Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage (LCCM)

A Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage (LCCM) is issued ONLY to Filipinos presently residing in Japan who wish to get married to a foreign national.

Note: Application may be done in-person by appointment or by mail. If any party cannot appear in person, or if the application is done by mail, both parties are required to have each of their application forms notarized by a Japanese Notary Public.

Requirements for Filipino Applicant

For a Single Filipino:

1. Duly accomplished application form (Click here)
2. Valid passport – Original and one (1) copy
3. Residence Card or Visa in Japan – Original and one (1) copy
4. DFA-Apostilled PSA-issued Birth Certificate – Original and one (1) copy
5. DFA-Apostilled PSA-issued Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) – Original and one (1) copy
   (make sure that the details on the PSA CENOMAR are consistent or the same with the details on the PSA Birth Certificate) – The CENOMAR is valid only for six (6) months from the date of issuance
6. Three (3) passport-sized photos
7. ¥600 Letterpack

Additional Requirements:

For Single Filipinos between 18-25 years old:

• Affidavit of Parental Consent or Advice
  • For 18-20 years old – Affidavit of Parental Consent with a valid passport or valid ID of the parent/s
  • For 21-25 years old – Affidavit of Parental Advice with a valid passport or valid ID of the parent/s

Notes:

• If the parents are in the Philippines, the affidavit executed in the Philippines must be notarized by a Filipino notary public, and then Apostilled by the DFA.
• If the parents are in Japan, they may execute the affidavit at the Philippine Embassy.
• If the parents are deceased, please submit a DFA-Authenticated PSA-issued Death Certificate.

For a Divorced Filipino:

• DFA-Apostilled PSA-issued Marriage Certificate or Report of Marriage with annotation – Original and one (1) copy
• DFA-Apostilled Judicial Recognition of Foreign Divorce issued by a Philippine Court with Certificate of Finality – Original and one (1) copy
• Record of Divorce in Japan:
  • If the former spouse is Japanese, please submit a Family Registry (Koseki Tohon) showing the couple’s place and date of divorce. Please note that partial submissions of the Family Registry (Koseki Shohon) and Certificate of Acceptance (Juri Shomeisho) are not acceptable.
  • If the former spouse is a foreign national other than Japanese, please submit a Certificate of Acceptance of Divorce (Juri Shomeisho) showing the couple’s place and date of divorce.

For Filipino whose former marriage was Annulled in the Philippines:

• DFA-Apostilled PSA-issued Advisory on Marriages – Original and one (1) copy
  (make sure that the details on the PSA Advisory on Marriages are consistent or the same with the details on the PSA Birth Certificate) – This is valid only for six (6) months from the date of issuance
• DFA-Apostilled PSA-issued Marriage Certificate/ Contract or Report of Marriage with annotation – Original and one (1) copy
• DFA-Apostilled Judicial Decree of Annulment issued by a Philippine Court with Certificate of Finality – Original and one (1) copy

For a Widowed Filipino:

• DFA-Apostilled PSA-issued Advisory on Marriages – Original and one (1) copy
  (make sure that the details on the PSA Advisory on Marriages are consistent or the same with the details on the PSA Birth Certificate) – This is valid only for six (6) months from the date of issuance
• DFA-Apostilled PSA-issued Marriage Certificate/ Contract or Report of Marriage – Original and one (1) copy
• Death Certificate of the deceased Spouse:
  • If the deceased spouse was Filipino – DFA-Apostilled PSA-issued Death Certificate – Original and one (1) copy
  • If the deceased spouse was Japanese – Koseki tohon (Family Registry) – Original and one (1) copy
  • If the deceased spouse was a foreign national other than Japanese – Death Certificate issued by his/her Embassy – Original and one (1) copy

Requirements for Foreign Fiancé

Requirements for a Japanese national:

1. Family Registry (Koseki Tohon), must be valid for three (3) months – Original and one (1) copy
2. Kaisei Gen Koseki or Joseki Tohon – If the koseki tohon does not indicate previous record of marriage, divorce and death of former spouse
3. Valid Passport or any valid ID with picture – Original and one (1) copy
4. Three (3) Passport-sized photos

Requirements for a Foreign National other than Japanese:

1. A Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage or its equivalent from his or her Embassy – must be in English
   a. For US military personnel – Authorization to marry from his/her commanding officer – Original and one (1) copy
2. Valid passport or any valid ID with picture – Original and one (1) copy
3. Three (3) Passport-sized photos

1. In-Person Application

1. Book Your Appointment with Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, Japan (click here to book an appointment);
   ◦ It is strongly recommended that all the requirements are complete and properly organized before your scheduled appointment.
2. On the day of your appointment:
   1. Both parties must personally appear at the Embassy;
   2. Submit the complete requirements to the Consular Officer once your number is called;
   3. Fill out the necessary forms, if required;
   4. Once done, you will be advised to return to your seat while the documents are translated and/or verified and finalized by the Civil Registry Unit;
   5. Once your documents are verified and completed, you will be called to review the documents created and you will be asked to sign the documents for finalization;
   6. Once signed and finalized, the document will be released via the ¥600 Letterpack.

2. Application by Mail

1. Email scanned copies or clear photos of the requirements above to the Civil Registry Unit at civilreg@philembassy.net for pre-evaluation. This includes the following:
   • The completed LCCM Form
   • For Filipino nationals, fill out LCCM Form A and the Affidavit of Civil Status
   • For foreign nationals, fill out LCCM Form B only
     • All the details must be true and accurate.
     • All the details must be typewritten and in BLOCK letters.
     • The forms must be printed on A4-sized paper.
2. Once documents have been pre-evaluated and approved, bring the LCCM forms and Affidavit of Civil Status to a Japanese Notary Public for notarization
   • Each of the forms must have the signature of the applicants and notarized.
3. Send the requirements above, including the notarized LCCM Form, the Affidavit of Civil Status and LCCM Form A and B to the Embassy, along with the other required documents as listed above, including a self-addressed ¥600 Letterpack.
   • The address of the Embassy is as follows:
     

     Philippine Embassy – Tokyo, Japan
     5-15-5 Roppongi Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8537
     (Attn: Civil Registration Section/LCCM)

   • Please ensure that your address is included in the self-addressed ¥600 Letterpack.
   • Note: Registrants are NOT required to forward their original passports and/or other valid IDs to the Embassy. However, clear and readable photocopies thereof must be provided.
4. Once the physical documents have been verified to be complete and authentic, an officer will contact the registrants, either by email or through phone, to inform the client about the necessary consular fees which must be paid through Genkin Kakitome (registered cash envelope).
5. Once payment through Genkin Kakitome is verified, the Civil Registry Unit will finalize the documents and send the completed LCCM to the registrant via the self-addressed ¥600 Letterpack submitted.

Reminders

1. All photocopies should be on A4-sized paper.
2. The Embassy may require additional documents if deemed necessary.
3. The regular processing period is 10 working days from receipt of complete documents.
4. The express processing period is 5 working days from receipt of complete documents.

Fees

SERVICE	COST
Basic Fees per Application:
LCCM	¥3,750
Affidavit of Civil Status	¥3,750
Additional Costs as Necessary:
Verification and Translation of Japanese documents	¥3,750
Affidavit of Parental Advice/Consent	¥3,750
Express processing fee (release by 5 working days)	¥1,500 per document required