Death Registration/Death Certificate

2025/6/11

DC, MD, and VA residents only. Please visit HERE to see which Consulate-General of Japan has jurisdiction over your residential address.

 

Death Registration（Related page in Japanese）

When a Japanese national or a foreign spouse of a Japanese national dies in the U.S., either a death register form or a request of changing marriage status must be submitted within 3 months to the Government of Japan and registered to the Official Japanese Family Resister (“Koseki”).

For Death of Japanese National (Submitting at the Embassy)

application form Japanese Death Register Form (Sample / Instructions)
Two ways to obtain the “Japanese Death Register Form”:
  1. Visit the Embassy and fill out the form on site.
  2. Mail a REQUEST FORM along with a prepaid and self-addressed return envelope (9.5" x 12.5" sized envelope with your name and address, and 3 forever stamps included). The Embassy will mail you the register form, then you can fill it out.
 2 (at the window or by mail)
U.S. Death Certificate
Issued by the Department of Health of your county/city.		 1 (original)
Translation of the U.S. Death Certificate 2
passport The concerned person’s passport
The passport will be voided and returned.		 Original
ID Proof of the lawful presence of the concerned person such as a green card or U.S. visa Original
passportID Applicant’s ID (all three IDs listed below are required)
  1. Valid Passport
  2. Proof of current address such as a driver’s license
  3. Proof of lawful presence such as a green card or U.S. visa (For Japanese nationals only)
 Original
 

For death of the foreign spouse of a Japanese national (Submitting at the Embassy)

application form Request of Changing Marriage Status Forms (Sample / Instructions)
Two ways to obtain the “Request of Changing Marriage Status Form”:
  1. Visit the Embassy and fill out the form on site.
  2. Mail a REQUEST FORM along with a prepaid and self-addressed return envelope (9.5" x 12.5" sized envelope with your name and address, and 3 forever stamps included). The Embassy will mail you the register form, then you can fill it out.
 2 (at the window or by mail)
U.S. Death Certificate
Issued by the Department of Health of your county/city.		 1 (original)
Translation of the U.S. Death Certificate 2
passportID Applicant’s ID (all three IDs listed below are required)
  1. Valid Passport
  2. Proof of current address such as a driver’s license
  3. Proof of lawful presence such as a green card or U.S. visa (For Japanese nationals only)
 Original
 

For submissions by Mail

  • Please do NOT submit the original Passport and proof of address (submit a COPY of the passport and proof of address instead).
  • Mail all required documents to Consular Section, the Embassy of Japan.
  • You may also mail a prepared return envelope with your name, address and postal stamps on if you would like us to return the U.S. Death Certificate.
  • The Embassy will not bear any responsibility whatsoever for any loss, damage, non-delivery or misdirection of the passport(s) and other original documents submitted by mail.

Mailing Address

Consular Section/Embassy of Japan, Koseki-Kakari

2520 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Phone: (202) 238-6800


Delayed Cases

In principle, a death register form or a request of changing marriage status should be submitted within 3 months. When you submit a death register form or a request of changing marriage status later than 3 months after the date you recognize the concerned person’s death, you must additionally submit two Letter of Reasons.



Death Certificate（Related page in Japanese）

  • To obtain a Death Certificate (Death Record), an applicant must come to the Embassy in person and submit all of the necessary documents listed below.
  • Fee is $11 (cash only)
application form Application Form (Download the Form) 1
Proof of Death
Official Japanese Family registry (Koseki) or Shibo-Juri-Shomei issued by the Japanese authorities.		 1 (original)
passport Applicant's valid passport Original
Bringing the Ashes/Remains of Your Loved One to Japan
 
  1. By Plane: please obtain a Death Certificate and a Certificate of Cremation. Then please contact the airline company and TSA (Transportation Security Administration) to check their policies.
  2. By Mail: Please obtain a Death Certificate and a Certificate of Cremation. You can ONLY use USPS to mail the remains. Please check with USPS for the necessary documents and details: https://about.usps.com/publications/pub139.pdf
  3. Ship the remains: If you plan to ship the remains of your loved one to Japan, please consult the funeral home and the airline company to check the shipping details. You will need a Death Certificate, Certificate of Non Contagious or a Communicable Disease, and Certificate of Embalming.
 

Office Hours

  • No appointment required.
  • Please check our holidays before visiting.
Location Embassy of Japan Consular Section:
2520 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20008
Hours Monday-Friday 9:15am - 11:30am, 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Embassy map
 

Contact

Consular section:

TEL: (202) 238-6800

M-F 9:00am - 12:30pm, 1:30pm - 5:00pm

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