Spouse of Japanese national Visa

What is a Spouse Visa? What is a Japanese national 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.

table of contents

What is a Spouse of Japanese national Visa?
Applying for a Spouse of Japanese national visa
Key points for a Spouse of Japanese national visa
- Points to note regarding visas for Japanese spouses, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions about Spouse of Japanese national visa
Spouse of Japanese national visa support and fees

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.

	Spouse Visa
Japanese husband or wife	Spouse of Japanese national visa
Children (biological children/specially adopted children) of Japanese	Spouse of Japanese national visa

Conditions for Spouse of Japanese national visa (eligible people)

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

What does “completion of marriage procedures in Japan and home country” mean?

Before applying for a visa for a spouse of a Japanese national, both the marriage procedures at a Japanese government office (ward office, city hall, town hall) and the marriage procedure in the visa applicant’s home country must be completed. about it. In other words, please note that couples who are planning to carry out marriage procedures will not be eligible for this visa as they are currently engaged and the marriage procedures have not been completed.

What does “Living together as a married couple according to Japanese social conventions” mean?

To put it simply, it means that they are living a normal married life in Japan, cooperating and living together. When examining applications for Spouse of Japanese national visas, it is not determined that there is a marital relationship just by completing the marriage procedures on the documents, also “actually living a married life as a couple in Japan” will also be subject to examination.

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.

“A person born as children of Japanese nationals” includes not only children born out of wedlock (those born to married parents) but also recognized children born out of wedlock. This also applies if the person was born overseas rather than in Japan.

“A person born as a child of Japanese nationality” is defined as having a father or mother with Japanese nationality at the time of birth, but even if the father or mother, who was Japanese, lost Japanese nationality after birth. It is possible to obtain a visa for a Japanese spouse, etc.
On the other hand, if the parents were originally foreigners and acquired Japanese nationality through naturalization, the child born before naturalization would not be recognized as “a person born as a child of Japanese nationality” at the time of birth, so the child would be able to apply for this visa. In this case, the child will need to apply for a “Long Term Resident” visa. However, when applying for naturalization, it is common for the whole family to apply for naturalization.

What happens if you are born as a “child of a Japanese”?

If the father or mother holds Japanese nationality at the time the child is born and the child is born in Japan.
If a birth notification is submitted to a government office within 14 days of the child’s birth, the child will have Japanese nationality from birth.

If the father or mother holds Japanese nationality at the time the child is born, and the child is born overseas.
It is necessary submit a “birth notification” and “notification of reservation of nationality” to the Japanese ambassador, minister, or consul stationed in that country, or to the city hall, ward office, or town/village office of your domicile within three months from the day the child is born.
In addition, if a child is born in a country that acquires the same foreign nationality as his or her parents, or if the child is born in a country that has adopted a system that grants citizenship to everyone born in that country (a country based on birthright citizenship), the child will have dual nationality, if the child does not submit a notification of reservation of nationality at the same time as the birth notification, the child will lose Japanese nationality retroactively to the time of birth.
For those who submit a notification of nationality reservation, in principle, they must choose one of their nationalities by the age of 20.

If the Japanese father or mother recognizes the child after the child is born.
If the child is 20 years of age or older, he or she will acquire Japanese nationality by applying for naturalization.

When the child was born, the father or mother held Japanese nationality, but the child does not acquire Japanese nationality even through the above-mentioned procedures such as “notification of birth”, “notification of acquisition of nationality”, “application for naturalization”, etc.
You will need to consider obtaining a Spouse of Japanese national visa.

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.

Applying for a Spouse of Japanese national 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.

International marriage between Japanese and foreigners (Spouse of Japanese national visa)
1	Japanese way
1	Japanese way In the case of an international marriage, the marriage is often established in both countries by notifying the foreign spouse’s country (or the embassy in Japan), but it is not necessary to notify the foreign spouse’s country. In some cases, notification may not be necessary or may not be possible at all. Even in such cases, the marriage is legally valid in both countries. Although there are some differences depending on the Japanese city hall, ward office, etc. where you submit the notification, the following documents are generally required. When registering your marriage, please check the required documents with the local government office beforehand. ❶Marriage registration (2 witnesses required) ❷Copy of Japanese family register (if notifying in a place other than the registered domicile) ❸Foreigner’s Certificate of Eligibility for marriage (Single certificate) ❹Other documents/passports, etc. for foreigners1 For foreign language documents, a Japanese translation is required. *1 A birth certificate that can confirm the name and date of birth of the parents, a nationality certificate (or passport) that can confirm the nationality, and a divorce certificate if you have been divorced are required, but depending on the country, the required documents may change slightly, so please check with the government office where you are submitting your application.
2	Foreign way
2	Foreign way In the case of an international marriage, a Japanese person goes directly to the country of the foreign spouse and carries out the marriage procedures and ceremony there. After that, you will need to come back to Japan and register your marriage at the Japanese embassy or at a Japanese ward office. Procedures for this foreign method differ depending on the country, so it is necessary to check the place where marriage procedures are carried out in each country. Regarding the necessary documents, in order to prove that the Japanese person getting married can get married, generally Certificate of Eligibility for marriage (Single certificate) needs to be submitted. In addition, it seems that you may be required to submit a copy of your family register (for those who have been divorced, a certificate of items stated in the divorce notification, etc.) and a Certificate of residence. Since the documents that are required are determined by the government office of the foreign country where the marriage procedure is being carried out, please confirm before proceeding with the preparations (Japanese documents will need to be translated into a foreign language). Please note that these required documents can be obtained from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or foreign embassies in Japan. Apostille authentication or official seal confirmation/consular authentication may be required.

