Spouse Visa in Japan – Application Support by an Immigration Lawyer in Osaka

What is a Spouse Visa? -SPOUSE VISA-

The “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” visa is designed for individuals who are married to a Japanese citizen. In addition, children and special adopted children of Japanese nationals can also apply. This visa category allows for unrestricted residence activities, including work, making it one of the most flexible visa types.

Status or Position in Japan under “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”

Spouse of a Japanese national, special adopted child, or biological child of a Japanese national

As defined above, the “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” visa includes individuals married to a Japanese person, those born as children of Japanese nationals, and those who are legally adopted as special adopted children of Japanese nationals. This page focuses specifically on the visa requirements for those who are married to Japanese citizens.

Definition of Spouse under the Immigration Control Act

Under Japan’s Immigration Control Act, a spouse is defined as a person who is currently married to a Japanese national. Those who are divorced or widowed do not qualify under this definition.

[Requirements for Spouses under the Immigration Control Act]

• The marriage must be legally valid.
• The couple must live together, support and assist each other, and have a genuine marital relationship recognized in society.

Court Ruling on the Eligibility for Residency under “Spouse of Japanese National”

A. Holding a legally valid marriage with a Japanese spouse alone is not sufficient to obtain the status of residence “Spouse or Child of Japanese National.”

B. The applicant must also genuinely intend to engage in a marital relationship in Japan, characterized by a mutual commitment to a permanent emotional and physical bond as spouses.
Source: Supreme Court Judgment on October 17, 2002 regarding the eligibility for residence status as a spouse.

Here, “spouse” refers to someone who is currently in a valid marital relationship. Individuals who are divorced or widowed are not included.
In order to be recognized as a spouse for residency purposes, the marriage must be legally valid in both partners’ home countries and also be acknowledged as a marital relationship under Japanese law. Therefore, common-law spouses are not eligible.
Even if the marriage is legally valid, if the couple does not live together or fails to maintain a mutually supportive lifestyle, it may not be recognized as fulfilling the spouse status under the law.
Generally, cohabitation is expected unless there is a reasonable justification for living separately.

Six Key Points for Spouse Visa Applications

1. The marriage must be genuine

In most cases, couples apply after dating for a reasonable period. Photos taken during this period and records of communication through LINE or emails serve as important proof of a real relationship. On the other hand, if the marriage took place immediately after meeting, or after only one meeting through a matchmaking service, the authenticity of the marriage may be questioned.

Key Evidence for a Genuine Marriage

• Sufficient photographic and documentary evidence
• A reasonably long relationship history with verifiable records
• If there is a significant age gap, no other negative factors present
• Family and friends are informed of the marriage
• Communication is possible without heavily relying on translation tools
• If either party has a history of divorce, there should be no other negative factors
  * Even a single divorce may raise suspicion of a visa-motivated marriage, especially if the previous visa was also a “Spouse of Japanese National,” “Spouse of Permanent Resident,” “Dependent,” or “Long-term Resident”. In such cases, careful explanation of the remarriage is necessary.

2. Living together or planning to live together

• They do not live in a single-person residence
• The couple shares the same address on the residence record (for foreign nationals already residing in Japan)

3. A legally valid marriage

• They are not merely engaged
• It is not a same-sex marriage (as not recognized under Japanese law)
• It is not a common-law marriage

4. The marriage must be legally recognized in both countries

When the couple holds different nationalities, it is possible that while the marriage is legally valid in one country, it may not be recognized in the other. Some countries automatically recognize marriages from the partner’s country, but others require additional procedures. Therefore, it is essential that the marriage is legally valid in both Japan and the applicant’s home country.

5. A stable financial base

The spouse visa allows long-term residence in Japan. To obtain this visa, it must be demonstrated that the couple has sufficient and stable income to support life in Japan. Acceptable income sources include salaries, business income, savings, rental income, and pensions. If the applicant works as a freelancer, independent contractor, temporary or part-time worker, special care must be taken in preparing supporting documents due to the fluctuating nature of income.

Key Points for Proving Financial Stability

• The income must be stable and continuous
• The income must be sufficient
  * Continuous income is generally more important than the amount of savings
• The applicant must be able to sustain living independently (self-support requirement)
• No overdue taxes
  * The Japanese spouse must also comply with tax deadlines and demonstrate legal compliance

6. Good residency record

• If the applicant has applied for refugee status in the past, there must be no other negative factors
• No history of unauthorized part-time work exceeding the 28-hour limit
• No history of illegal stay (overstay) or illegal entry
• No criminal record

6. Good residency record

• If the applicant has applied for refugee status in the past, there must be no other negative factors
• No history of unauthorized part-time work exceeding the 28-hour limit
• No history of illegal stay (overstay) or illegal entry
• No criminal record

Work and Permanent Residency under a Spouse Visa

With a Japanese spouse visa, there are no restrictions on employment, similar to a permanent resident visa. The visa holder may work in any job type, employment status, or working hours.
However, caution is required if the applicant plans to apply for permanent residency in the future.
While the main requirement for the spouse visa is the payment of resident tax, for permanent residency, the immigration office also thoroughly checks the payment status of public pension and national health insurance premiums.
If there are any delays or unpaid records in tax, pension, or health insurance payments, the application for permanent residency may be rejected.
Therefore, if you are working on a spouse visa, it is advisable to work at a company that properly handles these payments.
Freelancers or self-employed individuals should be especially careful not to forget or delay these payments since they must manage them independently.

