這是澳洲籍客戶委託本事務所辦理「日本人的配偶等」居留資格申請的案例。夫妻兩人當時都住在澳洲，先取得了居留資格認定證明書（COE），之後在日本國內獲得了居留資格變更許可。
日籍配偶住在海外時，「在日本沒有住址的夫妻，應該在哪裡、由誰來申請」會成為第一道大難關。據說這位客戶也是越向領事館和入管詢問，得到的資訊越不一致，最後放棄了自行申請。由本事務所代辦申請，也將住在日本的太太父母的負擔降到了最低。
由於東京出入國在留管理局業務壅塞，審查長達約7個月。在此期間，我們持續確認進度並隨時向客戶報告，同時提出了儘早審查的請求，並因應了補交資料的要求。認定證明書交付後，我們考量家人的情況，在日本國內申請了居留資格變更，約1個月後獲得許可。
※為保護客戶隱私，姓名以英文縮寫刊載。
※以下內容是本事務所將客戶以英文寫下的原文翻譯成中文的譯文。（原文依收到時的原樣刊載於文章後半部）
客戶留言（本所中文翻譯）
Q1.【委託前的煩惱】在向本事務所諮詢之前，您遇到了哪些困難？又有哪些不安？
在找到Jeepney行政書士事務所之前，我對日本配偶簽證的入管手續越來越感到困惑。起初我打算自己提出COE（居留資格認定證明書）的申請，因為以前在澳洲為我太太申請配偶簽證時就是我自己辦的。可是對日本配偶簽證的手續查得越多，我就越搞不清楚……我詢問了日本駐澳洲的領事館，寫電子郵件給日本的入管，也用AI查過。我被告知，我的情況並不屬於一般情形（身為日本人的太太和身為丈夫的我都住在日本境外）。有人告訴我申請必須在日本的櫃檯辦理，也有人告訴我COE交付後的配偶簽證申請必須在日本境外辦理。我得知有些COE申請可以線上辦理，但住在日本境外的外國人卻不行？？由於我太太不住在日本，我的申請需要由住在日本的家人來辦理……諸如此類，沒完沒了。最後我得知，我的申請可以由行政書士代我辦理，行政書士還能協助我太太年邁的父母處理文件。這時我鬆了一口氣，決定請入管方面的專家來協助處理這樣重要的事情（我們一家在日本共同的未來）。
Q2.【選擇的關鍵】在眾多行政書士事務所當中，您選擇本事務所的「關鍵」是什麼？
做出這個決定之後，我開始尋找能協助我們辦理手續的行政書士。我聯絡了五、六家能以英文提供協助的事務所。得到的回覆各不相同，有的很了解狀況，有的似乎也對我這種情況的手續感到困惑。Jeepney行政書士事務所的拓郎先生給了我迅速而明確的回覆。他看起來清楚地理解我這種情況的辦理流程，說法也與我查到的內容一致，並為我的申請提出了一個簡化的方案，可以減輕我太太年邁父母的壓力——他們是在日本國內的聯絡窗口。之後我們又通了一、兩次電子郵件，他的說明依然前後一致、清楚、有把握，報價也具有競爭力。因此，我很快就決定委託拓郎先生和他的事務所。
Q3.【對服務的感想】在實際辦理手續的過程中，您覺得本事務所（承辦人）的應對如何？
委託之後，Jeepney行政書士事務所非常迅速、專業地展開了工作。正如大多數人所知，提出入管申請細節非常多、耗時，而且要讓申請以最好的面貌呈現，需要很高的準確性。Jeepney建立了清楚、安全的流程，可以遠端、有效率地收集和傳送文件。我可以依照他們提供的檢核清單逐項進行，文件到手後隨時上傳，並很快得到明確的回饋。這幫了大忙，也讓整個過程不那麼艱難。
他們視需要與我們在日本的家人聯繫，態度尊重而周到，並最終代我們提出了COE申請。手續開始之初，東京入管處理申請大約需要60天。但由於東京入管的申請狀況發生了很大的變化，加上政治環境的轉變使簽證申請受到更嚴格的審視，這段時間大幅拉長。日子一天天過去，先是超過了60天，後來又超過了120天，拓郎先生和他的工作人員始終向我提供清楚、一致的回饋。他們就我的申請進度向入管進行了確認，得知初步審查已經完成，提交的文件看起來沒有問題。這讓我安下心來，入管表示申請大量積壓，並沒有什麼異常。
我們在2026年年初搬到日本時，我是和家人一起持觀光簽證入境的，因此時間至關重要。我們起初預計審查需要60天，而且我在抵達日本前大約6週就已提出申請，所以我們以為90天的觀光簽證應該綽綽有餘，足以等到我的COE交付。我錯了！日子一天天過去，觀光簽證的到期日越來越近，拓郎先生建議提出「儘早審查的請求」。入管受理了這項請求，但90天的期限逼近時仍沒有結果，於是我決定先回澳洲處理一些事情，然後再憑第二次90天的觀光簽證回來。
在申請審查的這段艱難時期，Jeepney一直讓我掌握狀況，並說明他們為了儘快取得結果正在採取哪些步驟。這讓我有信心信任整個流程，因為我知道申請本身並沒有問題，入管只是需要時間來消化積壓的案件。大約到了6個月時，入管開始有了進一步的回饋。由於審查時間較長，他們要求提交一些更新後的文件，Jeepney非常主動地備齊並提交了這些文件。到第7個月，我的COE終於交付了，而且是在我第二次90天的觀光簽證到期之前。這讓所有人都大大鬆了一口氣！隨後，拓郎先生提出了一條不必離開日本就能取得配偶簽證的途徑（因為我對在日本的家人負有責任）。不到一個月，這就成功了，我的配偶簽證核發了下來。
Q4.【結果與寄語】手續順利完成後，請談談您現在的心情，並給有同樣煩惱的人留下一些話。