Flow of procedures when a child is born and the father or mother is Japanese

Birth procedures for children born in Japan (cases for acquiring Japanese nationality)
Please proceed with Notification of birth to the head of the municipality where you are located within 14 days from the date of birth. It needs to be submitted to the Family Registration Division of the municipal office where you live. A birth certificate is required for notification. Based on the birth registration, a resident record and family register will be created at the city, ward, town, or village. In this case, there is no need to apply for permission to acquire a status of residence (visa application) at the Regional Immigration Bureau.

Birth procedures for children born in Japan (cases for acquiring Japanese nationality)

Please proceed with Notification of birth to the head of the municipality where you are located within 14 days from the date of birth. It needs to be submitted to the Family Registration Division of the municipal office where you live. A birth certificate is required for notification. Based on the birth registration, a resident record and family register will be created at the city, ward, town, or village. In this case, there is no need to apply for permission to acquire a status of residence (visa application) at the Regional Immigration Bureau.

Birth procedures for Japanese children born overseas (cases for acquiring Japanese nationality)
1	Please proceed with Notification of Birth notification to the Japanese ambassador, minister, or consul stationed in that country, or to the city hall, ward office, or town/village office of your domicile Within 3 months from the day the child was born. Additionally, if you end up with dual nationality, please note that you will lose your Japanese nationality if you do not also submit a notification of reservation of nationality at the same time as this birth notification procedure. ※A Japanese child born in a country (such as the United States or Brazil) that has adopted a system that grants citizenship to everyone born in that country will have dual citizenship. Therefore, if you do not submit a notification of nationality reservation along with the notification of the child’s birth, the child will lose Japanese nationality retroactively to the time of birth.
2	If you submit a notification of nationality reservation, in principle, you need to choose one of your nationalities by the age of 20. *However, for those with dual nationality who are 20 years old or older as of April 1, 2022, until they reach the age of 22 (if they become dual nationals after reaching the age of 20, they will have to do so within 2 years from the time they became dual nationals) it is sufficient to choose one of the nationalities. For dual nationals who are 18 years old or older but under 20 years old as of April 1, 2022, it is sufficient to select one of the nationalities within two years from that date. Please note that even if the above deadline has passed, you will still need to select one of the nationalities.

Birth procedures for Japanese children born overseas (cases for acquiring Japanese nationality)

Please proceed with Notification of Birth notification to the Japanese ambassador, minister, or consul stationed in that country, or to the city hall, ward office, or town/village office of your domicile Within 3 months from the day the child was born. Additionally, if you end up with dual nationality, please note that you will lose your Japanese nationality if you do not also submit a notification of reservation of nationality at the same time as this birth notification procedure.
※A Japanese child born in a country (such as the United States or Brazil) that has adopted a system that grants citizenship to everyone born in that country will have dual citizenship. Therefore, if you do not submit a notification of nationality reservation along with the notification of the child’s birth, the child will lose Japanese nationality retroactively to the time of birth.

If you submit a notification of nationality reservation, in principle, you need to choose one of your nationalities by the age of 20.
*However, for those with dual nationality who are 20 years old or older as of April 1, 2022, until they reach the age of 22 (if they become dual nationals after reaching the age of 20, they will have to do so within 2 years from the time they became dual nationals) it is sufficient to choose one of the nationalities. For dual nationals who are 18 years old or older but under 20 years old as of April 1, 2022, it is sufficient to select one of the nationalities within two years from that date.
Please note that even if the above deadline has passed, you will still need to select one of the nationalities.

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 for “Certification” procedure

We will guide you through the basic required documents for the certification of a Spouse of Japanese national 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 1 copy of family register (certificate of all matters) of spouse (Japanese) (*1)
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.

