Visa after Divorcing or Bereavement in Japan

If a foreigner who is currently residing in Japan under spouse types visa gets divorced or bereaved, he/she can no longer stay in Japan on a Spouse visa since he/she is no longer a spouse. In order to continue to stay in Japan, you must change to another visa.

After divorce or bereavement, you can continue to stay in Japan on a spouse visa for 6 months, or 3 months in the case of a Dependent family visa. During that period, you must change to another visa status. You should prepare to change other visa as soon as possible.

Common thing

Once every foreign resident gets divorced or bereaved, need to submit notification to immigration office in two weeks.

Type of visa for divorced spouses

There are several visas that a divorced/ bereaved foreign spouse may be able to change. Find the one that fits your current visa from the following list.

Currently your visa is

Dependent family visa→See 1 and 2 below

Spouse visa of permanent resident→See 1, 2, 3 and 4 below

Spouse visa of Japanese national→See 1, 2, 3 and 4 below

Work visa. →See 5 below

Business management visa. →See 5 below

Other please inquiry directly

1. Change to work visa.

If you have or find job and meet work visa requirement, you may change to work visa.

2. Change to business management visa.

If you could set up a company in Japan, you may change to business visa.

Basic Requirements are

・At least you need 5million Japanese yen for applying visa.

・The business must run stability in the future.

3. Change to long-term resident visa

Requirements are

・3 years marriage period or more.

・Have enough financial ability for living in Japan with those children.

・Basic Japanese language ability for living in Japan

※If you have children and you will take the children, You don’t have to meet 3 years marriage period. But only Japanese national children.

4. Change to permanent resident visa

If you meet the requirements to apply for permanent residence, you can apply for permanent resident visa. However, in this case, you must apply for permanent resident status before the divorce or bereavement.

5. Keep current visa status

As long as you keep doing your current job, you don’t need to change your visa.

Whichever visa you change to, the procedure is complicated because you are changing to a completely different visa.

In particular, the third type of visa, the long-term resident visa, is specially designed for divorced foreign spouses. Therefore, the actual application will be examined in detail, including the cause of the divorce, and the statement of reasons submitted to the immigration office is very important. In some cases, there may be an interview with the divorced spouse.

If you need help with your dependent family visa, please feel free to contact us.