Spouse of a Japanese National
- tscuerno
- Mar 26
- 3 min read
Visa for Foreign Nationals Married to a Japanese National
The visa that foreign nationals married to Japanese nationals can obtain is the "Spouse or Child of a Japanese National" visa. This visa has no employment restrictions, allowing holders to work, attend school, or engage in any other activities without limitation. Additionally, compared to other visas, it offers the advantage of a shorter required period for applying for permanent residency or naturalization.
Process for Obtaining the Visa
Points for Screening
1. A Legally Recognized Marriage to a Japanese Citizen
The marriage must be legally recognized in both countries of the couple. Completing the legal marriage process is a prerequisite for applying for the visa.
2. The Marriage Must Be Genuine
The couple must be recognized as having a real marital relationship. Generally, cohabitation or a plan to live together is a fundamental requirement.
3. A Stable Income
The couple must have a stable income that allows them to maintain a secure life together. The continuity of this income is also evaluated.
Typically, the Japanese spouse’s most recent tax certificate is used to verify income. However, it is not necessarily required for the Japanese spouse to have an income—if the foreign spouse has sufficient earnings, this can also be recognized as stable income.
4. The foreign spouse's background must be clean.
A history of violations, illegal work or overstaying will affect the screening process. Excessive working hours and poor attendance will also affect the screening process for those residing in Japan on a student visa. If there are problems with your residence history in Japan, it will be difficult to obtain a visa.
Strict Screening to Prevent False Marriages
Since the spouse visa has no work restrictions, many foreign nationals who are unable to obtain a work visa attempt to acquire a spouse visa through false marriages. To prevent this, the screening process for the "Spouse or Child of a Japanese National" visa is stringent.
The following circumstances may raise suspicion of a sham marriage:
A short dating period before marriage
Few in-person meetings before marriage
No common language between the couple
A significant age gap between spouses
The Japanese spouse has a history of repeated divorces with foreign nationals
The couple met through dating websites or social media
In such cases, a detailed explanation of the relationship history and how the couple met is required to prove the marriage is genuine. Even if the marriage is legitimate, failure to provide sufficient evidence may result in visa denial.
FAQ
Q1. What happens to the visa status of children?
Biological or legally adopted children of a Japanese national who do not have Japanese nationality can obtain a "Spouse or Child of a Japanese National" visa.
For children from the foreign spouse’s previous marriage (i.e., stepchildren), it may be possible to obtain a "Long-Term Resident" visa.
Q2. Can a visa be changed from a Technical Intern Visa to a Spouse Visa?
Technical interns must return to their home country after completing the Technical Intern Training (ii) period. Therefore, in principle, immigration authorities do not allow changes from a Technical Intern Visa to another visa type.
Q3. Can a Spouse Visa be obtained after entering Japan on a Short-Term Stay Visa?
In general, a short-term stay visa cannot be converted into a "Spouse or Child of a Japanese National" visa after entering Japan. However, in exceptional cases where there are "unavoidable special circumstances," a change of visa status may be allowed.
Q4. Can a spouse visa be obtained for same-sex marriages recognized in other countries?
Currently, Japan’s Civil Code does not recognize same-sex marriages. Since a legally valid marriage in both spouses' countries is required, the Japanese partner will lack this requirement and will not be able to obtain a visa.