What Is the Japan Dependent Visa? A Complete Guide to Eligible Family Members, Required Documents and Working Hours

Note: This article is based on Japanese laws and materials published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) as of October 9, 2026.

A dependent visa (status of residence "Dependent", 家族滞在) is a status of residence for the spouse and children supported by a person who is in Japan with a status of residence for work or study. Parents and brothers and sisters are not covered. It is also not available when the person providing the support holds Specified Skilled Worker (i) (特定技能1号) or Technical Intern Training (技能実習).

To work, a person with Dependent status needs permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence previously granted (資格外活動許可). Under comprehensive permission (包括許可, a permission granted without specifying the place of employment), work is allowed within 28 hours per week. This article explains which family members are eligible, the required documents, the procedures and processing times, and what happens when the situation of the supporter (扶養者: the person who supports the family, that is, the person who is in Japan with a status of residence for work or study) changes, in line with the Immigration Control Act (入管法) and materials published by the ISA.

What is the dependent visa?

Dependent is a status of residence under which a spouse or child who is supported by a person residing in Japan with certain statuses of residence carries out daily activities. "Dependent visa" is a common name; the name under the Immigration Control Act (the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, 出入国管理及び難民認定法) is the status of residence "Dependent" (家族滞在).

The Immigration Control Act defines the activities that can be carried out under Dependent status as follows.

Three things follow from this provision.

• The statuses of residence of the person who provides the support (the supporter) are limited
• Those covered are the supporter's spouse and children
• "Being supported by" the supporter is a condition

The period of stay is designated for each person by the Minister of Justice, within a range not exceeding five years.

Source: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Appended Table I, Table 4; Regulation for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (入管法施行規則), Appended Table II; Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Status of Residence 'Dependent'" (in Japanese)

Statuses of residence that allow a person to be the supporter

Those who can be a supporter are people residing in Japan under most of the work-related statuses of residence, or under "Cultural Activities" or "Student". Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Technical Intern Training are excluded by the provision.

Source: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Appended Table I, Table 4; Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Status of Residence 'Dependent'" (in Japanese)

The third row is a reading of the provision. What the provision lists as supporters are the statuses of residence in Table 1 through Table 3 of Appended Table I and "Student" in Table 4. "Trainee" and "Dependent" in Table 4, "Designated Activities" in Table 5, and the statuses of residence in Appended Table II are not listed.

For Student, the treatment differs depending on where the person studies (this is explained in the next section).

The provision will change on April 1, 2027

On April 1, 2027, when the Employment for Skill Development system (育成就労制度) starts, the provision on Dependent will also change. The statuses of residence excluded after the amendment are as follows.

Appended Table I after the amendment has no status of residence of "Technical Intern Training"; "Employment for Skill Development" is included in its place. Family members of a person residing under Employment for Skill Development are not covered by Dependent. For people who continue Technical Intern Training on or after April 1, 2027, the supplementary provisions of the amending act provide that the previous rules continue to apply to their status of residence. We have not found any provision or ISA explanation that specifically addresses the treatment of their family members (as of October 2026).

Source: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Appended Table I, Table 2 and Table 4 (as amended by Act No. 60 of 2024; comes into effect on April 1, 2027)

When an international student can bring family members to Japan

When an international student is the supporter, the Ministerial Order on Criteria (基準省令) limits the types of study that qualify. The Ministerial Order on Criteria is a Ministry of Justice Order that sets the criteria for entering Japan from abroad (landing).

The section on Dependent in the Ministerial Order on Criteria reads as follows.

Item 1 of the Student section is divided into three parts: (a) (イ), (b) (ロ) and (c) (ハ). Only (a) and (b) fall within the criteria for Dependent.

The ISA's Q&A also states that when the supporter is an international student at a Japanese language institution, bringing family members to Japan under Dependent status is not available, regardless of the type of school.

Source: Ministerial Order Setting the Criteria under Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (sections on Dependent and Student); Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Immigration and Residence Examination Q&A" (in Japanese), Q41

The eligible family members are the spouse and children

Only the supporter's spouse and children are covered by Dependent status. This is because the provision says "spouse or child" (配偶者又は子).

Source: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Appended Table I, Table 4; Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Immigration and Residence Examination Q&A" (in Japanese), Q48 and Q56

Regarding parents, the ISA's Q&A states that, apart from the preferential treatment for highly-skilled foreign professionals, there is no status of residence granted on the ground of being the parent of a foreign national. The example it gives of the preferential treatment is, among others, the case of caring for a child under 7 years of age of a person residing under "Highly Skilled Professional". When a parent falls under the public notice on Designated Activities, entry and residence under "Designated Activities" are permitted.

