Eligibility Quiz
Overview
The dependent visa (家族滞在, kazoku taizai) allows the spouse and children of a foreign national living in Japan on a mid- to long-term visa to reside together in Japan as financial dependents. It is not a work visa—dependents may not work without separate permission—and is granted only when the family lives together and the sponsor demonstrates stable income to support them.
This pathway is active and accepting applications as of March 2026. It has been part of Japan's immigration system for decades as a standard family reunification mechanism under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
Recent Policy Changes and Compliance Requirements
Stricter Compliance and Data Integration (2025–2026)
In 2025, the Japanese government emphasized "orderly coexistence with foreign residents," leading to increased scrutiny of visa renewals and changes. Immigration screening is now expected to be "continuous," examining whether documents reflect actual living conditions and whether income, address, and family status are consistent over time. Japan is moving toward stronger data integration between immigration, tax, and social insurance systems, which may affect dependent visa renewals.
Health Insurance Compliance (Implementation by June 2027)
The government is developing a system to deny visa renewals or changes for unpaid NHI premiums. System upgrades are planned to start in 2026, with nationwide implementation by June 2027. Ensure all household members maintain current NHI coverage.
Fee Increases (April 2025 and Planned for Fiscal 2026)
As of April 1, 2025, certain immigration-related fees were revised. More drastic hikes are planned for fiscal 2026, with the fee for changing visa status potentially jumping to around ¥30,000–¥40,000.
Naturalization Changes (Under Discussion)
The government is considering effectively raising the required residency period to apply for Japanese citizenship from "five years or more" to "10 years or more."
Rights as a Dependent Visa Holder
- Legal residence — Reside in Japan legally for the duration of the visa (6 months, 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years, typically matching the sponsor's period of stay)
- School and public services — Attend school, hospitals, and other public facilities
- Health insurance — Enroll in the National Health Insurance
- Banking and housing — Open a bank account and rent property
- Work with permission — Not permitted to work by default, but may apply for "permission to engage in activities outside of their visa status" (資格外活動許可), which allows part-time work up to 28 hours per week. Part-time work in adult entertainment industries is strictly prohibited.
- Visa duration — The period of stay is "a period not exceeding five years as designated by the Minister of Justice for each individual foreign national." In principle, the Dependent Visa is valid only for the duration of the sponsoring foreign national's residence in Japan. If the sponsor's visa renewal is denied, the Dependent Visa cannot be renewed independently.
- Path to further status — Depending on circumstances, dependents may later apply for more stable statuses such as Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident, or a work visa.