immigration Bureau".

If the OP is contemplating marrying a Japanese person, the partner should certainly be able to find out if this is true or not with a phone call to Immigration.

 

[Bread]

Guess I should head off to immigration. The thing is though, that i suspect a quick and decisive "No." from them, whereas an immigration lawyer or somebody with actual hands-on experience might say otherwise. I've seen some forum posts here and there from people saying they succeeded, but specifics are never mentioned.

I also want to ascertain whether it is at all possible before I get riled up and involve another person in a tiring and meaningless pursuit.
If nobody here has a clue, that's fine. Just figured I had nothing to lose by asking.

I've been snooping around for about 12 hours now and though I've found a couple of leads suggesting it might be possible, I cannot for the life of me find any specifics. Even the base laws themselves are ambiguous as hell.

 

[Mike Cash]

Japanese officialdom isn't as arbitrary and capricious as the foreign community gives it credit for; if this were an official policy you could expect to receive a definitive answer. You could also expect that in the 4+ years since this was reported (and purportedly implemented) that a google search would reveal definitive links and that it would likely be among Japanese Immigration's FAQs.

We're happy to have you with us and hope you'll stick around. If you do find some definitive information please add it to the thread so that it may help others who google the same question in the future.

 

[Mike Cash]

From the official Japanese Immigration site (link here)

It would appear that there is NOT a policy of granting spouse visas to same-sex partners (whether legally married overseas or not).

However, I find a blog referencing a Yomiuri article from December 29th, 2013 (which is no longer available online) in which it was asserted that the legally married same-sex spouse of an American serviceman was allowed to enter Japan without a visa (waiver?).

I find an article stating changes in the MOJ policy regarding granting permission for Japanese citizens to marry abroad, but it doesn't seem to directly address whether the policy extended to the granting of dependent visas. (The Immigration site would seem to indicate that it does not).

 

[Glenski]

From the official Japanese Immigration site (link here)ﾂ

It would appear that there is NOT a policy of granting spouse visas to same-sex partners (whether legally married overseas or not).

However, I find a blog referencing a Yomiuri article from December 29th, 2013 (which is no longer available online) in which it was asserted that the legally married same-sex spouse of an American serviceman was allowed to enter Japan without a visa (waiver?).

I find an article stating changes in the MOJ policy regarding granting permission for Japanese citizens to marry abroad, but it doesn't seem to directly address whether the policy extended to the granting of dependent visas. (The Immigration site would seem to indicate that it does not).

this from a March 2014 article from a LGBT newspaper would strongly suggest same sex marriages between Japanese are not accepted.
Survey says over 50% of Japanese don't approve of same-sex marriage - The Japan Daily Press
Doubtful it will be approved in the near future.

Thus 2013 article clearly stated it is not legal between Japanese.
Same-sex marriage unlikely to become legal in Japan anytime soon - The Japan Daily Press

Don't know if it applies fully to foreigners marrying Japanese. Like Mike wrote, we could search all we like, but it's not our quest.

 

[Bread]

Thank you both for the interest, though I've already come across those pieces of information many times by now
A lot of articles about this same issue in Australia, UK, USA, etc. often mention Japan as one of the countries recognizing same sex marriages performed overseas, though no mention is ever made of what exactly this entails, presumably because it's off-topic. (could also be complete bogus).

Sigh... so tired.

 

[Mike Cash]

You run into the problem of circular references on stuff like this. No matter how hard you try to track down something firm and definitive you end up following a trail of sites that essentially just cite each other as sources.

 

[Bread]

You're absolutely right, but I can't simply stop.
Any idea how useful these free consultations being offered by immigration lawyers can be?

 

[Mike Cash]

You're absolutely right, but I can't simply stop.
Any idea how useful these free consultations being offered by immigration lawyers can be?

I doubt that they're worth less than free, so there's nothing to lose.

What exactly is the scenario here? Are you looking into a situation for a Japanese citizen to sponsor a same-sex spouse for a dependent visa? Or for one foreigner to sponsor another foreigner?

 

[Bread]

I currently have 1 year and 8 months left on my student visa. In the event that I cannot find a job that will sponsor a working visa during the later half of my stay, I (Norwegian) should like to marry my partner (Japanese) and apply for a spouse/dependent visa.

Actually if I could gain confirmation that it's doable somehow, I'd do it right now regardless of how my career prospects look. Don't know if it helps but I've saved up a ton of money working full-time in Norway since childhood while living like a poor person. I would not be a financial liability to my partner nor to japan. But I guess the law doesn't care.

 

[Mike Cash]

You certainly have nothing to lose by consulting Immigration or the Ministry of Justice for a straight answer, either directly or through an attorney or agent.

 

[Glenski]

As mentioned earlier, you could always get your significant other to inquire at immigration. Go there before seeing a lawyer so the lawyer has something to go on.