What is a Spouse Visa? What is a Spouse of Japanese national visa? What is a Spouse of permanent resident visa? Application flow, required documents for application, key points for Spouse visas, etc.
To customers who
☑Want to marry a Japanese person and live in Japan
☑Is a Japanese child who does not have Japanese nationality wants to live in Japan
☑Want to become a special adopted child of a Japanese person and live in Japan.
☑Want to marry a foreigner who is a permanent resident or special permanent resident and live in Japan.
☑Are Children of permanent residents and special permanent residents want to live in Japan.
What is a Spouse Visa?
The Spouse Visa is the residence status in Japan that serves as the foundation for the stay permit of a foreign national who is the spouse (husband, wife, or child) of a Japanese national or a permanent resident (foreign national holding a Permanent Resident Visa).
“Spouse visa” is a common name, but to be more precise, there are two types: “Spouse of Japanese national” and “Spouse of permanent resident visa”. Those who have become a “spouse of a Japanese national, etc.” should apply for a “Spouse of Japanese national,” and those who have become a “spouse, etc. of a permanent resident,” should apply for a ” Spouse of permanent resident visa.”
| Spouse Visa | |
|---|---|
| Japanese husband or wife | Spouse of Japanese national visa |
| Children (biological children/specially adopted children) of Japanese | |
| Permanent resident husband or wife | Spouse of permanent resident visa |
| Children of permanent residents (biological children) |
Next, let’s take a closer look at both Spouse of Japanese national Visa and Spouse of permanent resident visa.
What is a Spouse of Japanese national Visa?
“Spouse of Japanese national visa” is basically a status of residence that a foreign national who has an international marriage with a Japanese person and becomes the Japanese person’s “spouse” applies and is approved.
For this reason, it is commonly referred to as an “International marriage visa,” “Marriage visa,” or “Spouse Visa.”
In addition to those who become Japanese husbands or wives through such international marriages, this also applies to those who were born as children of Japanese nationals or those who were specially adopted by Japanese nationals.
The period of stay permitted with a Spouse of Japanese national visa is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 6 months, and of course, it is possible to extend the period. The unique feature is that there are no restrictions on the activities you can do in Japan, so you can freely choose your occupation and work just like Japanese people. Also the requirements for applying for Permanent residence status of residence will also be relaxed.
- Conditions for Spouse of Japanese national visa (eligible people)
1
Japanese spouse (husband or wife)
Eligible persons are those who have a valid marriage with a Japanese national. A “valid marital relationship” mainly means that the following points can be properly proven with documents:
・Marriage procedures in Japan and the applicant’s home country have been completed.
・Living together as a married couple according to Japanese social conventions.
2
A person born as a Japanese child
“A person born as a child of a Japanese person” is a person who was born as a biological child of a Japanese person with Japanese nationality, but does not have Japanese nationality. If any of the following apply to you, you may be eligible.
・At the time of the person’s birth, either the father or mother had Japanese nationality.
・The child was born to a foreign mother and a Japanese father, and the Japanese father had already died before he was born.
Normally, if you are born as a biological child of a Japanese person (including a child born out of wedlock due to recognition) or if you are specially adopted, you will become Japanese and do not need a visa (status of residence).
So, in what cases would you obtain the status of residence of “Spouse of Japanese National”? For example, the following cases are applicable.
・If you are a child of a Japanese national and have lost your Japanese nationality by living abroad and acquiring a foreign nationality, but still wish to live in Japan.
・If you were born overseas as a Japanese child and did not acquire Japanese nationality at the time of your birth.
3
A person who has been specially adopted by a Japanese person
“Special adoption of Japanese nationals” is basically a relationship between a child under the age of 15 and an adoptive parent that has been recognized by a family court as having “a relationship almost similar to that of a biological child” Children of foreign nationality who are specially adopted by a Japanese person are also eligible for a Spouse of Japanese national visa.
