Getting married in Japan with one partner as tourist?

So my partner and I both currently live in Japan and we’re planning on getting married. Unfortunately the papers are taking too long and their visa will probably expire before papers arrive. The plan was for them to leave and return on a tourist visa for 3 months so we can get married here and then apply for a dependent visa. I’m also a foreigner but I live and work in Japan.

Is it possible to get married when one partner don’t hold a resident status anymore? I did some google searching and it seems to be possible but would love input from people with experience or that can read Japanese better.

Thanks!!

3 comments
  1. Two tourists can get married in Japan so long as they have the paperwork in order.

    The issue, I think, would be the dependency visa. Your local immigration bureau might not do a visa exchange from tourist to dependent–sometimes they won’t do this for ‘married to JP spouse” visas without pressing circumstances like children, which I’ve been told by mine before. You’d have to ask your local immigration bureau directly.

  2. I know of people who have gotten the dependant visa after marrying in Japan. It is possible, but confirm it with immigration. Better if you go personally and explain your entire situation, as they take everything into account.

  3. If the papers are taking too long you might want to discussion the situation with the immigration office and see if it’s possible to get her visa extended so that she can stay here long enough for the two of you to get married.

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