I’m sorry if this is a dumb question, but I couldn’t find the answer online.
I was told I needed to change my name at city hall within 6 months.
I have changed my name on everything except my passport after marriage. (Family registry, bank accounts, driver’s license, etc.)
Is there a time-limit where I need to change my passport name by x months?
Could I wait until my passport is near expiration to update and change my name? (2 years)
I do not plan to travel anytime soon, but if I were to, could I just buy the ticket and still travel using my maiden name?
(For Japanese passport)
6 comments
My wife didn’t renew her passport with her new name until we had bought tickets to go overseas.
The passport is not an essential document for Japanese people, just change it when you need it.
If you buy a ticket now, use the family name currently on your passport and the passport you intend to use when flying with said ticket.
If for some reason you buy a ticket using maiden name and have updated your passport, just bring your old/maiden passport with you and show when checking in. You will be allowed to board/fly without issue.
Cannot answer the timeline question but I don’t think it should be an issue to wait until your passport expires to update it. (Could be wrong)
I believe for Japanese citizens, it is what is on the kozeki/family register that matters.
For foreigners, it is what is on the passport that matters as that is what they use for your zairyu card.
Changing passport name can be done anytime. However, the passport is technically no longer valid whilst it has the incorrect name on it.
So you cannot travel on it until you update the name
Just be careful if you travel: either book with your old name and don’t renew the passport, or renew the passport and book with the new name, but don’t mix and match. If you do that correctly you can update it later.
There is no time limit to change your name so you just have to make sure to change it when you renew it next. It also costs ¥6000 to just change your name and ¥11000 to renew it so you might as well wait.
Same happened to me. I got married in October last year and have 2 years left on my passport. Since getting married Iv been on holiday to 5 different countries and I just have to remember to book any tickets with my maiden name. Also when booking anything linked to my passport (insurance/ vaccine certificate at the time) I used my maiden name.
I’m actually heading to Hawaii tonight and I still haven’t changed my name so this post reminded me that I have to book insurance separately to my husband!