Key Points
- A Japanese Certificate of Acceptance of Marriage Notification is a public document certifying that a municipal authority accepted a marriage notification. It is not the same legal instrument as a marriage certificate issued under another country's civil-registration system.
- For submissions to the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines, we handle Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostille procurement and Certified Translation into English.
- Depending on the receiving authority, a family register showing the marriage entry or other supporting documents may be required in addition to the Certificate of Acceptance of Marriage Notification.
- The required certificate, recorded particulars, date of issue, number of originals, and need for translation or authentication must be confirmed against the receiving authority's instructions.
What is a Japanese Marriage Acceptance Certificate?
婚姻届受理証明書 / Konin Todoke Juri ShomeishoThe Japanese Marriage Acceptance Certificate — konin todoke juri shomeisho (婚姻届受理証明書) — is a public document confirming that a marriage registration has been accepted by a municipal office under the Family Register Act. The municipality where you actually file the marriage issues this certificate (note: this is not necessarily your registered domicile). Issuance timing varies by municipality and filing status, and it may be available before the family register (koseki tohon) reflects the new marriage. That timing can matter when an overseas spouse visa or permanent residency filing has an approaching deadline.
Because the Marriage Acceptance Certificate is a public document under Japanese law, an apostille can be obtained directly from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, without prior notarization. However, English translations are treated as private documents, so depending on the destination country, the translation itself may require additional verification through Route B (notary-verified route).
Our office is located in Akasaka, Tokyo — within close proximity to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kasumigaseki). This location supports organized handling of the application-and-receipt workflow, while municipal, MOFA, notary-office, Legal Affairs Bureau, courier, and receiving-authority processing times remain outside our control.
A note on terminology: A gyoseishoshi (行政書士) is a Japanese certified administrative procedures specialist licensed under the Gyoseishoshi Act. The profession is a national qualification regulated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, with statutory authority to prepare and submit documents to government agencies, including apostille applications.
Marriage Acceptance Certificate vs. Family Register
Which One Should You Get?When clients ask us about international marriage documentation, the most common question is: which document should I obtain — the Marriage Acceptance Certificate, or the family register? They serve different purposes, and the right choice depends on your destination country and timeline.
| Aspect | Marriage Acceptance Certificate | Family Register (koseki tohon) |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Municipality where you filed the marriage | Municipality of registered domicile |
| Issuance timing | Varies by municipality and filing status | 1–2 weeks (marriage info to reflect) |
| What it certifies | That the marriage filing was accepted | Entire family record including marriage |
| Primary use | Proof of Japan-registered marriage filing acceptance | Comprehensive family relationship proof |
| Format | B5 (standard) / A4 (formal) | A4 |
| Apostille route | Direct from MOFA (public document) | Direct from MOFA (public document) |
| 5-country relevance | ★ May be used for spouse visa & PR filings | ★ Common supporting document |
Quick decision guide:
• Need a document before the family register is updated → Marriage Acceptance Certificate (availability depends on the municipality)
• Need broader family relationship proof → Family register
• Destination authority asks for both documents → they may be used together
• Filing Report of Marriage-related procedures at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in Japan → the Marriage Acceptance Certificate may be used
Requirements vary by receiving authority and document purpose. Our two-document bundle (family register + Marriage Acceptance Certificate) is offered at a standard package fee of ¥138,000 (tax included) and up; engaging the two documents separately totals approximately ¥154,000 (tax included) and up as a reference. We'll check the applicable document set at the quote stage.
Authentication Requirements by Country
Two Routes — Translator-Certified vs. Notary-VerifiedAuthentication route and translation requirements differ by destination country, receiving authority, document purpose, translation certification format, and whether notary verification is requested. The United States and the United Kingdom often follow Route A — Translator-Certified Route, while Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines may use Route B — Notary-Verified Route where requested by the receiving authority. Written instructions should be checked before quotation, document sequencing, apostille, and translation arrangements.
the United States
USCIS · State Authorities Route Athe United Kingdom
UKVI · Home Office Route ASingapore
ICA · MOM Route BNew Zealand
Immigration New Zealand · Department of Internal Affairs Route Bthe Philippines
Philippine Embassy / Consulate in Japan · PSA Route BRoute A and Route B indicate typical workflows only. The final route is not determined solely by the destination country. It is reviewed case by case based on the document, the receiving authority's publicly available guidance or written instructions provided by the client, and current practice at MOFA, notary offices, and other relevant Japanese authorities.
Marriage Acceptance Certificate Process
Document Choice, Certificate Format, and Authentication WorkflowA Japanese Marriage Acceptance Certificate is a public document confirming that a marriage registration has been accepted by a municipal office. It may be used as proof of a Japan-registered marriage shortly after filing or before the family register is updated, depending on the municipality and filing status. Depending on the receiving authority, requirements may differ as to whether a Marriage Acceptance Certificate, family register, or marriage certificate is required, whether the family register should be submitted together, whether the standard or formal presentation format should be used, which municipality issued the document, who may obtain it, and what apostille or certified translation format is required. We review the destination country, receiving institution, and marriage filing status before arranging the proper sequence of procedures.
* Requirements for family register submission, standard or formal presentation format, issuing municipality, proxy procurement documents, translation certification format, and original document submission vary depending on the receiving authority.
Pricing for Marriage Acceptance Certificate
Standard Package and Translation-Only OptionsTwo pricing plans are available for Marriage Acceptance Certificate apostille and certified translation. For overseas submissions, the Country-Specific Standard Package (¥77,000+, tax included where applicable) — a standard fee shared across all 5 countries — is the most frequently selected option. For clients who also need a family register, the two-document bundle is offered at a standard package fee of ¥138,000 (tax included) and up; engaging the two documents separately totals approximately ¥154,000 (tax included) and up as a reference.