As to the scope of "child", the ISA's internal examination standards (the Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines, 入国・在留審査要領) state that, in addition to children born in wedlock, adopted children and acknowledged children born out of wedlock are included. Adult children are also included.

Whether a common-law partner or a same-sex partner counts as a "spouse" is not explained in the provision or on the ISA's published pages (as of October 2026). The same examination standards (the version as of the time it was disclosed) define a "spouse" as a person whose marriage is currently continuing validly under the law, and state that a common-law spouse and a spouse by a same-sex marriage validly concluded abroad are not included.

What does "being supported" mean?

Dependent status requires that the person is being supported by the supporter. A monetary threshold, such as an annual income of a certain amount or more, is not written in the Immigration Control Act, the Ministerial Order on Criteria, or the ISA's page on Dependent (as of October 2026).

The ISA's internal examination standards set out the meaning of "being supported" as follows.

The same examination standards list, as points to be checked in the examination, the family relationship between the applicant and the supporter, the supporter's status of residence, the intention to support, and the supporter's ability to pay expenses (the ability to pay living expenses). If the supporter has family members to support in the home country, their number is also taken into account.

When the supporter holds "Cultural Activities" or "Student", the supporter in principle cannot work. For this reason, the examination standards state that the ability to support is to be examined thoroughly.

Savings from a part-time job within the scope of the permission to engage in activities other than those permitted are recognized as ability to support. Assistance from a third party is also to be recognized, in light of how the assistance came about and other factors, where it is certain to continue stably.

If you are unsure how to explain your case with the supporter's income or savings, we can review your household's situation together with you through our consultation on dependent visas.

Source: Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines (入国・在留審査要領), Part 12, Section 25 "Dependent" (Immigration Services Agency of Japan); Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Status of Residence 'Dependent'" (in Japanese)

Required documents (COE, change, extension and acquisition)

Documents showing three things, namely the family relationship, the supporter's status of residence, and the supporter's occupation and income, are common to every type of application. What differs by type of application is the application form and the handling of items such as the return envelope and the passport.

The documents certifying the supporter's occupation and income differ according to the supporter's activities.

Certificates issued in Japan must be submitted within three months of the date of issue. Documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a Japanese translation. The immigration office may request other documents in the course of the examination.

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Status of Residence 'Dependent'" (in Japanese)

Types of procedures and where to apply

There are four procedures, depending on where the family member is now and which status of residence he or she holds.

For change, extension and acquisition, the person concerned applies to the Regional Immigration Services Office (地方出入国在留管理官署; the immigration office counter) that has jurisdiction over his or her place of residence. The person's legal representative can also apply. When the person is under 16, a relative or other person whom the immigration office finds appropriate can also submit the application documents on the person's behalf.

For change and extension, the Minister of Justice decides whether to grant permission.

An Application for Certificate of Eligibility can be filed by a representative who is in Japan. For Dependent, those who can act as the representative include the person who will support the applicant in Japan and a relative of the applicant who lives in Japan. When a representative applies, the application is submitted to the Regional Immigration Services Office that has jurisdiction over the location of the receiving organization (受入機関) or the like.

A Certificate of Eligibility is valid for three months. It loses its validity unless an application for landing is made in Japan within three months from the date it was issued.

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Application for Certificate of Eligibility" (in Japanese), "Application for Change of Status of Residence" (in Japanese), "Application for Extension of Period of Stay" (in Japanese), "Application for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence" (in Japanese), "Immigration and Residence Examination Q&A" (in Japanese), Q6; Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Articles 20, 21 and 22-2; Regulation for Enforcement of the Act, Appended Table IV

Processing time and fees

The average number of days taken to examine Dependent applications, for COEs issued and permissions granted in July 2026, was 70.0 days for COE applications, 43.5 days for change of status and 38.7 days for extension.

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Processing Time for Residence Examinations" (in Japanese; COEs issued and permissions granted in July 2026)

These numbers of days are national averages of the period from acceptance of the application to permission. Where additional documents were requested, the days until they were submitted are also included. Applications that were denied and applications that were withdrawn are not included.

There is no fee for an Application for Certificate of Eligibility or an application for permission to acquire status of residence. The fees for change and extension are determined by the length of the period of stay that is granted. The amounts are summarized in Fees for Status of Residence Procedures.

How much you can work: permission to engage in activities other than those permitted (資格外活動許可) and 28 hours per week

To work while remaining under Dependent status, you need permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence previously granted. The Immigration Control Act prohibits a person with Dependent status from engaging, without this permission, in activities related to the management of a business involving income or activities for which remuneration is received (Article 19, paragraph 1).

