Partnership oath in Japan

As of 29 March 2025, 423 municipalities and 31 of 47 prefectures in Japan have established a "partnership oath system" (Japanese: パートナーシップ宣誓制度, pātonāshippu sensei seido, pronounced [paːtonaːɕippɯ senseː seːdo]), also known as "partnership certification system" (パートナーシップ証明制度, pātonāshippu shōmei seido), which provides same-sex (and, in some jurisdictions, common-law opposite-sex) couples with some limited benefits.

The couple is issued a special certificate which may be useful in matters such as housing, hospital visitation rights and consenting to surgery for a partner. However, the system is not legally binding and there is no legal obligation on landlords or hospitals to honour the couples' rights even if presented with a certificate, though cities have encouraged companies, hospitals and landlords to recognize the certificate. The various benefits provided by the system are also very limited in comparison to those granted to married couples; same-sex couples cannot inherit the estate and property of a deceased partner or attend the funeral of a deceased partner for instance. Partners must meet certain requirements, including living in the municipality or prefecture, being older than 20 years of age, and not having a spouse or another partner. In some jurisdictions, the children and other close relatives of a partnered couple may opt to be recognized in the partnership oath.

[kon-1] 1 2 Performed in the Netherlands proper (including the Caribbean Netherlands), as well as in Aruba and Curaçao. May be registered in Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.

[2] Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.

[3] Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.

[usa-4] 1 2 Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations of the US. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.

[israel-5] Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights in Israel. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.

[eu-6] 1 2 3 4 The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. Some member states, including Romania, do not follow the ruling.

[7] A "declaration of family relationship" is available in several of Cambodia's communes which may be useful in matters such as housing, but is not legally binding.

[8] Guardianship agreements confer some limited legal benefits in China, including decisions about medical and personal care.

[9] Hong Kong provides inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.

[10] Indian courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.

[11] Most Japanese cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.

[12] Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse provide residency rights in Namibia.

[13] Romania provides hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status.