Dependent Visa

Page Contents
・Resident Status: Dependent (Family Stays)
　-Basic Application Conditions
　-Required Documents
　-Working on a Dependent Visa

・Resident Status: Spouse or Child of Japanese National
　-Basic Application Conditions
　-Required Documents: Spouse
　-Required Documents: Child

・Resident Status: Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident
　-Basic Application Conditions
　-Required Documents: Spouse
　-Required Documents: Child

Resident Status: Dependent (Family Stays)

Basic Application Conditions

When applying, the supporter (foreigner staying in Japan) must have enough financial support to be considered able to provide for their family members.
If the supporter is not a company employee, but a non-worker such as an international student, the examination regarding their ability to support dependents will be strict.

First, the supporter's status of residence must be one of the following:

Professor; Artist; Religious Activities; Journalist; Highly Skilled Professional; Business Manager; Legal/Accounting Services; Medical Services; Researcher; Instructor; Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services; Intra-company Transferee; Nursing Care; Entertainer; Skilled Labor; Cultural Activities; Student

If the supporter's visa is for Cultural Activities or Student, the ability to support dependents will be examined closely.

Applying for a Dependent (Family Stays) Visa

When bringing a spouse or child to Japan from your home country for the first time
→ Application for Certificate of Eligibility
If the applicant is already in Japan and holds a specific status of residence
→ Application for Change of Status of Residence

Required Documents

1. Application form

2. Photo (4 cm x 3 cm)

3. Self-addressed stamped envelope (only when applying for Certificate of Eligibility)

4. Original passport and residence card (only when applying for change of status of residence)

5. Documents certifying the familial relationship between supporter and dependent, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate

6. Photocopy of dependent's residence card (if available) and passport

7. Documents certifying the occupation and income of supporter

・ If supporter is a company employee

(1) Certificate proving the supporter's current occupation, such as an employment certificate or a copy of business permit 　(2) Residence tax taxation certificate and tax payment certificate

・ If supporter is not a company employee (non-worker)

(1) Certificate of bank deposit balance in the name of the supporter, certificate of scholarship benefits, etc. 　(2) Documents that prove that the applicant's living expenses can be paid

Period of Stay for Dependent (Family Stays) Visa

The "Dependent (family stays)" visa used to have 11 different periods of stay, such as 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 1 year and 3 months, 2 years, etc. However, due to a revision of the law, the period of stay is now "individually designated by the Minister of Justice (not to exceed 5 years)". In principle, the period of stay is granted in accordance with the period of stay given to the main visa holder (supporter).

Working on a Dependent Visa

Working while on a Dependent visa is generally not allowed, but it is possible to apply for "Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted". This will allow the dependent to work part-time(*) up to 28 hours per week.

However, Dependent visas are based on the premise that the dependent is "financially dependent" on the supporter, so dependents who receive a higher salary than the supporter will not be eligible for family stay.

(*) This part-time work excludes all of the follwowing: working at an adult entertainment business, working in a storefront where sex-related services are offered, working at a business without a storefront offering sex-related services, video transmission-based sex-related services, in-person dating services, or phone-based dating services.

Resident Status: Spouse or Child of Japanese National

Basic Application Conditions

There are three situations in which an applicant is able to apply.

1. Spouse of a Japanese national
"Spouse" is limited to those who are currently in a legal marriage with a Japanese national, and does not include those whose spouse (Japanese national) has died or whose marriage was dissolved through divorce. It also does not include common-law spouses or fiancés, or same-sex spouses even if the marriage has been recognized by another country.

2. Special adopted child of a Japanese national
"Special adoption" refers to a child under the age of 6 who has been separated from their kinship with their biological parents, and who has established a familial relationship with the adoptive parents. Ordinary adoption is not allowed.

3. Biological child of a Japanese national
"Biological child" includes both legitimate children and recognized illegitimate children. However, if either the father or mother has Japanese nationality at the time the child of the foreign nationality is born, or if the father died at the time of birth of the child's birth and had Japanese nationality at time of death, then the child will be recognized as a "child of a Japanese national", even if the father or mother renounces their Japanese nationality.

Applying for a Spouse of Japanese National Visa

When bringing an applicant (spouse) to Japan from their home country for the first time
→ Application for Certificate of Eligibility
If the applicant is already in Japan and holds a specific status of residence
→ Application for Change of Status of Residence

Required Documents

If the applicant is the spouse of a Japanese national

1. Application form

2. Photo (4 cm x 3 cm)

3. Self-addressed stamped envelope (only when applying for Certificate of Eligibility)

4. Original passport and residence card (only when applying for change of status of residence)

5. Copy of the Japanese national's family register (Certificate of All Matters)

6. Marriage certificate issued by an institution in the foreign applicant's home country (country in which they hold nationality)

7. Japanese national's residence tax taxation certificate (or certificate of tax exemption) and tax payment certificate (Total income and tax payment status for the past 1 year must be included.)

