My son is both Japanese and Canadian. I am Canadian only. His mother, who is Japanese only, and I got divorced in Canada, but she remained in Japan the whole time (and still does to this day). I have sole “parental responsibility” (the new term for “custody”).
He holds a Japanese passport that is coming up for renewal by January 2025. On the Japanese consulate website, it says that “Japanese Embassies and the Consulates General, which are located in such countries that stipulate in domestic law the taking of a child as a crime, are checking verbally to confirm the existence of agreement of both parents on the application for child’s passport, even if there is no declaration of disagreement from one parent.” However, since I have sole custody, does anyone know if I can apply for his Japanese passport and have it granted without involving his Japanese mother at all? I know Japan doesn’t recognize sole custody, but since the divorce was granted outside Japan, would their consulates allow his passport renewal application with only my signature?
Has anyone else had any experience applying for a Japanese passport renewal in Canada with sole custody of their child? Thanks for any help or advice.
by kumanoodle