Japan Spouse Visa: Requirements, Documents and How to Apply

If you are married to a Japanese national and wish to live together in Japan, the status of residence you will apply for is “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” (nihonjin no haigusha-to), commonly called the “spouse visa.” This status also covers children of Japanese nationals, but this article explains only the case of a husband or wife of a Japanese national. Please note that it is a different status of residence from “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident,” which applies if your spouse is a permanent resident rather than a Japanese national, and from “Dependent” (kazoku taizai), which applies to spouses of foreign nationals living in Japan with a work or student status.

Which Application Do You Need?

The application you need depends on where you currently live.

• If you live outside Japan: In the usual process, you obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for Status of Residence (COE), receive a visa, and then come to Japan.
• If you already live in Japan: You apply to change your current status of residence to “Spouse or Child of Japanese National.”

A COE, a visa and a status of residence are three (3) different things. A COE is a document showing that Japan’s Immigration Services Agency (the ISA) has confirmed in advance that you meet the requirements. A visa is issued by a Japanese embassy or consulate. A status of residence is the status under which you live in Japan after you enter the country.

A COE is usually applied for in Japan by your Japanese spouse or another relative living in Japan, acting as your proxy. Even if you and your spouse both live outside Japan, a relative of yours who lives in Japan can apply for the COE as your proxy. If you have no relative in Japan who can act as your proxy, please consult in advance with the Japanese embassy or consulate where you plan to apply. Once the COE is issued, you apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate in the country where you live.

Requirements and Documents

In its review, the ISA mainly examines the following three (3) points:

• A legally valid marriage has been established.
• You and your spouse have a genuine marital relationship.
• You can cover your living expenses in Japan.

Regarding living expenses, neither the law nor the ISA’s list of required documents sets a minimum annual income. If you cannot submit income certificates, you can explain your situation with materials such as records of your savings or your plans for work in Japan.

The main documents are as follows:

• You: a marriage certificate issued by an authority of the country of your nationality, a photograph and your passport
• Your Japanese spouse: a family register (koseki) certificate showing the marriage, a certificate of residence (juminhyo), resident tax certificates showing income and tax payment, and a letter of guarantee
• Together: the application form, a questionnaire (an English version is available), and materials showing your relationship, such as photographs of the two of you together and records of social media messages or calls

If the authorities of the country of your nationality do not issue a marriage certificate, you explain the reasons in a written statement. Documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a Japanese translation. Please note that the ISA may request additional documents during the review.

Applying From Inside Japan

Even if you already live in Japan, getting married does not automatically change your status of residence. You need to apply for a change of status of residence at the regional immigration services bureau that has jurisdiction over the area where you live. If you are still engaged in the activities permitted by your current status and your period of stay has not expired, you do not necessarily need to change your status right away. However, if you are no longer engaged in those activities, for example because you have graduated or left your job, please apply as soon as possible.

If you are in Japan on a short-term stay, for example as a tourist, as a general rule you cannot change to this status while you are in Japan, unless there are unavoidable special circumstances (Article 20, paragraph 3 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act). Please confirm how to proceed before you come to Japan.

Please apply for the change before your current period of stay expires. If your period of stay is longer than 30 days and you apply before it expires, you may remain in Japan under your current status until the decision is made or until two (2) months after your period of stay expires, whichever comes first. Please note, however, that during this time you may engage only in the activities permitted by your current status of residence.

Timing and Professional Support

The review of a COE application is currently taking about three to four (3–4) months. According to the processing times published by the ISA (in Japanese), the average for applications approved from April to July 2026 was approximately 90 to 112 days. Please note that this is a national average for approved applications only, and the actual time varies depending on factors such as how busy the regional immigration services bureau handling your application is. We recommend working backward from the date you hope to come to Japan and starting your preparations early.

At Kobe Legal Partners, our gyosei-shoshi lawyer can assist you with confirming the requirements, preparing the application documents, submitting the application to the ISA on your behalf as an application intermediary, responding to requests for additional documents, and receiving the result. For our fees, please see our Visa Application Services page. Please note that additional charges may apply for support in English or other languages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I automatically receive a spouse visa once I get married?

No. You must apply to the ISA and receive permission.

Can I work with a spouse visa?

Yes. Unlike work-related statuses of residence, this status places no restrictions on the type of work you may do.

How long is the period of stay?

The period of stay is five (5) years, three (3) years, one (1) year or six (6) months, and it is determined as a result of the review. If you wish to continue living in Japan, you apply to renew it before it expires.