How to Renew Your Spouse Visa Right After Moving: Key Points on Address Change, Household Registration, and Utility Contracts

Introduction

When you apply to renew your spouse visa (such as the status of residence Spouse or Child of a Japanese National or Spouse or Child of a Permanent Resident) shortly after moving, immigration officers may doubt whether you are truly living together because your household base is not yet fully established.

In particular, the Immigration Services Agency places great importance on evidence of your actual living situation—such as your address on the resident record, household registration, and utility contracts.

This article explains practical strategies to renew your spouse visa smoothly even right after moving.

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🏠 Why Moving Right Before Renewal Can Be a Disadvantage

Shortly after moving, it is common that evidence of your daily life is not yet in place, which can make immigration doubt your cohabitation.

Typical risk factors

• Your resident record (住民票) still shows the old address
• No utility bills have arrived at your new address yet
• Only old-address mail is available
• The move-in date is very close to the application date (with no explanation)

📌 Note

• Immigration examines not only the consistency of documents but also whether the couple is actually living together continuously.
• If evidence is weak, they may suspect a fake marriage or separation and request additional documents.

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📝 Updating Your Resident Record and Household Registration

After moving, your resident record (住民票) and household registration (世帯構成) must be updated first.
If this is not done properly, immigration may assume you are living separately.

Item	Description	Review Point
Moving-in/out notification	Must be filed within 14 days	Register as same address and same household
Separate household registration	Possible even at the same address	Avoid this — often seen as “living separately”
Resident record	Required for renewal	Ensure correct household head and relationship are shown

📝 Practical tips

• Obtain the resident record as “all household members with relationship shown”
• It is preferable to list the husband as household head and wife as a member of the same household

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🪪 Changing Your Address on Various Registrations

After updating your resident record, promptly change your address on all other registrations as well.

Major address changes to complete

• My Number card → updated at the city office
• Residence card → submit a “Notification of Change of Residence” to immigration within 14 days
• Health insurance, pension, bank accounts, employer records → notify immediately

📌 Note

• If addresses are inconsistent, immigration may judge your living situation as unclear
• Keep copies of change notifications and attach them to your application as proof

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💡 Updating Utility and Communication Contracts

Utility and communication contracts are important to prove that you are actually living at your new address.

Item	Recommended Name	Documents
Electricity, gas, water	Either spouse	Bills, receipts
Internet, mobile phone	Either spouse	Contracts, bills
Mail (forwarding request)	Either spouse	Envelopes or shipping slips showing new address

📝 Practical tips

• Old-address contracts left active may be seen as “maintaining two households”
• Contract start dates and usage dates also serve as proof of when you started living there

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📷 Additional Supporting Evidence of Living Together

If resident records and utilities alone are not enough, add other supporting materials to reinforce your case.

Item	Description	Purpose
Family photos in your new home	Taken indoors or at the front door	Shows actual cohabitation
Receipts for furniture/appliances	Delivered to new address	Shows you started living there
Rent payment records	Names of payer and tenant match	Shows continuous residence
Joint bank accounts or health insurance	Shared financial matters	Supports unity as a household

📌 Point

• Don’t rely on a single document — show your living situation with multiple pieces of evidence
• When applying soon after moving, submit more documents than usual for reassurance

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⚠️ Common Mistakes Right After Moving

Avoid the following situations, which often lead to suspicion during the review:

• Registered at the same address but as separate households
• Utility contracts still showing your old address
• Application submitted too soon after moving without explanation
• Only submitting old-address mail

📌 Note
→ These are typical red flags that can make immigration suspect separation or a fake marriage.
Fix these issues beforehand to reduce the risk of extra document requests or denial.

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✍️ What to Explain in Your Application or Reason Statement

When you lack sufficient documents, provide clear explanations in writing.

What to mention

• That you just moved and some contracts are not yet updated
• Which contracts (utilities, mail, etc.) will be updated soon
• That you are currently living together as a couple

📝 Point

• Always explain missing documents in a reason letter or supplementary sheet
• Don’t hide circumstances — instead, proactively address any doubts

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✅ Summary — Show Continuity of Life to Avoid Problems

• Even right after moving, you can renew your spouse visa if you update your address, household registration, and contracts
• The key is to consistently demonstrate that you are living together
• Prepare the three essential sets: documents + photos + explanations to reassure the examiner

Ishinagi Administrative Scrivener Office

“If you would like to obtain a spouse visa quickly and reliably, or if you feel uncertain about renewal or changing your residence status, please feel free to consult with our office in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka. We provide support for clients from all over Japan, making use of our experience in dealing with the Immigration Bureau.

If you wish to proceed with your spouse visa application smoothly and with confidence, please do not hesitate to contact us.

▶ Click here to see our fee schedule”

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