If you require office-side priority handling, we will review the case details, number of documents, required workflow, and target deadline, and advise on availability and fees individually.
Marriage Acceptance Certificate FAQ
Document Choice, Apostille Route, Translation, and Written ReviewHow should I request a written Marriage Acceptance Certificate review or quotation?
Email is recommended for written Marriage Acceptance Certificate document review and quotation requests. Please include your destination country, receiving authority, document purpose, marriage filing status, issuing municipality if known, whether the certificate has already been obtained, whether a family register is also requested, certificate format if known, requested deadline, and shipping destination.
WhatsApp Business may be used for initial overseas inquiries, but formal quotation, document scope, document choice review, issuing municipality review, certificate format review, family register bundle review, translation requirement review, route review, and written instructions may be handled by email.
Should I get the family register or the Marriage Acceptance Certificate?
It depends on the destination country, receiving authority, document purpose, and submission deadline. The Marriage Acceptance Certificate confirms that the marriage filing was accepted by the municipality, while the family register may show broader family-record information after the marriage has been reflected.
- You need proof that the marriage filing was accepted before the family register is updated → Marriage Acceptance Certificate may be useful, depending on the municipality and filing status.
- You also need broader family-record context → family register may be requested.
- You are filing with USCIS, UKVI, Singapore, New Zealand, or Philippines-related authorities → the applicable document set should be checked against the receiving authority's written instructions.
Because the document choice can affect apostille sequence, translation scope, certificate format, and shipping schedule, we check the applicable document set by email before proceeding.
How soon can I obtain the certificate after filing my marriage registration?
The Marriage Acceptance Certificate may be available shortly after filing, depending on the municipality, filing status, certificate format, and office handling at the issuing municipality. The family register may take additional time to reflect a new marriage, so timing should be confirmed with the filing municipality.
Timing also depends on original document status, translation volume, MOFA processing, notary-office and Legal Affairs Bureau availability where applicable, courier schedule, and the receiving authority's requirements. Office-side priority handling may be available where operationally possible, but external authority processing times cannot be shortened.
For time-sensitive spouse visa, immigration, consular, school, or family filings, email-based document review is recommended as early as possible.
I live overseas and my registered domicile is far from the filing municipality. Can you still help?
Yes, depending on the municipality's proxy-request requirements and the facts of the filing. The Marriage Acceptance Certificate is issued by the municipality where the marriage filing was accepted, which may differ from the registered domicile shown in the family register.
Where proxy procurement is available, we confirm the power of attorney, issuing municipality, certificate format, whether a family register is also needed, delivery method, and shipping destination by email. WhatsApp Business can be used for initial overseas inquiries, but formal confirmation of scope, quotation, and written instructions should be handled by email.
Is notarization required for USCIS?
For USCIS matters, notary public verification is often not requested for a translator's signed certification of competence and accuracy under 8 CFR §103.2(b)(3). Our Certification of Translation Accuracy is designed to support that type of certified translation submission.
However, the receiving authority's current written instructions, document purpose, and filing context should be checked before deciding the route. If notarization or a different certification format is requested, the route and quotation should be confirmed by email before arranging apostille and translation.
How long is the Marriage Acceptance Certificate valid for overseas submission?
The certificate itself has no uniform statutory expiration. However, for MOFA apostille applications, the official document is generally expected to be an original issued within three months. Receiving authorities may set their own validity windows, so the issuance date, apostille date, translation date, receiving authority requirement, and final submission deadline should be checked together.
| Receiving Authority | Validity |
|---|---|
| USCIS (United States) | Varies by receiving authority and application type |
| UKVI (United Kingdom) | Varies by receiving authority and application type |
| Singapore ICA | Varies by receiving authority and application type |
| New Zealand authorities | Varies by receiving authority and application type |
| Philippines-related filings | Varies by receiving authority or consular instructions |
This is a document review item, not a statement that the receiving authority will accept a specific issuance date. Plan your timeline backwards from the final submission date, accounting for issuance → apostille → translation → international shipping. We review the expected schedule by email at engagement.
Which route applies by country?
Route A and Route B depend on the receiving authority's written instructions, document purpose, translation certification format, and whether notary verification is requested. Written instructions should be checked before quotation, document sequencing, apostille, and translation arrangements.
| Country | Common Route | Notary Review | Typical Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | Route A may apply | Often not requested for USCIS certified translations | USCIS spouse or permanent residence filings |
| the United Kingdom | Route A may apply | Often not requested unless written instructions require it | UKVI spouse and family filings |
| Singapore | Route B may apply | May be requested depending on ICA or other authority instructions | ICA, MOM, or other Singapore authority submissions |
| New Zealand | Route B may apply | May be requested depending on document purpose and receiving authority | Immigration, education, or administrative filings |
| the Philippines | Route B may apply | May be requested for Report of Marriage-related procedures at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in Japan, PSA registration-related matters, or receiving-authority instructions | Report of Marriage-related procedures, spouse visa, or civil-record updates |
Do you handle countries outside the five supported countries?
Our service scope is limited to the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines. We do not handle destinations outside this scope.
Some destination countries outside our service scope may involve sworn-translator or locally qualified translator systems, or embassy or consular authentication routes, in addition to or instead of a Japanese MOFA apostille. In those cases, please confirm the applicable authentication and translation route with the destination country's embassy, consulate, local qualified professional, or a specialist familiar with that jurisdiction.