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Permission to Engage in Activities Other Than Those Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted" (in Japanese), "Permission to Engage in Activities Other Than Those Permitted for the Status of Residence 'Dependent'" (in Japanese), "Application for Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted" (in Japanese)

The person concerned applies to the Regional Immigration Services Office that has jurisdiction over his or her place of residence, and the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency grants the permission. There is no fee.

Comprehensive permission is a permission that does not specify the place of employment. What is allowed is within 28 hours per week as the person's own activities. The treatment that allows working up to 8 hours a day during long school holidays is a rule only for the status of residence "Student"; it does not exist for Dependent.

Activities for which it is difficult to objectively confirm the hours worked, such as working as a sole proprietor, require individual permission. Activities such as receiving delivery requests and earning remuneration according to results can be carried out under comprehensive permission if the hours can be objectively confirmed.

There are penalties for engaging in activities for which remuneration is received without the permission (Article 73). A person who is clearly found to be engaged exclusively in such activities is subject to deportation (Article 24, item 4(a)).

Source: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 19, paragraphs 1 and 2, Article 24, item 4(a), and Article 73; Regulation for Enforcement of the Act, Article 19, paragraph 5

When the supporter's status of residence changes

When the supporter changes to Permanent Resident or a similar status, then under the wording of the provisions, the family member no longer falls under the activities of Dependent. The reading of the provisions in this section is our office's reading, not an explanation by the ISA. We have not found, in the materials published by the ISA, any explanation that specifically addresses this situation (as of October 2026).

The Immigration Control Act defines the supporter for Dependent as a person residing in Japan with certain statuses of residence in Appended Table I. The Ministerial Order on Criteria also limits supporters to those with the statuses of residence in Table 1 and Table 2 of Appended Table I, Cultural Activities, and part of Student.

"Permanent Resident", "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" and "Long-Term Resident" are statuses of residence in Appended Table II and are not included here.

Article 22-4, paragraph 1, item 6 of the Immigration Control Act provides for the case where a person is residing in Japan without having engaged in the activities of a status of residence in Appended Table I continuously for three months or more. In this case, the Minister of Justice may revoke the status of residence. Cases where there are justifiable grounds are excluded.

The provision says "may revoke"; the status is not automatically revoked once three months have passed. Before a revocation, there is a procedure for the hearing of opinions (paragraph 2 of the same Article).

When the supporter becomes a Permanent Resident, there is a status of residence for the spouse called "Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident". How to think about whether to change, and the number of years required when applying for permission for permanent residence from Dependent status, are summarized in The Special Provision for Spouses When Applying for Permanent Residence from Dependent Status. Permission for permanent residence as a whole is explained in our Complete Guide to the Permanent Resident Visa.

Source: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 22-4, paragraph 1, item 6 and paragraph 2, Appended Table I, Table 4, and Appended Table II; Ministerial Order Setting the Criteria under Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (section on Dependent); Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Revocation of Status of Residence (Article 22-4 of the Immigration Control Act)" (in Japanese)

In the event of divorce or the death of the spouse

A person residing in Japan under Dependent status as a spouse must file a notification within 14 days from the date of the divorce or the death of the spouse. The basis is Article 19-16, item 3 of the Immigration Control Act, and the notification is made to the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency.

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Notification of Relationship with Spouse" (in Japanese)

This notification applies to those residing in Japan as a spouse. Those residing under Dependent status as a child are not covered.

After a divorce or the death of the spouse, under the wording of the provisions, there are no longer any activities to be performed as the supporter's spouse. Because Dependent is a status of residence in Appended Table I, the relevant ground for revocation is Article 22-4, paragraph 1, item 6 of the Immigration Control Act. If the person is engaged in other activities, there is also item 5 of the same paragraph.

Where a person is residing in Japan without having engaged in the activities continuously for three months or more, the Minister of Justice may revoke the status of residence. Cases where there are justifiable grounds are excluded.

The provision on not engaging in activities as a person with the status of a spouse for six months or more (item 7 of the same paragraph) concerns those with "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" and "Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident". It does not apply to Dependent.

If you remain in Japan, you apply for a change to another status of residence. You can apply from the time the grounds for the change arise until the date of expiration of the period of stay. Which status of residence you can change to depends on your job, your educational background, the status of residence of the person you remarry, and other factors.

Source: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 19-16, item 3, and Article 22-4, paragraph 1, items 6 and 7; Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Application for Change of Status of Residence" (in Japanese)

When a child graduates from senior high school and takes a job

When a child with Dependent status graduates from senior high school and works beyond 28 hours per week, the child may be eligible for a change to "Long-Term Resident" or "Designated Activities". The ISA has published how it handles persons who entered Japan under Dependent status accompanying their parents, where certain requirements are met.