Spouse of Japanese national (if the foreign national (applicant) is a biological child or special adoptive child of a Japanese national)


① Application of Certificate of Eligibility 1 copy
② Photo 1 leaf(4cm x 3cm)
③ Family register or removal from register (certificate of all matters) of applicant’s parent (Japanese) 1 copy
④ If you were born in Japan, one of the following documents (*1) 　(1)Birth registration acceptance certificate 　(2)Certificate of recognition notification
⑤ If you were born overseas, one of the following documents: 　(1)Birth certificate issued by an institution in the country of birth 　(2)Certificate of recognition of the applicant (biological child) issued by an institution in the country of birth (only for those with a certificate of recognition)
⑥ In the case of special adoption, one of the following documents: 　(1)Special adoption notification acceptance certificate 　(2)Certified copy of the judgment and finalization certificate regarding adoption issued by the Japanese family court.
⑦ Documents proving the cost of staying in Japan 　(1)Resident taxation (or tax exemption) certificate and tax payment certificate ( 1 year’s total income and tax payment status) (2) 1 copy each 　(2)Others (3) 　　a.Copy of savings passbook (*4) 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
⑧ 1 reply envelope (a standard size envelope with the address clearly written and 404 yen worth of stamps (for registered mail) affixed)
⑨ 1 letter of guarantee (*5) from your spouse (Japanese)

*1 Please submit within 3 months from the date of issue. Regarding (2), submit only if you have notified the Japanese government office.
*2 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.
*3 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.
*4 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).
*5 The guarantor must be a Japanese person residing in Japan (the child’s parent or adoptive parent). Click here (PDF (Japanese), PDF (English)) to find in each language.

From the website of the Immigration Bureau (Immigration Services Agency), please download the “Application Form for Issuance of Certificate of Eligibility” (PDF・Excel) and other materials are also available for download, so please check them out.

Required documents for “Extension” procedure

We will guide you through the basic required documents to extend your Spouse of Japanese national visa (application for permission to extend period of stay). The required documents listed below are basic, and additional documents may be required depending on the applicant’s circumstances.

Spouse of Japanese national visa (if the foreigner (applicant) is the spouse (husband or wife) of a Japanese national)


① Application for extension of period of stay 1 copy
② Photo 1 leaf(4cm x 3cm)
③ Family register (certificate of all matters) (*1) of spouse (Japanese) 1 copy
④ Documents proving the cost 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) (* 2) 1 copy each 　(2)Others (3) 　　a.Copy of savings passbook (4) 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
⑤ Guarantee letter from spouse (Japanese) (*5)
⑥ Certificate of residence (*6) with all members of the spouse’s (Japanese) household listed 1 copy
⑦ Present your passport (*7)
⑧ Present your residence card (*7)

*1 Documents that state the fact of marriage with the applicant (foreigner).

*2 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.
　・If the applicant (foreigner) pays the stay expenses himself/herself, the applicant’s residence taxation (or tax exemption) certificate and tax payment certificate are required (stating your total income and tax payment status for one year).

*3 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.

*4 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).

*5 The guarantor must be a spouse (Japanese) residing in Japan. Please download the format here (PDF (Japanese), PDF (English))

*6 Please omit the personal number (My Number), but do not omit any other information.

*7 Even if someone other than the applicant (foreigner) is submitting the application documents, they must be presented.

From the website of the Immigration Services Agency (Immigration Services Agency), download the “Application for Extension of Period of Stay” (PDF・Excel) and other materials are also available for download, so please check them out.

Spouse of Japanese national (if the foreign national (applicant) is a biological child or special adoptive child of a Japanese national)


① Application form for extension of period of stay 1 copy
② Photo 1 leaf(4cm x 3cm)
③ 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) (* 1) 1 copy each 　(2)Others (2) 　　a.Copy of savings passbook (3) 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
④ A letter of guarantee form the applicant’s parents or adoptive parents (Japanese) (*4)
⑤ Certificate of residence (*5) with all members of the household of the applicant’s parents or adoptive parents (Japanese) listed 1 copy
⑥ Present your passport (*6)
⑦ Present your residence card (*6)

*1 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.
　・If the applicant (foreigner) pays the stay expenses himself/herself, the applicant’s residence taxation (or tax exemption) certificate and tax payment certificate are required (stating your total income and tax payment status for one year).

*2 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.

*3 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).

*4 The guarantor must be a parent or adoptive parent (Japanese) of the applicant who resides in Japan. Please download the format here PDF (Japanese), PDF (English).

*5 Please omit the personal number (My Number), but do not omit any other information.

*6 Even if someone other than the applicant (biological child or special adopted child) is submitting the application documents, a presentation is required.

Required documents for “Change” procedure

We will guide you through the basic required documents for changing to a Spouse of Japanese national Visa (application for permission to change residence status). The required documents listed below are basic; additional documents may be required depending on the applicant’s circumstances.

