1.
marriage registration form; notification of marriage
The official document submitted to a local government office to legally register a marriage in Japan. Submitting this form is what makes a marriage legally valid — no ceremony is required.
Composed of 婚姻 (marriage) and 届 (notification/report). In Japan, marriage becomes legal when this form is accepted at a municipal office — no wedding ceremony is legally required. The form requires signatures from the couple and two adult witnesses.
Common collocations
- 婚姻届を出す: to submit a marriage registration
- 婚姻届を提出する: to submit a marriage registration (formal)
- 婚姻届が受理される: the marriage registration is accepted
- 婚姻届の書き方: how to fill out a marriage registration
Cultural note
Many couples choose a meaningful date to submit their 婚姻届, such as a holiday, anniversary, or auspicious day. Some municipal offices accept forms 24 hours a day. Recently, some municipalities offer decorative 婚姻届 designs featuring local characters or landmarks.
Related words
- 離婚届: divorce registration form
- 出生届: birth registration form
- 入籍: entering the family register — often used colloquially as a synonym for getting legally married