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "For Those Residing with the Status of Residence 'Dependent' Who Wish to Work in Japan after Graduating from Senior High School" (in Japanese), and the material posted on that page, "For Foreign Nationals Who Are Considering Working in Japan after Graduating from Senior High School, etc." (高等学校等卒業後に日本での就労を考えている外国籍を有する方へ)

In both cases, those who meet all of the requirements in the table are eligible. As for the requirement on the place of work, what is covered is the case where the person will work beyond the scope of the permission to engage in activities other than those permitted (28 hours per week).

Even those residing under a status of residence other than Dependent, such as "Student", are covered by this treatment if they fall under the status of residence of Dependent.

The requirements for changing from this "Designated Activities" to "Long-Term Resident" have also been published.

Where the person took a job after receiving education at certain schools, such as a university or a specialized course of an advanced vocational school (専門学校) in Japan, the period of that education may also be counted toward the five years of residence.

If the child takes a job after graduating from a university or 専門学校, the change will be to a work-related status of residence such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. The requirements are summarized in Overview of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is any procedure needed when a family member with Dependent status temporarily returns to their home country?

If you re-enter Japan within one year from the date of departure, no procedure is needed in advance. If you have a valid passport and residence card, you can leave and re-enter Japan with special re-entry permission (みなし再入国許可). If the date of expiration of your period of stay comes before one year has passed since your departure, you must re-enter by that date.

Can I attend a university or 専門学校 while remaining under Dependent status?

Yes, you can. The ISA's internal examination standards (the Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines) state that the "daily activities" of Dependent also include activities of receiving education at an educational institution. Regarding the case of applying for a change to "Student" in order to receive a scholarship, the ISA's Q&A states that the application will be examined flexibly, taking those circumstances into account as well.

Can the supporter and the family members apply for extension on the same day?

If each is within its own application period, you can apply on the same day. An application for extension by a person with a period of stay of six months or more is accepted from three months before the period expires. The ISA lists "when family members apply simultaneously" (家族が同時申請する場合) as an example of the "truly unavoidable special circumstances" (真にやむを得ない特別な事情) in which it may accept an application earlier than three months before.

In this case, the practice is to inquire in advance, with supporting documents attached, at the immigration office counter where you will apply.

Summary

Dependent is a status of residence for the spouse and children who are supported by a person in Japan with a status of residence for work, study or the like. Cases where the supporter holds Specified Skilled Worker (i) or Technical Intern Training, and parents and brothers and sisters, are not covered. A monetary threshold for annual income is not written either in the laws and regulations or on the ISA's page on Dependent.

To work, permission to engage in activities other than those permitted is required, and comprehensive permission allows work within 28 hours per week. A person residing as a spouse who divorces or whose spouse dies files a notification within 14 days. When the supporter changes to Permanent Resident or a similar status, a change to another status of residence will need to be considered.

As a first step, checking the supporter's status of residence and the date of expiration of the period of stay, the documents certifying the family relationship, and the documents certifying the supporter's income will make it easier to prepare the application.

References

• Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 19, Article 19-16, item 3, Articles 20, 21 and 22-2, Article 22-4, paragraph 1, items 6 and 7, Article 24, item 4(a), Article 73, Appended Table I and Appended Table II
• Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Appended Table I (as amended by Act No. 60 of 2024; comes into effect on April 1, 2027)
• Ministerial Order Setting the Criteria under Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (sections on Dependent and Student)
• Regulation for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 19, paragraph 5, Appended Table II and Appended Table IV
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Status of Residence 'Dependent'" (in Japanese)
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Immigration and Residence Examination Q&A" (in Japanese)
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Application for Certificate of Eligibility" (in Japanese), "Application for Change of Status of Residence" (in Japanese), "Application for Extension of Period of Stay" (in Japanese), "Application for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence" (in Japanese)
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Processing Time for Residence Examinations" (in Japanese; COEs issued and permissions granted in July 2026)
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Permission to Engage in Activities Other Than Those Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted" (in Japanese), "Permission to Engage in Activities Other Than Those Permitted for the Status of Residence 'Dependent'" (in Japanese), "Application for Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted" (in Japanese)
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Notification of Relationship with Spouse" (in Japanese)
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Revocation of Status of Residence (Article 22-4 of the Immigration Control Act)" (in Japanese)
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "For Those Residing with the Status of Residence 'Dependent' Who Wish to Work in Japan after Graduating from Senior High School" (in Japanese; updated on September 30, 2024)
• Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines (入国・在留審査要領), Part 12, Section 25 "Dependent" (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)