Guidance

Japan: Knowledge Base profile

Updated 31 October 2024

Version 5.0

About: Japan

This document contains useful information about Japan which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

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Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 5.0

• published for Home Office staff on 25 September 2024

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated to better explain how names are shown in Japan.

Japan: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Japan.

Names in Japan consist of a:

• forename (these can be Japanese or non-Japanese or a combination of both)

• surname (family surname)

A person’s surname is registered in the Family Register (Koseki). This register only includes Japanese citizens. A child entered into the Koseki will be registered with the same surname as the recognised Japanese head of the family (which may be the Japanese mother or Japanese father).

If neither parent or the child is Japanese, the name will not be registered in a Koseki and may be registered at the embassy of the country the parents are from.

Both Japanese and British forenames can be added to a customer’s British passport, (even though only one name is held on the Koseki) if the name appears on the Japan passport.

Names on Japan passports have a strict format:

• only the forename on the Family Register will be shown (where the forename is a combination of Japanese and non-Japanese names, a space can be inserted between them), for example, the Family Register shows the forename as AKIRAJON, the passport could show the forename as AKIRA JON

  • alternative forenames can be shown in brackets if requested and evidence provided

• the surname will be the Japanese family name from the Family Register

  • alternative non-Japanese surnames can be shown in brackets if requested and evidence provided

  • a former surname can be shown in brackets on the passport if requested and evidence provided

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Japan. Where the name change is not due to marriage, this can only be done at the Family Court in Japan. Any change of name must match the Japan passport naming format so the passport can be issued correctly. Once approved, the Family Register must be changed.

When a person gets married they can change their surname and how it is changed is dependent on the nationality of the spouses. Where:

• both spouses are Japanese, one of the couple is added to the family register of the other person and takes on that surname

• only one of the couple is Japanese and they want to take on the non-Japanese surname they must record the married surname on their family register within 6 months of the date of marriage, and their spouse will be added as a ‘remark’ on their family register

  • permission from the family court is needed to add a married surname more than 6 months after the date of marriage

Name alignment

Due to the strict naming format on a Japan passport, name alignment can only happen if it matches the Japan passport naming format. For example, the Japan passport cannot be changed to show a surname which is not Japanese.

When the naming difference is due to the naming format on a Japan passport, HM Passport Office will not ask a person to align their Japan passport or have additional names added in brackets.

We will not ask a person to align their Japan passport if their name on the application appears in the Japan passport in brackets. For example, if the Japan passport shows name as Akira (John) Okada (Smith), and the customer is applying for a British passport in the name of John Smith.

Japan: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Japan.

Dual nationality is recognised in Japan up to the age of 18. If a child is born a dual national, they can retain this until the age of 18 years, they must then choose a single nationality within 2 years.

Japan: legitimacy and parental responsibility

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy and parental responsibility in Japan.

Legitimacy

Japan recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

• legitimate if the parents:

  • are married at the time of birth

  • marry after the child is born

• illegitimate if the parents never marry

Parental responsibility

Parental responsibility is shared between both parents if they are married. If the parents are unmarried the mother has sole parental responsibility.

If the parents divorce they will agree who has parental responsibility, if they cannot decide then the court will decide who has parental responsibility.

Japan: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Japan.

Adoption is legal in Japan.

Japan: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Japan.

Surrogacy is not permitted in Japan.

Japan: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Japan.

Transgender citizens are recognised in Japan.

Japan: civil partnerships

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships in Japan.

Civil partnerships and same sex relationships are not recognised in Japan.

Japan: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents from Japan.

From the 1st of January 2020, all certificates issued showing non-Japanese characters will show the customer’s name as surname followed by forename.

Birth certificates

All births in Japan must be registered within 14 days. The birth must be registered at the Local Ward Office or City Hall in the area where the parents are resident, and the child will be added to the Koseki (family register) if one parent is Japanese. If neither parent is Japanese, the birth may be registered at the embassy of the country the parents are from.

The Japanese Government do not issue birth certificates. There are 2 types of certificates acceptable for UK passport purposes:

• Family registration form – this is each city or ward office’s record of their citizens – acceptable for HM Passport Office nationality and parental responsibility purposes, it will show:

  • child’s name

  • child’s date of birth

  • parent(s)’ name(s)

  • parent(s)’ date(s) of birth

  • parent(s)’ place(s) of birth

• Birth registration form – parents use this form to register a child’s birth in their city or ward office - acceptable for HM Passport Office parental responsibility purposes it will show:

  • child’s name

  • child’s date of birth

  • child’s place of birth

  • parent(s)’ name(s)

  • parent(s)’ date(s) of birth

Marriage certificates

Marriages are recorded in the Family Register (Koseki) if one of the couple is a Japanese citizen.

Death certificates

Deaths must be registered within 7 days.

Identity documents

Foreign nationals who are legally resident in Japan are issued a resident card (Zairyu Card).

Names on Japan passports have a strict format:

• only the forename on the Family Register will be shown (where the forename is a combination of Japanese and non-Japanese names, a space can be inserted between them)

  • alternative forenames can be shown in brackets if requested and evidence provided

• the surname will be the family name from the Family Register

  • alternative non-Japanese surnames can be shown in brackets if requested and evidence provided

  • a former surname can be shown in brackets on the passport if requested and evidence provided