如今我的配偶簽證已經核發，在留卡也隨之拿到，這讓我和家人都如釋重負。如果您也處於類似的情況，正考慮申請簽證以便合法地留在日本，我非常推薦您委託像Jeepney行政書士事務所這樣的事務所所提供的專業服務。您不會想因為自己的失誤，或者因為一家無法勝任這項工作的事務所，而拿您或家人的未來去冒險。凡是這類事情，我都會毫不猶豫地推薦拓郎先生和他的團隊。正如我在簽證核發時對拓郎先生所說的：「再次非常非常感謝您的辛勤付出、協助、耐心和人情味。」在涉及入管手續和人們對未來的希望的場合，「人情味」是一個關鍵詞。拓郎先生和他的團隊所展現的這份關懷大大減輕了壓力，而他清楚、一致的說明讓我們能夠信任整個流程，並得到了我們所期望的結果。再次感謝！
承辦行政書士的感謝留言
J.M.，非常感謝您這次寫下如此細膩而真摯的話語。我一邊回想每一個場景，一邊反覆讀了好幾遍。
在夫妻雙方都住在海外的情況下，關於「由誰、在哪裡申請」，向不同的單位詢問而得到不同說明的情形並不少見。正如J.M.在Q1中所寫的那樣。即使是在日本沒有住址的夫妻，由行政書士代辦申請，就可以不必請在日本的家人到櫃檯辦理手續而進行申請。盡量減輕家人的負擔，是本事務所在這類案件中最先考慮的事情之一。
這一次，審查時間大幅超出了最初的預估，讓J.M.和家人度過了很長一段不安的日子。審查時間會因入管的壅塞狀況而有很大的變化，我們這一方無法將其縮短。正因如此，我們一直重視在這段期間持續告知「現在情況如何」。這一點能得到您的肯定，我們感到無比感激。
另外，從短期滯留（觀光等）在日本國內變更居留資格，原則上是不被允許的。不過，在居留資格認定證明書已經交付等情況下，依個別情況，有時會被允許在國內變更。這一次，我們仔細說明了三個孩子正在日本的學校就讀、需要父母雙方共同照顧的情況，因而獲得了許可。
您在最後寫下的「humanity（人情味）」一詞，對我們來說是最大的鼓勵。在簽證手續的前方，始終是家人的生活與未來。今後我們也會誠懇地面對每一個案件。
夫妻中有一方住在海外的配偶簽證諮詢、取得認定證明書之後的手續、居留期間更新等，如果您正為這些問題煩惱，歡迎隨時向本事務所諮詢。我們也可以用英文、中文提供諮詢。
【原文】客戶留言（英語）
Q1- Before I found jeepney.co.jp (substitute how you prefer to be referenced), I was becoming confused with the spouse visa immigration process for Japan. Initially I planned to lodge my COE (certificate of eligibility application) myself, as I had done for my wife's spouse visa application in Australia previously. The more I investigated the Japan spouse visa process, the more it became confusing to me... I spoke with the Japanese consulate in Australia, I emailed Japanese immigration and I researched with AI. I was told my situation was not normal (both the Japanese national- my wife and the husband were living outside Japan). I was told the application needed to be made over the counter in Japan, I was also told the spouse visa application after the COE was issued, needed to be outside Japan. I found out some applications for the COE can be made online, but not as a foreigner living outside Japan?? As my wife was not living in Japan my application would need to be made by a family member living in Japan the list went on. Finally I found that my application could be handled on my behalf by an immigration scrivener (please enter the correct term here) who could assist my wife's elderly parents with the paperwork. I felt relieved at this point, and decided to engage an immigration expert to assist in such an important matter (my families shared future in Japan).
Q2- Once I had made that decision I went about searching for an immigration scrivener to assist us with the process. I contacted 5 or 6 companies that could assist in english. I had varying responses, some were informed, some appeared to also be confused on the process for my situation. I had a quick and clear response from Takuro san of Jeepney.co.jp. He appeared to understand the process for my situation clearly, was consistent with my research and outlined a simplified strategy for my application which would take pressure off my wife's elderly parents- being the point of contract within Japan. We emailed one or two more times, again consistent, clear, confident messaging and his quote was competitive. As a result, I decided quite quickly to proceed with Takuro san and his business.
Q3- Once Jeepney.co.jp were engaged, they set to work very promptly and professionally. As most people would know, lodging immigration applications are very detailed, time consuming and great accuracy is required to put your application in it's best light. Jeepney put in place clear, secure processes to collect and transmit documents remotely and efficiently. I could work through the checklists provided and upload documents as they came to hand, receiving feedback quickly and clearly. This helped greatly and made the process less challenging.
They interacted with our family members in Japan as required, with respect and attention, and ultimately submitted the COE application on our behalf. At the beginning of the process Tokyo immigration were processing applications in around 60 days. This timeline blew-out significantly due to large changes in applications through Tokyo immigration and a changing political landscape with greater scrutiny being applied to visa applications. As the days ticked by, first past 60 days, then 120 days, Takuro san and his staff continued to provide me with clear, consistent feedback. They engaged with immigration as to the status of my application, an initial review had been done and the documents lodged appeared to be in order. This gave me peace of mind, immigration noted there were large backlogs of applications and nothing was out of the ordinary.
As I had entered Japan on a tourist visa with my family when we moved early in 2026, time was of the essence. While we expected a 60 day assessment initially and I had lodged some 6 weeks before we landed in Japan, we thought the 90 day tourist visa should be more than sufficient to have my COE issued. I was wrong! As the days ticked over and we were getting towards the expiry date of my tourist visa, Takuro san suggested lodging a 'fast track request'. This was accepted by immigration but as my 90 day deadline approached without a result, I decided to return to Australia to attend to some matters before returning on a second 90 day tourist visa.
During this challenging period of my application assessment, Jeepney kept me informed and explained the steps they were taking to get my result as soon as possible. This gave me confidence to trust the process, knowing there was no inherent problem with my application and immigration just needed time to get through the backlog. At around 6 months in, immigration started providing additional feedback. They requested some updated documents due to the length of the assessment and Jeepney was very proactive in securing and submitting the documentation. At seven months my COE was finally issued and before my second 90 day tourist visa was due to expire. This was a great relief to everyone! Takuro san then went about suggesting a pathway to obtain my spouse visa without needing to leave Japan (due to my responsibilities for my family in Japan). Within one month this was successful as my Spouse Visa was issued.
Q4) Now that my Spouse Visa has been issued and with it my residence card, it was a huge relief to myself and my family. If you are in a similar situation and thinking to apply for a Visa to stay legally in Japan, I would very much recommend to engage the professional services of a firm such as Jeepney.co.jp. You don't want to risk you or your families future through mistakes of your own or a firm not competent to the task. I would not hesitate to refer Takuro san and his team for any such matter. As I said to Takuro san on issuance of my visa, 'Once again thanks sooo much for your hard work, assistance, patience and humanity.' Humanity is a key word in situations involving immigration, and people's future hopes. This compassion shown by Takuro san and his team helped to greatly reduce the stress and his clear, cconsistent messaging allowed us to trust the process and get the result we were hoping for. Thanks again!