In order to alleviate the difficulties and hardships of sexual minorities and others who are unable to use the marriage system or adoption system due to various circumstances, and for the realization of a society where human rights are respected and each person's individuality and diverse values and lifestyles are accepted, the City of Nagoya Familyship System has been introduced.

Start date

Reservations began on 14 Nov. 2022, and declarations began on 1 Dec. 2022.

Overview

Two people who mutually view one another as life partners and live, or promise to live, continuously together as equals in their daily lives can make a declaration to the City, and the City will issue a Declaration Receipt. If the couple have a child who shares their livelihood, the child's name may be included on the Declaration Receipt, etc. if they wish.

Declaration requirements

To take a Familyship Declaration, a couple must meet the following conditions.

1. 1. Both parties must be adults (18 years old and over).
   2. At least one party must have an address in Nagoya City, or is planning to move to Nagoya City.
   3. The declarants must not be married to each other.
   4. Neither party is married (including de facto marriage) to a person other than the other declarant, nor part of another familyship.
   5. Both parties must not be close relatives (related to a degree that marriage is not permitted, as stipulated in the Civil Code). (This excludes cases where the child is adopted or has been adopted.)

Procedure for making a Declaration 

Make a reservation for your Declaration (beforehand)

In principle, the reservation should be made from three months before, and up to one week before the preferred date of the Declaration, by the following methods.

Reservations:

City of Nagoya Sports and Citizens Affairs Bureau Citizens Life Department Gender Equality Promotion Office (スポーツ市民局市民生活部男女平等参画推進室) 
1. Phone: 052-972-2234 Weekdays 9:00 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 17:00 
2. Fax: 052-972-4206
3. Online application form (https://logoform.jp/f/upw0A , Japanese)

When making a reservation, please provide the following information.

(1) Preferred date and time (up to 3) to make the Declaration, and time when it would be possible for declarants to make the Declaration (weekdays 10:00 - 16:30)
(2) Full names (with furigana) of both parties making the Declaration
In addition, please provide the information indicated in the following cases.
Taking the oath under a nickname: provide the nickname
Declarant is a foreign national: provide the nationality
Child's name to be included: provide child's name (with furigana)
(3) Daytime contact information for the representative

• • • • • After receipt of the reservation, the City of Nagoya will contact you within two business days to coordinate and confirm the date and time of the Declaration, place, required documents, etc. If you are not contacted within this period, please call the Gender Equality Promotion Office (phone: 052-972-2234).
        • Please note that, depending on the circumstances, it may not be possible to arrange the Declaration on the dates or times requested.

Familyship Declaration (on the day)

• • Place: In principle, E-Able Nagoya (Nagoya City Gender Equality Promotion Center), Naka Ward (中区) Oi-machi (大井町) 7-25
    *The Declaration cannot be made at ward offices.
    *In consideration for privacy, the Declaration will be made in a private room in principle.
  • Please be sure to have the necessary documents with you, and have both parties present when attending the Declaration appointment at the specified date and time. (The written Declaration will be prepared by the City)

Issuance of Familyship Declaration Receipt, etc. (around one week after making Declaration)

• • After confirmation of the documents submitted in relation to the Declaration, the City will issue a Familyship Declaration Receipt, Familyship Declaration Receipt Card and a copy of the Declaration to the declarants.
  • Issuance takes around one week from the time the Declaration is made. Declarants will be notified once the receipt, etc. has been prepared; a form of identification is required when you come to receive it. If you are unable to pick it up in person, the receipt, etc. can be sent by post.

When including a child's name

• • If one or both declarants have a child living with them, and the declarants wish to include the child's name on the receipt, etc., documentation confirming the relationship with the child can be submitted, and the child's name can be included.
  • If the child to be included is aged 15 or over, the child can fill in the 'child' section of the written Declaration. (If, for some reason, the child is unable to write their own name, it may be written by another person; please inquire beforehand.)
  • To add or remove a child's name after making the Declaration, please submit a Familyship Declaration Amendment Notification.

Considerations

• The City of Nagoya Familyship System does not have legal effects (e.g. it is not legally equivalent to marriage, has no legal effect on inheritance of assets, does not qualify one for a spouse deduction for tax, etc.).
• No fee is required for making the Declaration or issuance of the receipt, etc.
  *Fees for issuance of documents required for the Declaration shall be borne by the declarants.

Required documents

1. Written Familyship Declaration (prepared by the City)
2. A copy of the declarant's resident register, or Certificate of Details Recorded on Resident Register (with Individual Number ['My Number'], registered domicile, name of head of household and relationship, resident register code omitted)
3. Documentation confirming the address to which declarants intend to move (if both plan to move to Nagoya City)
4. Documentation confirming declarants are not married (certificate of non-marriage, etc.)
   *Foreign nationals should provide documentation issued by the authorities of your home country certifying that you do not have a spouse (e.g. Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage), and attach a Japanese translation.
5. Documentation confirming that the declarant uses the nickname to be included in the Declaration (if a declarant wishes to make the Declaration under a nickname)
6. Documents verifying each declarant's identity
7. Documentation verifying relationship to child (if declarant wishes to include the name of a child)

City of Nagoya services that can be used with a Declaration Receipt, etc.

By presenting a Familyship Declaration Receipt or Receipt Card, etc., declarants can use a number of City of Nagoya services.
For example, you can have your partner, etc. recorded as a 'relative' (縁故者) on your resident register. If you meet the eligibility criteria for municipal housing, you can move in together with your partner, etc.
For details on the services available, please see the City of Nagoya website.

Relevant information on the City of Nagoya website