Eligibility Quiz
Application Process
You submit your application through Japan's regional immigration bureaus. The process differs depending on whether you're entering Japan for the first time, already in Japan on a different visa, or renewing an existing status.
If You're Entering Japan for the First Time (Certificate of Eligibility)
Your permanent resident spouse or parent submits the application on your behalf in Japan. They cannot submit it from abroad.
Step 1: Gather documents (permanent resident sponsor)
Your sponsor collects the following:
- Certificate of Eligibility application form (available in PDF or Excel)
- One 4 cm × 3 cm photograph of you (not required if you're under 16)
- Pre-addressed envelope with postage for registered mail return
- Your marriage certificate (if spouse applicant) or birth certificate (if child applicant), issued by your home country or Japan's municipal office. If you hold a nationality with family registers (such as Korea), a family register showing the marriage or birth may substitute
- Proof of your sponsor's financial capacity — most recent 1 year of resident tax certificate (課税証明書) and tax payment certificate (納税証明書) showing total annual income and tax payment status. If your sponsor recently arrived in Japan or relocated, alternative documents such as bank statements, employment offer letters, or similar proof are acceptable
- Guarantor form (身元保証書) — completed by your sponsor, available in Japanese and English versions
- Resident record (住民票) showing all household members, with personal number (マイナンバー) omitted
- Questionnaire (質問書) — available in English, Chinese (simplified/traditional), Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian
- Evidence of genuine marital relationship (spouse applicants only) — 2–3 snapshot photographs showing both of you clearly, without app-based filters or editing, plus SMS/SNS records or call logs demonstrating ongoing communication
Important: All documents issued in Japan must be dated within 3 months of submission. Foreign-language documents must include certified Japanese translations. If your name on documents differs from your passport, provide a passport copy to avoid delays at entry.
Step 2: Submit application (permanent resident sponsor)
Your sponsor submits the application in person or by mail to the regional immigration bureau (地方出入国在留管理局) with jurisdiction over their residence. Find your local bureau on the Immigration Services Agency website.
Step 3: Immigration examination
Immigration examines the application, typically over 1–3 months. They assess the genuineness of your relationship, your sponsor's financial stability, and your sponsor's tax and social insurance compliance.
Step 4: Receive Certificate of Eligibility
If approved, your sponsor receives the Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書). Your sponsor forwards it to you.
Step 5: Apply for visa at Japanese embassy or consulate
You apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country or country of residence, presenting the Certificate of Eligibility and your passport. Processing typically takes 1–2 weeks.
Step 6: Enter Japan and receive residence card
Upon arrival in Japan, you receive a residence card (在留カード) at the airport or port of entry, valid for the period of stay granted (typically 1, 3, or 5 years).
If You're Already in Japan on a Different Visa (Status Change)
You apply directly to the immigration bureau.
Step 1: Gather documents
Collect the same documents as the Certificate of Eligibility application (marriage/birth certificate, financial documents, guarantor form, questionnaire, evidence of relationship), plus:
- Your passport
- Your current residence card
Step 2: Submit application
Submit your application in person to the regional immigration bureau with jurisdiction over your residence. You cannot submit by mail for status change applications.
Step 3: Immigration examination
Immigration examines your application, typically over 2–4 weeks to several months, depending on document completeness and bureau workload.
Step 4: Receive new residence card
If approved, you receive a new residence card reflecting your new status.
Important: If your previous visa required you to engage in specific activities (for example, a work visa), you must cease those activities immediately and apply for status change promptly. Continuing the previous activity while your application is pending may result in status cancellation.
If You Already Hold This Status and Need to Renew (Period of Stay Renewal)
Step 1: Gather documents
Collect:
- Renewal application form (在留期間更新許可申請書)
- Your passport and residence card
- Proof that your marital relationship continues (spouse applicants) — marriage certificate, joint utility bills, joint bank account statements, or similar
- Proof that your child continues to reside in Japan (child applicants) — school enrollment, residence record, or similar
- Updated financial documents — resident tax certificate and tax payment certificate for the most recent tax year
- Updated guarantor documents — guarantor form and resident record
- Proof of tax and social insurance compliance — payment certificates showing no arrears
Step 2: Submit application
Submit your application in person to the regional immigration bureau with jurisdiction over your residence, before your current residence card expires. There is no grace period for late renewal.
Step 3: Immigration examination
Immigration examines your application, typically over 2–4 weeks if documents are complete.
Step 4: Receive new residence card
If approved, you receive a new residence card with an extended period of stay.
If You Were Born in Japan to a Permanent Resident but Don't Yet Have This Status (Status Acquisition)
Step 1: Gather documents
Collect:
- Status acquisition application form (在留資格取得許可申請書)
- Your birth certificate (issued by Japan's municipal office)
- Proof of your permanent resident parent's identity and status — parent's residence card and family register
- Proof of your continuous residence in Japan — residence record or school enrollment
- Financial documents showing your parent's ability to support you
Step 2: Submit application
Submit your application in person to the regional immigration bureau with jurisdiction over your residence.
Step 3: Immigration examination
Immigration examines your application, typically over 1–3 months.
Step 4: Receive residence card
If approved, you receive a residence card with "Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident" status.
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Eligibility application | No fee |
| Status change application | ¥6,000 |
| Period of stay renewal | ¥6,000 |
| Status acquisition application | ¥6,000 |
Current total estimate: ¥6,000 for status change, renewal, or acquisition (as of April 1, 2025).
Does not include: Translation services (¥50–¥200 per page for certified Japanese translation), apostille certification for foreign documents (¥10–¥50 per document), or optional immigration lawyer/administrative scrivener fees (¥50,000–¥150,000 for full application support).
Important: Major Fee Increases Coming
On March 10, 2026, Japan's Cabinet approved a bill to significantly raise immigration-related fees, marking the first major revision to statutory fee ceilings since 1982. Implementation is expected before March 31, 2027.
Proposed new fees (not yet finalized):
- Status change or extension of stay: Expected to rise to approximately ¥30,000–¥70,000 (tiered by length of stay), up from the current ¥6,000
- Permanent residence applications: Expected to rise to approximately ¥100,000–¥200,000, up from the current ¥10,000
The statutory cap for status change/extension is being raised from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000, and for permanent residence from ¥10,000 to ¥300,000. Actual fees will be set by Cabinet ordinance.
Recommendation: If you are eligible to apply now, consider submitting your application before the new fee structure takes effect to avoid significantly higher costs.
Processing Time
Current Processing Times (As of March 2026)
Certificate of Eligibility application: 1–3 months
Status change application: 2–4 weeks to several months, depending on document completeness and immigration bureau workload. Major urban bureaus (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya) may take longer.
Period of stay renewal: 2–4 weeks if all documents are complete and current
Status acquisition application: 1–3 months
Factors That Affect Speed
- Completeness of documents — Incomplete applications are returned, causing significant delays
- Immigration bureau workload — Larger bureaus in major cities process more applications and may have longer wait times
- Complexity of your case — Applications requiring additional investigation or document verification take longer
- Requests for additional documents — If immigration asks for supplementary documents during examination, processing time extends
Document Validity Periods
- Resident tax and tax payment certificates: Must be dated within 3 months of submission
- Resident record: Must be dated within 3 months of submission
- Marriage certificate and birth certificate: No expiration, but should be recent (within 1 year) to demonstrate current status
Known Delays
As of March 2026, there are no systematic backlogs specific to this status. However, the overall foreign resident population in Japan reached 4.13 million at the end of 2025, the highest on record, which may contribute to longer processing times in some regions.