Certificate of Eligibility?

So my fiance (Japanese) and I have been wandering around trying to figure out how to get married (got that part down) and how to get my spousal visa. As of now, our plans are that I will move there in early May and we'll register our marriage at our city hall.
After this is where things get a little confusing to us.

He went to his city hall and got a handbook for international marriage or something, and according to it, I need a certificate of eligibility before I can get my spousal visa? Before, I thought this document wasn't necessary, but optional?

I'm also confused, because on various websites that I've been researching from, some say that I will have to return to America before/to get my spousal visa, and others say that I can stay in Japan.

Can somebody please give me the facts here? All this mixed information that I'm getting is really frustrating me, and this process is stressful enough as it is. I appreciate any help, thanks!

If you are American and want to get married in Japan, you need to get a form (Affadavit of Competency to Marry http://japan.usembassy.gov/pdfs/wwwf7114.pdf )from the U.S. embassy to swear that you are not already married. You sign it there in front of the embassy official, and he countersigns and stamps it to make it official.

You take that and your J boyfriend's copy of his family register (koseki) to the ward office or city hall near your home, and in 10 minutes you are officially married, as long as you have signatures from 2 other people. You don't even get a marriage license unless you want to pay extra for one (400 yen for the simple one, about 1200 yen for a fancier one). Any ceremony you may want is extra and an entirely different affair between you and hubby to work out.

After you get married, you will have to amend hubby's koseki to show that you are part of it.

Then, you take the necessary documents to immigration (including the COE) and file for a spousal visa. You do not have to leave the country for that.
COE form and other info can be found at this official immigration site:
Immigration Services Agency of Japan
The government has been tightening up on spousal visas lately, so expect a few serious questions to prove you are not in a marriage of convenience. That may include you supplying nonreturnable pictures of you two. Your hubby will also have to complete a Japanese essay describing how you met and your courtship.

Want more official stuff?
Here's what the Sapporo office of the U.S. embassy says about getting married and a spousal visa. 2 links
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7114.html
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7114a.html

By the way, if you live near a different embassy/consulate, go to this link instead, and click on the link for the maps. You will go to a site that has all the above info, too, including a map of that specific embassy/consulate.
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/tvisa-main.html

Thank you for all the information, it's definitely helpful!
One more question though; would it be possible to apply for a COE before we got married? That way I can have it and apply for my spousal visa right away? I really don't want to have to end up having to fly back to the US because my 90 day tourist visa passes by.

No. As I explained, the COE is for your visa application. Essentially, you need the COE first, but you are applying for them at the same time.

You won't have to wait 90 days to get a spouse visa unless there are extenuating circumstances. Besides, have your hubby confirm with immigration that once you apply, you get a stamp or something in your passport that lets you stay beyond tourist period anyway. It works like that for work visas, anyway.

So as long as I've applied for the COE, it's ok to go ahead and apply for the spousal visa as well?

I'm sorry for all the questions which I'm sure are getting annoying. It's just that I've gotten so many conflicting answers from so many places (including embassies and immigration themselves) and I'm trying to get my facts straight. I REALLY appreciate all the information you've shared, it's really helped a lot. Thank you!

Does anyone know of a fourm thread about getting married in japan? I am an Australian man and my girlfriend is japanese and we want to get married in japan in 4 weeks from now. I know i need to take my passport, birth certificate, and after I arrive I must obtain a "Certificate of No Impediment" from the Australian embassy. Is that all that is required? Is a criminal record a problem?

Makularamu said:

So as long as I've applied for the COE, it's ok to go ahead and apply for the spousal visa as well?

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Reread what I just wrote. You apply for the visa by first getting the COE. It's a formality and part of the orderly process, not a separate one.

kimchan,
I answered your duplicate question elsewhere on this site.

Makularamu said:

As of now, our plans are that I will move there in early May and we'll register our marriage at our city hall.

Click to expand...

Hi, Interesting thread.
I see you want to try to move in may, and may is pretty soon I think. anyone knows how long the whole process could take? from getting married - getting spousal visa- to finally living in japan?
because I know in some countries it could take a long time :s
would love to know, thanks!

Getting a spouse visa could take 2-8 weeks. Getting married takes 10 minutes (with the proper paperwork that you could collect in a day). "Finally living in Japan" happens when you set foot on Japanese soil. Did you have some other definition of "finally living in Japan"?

No, I just mean as the final step of immigration.
2 to 8 weeks? that's good I'm afraid in Holland it's more like 2 to 8 months :s thanks for the info.