When to Apply for a Spouse Visa in Japan: Right After Marriage or After Living Together? Tips for the Fastest Approval

Introduction

Should you apply for a “Spouse Visa” (Status of Residence: Spouse or Child of Japanese National) immediately after getting married,
or should you wait until you’ve started living together and built a stable household?

This is one of the most common questions among foreign spouses applying for residence in Japan.

Under Japan’s Immigration Control Act, the application is legally possible as soon as the marriage is officially recognized.
However, in practice, the timing of your application can affect how the Immigration Bureau evaluates your case — and even the length of your initial residence period.

In this article, we compare two common scenarios — applying right after marriage vs. after living together — and explain how to plan your timing strategically to achieve the fastest approval possible.

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1. Why Timing Matters in Spouse Visa Applications

1-1. Legally, You Can Apply Immediately After Marriage (✅ Confirmed)

According to the official Q&A of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan,
“An application can be made as soon as the fact of marriage is confirmed.”
In other words, there is no legal restriction on timing — as long as you have a valid Certificate of Acceptance of Marriage (婚姻届受理証明書),
Family Register (戸籍謄本), and Foreign Marriage Certificate, you can apply immediately.

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Q&A on Certificate of Eligibility for Spouse of Japanese National” (Revised 2024)

However, in real practice, applications made right after marriage and those made after living together are assessed differently.

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1-2. Immigration Officers Focus on the “Genuineness of Marriage”

The central question in a spouse visa review is whether the marriage is genuine and based on real cohabitation.
According to officers at the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau ,
if the couple has not yet started living together or sharing expenses,
the first residence period is often shortened to one year (or even six months).

On the other hand, applicants with clear cohabitation evidence and financial integration are sometimes granted a three-year period from the start.

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2. Applying Right After Marriage

2-1. Advantages: You Can Secure Residence Early

For foreign spouses whose current visa (student, work, or temporary visitor) is about to expire,
early submission prevents overstaying and allows a smoother transition to a spouse status.
If the Japanese spouse has stable income and financial capacity,
applications submitted right after marriage are often still approved.

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2-2. Disadvantages: The Review May Be Treated as “Preliminary”

At Osaka Immigration and other regional offices,
cases without clear evidence of cohabitation are commonly given a one-year residence period first.
Immigration then reassesses the couple’s stability at renewal and may extend to three or five years later.

In short:

• Immediately after marriage → Faster submission but shorter validity.
• After living together → Slower submission but higher chance of long-term approval.

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2-3. Common Mistakes

• Submitting before holding a wedding or moving in together → judged as “no actual cohabitation.”
• Having separate addresses on resident records or mail → seen as inconsistent.
• Failing to include an explanation of shared finances → raises suspicion of a “paper marriage.”

These issues often arise from submitting too early without sufficient supporting evidence.

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3. Applying After Living Together

3-1. Advantages: Stronger Evidence of Stability

If several months have passed since you began living together,
you’ll have tangible evidence such as rent payments, utility bills, shared bank accounts, and matching addresses on residence records.
Officers at the Osaka Bureau note that
“When the couple’s daily life is visible through documents, it’s easier to approve longer stays confidently.”

For this reason, many applicants in this category are granted three-year residence periods even at the first application.

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3-2. Disadvantages: Timing Risks Related to Visa Expiry

If you wait too long to start living together or gather evidence,
you may run into timing problems — especially if the foreign spouse’s current visa is expiring or they need to travel abroad.
For status changes within Japan, it’s safest to submit your application about one month before the current visa expires .

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3-3. Practical Timing Guidelines

• Married and living together → Apply 1–2 months after moving in.
• Overseas spouse being invited to Japan → Gather about 3 months of evidence before applying.
• Status change while already living in Japan → Apply 1–3 months after cohabitation begins.

These are general guidelines to ensure the examiner can clearly verify your shared life.

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4. Practical Checklist for Fast Approval

Item	Example Documents	Verification Level
Marriage Proof	Family Register, Certificate of Acceptance, Foreign Marriage Certificate	✅ Confirmed
Cohabitation	Resident Record, Lease Agreement, Utility Bills	🔸 Practice-based
Financial Evidence	Tax Certificates, Withholding Slips, Bank Statements	✅ Confirmed
Social Insurance	Health Insurance Card (same address), Pension Record	✅ Confirmed
Photo Evidence	3–5 photos of daily life, trips, family activities	🔸 Practice-based

Osaka Immigration in particular pays close attention to address and name consistency between photos, utility bills, and resident records.

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5. Recommended Timing by Case Type

Situation	Recommended Timing	Reason
Visa expiration approaching	Apply right after marriage	Avoids overstay risk
Living together, stable income	Apply 1–3 months after cohabitation	Increases chance of long-term approval
Inviting spouse from overseas	Apply 3 months after marriage with evidence	Shows real marriage existence
Preparing documents with a lawyer	Submit once consistency is confirmed	Accuracy is more important than speed

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6. Conclusion: Don’t Rush, but Don’t Delay Too Much

• Legally, you can apply immediately after marriage .
• Practically, the existence of cohabitation makes a clear difference in residence length .
• The key to fast approval is balancing timing and evidence accuracy.

In short: applying too early or too late both carry risks.
Even if the law allows early filing, immigration officers weigh the impression of stability heavily.

At Osaka Immigration, emphasis continues to be placed on real-life cohabitation and financial integration.
If you’re unsure, consulting a professional immigration lawyer before submission is the most reliable way to secure fast and smooth approval.

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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