As we have seen here, the people eligible for the Spouse of Japanese national visa are those who are either “spouse (husband or wife) of Japanese nationals” “persons born as children of Japanese national” and “special adoptive children of Japanese nationals.”
| Overview of Spouse of Japanese national visa | |
|---|---|
| Activities | Residing in Japan as a person married to a Japanese person (a person who has become a Japanese husband or wife) Residing in Japan as a person born as a Japanese child or as a person who was specially adapted |
| Period of stay | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 6 months |
| Standard ministerial ordinance | There is a need to prove that you have the applicable status. |
What is a Spouse of permanent resident visa?
The Spouse of Permanent Resident visa is a residency status in Japan designed for individuals who have married a person with a permanent resident visa (becoming a husband or wife), those whose spouse (husband or wife) has acquired permanent resident, and children born in Japan to permanent residents (including those with special permanent resident).
The period of stay permitted under a Spouse of permanent resident Visa is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 6 months, and of course, it is possible to extend the period. The unique feature is that there are no restrictions on the activities you can do in Japan, so you can freely choose your occupation and work just like Japanese people. There are also no age restrictions for obtaining this visa.
Persons eligible for visas, such as spouses of permanent residents
- Spouse (husband or wife) of a person with permanent resident status
- Spouse (husband or wife) of special permanent resident
- A child of a permanent resident who was born in Japan as a child of a permanent resident and continues to reside in Japan
- A child of a special permanent resident who was born in Japan as a child of a special permanent resident and continues to reside in Japan.
| Overview of Spouse of permanent resident | |
|---|---|
| Activities | Staying in Japan as a spouse (husband or wife) of a permanent resident or special permanent resident Born in Japan as a child of a permanent resident or special permanent resident and continues to reside in Japan |
| Period of stay | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 6 months |
| Standard ministerial ordinance | There is a need to prove that you have the applicable status. |
Applying for a Spouse Visa
We will provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the application process, required documents, and average processing period when applying for a Spouse Visa (Spouse of Japanese national Visa/Spouse of permanent resident visa).
The cases that can be assumed for this Spouse Visa, etc. can be broadly divided into 1) cases where a foreigner becomes a spouse through international marriage, and 2) cases where a foreigner’s child is born between an international marriage couple , etc.
To obtain these visas, some procedures must be completed before applying for a visa, so let’s take a closer look.
Flow of international marriage procedures before obtaining a visa
The procedure for a foreign spouse to obtain a visa to live in Japan after marriage can be broadly divided into three steps: Of these, the international marriage procedure will basically be done by yourself.
*The final step of the visa issuance procedure at a Japanese embassy or consulate is not necessary if the foreign spouse you are marrying has already come to Japan for a short-term stay or is already residing in Japan on a student visa or work visa, and only applies for permission to change the status of residence.
In international marriage procedures, the first question is whether to get married in Japan or in a foreign country, and whether the marriage meets the requirements of both parties’ laws (marital age, etc.) and the marriage can be carried out legally. There are slight differences in procedures depending on the nationalities of the parties to the marriage, but in all cases, in order to obtain a spousal visa, the marriage formalities must be completed before applying for a visa.
You cannot apply for a Spouse Visa if you have not completed the marriage formalities (for example, if you are a common-law wife), so please complete the marriage formalities first.
For further information,
Please visit here regarding Spouse of Japanese national Visa,
please visit here regarding Spouse of permanent resident visa.
Visa application process
Now, let’s take a look at the specific application process for applying for a Change or Extension of a Spouse Visa (Spouse of Japanese national Visa/Spouse of permanent resident visa) after completing these international marriage procedures and birth registration for children, etc., the actual “certification” of a Spouse Visa (Japanese national Spouse Visa/Spouse of permanent resident visa)
For more information on the Immigration Bureau (Immigration Bureau) and the Immigration Agency (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Agency), please click here(currently in preparation) for a detailed explanation.