Spouse of Japanese national visa (if the foreigner (applicant) is the spouse (husband or wife) of a Japanese national)


① Application for change of status of residence 1 copy
② Photo 1 leaf(4cm x 3cm)
③ Family register (certificate of all matters) (*1) of spouse (Japanese) 1 copy
④ One marriage certificate (*2) issued by an institution in the applicant’s (foreign national) country of nationality (foreign country)
⑤ Documents proving the cost 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 Guarantee letter from spouse (Japanese) (*6)
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 confirm 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 Present your passport (*9)
⑪ Present your residence card (*9)

*1 Please check the following precautions.
　・It has a statement of the fact of marriage with the applicant (foreigner). If there is no mention of marriage, in addition to a copy of the family register, a certificate of marriage acceptance is required.
　・Please submit documents within 3 months from the date of issue.

※2 If the applicant (foreigner) is of Korean nationality, etc., and a family register has been issued, a family register issued by a foreign organization that records the marriage of the two people is also acceptable.

※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.
　・Please submit documents dated within 3 months from the date of issue.

*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 check the following precautions.
　・Please omit the personal number (My Number), but do not omit any other information.
　・Please submit documents within 3 months from the date of issue.

*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.

*9 Even if someone other than the applicant (foreigner) is submitting the application documents, they must be presented.

” Application for change of status of residence ” (PDF・Excel) and other materials are also available for download, so please check them out.

Spouse of Japanese national (if the foreigner(applicant) is a biological child or special adoptive child of a Japanese national)


① Application for change of status of residence 1 copy
② Photo 1 leaf(4cm x 3cm)
③ Family register or removal from register (certificate of all matters) of applicant’s parent or adoptive parent (Japanese) 1 copy
④ If you were born in Japan, one of the following documents (*1) 　(1)Birth registration acceptance certificate 　(2)Certificate of recognition notification
⑤ If you were born overseas, one of the following documents: 　(1)Birth certificate issued by an institution in the country of birth 　(2)Certificate of recognition of the applicant issued by the institution of the country of birth (only for those with a certificate of recognition)
⑥ In the case of special adoption, one of the following documents: 　(1)Special adoption notification acceptance certificate 　(2)A certified copy of the judgment and finalization certificate regarding adoption issued by the Japanese family court.
⑦ Documents proving the cost of staying in Japan 　(1)Resident taxation (or tax exemption) certificate and tax payment certificate ( 1 year’s gross income and tax payment status) (2) 1 copy each 　(2)Others (3) 　　a.Copy of savings passbook (*4) 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
⑧ One copy of residence card (*5) with all members of the household of the applicant’s parents or adoptive parents (Japanese) listed.
⑨ One letter of guarantee (*6) from the applicant’s parent or adoptive parent (Japanese)
⑩ Present your passport (*7)
⑪ Present your residence card (*7)

*1 Please submit documents within 3 months from the date of issue. Regarding (2), submit only if you have notified the Japanese government office.

*3 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.

*4 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).

*5 Please omit the personal number (My Number), but do not omit any other information.

*6 The guarantor must be a parent or adoptive parent (Japanese) residing in Japan. Please download the format here (PDF (Japanese), PDF (English)) can be downloaded from.

*7 Even if someone other than the applicant (biological child or special adopted child) is submitting the application documents, presentation is required.

Persons other than the applicant (biological child/special adopted child) (persons who can submit application documents)This page(see), it is necessary to confirm whether or not the person is able to 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). is.

” Application for change of status of residence ” (PDF・Excel) and other materials are also available for download, so please check them out.

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 of Japanese national visa

We will explain in an easy-to-understand manner the important points to keep in mind and frequently asked questions regarding a Spouse of Japanese national 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 a 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.)

Frequently Asked Questions about Spouse of Japanese national visa

.I have a Spouse Visa, how much can I work?

Foreigners with a Spouse Visa have no restrictions on working hours or type of 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?

During the Extension examination, your current living situation may be investigated.
In order to pass this fact-finding survey, it is basically necessary for the couple to live together.
Extension applications can be made from 3 months before the expiration date of your stay.
Please apply for Extension as early as possible.

Who is eligible for a marriage visa with a Japanese person?

A spouses of Japanese national visa is granted for the spouses of Japanese nationals, special adopted children of Japanese nationals, and those born as children of Japanese nationals.

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?

Unfortunately, no. Japan is a legal marriage system country. Even if the authenticity of the common-law relationship is proven, under your current situation, you will not be able to obtain a marriage visa with a Japanese person.

Spouse of Japanese national 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.

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Editor of this article

Ryota Yanagimoto: Administrative Scrivener/Judicial Scrivener

Administrative scrivener corporation Yanagi group representative employee.
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.