Complete Guide to Spouse Visa (Japanese Spouse Status) | Documents & Tips

What is the Spouse Visa (Japanese Spouse Status)?

The “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” status of residence is a visa for foreigners who are legally married to a Japanese national. There are no work restrictions, allowing full-time employment in any occupation.

Types of Applications

• Certificate of Eligibility (COE): For bringing a spouse from overseas to Japan
• Status Change: For those already in Japan changing to spouse status
• Period Extension: For renewing an existing spouse visa

Required Documents

• Application form (Certificate of Eligibility or Status Change)
• Photo (4cm × 3cm)
• Japanese spouse’s family register (koseki) — issued within 3 months
• Marriage certificate (with certified translation if issued overseas)
• Japanese spouse’s residence certificate (jūminhyō)
• Japanese spouse’s tax certificate (income and tax payment records)
• Questionnaire form describing how you met and your relationship history
• Photographs showing you together (with family members, events, etc.)

Key Evaluation Point: Genuineness of Marriage

The immigration authority closely examines whether the marriage is genuine and not a sham. Key factors include:

• Specific and consistent account of how you met and your relationship history
• Contact with each other’s families and friends
• Shared language or communication method
• Whether you live together (or clear reasons for living apart)
• Japanese spouse’s financial ability to support the household

Common Reasons for Rejection

• Extremely short period between meeting and marriage
• Large age gap (especially 30+ years)
• Inconsistencies or unnatural details in the relationship history
• Low income of the Japanese spouse (non-taxable income, welfare recipient)
• Previous immigration violations or overstays
• No travel records showing in-person contact during courtship

Visa Duration and Renewal

Initial grants are typically 6 months, 1 year, or 3 years. With consistent renewals and demonstrated stable married life, longer periods (3–5 years) become more likely. Each renewal involves re-assessment of your ongoing marriage.

Pathway to Permanent Residence

As a spouse of a Japanese national, you may qualify for Permanent Residence after just 3 years of marriage plus 1 continuous year of residence in Japan — much faster than the standard 10-year requirement.

Inui Gyoseishoshi Corporation offers free initial consultations in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. Contact us anytime for assistance with your application.