Required documents
We will guide you through the basic required documents for the certification of a Spouse Visa (Japanese national Spouse Visa/Spouse of permanent resident visa) (application for issuance of certificate of eligibility). The required documents listed below are basic, and additional documents may be required depending on the applicant’s circumstances.
Obtaining the appropriate documents tailored to the applicant’s situation usually requires specialized knowledge and experience. It is more reassuring to seek advice from professionals rather than invest significant effort and time only to receive undesired results. (Please feel free to make use of our office’s ” Free consultation ” service.)
- Spouse of Japanese national visa (if the foreigner (applicant) is the spouse (husband or wife) of a Japanese national)
| ① Application for Certificate of Eligibility 1 copy |
| ② Photo 1 leaf(4cm x 3cm) |
| ③ For the spouse of Japanese national: 1 copy of family register (certificate of all matters) of spouse (Japanese) (*1) For the spouse of permanent resident: 1 copy of residence card showing all members of the spouse’s (permanent resident) household |
| ④ Marriage certificate (*2) issued by an institution in the applicant’s (foreign national) country of nationality (foreign country) 1 copy |
| ⑤ Documents proving the expenses of staying in Japan (1)Resident taxation (or tax exemption) certificate and tax payment certificate for the most recent year of the person who will pay the applicant’s (foreigner’s) stay expenses (one year’s total income and tax payment status are listed) (* 3) 1 copy each (2)Others (*4) a.Copy of savings passbook (*5) as appropriate b.Certificate of intended employment or notice of employment offer (issued by a Japanese company) as appropriate c.Documents similar to the above as appropriate |
| ⑥ 1 letter of guarantee (*6) from your spouse (Japanese) |
| ⑦ Certificate of residence (*7) with all members of the spouse’s (Japanese) household listed 1 copy |
| ⑧ Questionnaire (*8) 1 copy |
| ⑨ Documents that prove the interaction between husband and wife a.Snapshot 2-3 leaves (Photographs of two people whose appearance can be clearly seen. Photos processed by an app are not acceptable.) b.Other (what can be submitted below) ・SNS records ・Call records |
| ⑩ 1 reply envelope (a standard-size envelope with the address clearly written and 404 yen worth of stamps (for registered mail) affixed) |
*1 Documents that state the fact of marriage with the applicant (foreigner). If there is no mention of the fact of marriage, submit a copy of the family register and a certificate of receipt of marriage notification.
*2 If the applicant (foreigner) is of Korean nationality, etc., and a family register has been issued, a family register issued by a foreign institution that records the marriage of the two people may also be used.
*3 Please check the following precautions.
・It will be issued by the ward office, city hall, or government office of the municipality where you live as of January 1st of that year.
・If both the total income and tax payment status (whether or not taxes are paid) for one year are written, either one is fine.
*4 If you are unable to prove your stay expenses using the documents in (1) because you have just entered Japan or moved, please submit documents a ~ c.
*5 A copy of your web passbook screen (something that shows your transaction history) is acceptable. However, it must be printed without any modification (excel files etc. are not accepted).
*6 The guarantor must be a spouse (Japanese) residing in Japan. Please download the format here (PDF (Japanese), PDF (English))
*7 Please omit the personal number (My Number), but do not omit any other information.
*8 Click here PDF (Japanese)、PDF (English)、PDF (Simplified Chinese)、PDF (Traditional Chinese)、PDF (Korean)、PDF (Portuguese)、PDF (Spanish)、PDF (Tagalog)、PDF (Vietnamese)、PDF (Thai)、PDF (Indonesian) to find in each language.
For those other than the applicant (foreigner) (for those who can submit application documents, please refer to This page), it is necessary to confirm whether or not the person can submit the application documents, so it is necessary to present a document proving the identity of the person submitting the application documents (such as a copy of the family register).
