Eligibility quiz
Was one of your biological parents a Japanese citizen when you were born?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in Japan
You can live in Japan for the period on your residence card: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 6 months.
You can rent housing and open an ordinary bank account on the same basis generally available to lawful residents.
Study in Japan
Holders can attend school or study without changing their residence status.
Work in Japan
Holders can work in any lawful job, change employers or work for themselves without changing their residence status.
They can also choose not to work.
Travel and return
You can leave and return to Japan while your status is valid if you have the required permission to return.
With special re-entry permission, you normally must return within one year and before your stay expires.
You can use a re-entry permit where appropriate.
Use public healthcare
Holders generally join public health insurance through their employer or the national system.
Foreign residents staying over three months are generally covered by the national system if they do not have other coverage and meet its rules.
Insured patients ordinarily pay 30% when receiving care, with exceptions and help for high costs.
Use local services
Holders can use local public services, including consultation, parenting and disaster assistance, under the rules for each service.
Help depends on the programme and may depend on residence, income, insurance contributions and household circumstances.
How to apply
From outside JapanFrom outside Japan
Find the immigration office
Ask an eligible representative in Japan, normally your Japanese parent, to find the immigration office responsible for their address.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Japan immigration office serves your city for a Spouse or Child of Japanese National Certificate of Eligibility application?”
Download the application form
Ask your representative to download the Application for Certificate of Eligibility for a child of a Japanese national, or get it from the immigration office.
Download the formFill in the form
Have the form filled in and signed as instructed, with your photograph attached.
See how to complete itSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National Certificate of Eligibility application form?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the immigration office and the consulate.
See required documentsHand in the application
Ask your representative to submit the completed form and required documents to their immigration office in Japan. Online filing may also be available.
Find submission instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does a representative submit a Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National Certificate of Eligibility application?”
Wait for the certificate
Wait for the immigration office to decide and send you the Certificate of Eligibility. Respond to any requests for more information.
See how to track itSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I check a Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National Certificate of Eligibility application?”
Find your consulate
Find the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for the place where you live.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Japanese consulate serves your city for a Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa?”
Download the visa form
Download the visa application form for your application.
Download the formSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I download the Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa application form?”
Fill in the form
Fill in the visa application form as instructed.
See how to complete itSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa application form?”
Hand in your application
Submit your completed visa form, passport, photograph and Certificate of Eligibility to your consulate, along with any other documents it requests. You can also apply without the certificate, but the decision may take several months.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa application at a Japanese consulate in your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the consulate to decide on your visa and respond to any requests for more information. A Certificate of Eligibility does not guarantee a visa.
See how long it takesSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa decision take?”
Once in JapanOnce in Japan
Travel to Japan
After your visa is issued, travel to Japan and present your passport and visa at the arrival check. If you are allowed to enter, you will receive a residence card at the airport or port, or later by delivery.
See arrival instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I enter Japan with a Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa and receive my residence card?”
Report your address
Once you have an address in Japan, report it to the town hall where you live within 14 days. This registers your address as a resident.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I report my address in your city after entering Japan with Spouse or Child of Japanese National status?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth records *
If you were born in Japan, get your birth-report acceptance certificate from the municipality that accepted the report; a recognition-report acceptance certificate can be used instead if recognition was reported. If you were born outside Japan, get your birth certificate from the office that registered your birth; a document from that office concerning recognition can be used instead if you have one.
* Only if you are your Japanese parent's biological child and apply for a certificate of eligibility or for a change or extension of status in Japan.
May need translationSpecial adoption records *
Get the special-adoption acceptance certificate from the Japanese municipality that accepted the report. You can instead provide a copy of the Japanese family court's adoption decision and its certificate confirming the decision is final.
* Only if you were specially adopted by your Japanese parent and apply for a certificate of eligibility or for a change or extension of status in Japan.
Parent's family register *
Get a full copy of your Japanese parent's family register or removed family register from the municipality that keeps it. It should generally have been issued within the last three months.
* Only if you apply for a certificate of eligibility or for a change or extension of status in Japan.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Renewal and records
To stay longer, you must apply for an extension before your permitted stay expires.
Approval is not automatic, and you must continue to meet the conditions for your stay.
You must keep your residence card and immigration records accurate and report required address and status changes.
Residence can end
Your lawful stay can end if your permitted period expires without an approved extension or another status.
Your status can also end if you leave without valid permission to return, change to another status or become a Japanese citizen.
Fraud, false statements, unlawful residence and other legal grounds can lead to cancellation or removal from Japan.
Spouse status cancellation
If you hold this status as a Japanese citizen’s spouse, divorce or the end of the relationship can put it at risk.
It may be taken away if you live in Japan for more than six months without continuing your life as a spouse, unless you have a justifiable reason.
Before cancellation on this ground, you must have a chance to seek another status or permanent residence.
This six-month rule does not apply to holders who qualify as a Japanese citizen’s child or specially adopted child.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
For Foreigners Living In Japan
English Facebook group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Join on Facebookr/movingtojapan
English Reddit group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Join on RedditMoving to Japan
English Facebook group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Request to joinConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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