Eligibility quiz
Are you legally married to a Japanese citizen?
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 your representative in Japan, usually your Japanese spouse, to find the immigration office that serves their address. They will apply there for your Certificate of Eligibility.
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 forms
Download the Certificate of Eligibility application form, guarantee form and questionnaire for a spouse of a Japanese national. Your representative can also get the forms at an immigration office in Japan.
Download the formsGather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the immigration office and the consulate.
See required documentsFill in the forms
You and your Japanese spouse should complete and sign the Certificate of Eligibility application, questionnaire and guarantee as required by the forms.
Get help with formsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in Japan's Spouse or Child of Japanese National Certificate of Eligibility application and guarantee forms?”
Submit the first application
Ask your representative to submit the completed forms and documents at the immigration office that serves their address in Japan. Eligible representatives can also apply online.
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 decision
Wait for immigration to examine the application and respond to any requests for more information. Your representative will receive a notice when processing ends.
See how to checkSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I check the progress of a Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National Certificate of Eligibility application?”
Receive your certificate
Get the Certificate of Eligibility from your representative. It may be issued on paper or electronically, and you can use it to apply for your visa.
Find certificate instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I receive a Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National Certificate of Eligibility and use it for a visa?”
Find your consulate
Find the Japanese embassy or consulate that serves the place where you live. Ask how it accepts spouse visa applications.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Japanese consulate serves your city for a Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa application?”
Get the visa form
Get the visa application form for your Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa.
Find the visa formSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I get the Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa application form?”
Fill in the form
Complete and sign the visa application form as required.
Get help with formSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in a Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa application form?”
Submit your visa application
Send or bring your completed visa form and required documents using the method your consulate specifies. The consulate may accept applications in person, through a representative or agency, or online.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa application to the Japanese consulate serving your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the consulate's decision and respond if it asks for more information. Follow its instructions to receive your visa.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa decision take at the consulate serving your city?”
Travel to Japan
Travel to Japan and present your passport and visa to immigration on arrival. You must pass the entry examination before you can enter.
Find entry instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I enter Japan with a Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa?”
Once in JapanOnce in Japan
Receive your residence card
Receive your residence card as a mid-to-long-term resident. If it is issued later, use your passport when you register your address.
Find card instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I receive a Japan residence card after entering with Spouse or Child of Japanese National status?”
Register your address
Once you have an address in Japan, notify the town hall where you live within 14 days. Bring your residence card, or your passport if your card will be issued later.
Find address instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I register my address at a Japan town hall after arriving with Spouse or Child of Japanese National status?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Marriage certificates *
Get your Japanese spouse’s family register showing your marriage from their municipal office, and your marriage certificate from the office that issued it. If the family register does not show the marriage, add a marriage-acceptance certificate; if your own official family register records the marriage, you may be able to provide that instead of your marriage certificate. The Japanese family register should generally be issued within the last three months.
* Only if you apply for a certificate of eligibility or a change of status.
May need translationSpouse’s residence record *
Get your Japanese spouse’s household-wide residence certificate from their municipal office. It should generally be issued within the last three months, omit My Number and include all other entries.
* Only if you apply for a certificate of eligibility or a change of status.
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
Amecan -USA Canada Australia Europe Japan-Visitor & Student Visa Specialist
English Facebook group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Join on Facebookr/Japanrecruitgaijin
English Reddit group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Join on Reddit国際結婚＊配偶者ビザ手続きサイト－Spouse Visa Japan Community－
Japanese Facebook group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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