If the name on the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and the name on the passport are different, the procedure may take time due to confirmation during each procedure before entering the country, so please submit the form below. So please also submit a copy of your passport at the time of application if possible.
From the website of the Immigration Bureau (Immigration Services Agency), please download the “Application Form for Certificate of Eligibility” (PDF・Excel) and other materials are also available for download, so please check them out.
- Please visit here for further information regarding Spouse of Japanese national visa (Including the case the applicant (foreign national) is the biological or adopted child of a Japanese national)
- Please visit here for further information regarding Spouse of permanent resident visa.
Documents Required for ‘Extension’ and ‘Change’ Procedures
For the basic necessary documents for the Extension (application for extension of period of stay) and Change (application for change of status of residence) of the Spouse Visa (Japanese Spouse Visa/Spouse or Dependent of a Permanent Resident Visa), please refer to the following.
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/spouseorchildofpermanentresident.html
Average Processing Period
The average processing period for a Spouse Visa (Spouse of Japanese national visa, Spouse of permanent resident visa) is approximately 1 to 3 months. This is just a standard, and the examination period will vary depending on the applicant’s application details and circumstances, as well as the congestion status of the application reception at the Immigration Bureau/Immigration Bureau.
Key points for a Spouse visa
We will explain in an easy-to-understand manner the important points to keep in mind and frequently asked questions regarding Spouse Visas ( Spouse of Japanese national visa, Spouse of permanent resident visa).
Points to note regarding visas for Japanese spouses, etc.
We will explain the points you should be aware of when applying for a Spouse of Japanese national.
Marriage can take many forms depending on the circumstances of each couple, but when applying for a Spouse Visa for a Japanese national, it may take a variety of forms depending on the circumstances of the foreign spouse and the couple. The examination may become stricter.
We will explain in each case when it affects the examination and how to respond.
Case 1: There is an age difference between the couple
There is no clear standard for the age difference between couples in screening. However, if there is a large age difference between the couple, this will inevitably become an important point in the visa application process.
If there is a large age difference between the couple, in addition to the prescribed materials, prepare materials that can be used to explain to a third party the circumstances leading up to the couple’s marriage and the current status of their married life to a third party is important.
Case 2: Not living together
If the foreign spouse is already living in Japan, but the couple is separated and no longer living together, the examination will inevitably become stricter, not only in terms of documents but also in terms of the actual state of the marital relationship. It is important to prepare materials that rationally explain why you are living separately and not living together, such as if you are forced to move away from home due to work-related demands. It is also necessary to explain how the dependents will be supported during the period of separation. By the way, even if a Spouse of Japanese national visa is granted, if the spouse continues to live separately without living together for no acceptable reason, it could be considered that the spouse doesn’t continue to act as a spouse for more than 6 months and the status of residence may be revoked.
Case 3: The period of dating before marriage is extremely short
Even if the period of dating before marriage is extremely short, such as when the couple got married within a week of meeting, this is a point that will be taken into consideration when examining applications for Spouse of Japanese national visas.
Of course, the decision to get married is the will of the two people, it does not mean that there is a required period of dating before marriage, but when applying for a visa, it is important to explain the circumstances leading up to the meeting and the marriage. It is a good idea to prepare documents proving that the people around you, such as relatives and friends approve the marriage.
Case 4: Both husband and wife have a history of divorce.
If one or both of the spouses has a history of divorce, this is one of the points that is taken into consideration when examining a Spouse of Japanese national visa application. It is necessary to prepare in advance materials such as those in Cases 1 and 3, as well as materials explaining the reason for the divorce.
Case 5: Japanese spouse’s income is considerably lower than the average annual income
In such cases, the couple may be concerned about their financial ability to support their married life.
In such cases, it is necessary to prepare documents such as the foreign spouse’s income and assets, or to ensure that the Japanese spouse has sufficient assets to maintain a stable married life. You will be required to submit documents explaining your economic circumstances.