Changing from Spouse Visa to Permanent Residency

Those who are married to a Japanese national and living in Japan on a spouse visa often wish to obtain permanent residency unless there are special circumstances. Becoming a “Permanent Resident” eliminates the need for visa renewals and, most importantly, offers stable residency status. This stability leads to greater job security and peace of mind in daily life. For this reason, many foreigners with spouse visas aim to eventually obtain the “Permanent Resident” status rather than simply extending their 5-year stay.

Relaxation of the 10-Year Residency Rule

Generally, to qualify for permanent residency in Japan, one must have continuously resided in Japan for over 10 years. However, this requirement is relaxed for spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents.

Specifically, if the marriage has lasted more than 3 years and the applicant has lived in Japan for at least 1 year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency. That said, when a foreign national acquires the “Spouse of Japanese National” visa, the initial period of stay is usually one year. Even after the first renewal, the period is likely still one year. Only upon the second renewal might a 3-year status be granted. As a result, most applicants will need to live in Japan for over 5 years before they become eligible for permanent residency.

Thus, the key to applying for permanent residency from a spouse visa is how quickly one can obtain a 3-year period of stay upon renewal. This is because permanent residency applications require the applicant’s current period of stay to be 3 years or more.

Furthermore, even if the applicant holds a visa other than “Spouse of Japanese National” or “Spouse of Permanent Resident,” such as “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” or “Skilled Labor,” the special exception can apply if the person is married to a Japanese or permanent resident. In such cases, it is recommended to include a written explanation detailing the history of the marriage when submitting the application.

When a Spouse Visa Holder Gets Divorced

If a foreign national who was married to a Japanese citizen and obtained a spouse visa gets divorced, they will generally no longer have grounds to remain in Japan and may need to leave the country.

However, the visa is not immediately revoked upon divorce. The individual can continue to stay in Japan under the “Spouse of Japanese National” status for a certain period. It is mandatory to report the divorce to the Immigration Bureau within 14 days.
Even if the current period of stay is still valid, the visa may be subject to cancellation if more than 6 months pass after the divorce.
That said, if the person has lived in Japan for a long time, or if they have Japanese children to care for after the divorce, there may be a possibility to switch from a “Spouse of Japanese National” visa to a “Long-term Resident” visa.

Please note that such changes are not guaranteed by law but are subject to review by the immigration authorities. For further assistance, please contact the Gyoseishoshi Ishinagi Office.

Application Process and Estimated Timeline for a Spouse Visa

Required Documents for Spouse Visa Application

Please note that the required documents are frequently updated due to changes in immigration law. Always check the latest information on the Immigration Services Agency’s official website.

• Status of Residence “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” (When the applicant is the spouse of a Japanese citizen)
  https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/spouseorchildofjapanese01.html
• Status of Residence “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” (When the applicant is the biological or special adopted child of a Japanese citizen)
  https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/spouseorchildofjapanese02.html

Related Article: For Those Who Want to Learn More About Naturalization

[2025 Edition] Spouse Visa Application in Osaka – Complete Guide to the Process, Required Documents, and Administrative Scrivener Support

No Additional Fees! Clear and Transparent Pricing System

At Gyoseishoshi Ishinagi Office, only the prices listed on our website apply.
Even in cases involving frequent travel abroad, a history of visa denials, or unstable income, no extra fees will be charged.
We provide services based on a transparent pricing system.

Free Resubmission Support If Your Application Is Denied

If an application submitted through Gyoseishoshi Ishinagi Office is unfortunately denied,
we will resubmit it free of charge as long as there is a chance of approval.
We are committed to supporting our clients until their visa is granted,
with the goal of helping them obtain it as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Feel Free to Consult Us Anytime

• You’ve already found a job, but don’t know how to handle the procedures
• You want to change your visa type to a different category
• You want to continue working at the same company, but are unsure about your status or process

Whether it’s before or after starting work, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Please contact us using the inquiry form below.

If you are in a hurry, feel free to call us at
06-7777-3467　
(9:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Monday to Friday)

Please note that we may be unable to answer immediately if we are assisting other clients.
In that case, kindly leave a voicemail, and we will call you back as soon as possible.

About Our Privacy Policy

To learn about the privacy policy of “Ishinagi Administrative Scrivener Office,”
please refer to the link below: