![What Is a Japan Spouse Visa? Eligibility, Types of Application, Required Documents and Processing Times [Complete Guide]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fue01fgnu%2Fproduction%2Fd30113f81b2b4fd8df896876e17dcbe8a84889c7-2400x1350.png%3Fw%3D1200%26h%3D675&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_FRNEwQbN5fxFQTBSaP27jZt4n11T)
Note: This article is based on Japanese laws and materials published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) as of October 9, 2026.
"Spouse visa" is the common name for the status of residence "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" (日本人の配偶者等), under which a foreign national married to a Japanese national lives in Japan. The period of stay is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 6 months, and the restrictions on work under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (入管法) do not apply to this status of residence.
There are three procedures: bringing a spouse from abroad, changing from another status of residence, and extending the period of stay. This article gives an overview of who is eligible, the required documents for each procedure, processing times and the period of stay, following materials published by the ISA and the Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines (入国・在留審査要領).
Contents
- What is a spouse visa (Spouse or Child of Japanese National)?
- Who counts as a "spouse"
- Three procedures: bringing a spouse from abroad, change and extension
- Bringing a spouse from abroad (Certificate of Eligibility)
- Changing or extending when you are in Japan
- List of required documents
- How long the examination takes
- The period of stay is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 6 months
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Summary
- References
What is a spouse visa (Spouse or Child of Japanese National)?
The official name of the spouse visa is the status of residence "Spouse or Child of Japanese National". Appended Table II (別表第二) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act limits the persons covered to the following three.
| Persons covered under the Act | Examples given by the ISA |
|---|---|
| Spouse of a Japanese national | Husband or wife of a Japanese national |
| Child adopted by a Japanese national through special adoption (特別養子) | Child adopted through special adoption |
| Person born as the child of a Japanese national | Biological child |
The rest of this article deals with the spouse of a Japanese national.
What Article 19 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act restricts is the scope of work under the statuses of residence in Appended Table I (別表第一). "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" is a status of residence in Appended Table II and is not subject to this restriction.
If the person you married is not a Japanese national but a Permanent Resident (永住者) or a special permanent resident (特別永住者), a different status of residence applies: "Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident" (永住者の配偶者等). Its period of stay is likewise 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 6 months.
Source: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (in Japanese), Article 19, paragraph 1 and Appended Table II; Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Status of Residence 'Spouse or Child of Japanese National'" (in Japanese), "Status of Residence 'Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident'" (in Japanese)
Who counts as a "spouse"
The status covers people whose legal marriage is continuing and who have a genuine shared life as a married couple.
Appended Table II of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act says only "spouse of a Japanese national". How the scope is understood is set out in the Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines, a document written for immigration officials.
- A spouse means a person who is currently married. A person whose partner has died and a person who has divorced are not included
- The couple must be legally married in the countries of nationality of both parties and recognized there as spouses, and the person must also be treated as a spouse in Japan. For this reason, a common-law spouse is not accepted
- Even where a legal marriage has been established, if it lacks the substance of a marriage, namely living together, cooperating with and supporting each other, and leading a shared married life as generally understood in society, the person is not found to fall under the status of residence
- To be regarded as leading a shared married life as generally understood in society, the couple are required to live together unless there is a reasonable ground
The same document also has an item on how a case is handled when the applicant (the foreign national) lives apart from the Japanese spouse. In the disclosed document, however, its content is redacted and cannot be read.
Whether a marriage has substance is judged by the immigration office from the documents submitted, such as the Questionnaire (質問書) and documents showing the couple's interactions.
Is there a published income standard?
No amount stating how much income is required appears in the materials published by the ISA (as of October 2026). What the list of documents to be submitted contains is "documents certifying the expenses for the stay in Japan".
The matters considered in examining a change or an extension are listed in the ISA's guidelines. One of them is that the person is not a burden on the public and is expected to have a stable life in the future as well. It is sufficient if this is found on a household basis.
Source: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (in Japanese), Appended Table II; Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines (入国・在留審査要領), Part 12, Chapter 2, Section 28; Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Guidelines for Permission for Change of Status of Residence and Extension of Period of Stay" (in Japanese), "Status of Residence 'Spouse or Child of Japanese National' (for a spouse)" (in Japanese)
Three procedures: bringing a spouse from abroad, change and extension
Which procedure applies depends on where the foreign spouse is now and which status of residence he or she holds.
| Application for Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書交付申請; bringing a spouse from abroad) | Application for Change of Status of Residence (在留資格変更許可申請) | Application for Extension of Period of Stay (在留期間更新許可申請) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | A person who wishes to newly enter Japan under this status of residence | A person already staying in Japan under another status of residence | A person who will continue to stay under this status of residence |
| When to apply | Before entry, allowing enough time | From the time the grounds for the change arise until the date of expiration of the period of stay | By the date of expiration of the period of stay (for a person with a period of stay of 6 months or more, from 3 months before it expires) |
| Where to file | The Regional Immigration Services Office with jurisdiction over the planned place of residence, or over the address of the relative who acts as the representative | The Regional Immigration Services Office with jurisdiction over the place of residence | The Regional Immigration Services Office with jurisdiction over the place of residence |
| Standard processing time | 1 to 3 months | 1 to 2 months | 2 weeks to 1 month |
| Fee | None | Charged when permission is granted | Charged when permission is granted |
All three can be filed online.
The fee for a change or an extension depends on how the application is filed (at the counter or online) and on the length of the period of stay granted. The amounts are set out in Revision of Fees for Status of Residence Applications.
If you cannot tell which procedure applies to you, we can go over your situation together in a spouse visa consultation.
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), "Immigration and Residence Examination Q&A" (in Japanese), Q4
Bringing a spouse from abroad (Certificate of Eligibility)
To bring a spouse who is abroad to Japan, the Japanese spouse can act as the representative and apply for issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility (COE, 在留資格認定証明書).
A Certificate of Eligibility is a document by which a foreign national who intends to enter Japan has it certified in advance, before entry, that he or she meets the conditions for landing.
- The foreign national or a representative applies to a Regional Immigration Services Office for issuance of a COE. When the person is entering Japan after marrying a Japanese national, the Japanese spouse acts as the representative
- Once the COE is issued, present it at a Japanese embassy or consulate general abroad (在外公館) and have a visa (査証) issued
- Come to Japan within 3 months from the date of issuance and apply for landing (the COE is valid for 3 months)
Holding a COE alone does not allow you to enter Japan. The ISA tells applicants to be sure to have a visa issued at a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad.
Source: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (in Japanese), Article 7-2; Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Application for Certificate of Eligibility" (in Japanese), "Immigration and Residence Examination Q&A" (in Japanese), Q3, Q5 and Q6
Changing or extending when you are in Japan
A foreign spouse who lives in Japan files the application himself or herself with the Regional Immigration Services Office that has jurisdiction over his or her place of residence. Even when the application is submitted through a Gyoseishoshi (administrative scrivener) or other person who has filed a notification with a regional immigration services bureau and is authorized to submit applications, the applicant must be staying in Japan.
Changing from another status of residence
The ISA advises that if you have stopped engaging in the activities of the status of residence you have held and a change in your personal status (身分関係) has already occurred, you should apply promptly.
A change from Temporary Visitor (短期滞在) is not permitted unless it is based on "special unavoidable circumstances" (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 20, paragraph 3). The way of proceeding that the ISA describes is explained in Changing from Temporary Visitor to a Spouse Visa.
Extending the period of stay
An extension can be applied for from 3 months before the period of stay expires (for a person with a period of stay of 6 months or more).
The ISA asks people who hold a residence card and wish to receive permission within their period of stay to try to apply between 3 months and 45 days before it expires. This is because, if the examination continues past the date of expiration, restrictions may arise on the use of the Individual Number Card (My Number Card) and of bank and savings accounts.
If the time for your extension will come while you are staying abroad, please see Can You Extend a Spouse Visa While Staying Abroad?.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Status of Residence 'Spouse or Child of Japanese National' (for a spouse)" (in Japanese), "Application for Change of Status of Residence" (in Japanese), "Application for Extension of Period of Stay" (in Japanese), "If You Wish to Receive Permission for a Change or Extension within Your Period of Stay" (in Japanese)
List of required documents
The ISA publishes a list of the required documents for each procedure. A change requires almost the same documents as a COE application, while for an extension the marriage certificate, the Questionnaire and the documents on the couple's interactions are not on the list. Documents that are not on the list may be requested during the examination.