Just as there are various types of marriage, the circumstances of each couple also vary, and the supporting materials that must be prepared when applying for a visa also vary accordingly. Additionally, more than one of the cases listed here may apply, in which case multiple supplementary materials may be required.
In order for couples to be able to live their married life in Japan with peace of mind, our experts carefully listen to each couple and provide application materials and documents according to the couple’s circumstances. We propose and create supplementary materials. If you have any concerns or concerns, please feel free to contact our office. (Please feel free to make use of our office’s ” Free consultation ” service.)
Please check here for the key points of Spouse of permanent resident visa.
Frequently Asked Questions about Spouse visa
.I have a Spouse Visa, how much can I work?
Although there are no restrictions on the scope of activities, if you continue to work in a business such as a hostess or in an occupation to which the Entertainment Business Law applies, the permission possibility will decrease. This is because if the marriage is genuine, it is generally thought that it is unlikely that the couple will continue to work in the above types of jobs, and it would be suspected that the marriage was a fake marriage for the purpose of obtaining a visa. If the situation requires you to continue, a rational reason will be required.
On the other hand, if you have a dependent visa, you will need to obtain permission to engage in activities other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted in order to work in Japan.
This permit allows you to work up to 28 hours a week, and there are some occupations that are prohibited.
What should I be careful about when extending my Spouse Visa?
Who is eligible for a marriage visa with a Japanese person?
We have been in a common-law relationship for over 10 years. I have not submitted a marriage notification to the government office, but is it possible to obtain a marriage visa with a Japanese person in this situation?
Spouse visa support and fees
Support and costs for Spouse Visas (Spouse of Japanese national visa, Spouse of permanent resident visa) are as follows.
| Support content | Application document check plan (Consumption tax included) |
Application document creation plan (Consumption tax included) |
Reliable full support plan (Consumption tax included) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free consultation (first time only) | 0 yen | 0 yen | 0 yen |
| Spouse visa “Certification” application support | From 55,000 yen | From 110,000 yen | From 132,000 Yen |
| Spouse visa “Extension” application support | From 33,000 yen | From 33,000 yen | From 55,000 yen |
| Spouse visa “Change” application support | From 55,000 yen | From 110,000 yen | From 132,000 Yen |
When applying for a visa, you need to decide and manage what materials are needed and what materials are not needed, as well as schedules and preparations such as what materials must be prepared by when. There are many things, such as management, that are difficult to do without specialized knowledge or experience.
Also, even if you spend a lot of time and effort on something difficult like this, there are many cases where you are not able to get the results you want.
At our office, we support these types of visa applications in a kind, courteous, and speedy manner while carefully listening to the applicant’s situation, providing support with the peace of mind and satisfaction that only professionals can provide.
In order to better resolve applicants’ problems, as necessary, our legal group provides one-stop legal services in collaboration with administrative scriveners, lawyers, judicial scriveners, and other professionals.
We also have foreign staff who can speak English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Nepali.
Please feel free to contact our office for a consultation.
For consultations, please use the “Free Consultation” service, where you can consult with a specialist free of charge (for the first time only) from here.
Editor of this article
- Ryota Yanagimoto
- Administrative Scrivener/Judicial Scrivener
At the age of 24, he passed the national examinations for judicial scrivener, administrative scrivener, and wage service manager at the same time.
While working as a full-time lecturer at a major prep school, he independently opened a legal office related to judicial scriveners and administrative scriveners,
and he has experience as a judicial scrivener and an administrative scrivener for more than 15 years so far.
He has been actively contributing to various industries such as publicly listed companies, real estate companies, financial institutions, elderly care services, and professional organizations by conducting seminars, lectures, and talks.
And now he has a record of over 60 presentations so far.
Furthermore, as the president of a Japanese language school announced by the Ministry of Justice and Acts, and an advisor to a real estate company (capable of handling foreign clients),
he has been involved in various aspects of industries related to foreigners.
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