Wide-area issuance of family register certificates — you can now apply at a municipal office outside your registered domicile
Source material is a Japanese government announcement (in Japanese); this page is a summary.
From 1 March 2024, family register certificates and removed family register certificates can be requested and issued in Japan at municipal offices other than the one for your registered domicile.
Key facts
| Enforcement date | 1 March 2024 (1 March Reiwa 6) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Act Partially Amending the Family Register Act (Act No. 17 of Reiwa 1) |
| Responsible body | Civil Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Justice (法務省) |
| Where to apply | Municipal offices near where you live or work, outside your registered domicile |
| Combined requests | Even if your registered domiciles are in different parts of the country, you can request them all at one office |
| Who may apply | The person concerned, their spouse, direct ascendants (parents, grandparents and so on) and direct descendants (children, grandchildren and so on) |
| Not available | Partial-matters certificates and individual-matters certificates, and some family registers and removed registers that have not been computerised |
| How to apply | You must go to the counter in person (applications by post or through a proxy are not accepted) and show photo identification |
Last checked:
Under the amended Family Register Act (Act Partially Amending the Family Register Act, Act No. 17 of Reiwa 1), which took effect on 1 March 2024, you can request family register certificates and removed family register certificates at a municipal office other than the one for your registered domicile. Even if your registered domicile is far away, you can apply at an office near where you live or work, and if your registered domiciles are spread across the country you can request them all at a single office. Only the person concerned, their spouse, their direct ascendants (parents, grandparents and so on) and their direct descendants (children, grandchildren and so on) may apply. Partial-matters certificates and individual-matters certificates cannot be requested, and some family registers and removed registers that have not been computerised are excluded.
Background — why this change
Previously, family register certificates could only be issued by the municipality of your registered domicile, so if that domicile was far away you had to apply by post or a similar route. With wide-area issuance you can now apply at an office near where you live or work, and request certificates for registered domiciles spread across the country at a single place.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
Summaries reflect national-level programs. Municipal (city/ward/town) programs may differ — confirm with the official desk before applying.
FAQ
Can I apply by post or through a proxy?
No. You must go in person to the family register counter of a municipal office; applications by post or through a proxy are not accepted. You need to show photo identification such as a driving licence, My Number card or passport.
Whose family register can I request?
You can request family register certificates for yourself, your spouse, your direct ascendants (parents, grandparents and so on) and your direct descendants (children, grandchildren and so on).
Can every certificate be obtained through wide-area issuance?
No. Partial-matters certificates and individual-matters certificates cannot be requested, and some family registers and removed registers that have not been computerised are outside the scope of wide-area issuance.