| Document | COE application | Change | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application form (the form for each procedure) | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Photograph (1) | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Family register certificate (戸籍謄本; certificate of all matters, 全部事項証明書) of the Japanese spouse | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Marriage certificate issued by an authority of the applicant's country of nationality | ○ | ○ | — |
| Documents certifying the expenses for the stay in Japan | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Letter of Guarantee (身元保証書) from the Japanese spouse | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Copy of the Certificate of Residence (住民票), issued by the municipality, listing all members of the Japanese spouse's household | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Questionnaire | ○ | ○ | — |
| Documents showing the couple's interactions (such as 2 or 3 snapshots) | ○ | ○ | — |
| Self-addressed return envelope | ○ | — | — |
| Presentation of passport and residence card | — | ○ | ○ |
- For certificates issued in Japan, submit ones issued within the past 3 months
- Attach a Japanese translation to documents in a foreign language
- Submit a family register certificate that records the marriage to the applicant. If it is not recorded, also submit a Certificate of Acceptance of Marriage Notification (婚姻届出受理証明書) for a COE application or a change
- The documents on the expenses of the stay are the resident tax (Individual Inhabitant Tax) certificate (taxation or tax-exemption certificate) (課税（非課税）証明書) and the tax payment certificate (納税証明書) for the most recent year of the person who bears the expenses. If these cannot serve as proof, for example because the person has only recently entered Japan or has moved, submit a copy of a bankbook, a certificate of prospective employment or the like
- Documents that are not on the list may be requested in the course of the examination
Questionnaire
The Questionnaire is an eight-page document submitted for a COE application and a change. It asks for the developments leading to the marriage, the language used by the couple, marital history, the periods of visits to Japan and of overseas travel, relatives and other matters, and it is signed by the Japanese spouse (the "spouse" in the Questionnaire).
The form states that if any entry is found to be contrary to the facts, the applicant may be treated unfavorably in the examination or criminal charges may result.
Letter of Guarantee
The Letter of Guarantee is a document in which the guarantor (身元保証人) guarantees three matters to the Minister of Justice: the applicant's living expenses while in Japan, the transportation fee for repatriation, and abiding by Japanese law. The ISA states that the Japanese spouse residing in Japan should be asked to act as the guarantor.
The ISA explains that the guaranteed matters have no legally binding force and that the guarantee imposes what may be called a moral responsibility.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, the list of documents to be submitted, the Questionnaire and the Letter of Guarantee posted on "Status of Residence 'Spouse or Child of Japanese National' (for a spouse)" (in Japanese), "Immigration and Residence Examination Q&A" (in Japanese), Q53
How long the examination takes
For "Spouse or Child of Japanese National", the examination takes, on average nationwide, 106.5 days for a COE application, 57.4 days for a change and 45.2 days for an extension (COEs issued and permissions granted in July 2026).
| Procedure | Average days to disposition | Of which, days until the examination was completed | Standard processing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| COE application (issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility) | 106.5 days | — | 1 to 3 months |
| Change | 57.4 days | 47.3 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Extension | 45.2 days | 33.2 days | 2 weeks to 1 month |
The average number of days covers the COEs issued and permissions granted in July 2026 and counts the days from acceptance of the application to permission (for a COE application, to issuance). If 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.
For a change and an extension, "to disposition" counts up to the day you are notified of the permission at the immigration office. The standard processing time is the period the ISA states for each procedure, regardless of the status of residence.
The average for COE applications exceeds three months, the upper limit of the standard processing time. If the date you want to enter Japan is fixed, work backward from that date to decide when to apply. Cases our office filed within the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau are described in How Long Does a Spouse Visa COE Application Take?.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Processing Time for Residence Examinations" (in Japanese; COEs issued and permissions granted in July 2026), "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)
The period of stay is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 6 months
The period of stay is decided in the examination as one of 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 6 months. These four periods are set in Appended Table II of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (入管法施行規則).
How the period is chosen in practice is described in the Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines. The following is the practice for the spouse of a Japanese national.
- The applicant has fulfilled the notification obligations under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (such as the Notification of Place of Residence)
- The various public obligations have been fulfilled
- In the case of a parent with a school-age child, the child attends elementary school or junior high school (including international schools and the like)
- The main income earner of the household has fulfilled tax obligations
- The marriage and the life based on the status of spouse are expected to continue (limited to cases where the couple have lived together for more than 3 years since marrying)
Items 1 to 3 are not applied when the period of stay is decided at the time of landing
The same document states that, for a person who has received a criminal disposition, whether the stay is allowed and the period of stay are considered in light of the offense, the content of the criminal disposition and other factors. The items that follow this are redacted in the disclosed document. It does not mean that meeting the five items always results in 5 years.
