Getting married in Las Vegas for Japanese citizens (3-month Kon’in Todoke & Koseki guide)
100% Legally Valid in Japan (Hōno Tekiyō ni Kansuru Tsūsokuhō Art. 24) — Two Japanese citizens (or an international couple) who legally marry in Las Vegas must submit a report-style Marriage Notification (報告的婚姻届 / Hōkokuteki Kon’in Todoke) within 3 months of the wedding date!
Required identification
Valid Japanese Passports (日本国パスポート, 18+) + ESTA.
Do you need an Apostille?
Usually NOT required by Japanese municipal ward offices (区役所・市役所) when submitting an original Clark County Recorder Certified Marriage Certificate + Japanese translation (you may translate it yourself as long as the translator’s name and address are signed!), though ordering one $20 Nevada Apostille provides extra assurance.
Home registry & surname rules
CRITICAL 3-MONTH DEADLINE: Within 3 months of your Las Vegas ceremony date, submit your Certified Marriage Certificate (original) + Japanese translation + Kon’in Todoke form either to your municipal Ward/City Office in Japan (fastest for Koseki update) or to the Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco.
What a Las Vegas Wedding Costs in JPY (All-In Out-the-Door)
Every figure below converts true Out-the-Door USD totals (base package + mandatory cash minister gratuity + venue tax + $102 Clark County Marriage License) into your home currency.
1 USD ≈ ¥153 JPY; excludes your card issuer’s foreign-transaction fee — Clark County and all Las Vegas chapels bill in USD).
Current Round-Trip Airfare Benchmark to Las Vegas (LAS)
Informational round-trip USD economy benchmark for couples and wedding guests flying into Las Vegas. Strictly noncommercial — zero flight sales and zero affiliate tracking links.
LAS)…
How to marry legally in Las Vegas (Japan)
1. Pre-apply on the Clark County Clerk .gov portal using exact Romaji passport spelling
Pick up your $102 USD Marriage License at 201 E. Clark Ave (open 8 AM – Midnight daily).
2. Order 2 Official Certified Marriage Certificates ($20 USD each) ASAP
Because Japan enforces a 3-month reporting deadline, ask your chapel officiant for rapid hand-filing or check Clark County Recorder online 5–7 days after vows so your Certified Copy arrives promptly.
3. File Hōkokuteki Kon’in Todoke within 3 Months at your City/Ward Office
Attach the original Certified Copy + signed Japanese translation (no witness signatures needed on the Japanese form since it is a foreign-method report!).
Pro tips before you book flights
- Separate Surnames (夫婦別姓) Note: When two Japanese citizens marry abroad, Japanese Koseki law still requires choosing one shared family surname upon Kon’in Todoke registration; when a Japanese citizen marries a foreign national, separate surnames remain default unless filing a 6-month surname change notice.
- Cash gratuities in USD: Bring $80–$150 USD in $20 bills to your chapel check-in — many Las Vegas chapels collect minister donations ($50–$100) and limo driver tips ($30–$50) in cash separately from your credit-card package price.
Email me the 🇯🇵 Japan Vegas License & Apostille Checklist
Includes direct Clark County Clerk `.gov` foreign-citizen pre-app instructions, 201 E. Clark Ave pickup tips, and Rush Apostille runner options.
Official $40–$115 DIY Certified Certificate & Nevada Apostille for Japan
Skip $250+ third-party agency markups by ordering directly from Nevada government offices: $20 official Clark County Certified Marriage Certificate + $20 standard Nevada Secretary of State Hague Apostille (or +$75 official 24-hour State expedite = $115 total).
Local licensed officiants offering Rush Nevada Apostille service
Need your Certified Marriage Certificate + Nevada Secretary of State Apostille hand-filed and shipped via DHL/FedEx to Japan?