8. Identity Guarantee document (specified format) for Japanese national

9. Copy of Japanese national's Certificate of Residence for All Household Members

10. Questionnaire (specified format)

11. Photo (photograph of the married couple, whose identities and appearances can clearly be confirmed)

If the applicant is the child or special adopted child of a Japanese national

1. Application form

2. Photo (4 cm x 3 cm)

3. Self-addressed stamped envelope (only when applying for Certificate of Eligibility)

4. Original passport and residence card (only when applying for change of status of residence)

5. Copy of the Japanese parent's family register or removed family register (Certificate of All Matters)

6. Documents certifying birth

・ If the child was born in Japan, one of the following documents:

(1) Registration of Birth Acceptance Certificate 　(2) Registration of Acknowledgment Acceptance Certificate

・ If the child was born overseas, one of the following documents:

(1) Birth certificate issued by an institution in the country of birth 　(2) Certificate of acknowledgement of the applicant (child) issued by an institution in the country of birth 　(Only for those countries which issue certificates of acknowledgement)

・ In the case of special adoption, one of the following documents:

(1) Special Adoption Acceptance Certificate 　(2) Copies of the court documents and Finalized Adoption Certificate issued by a Japanese family court

7. Japanese parent's residence tax taxation certificate (or Certificate of tax exemption) and tax payment certificate (Total income and tax payment status for the past 1 year must be included.) (*) Only applicable when the applicant is working in Japan/at time of change of status of residence

8. Resident tax taxation certificate (or certificate of tax exemption) and tax payment certificate (total income and tax payment status for the past 1 year must be included) for those who financially support the applicant in Japan

9. Certificate of Residence for All Household Members of Japanese national (applicant's parent or adoptive parent) (For change of status of residence only)

10. Identity Guarantee document (specified format)

11. Certificate of Residence for All Household Members

Period of Stay for Spouse or Child of Japanese National Visa

There are four durations for period of stay: 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years.

Following the divorce or bereavement of a Japanese spouse, your visa status as Spouse or Child of Japanese National will be revoked 6 months after the event occurs. If you wish to continue staying in Japan, you will need to change to another status of residence.

Resident Status: Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident

However, any children will receive the status "Long-Term Resident" instead.

There are no particular restrictions on the activities permitted by this visa, such as working or going to school. You can also engage in employment without restrictions; regardless of your educational background or work history, you can work full-time, manage a company, or engage in other employment. You will not be required to report changes in jobs.

Basic Application Conditions

There are two situations in which you can apply for this visa.

1. Spouse of a permanent resident
"Spouse" is limited to those who are in a legal marriage to a permanent resident and does not include those whose spouse has died or whose marriage was dissolved through divorce. It also does not include common-law spouses or fiancés, or same-sex spouses even if the marriage has been recognized by another country.

2. Children born in Japan to a permanent resident
It is necessary for the child to have been born in Japan to a permanent resident and that the child continues to stay in Japan. "Child" includes legitimate children as well as recognized illegitimate children, but adopted children are not included.

In order to be eligible, either the father or mother was a permanent resident at the time the child (with foreign nationality) was born. If the father died at the time of birth, he must have been a permanent resident at the time of his death. After birth of the child, even if the father or mother loses the status of permanent resident, the child will still be recognized as a "Child of a Permanent Resident".

However, since it is necessary that the child be born in Japan, application is not possible if the mother temporarily left Japan to give birth in a foreign country.

Applying for a Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident Visa

When bringing an applicant (spouse) to Japan from their home country for the first time
→ Application for Certificate of Eligibility
If the applicant is already in Japan and holds a specific status of residence
→ Application for Change of Status of Residence

Required Documents

If the applicant is the permanent resident's spouse

1. Application form

2. Photo (4 cm x 3 cm)

3. Self-addressed stamped envelope (only when applying for Certificate of Eligibility)

4. Original passport and residence card (only when applying for change of status of residence)

5. Marriage certificate issued by an institution in the spouse (permanent resident) and applicant's home country (country in which they hold nationality)

6. Spouse (permanent resident)'s residence tax taxation certificate (or certificate of tax exemption) and tax payment certificate (Total income and tax payment status for the past 1 year must be included.)

7. Identity Guarantee document (specified format) for spouse (permanent resident)

8. Copy of Certificate of Residence for All Household Members

9. Questionnaire(specified format)

10. Photo (photograph of the married couple, whose identities and appearances can clearly be confirmed)

If the applicant is the permanent resident's child

1. Application form

2. Photo (4 cm x 3 cm)

3. Self-addressed stamped envelope (only when applying for Certificate of Eligibility)

4. Original passport and residence card (only when applying for change of status of residence)

5. Documents certifying birth

・ One of the following documents:

(1) Registration of Birth Acceptance Certificate 　(2) Registration of Acknowledgment Acceptance Certificate

6. Documents certifying nationality

7. Other documents certifying the necessity for acquiring the status of residence (only when applying for a Certificate of Eligibility)

8. Applicant's residence tax taxation certificate (or certificate of tax exemption) and tax payment certificate (Total income and tax payment status for the past 1 year must be included.) (*) Only applicable when the applicant is working in Japan

9. Spouse (permanent resident)'s residence tax taxation certificate (or certificate of tax exemption) and tax payment certificate (Total income and tax payment status for the past 1 year must be included.) (*) Only applicable when the parent (permanent resident) is working in Japan

10. Residence tax taxation certificate (or certificate of tax exemption) and tax payment certificate for the main financial provider for the family (*) Not required if the applicant or parent (permanent resident) has submitted a residence tax payment certificate

11. Identity Guarantee document (specified format) for spouse (permanent resident)

12. Copy of Certificate of Residence for All Household Members

Period of Stay for Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident Visa

There are four durations for period of stay: 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years.

Following the divorce or bereavement of a permanent resident spouse, your visa status as Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident will be revoked 6 months after the event occurs. If you wish to continue staying in Japan, you will need to change to another status of residence.