- 3 years (any of the following)
- None of the cases for 5 years, 1 year or 6 months applies- A person who had 5 years does not meet one of items 1 to 4 above at the time of extension, and the life as a couple is expected to continue
- 1 year (any of the following)
- A person who had 3 years does not meet one of items 1 to 4 above at the time of extension- In view of the circumstances surrounding the marriage, the continuity of the life as a couple needs to be checked once a year- In view of the status of the stay and other factors, that status needs to be checked once a year- The planned stay is more than 6 months and not more than 1 year
- 6 months (any of the following)
- Divorce mediation or a divorce lawsuit is under way (except where neither spouse intends to continue the marriage and activities as a spouse are not expected)- One of the spouses has clearly expressed the intention to divorce- The planned stay is 6 months or less
For the spouse of a Japanese national, there is a special rule on the number of years of residence required for permission for permanent residence. The required length of marriage and of residence depends on when the application is filed. These are set out in Revisions to the Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence.
Source: Regulation for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Appended Table II; Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines (入国・在留審査要領), Part 12, Chapter 2, Section 28; Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised October 1, 2026)" (in Japanese), Section 3
Frequently Asked Questions
We filed our marriage notification in Japan first, so my partner's country does not issue a marriage certificate. What should we do?
Write the reason why you cannot submit a marriage certificate in a document of any format and submit it. This is the method the ISA gives in its Q&A (Q51).
Both of us live abroad. Can we apply to bring my spouse to Japan even if the Japanese spouse is not in Japan?
If a relative living in Japan acts as the representative, the application itself can be filed. The Regulation for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act provides that the representative for "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" is "a relative of the person who resides in Japan" (本邦に居住する本人の親族) (Appended Table IV).
On the other hand, the list of documents to be submitted names the guarantor as "the spouse (Japanese national) residing in Japan". The Regulation also prescribes the document to be submitted as "a Letter of Guarantee from the Japanese national concerned who resides in Japan" (本邦に居住する当該日本人の身元保証書) (Appended Table III). How the Letter of Guarantee and the Certificate of Residence are handled when the Japanese spouse lives abroad is not stated in either the list or the Q&A (as of October 2026).
What happens to the status of residence after a divorce or the death of the spouse?
If you divorce or your spouse dies, you are obliged to notify the ISA within 14 days (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 19-16). Separately from the notification, if you stay in Japan without engaging in activities as a spouse for a continuous period of 6 months or more, the Minister of Justice may revoke your status of residence. Cases where there is a justifiable reason are excluded (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 22-4, paragraph 1, item 7).
The ISA has published, as main examples of cases in which revocation is not carried out, cases such as taking temporary refuge because of domestic violence (DV) and being in divorce mediation or a divorce lawsuit. Whether to revoke is decided based on the individual circumstances.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Notification of relationship with spouse" (in Japanese), "Revocation of Status of Residence (Article 22-4 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act)" (in Japanese), "Specific Examples of Cases Where Status of Residence Is Not Revoked, Such as Where There Is a Justifiable Reason for Not Engaging in Activities as a Person with the Status of Spouse" (in Japanese)
Summary
"Spouse visa" is the common name for the status of residence "Spouse or Child of Japanese National". It covers people whose legal marriage is continuing and who have a genuine shared life as a married couple.
There are three procedures: bringing a spouse from abroad (Application for Certificate of Eligibility), changing from another status of residence, and extending the period of stay. The national average number of days for examination is 106.5 days for a COE application, 57.4 days for a change and 45.2 days for an extension (COEs issued and permissions granted in July 2026).
First, confirm which procedure applies to you. Next, check the required documents in the ISA's list of documents to be submitted, and decide when to apply by working backward from the date you want to enter Japan or the date of expiration of your period of stay.
References
- Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (in Japanese), Articles 7-2, 19, 19-16, 20, 21 and 22-4, and Appended Table II
- Regulation for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Appended Table II and Appended Table IV
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Status of Residence 'Spouse or Child of Japanese National'" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Status of Residence 'Spouse or Child of Japanese National' (where the foreign national (applicant) is the spouse (husband or wife) of a Japanese national)" (in Japanese; list of documents to be submitted, Questionnaire and Letter of Guarantee)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Status of Residence 'Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident'" (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)
- 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, "If You Wish to Receive Permission for a Change or Extension within Your Period of Stay" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Immigration and Residence Examination Q&A" (in Japanese), Q3 to Q6, Q51, Q53 and Q55
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Guidelines for Permission for Change of Status of Residence and Extension of Period of Stay" (in Japanese; established March 2008, last revised June 2026)
- 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 and Refugee Recognition Act)" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice, "Specific Examples of Cases Where Status of Residence Is Not Revoked, Such as Where There Is a Justifiable Reason for Not Engaging in Activities as a Person with the Status of Spouse" (in Japanese; July 2012)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised October 1, 2026)" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines (入国・在留審査要領), Part 12 "Status of Residence", Chapter 2, Section 28 (a disclosed document; not published on the ISA website)
