How I Got My Spouse Visa…
April 26, 2009 170 Comments
Are you working in Japan, but want to ‘change your status’ to a spouse (haiguusha) visa? Getting a spouse visa in Japan is simple, but paperwork intensive. I transferred from my English teaching visa (Specialist in Humanities/International Services) to a spouse visa some 7 months after registering my marriage in Japan. This guide will focus on the various papers you’ll need in order to get your spouse visa in a similar situation, with a particular emphasis on those who got married abroad, are working in Japan and wish to get their visa through a Change of Status.
First, why get a spouse visa? If you are already in Japan with a perfectly valid visa and a sponsor, you may wonder if there’s a point. My reason was simple, I would like to get permanent residence in the near future so that when we return to the UK, the moving back to Japan will be very simple. A spouse visa is a fast track to that end. There are other reasons, of course: perhaps you are planning to change jobs and want an extension on your visa, as supplied by a Change of Status, or perhaps you are looking to start your own visa and would like the convenience of being sponsored by your spouse rather than your employer. No matter what your reason, you should keep in mind a very important fact: on your first application, you are unlikely to receive a 3-year spouse visa, although it needn’t stop you from trying (your application won’t be refused just because you’re cheeky). I asked for a 3-year visa, but in the end received only a 1-year visa.
Once you’ve decided to apply for a Change of Status, you need to start preparing the paperwork. There are several things you need (correct as of April 2009):
- Application for Change of Status of Residence (在留資格変更許可申請書) (2 pages/A4): For changing to a spouse visa you need pages 1 and 24 (Code T, check the top left corner). Print the pages onto A4 and fill out in Japanese. You can find an example here (PDF).
- Shitsumonsho (質問書) (8 pages/A4): This is a questionnaire that you or your spouse should fill out regarding the history of your relationship. Print out on A4 paper and fill out in Japanese.
- Letter of Guarantee (身元保証書) (1 page/A4): Print out on A4 paper and your spouse will need to fill out this form in Japanese guaranteeing:
- Logistic support while in Japan
- Transportation fee for repatriation
- To abide by the Japanese Law
- We filled out a second English form, although it is not entirely clear if you need to, nor why it is supplied, in any case, if you wish to be safe, you can find it here (PDF – print onto A4 and fill out in English).
- Certificate for Payment of Fee (手数料納付書) (1 page/A4): The process costs ¥4000 which must be paid by a stamp (shunyuuinshi - 収入印紙). You can get this from the post or most government offices (we got ours from a city tax office above the immigration office). Once you have it, stick it to one of these forms and fill in the details.
- Three Photographs: You are required to submit at least two photographs (I suggest three) depicting your relationship. We chose one of our wedding, joint graduation, and a photo from my 21st birthday (three years prior). You should similarly wish to show to both time and togetherness (although I’m sure it’s no problem). We printed these digital photos at a photo shop, rather than printing at home (a poor quality print might be an issue). These photographs will not be returned.
- Certificate of Marriage: You are required to hand in your marriage certificate. We were told you may be able to get it back. After our wedding, we asked for several official copies of the certificate so that we can register our marriage in Japan, so we gave them one of these copies and did not have it returned.
- Translation of Certificate of Marriage: If you got married in another country, you will need to provide a translation of the certificate. When we registered our marriage at the British Embassy in the UK, we were given a template for translating it which I modified for the purpose of my visa submission. I am providing this blank template (PDF – one page/A4) for your use (suitable for translating British marriage certificates only). Print it out and fill in by hand in Japanese.
- Passport: As your passport is what physically holds your visa document, the only tangible proof of your status, you will need to submit your passport to the immigration office.
- Translation of Passport: You should submit a translation of your passport. I created a template for my passport which you can get here (PDF – one page/A4). This is a translation of the fields (in their proper locations) as seen in a British passport, but can be easily adapted to another kind of passport. Fill it in with the details as written in your passport (change the layout of the cells if your passport’s layout is different) and print it out.
- Alien Registration Card (外国人登録証明書): You will need your registration card as proof that you registered your status in Japan. They will copy it and return it to you on the day of the application as you are legally required to carry this upon your person at all times.
- Proof of Employment: You or your spouse (whichever is the breadwinner) should submit a letter from your company proving that you are employed and stating your profession and income. Most companies dealing with a lot of foreigners, e.g. eikaiwa, will have a format for this letter. It is not sponsorship and it should not be treated as such.
- Proof of Tax Payment (住民税の課税（又は非課税）証明書 or 納税証明書): Whichever person provided proof of employment from their company must prove that they are paying tax to the local government. You will need to prove this with either of they above documents. You can collect either document at your city hall. The price for this will change depending on the city. However, if you’ve been in Japan for less than a year (as I have), you might not be able to get either. I used a carbon copy of my gensenchoushuuhou (源泉徴収票) as supplied by my employer when I joined the company. If you are in that situation, explain to the staff and it shouldn’t be much trouble.
- A Copy of Your Spouse’s Family Register (戸籍謄本): This may be the hardest document to get hold of, depending on your spouse. You can only retrieve a copy of your koseki from the city hall in which your spouse’s birth was registered. This may be a different prefecture or even a different island. You will not get this copy back, and each copy is only valid for three months. The price for this will change depending on the city.
- A Copy of Your Spouse’s Certificate of Residency (住民票): This is a document that proves your spouse’s residency in a city and can be obtained from that city’s city hall. The price for this will change depending on the city.
You may wish to check you have the most up to date documents (for 1, 2, 3, and 4 above), if so, look at the Immigration Bureau’s page (in Japanese) for the complete set of official documents. Also, do not date the documents until you are about to submit them. If you date them prior to submission, they will ask you to change the date at the immigration office.
Once you have assembled the required documents, you will need to head over to an immigration office. You can complete this process at any immigration office, although you will be required to return to that particular office to retrieve your passport when the visa is processed. Some offices will have foreign language support if you require it, although only on a particular day. In any case, you don’t need an appointment and you will not be interviewed.You can find your nearest office through the Immigration Bureau’s website (in English).
At the immigration office, they will ask you to fill in your address on a postcard (they will provide this), to inform you when the process is complete. Between one to two months later, you will find the card in your mailbox and you will have to return to collect your passport (within one month).
That’s all there is to it: good luck!
UPDATE (6th May 2009): Once your change of status is accepted, you have 14 days to report the change to your City Hall. You will need to take your Alien Registration Card and Passport… I almost forgot about this myself!
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Thank you for the great info. I’ll be doing this soon. It’s great to have all the info in one place.
Congrats on your wedding btw.
Thanks. I always hoped to make it easier for others to go through it. Hope it goes smoothly!
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Thanks for the information! My situation was slightly different (tourist visa to spousal)…all documentation (except for foreigners card) was the same – 9 days start to finish!
Good info! Got my postcard back from immigration exactly 7 days from application. One tip: Immigration Office lady on the phone said the shitsumonsho is the one you have to be careful about. I wrote lots of detail and didn’t have a problem.
Agreed entirely. However, I also think that your nationality can also play a role in how meticulously they’ll check the info you present. Either way, put in lots of detail and you’ll be fine (so long as it’s true you have nothing to worry about).
I have to renew my visa soon, so expect an update on that in the coming months.
turned in my application, I’ll let
you know how it goes when I (hopefully) hear back in a week! thanks for the great info!
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Thanks for the info James, but I have a couple of questions. I am living in a 3rd country (not japan, not my country, Aust, but another) I have been married for 3years and we were married in Japan (my wife is japanese). I plan to start a job in japan soon but not sure if i can get the spouse visa finished in time. If I transfer from a tourist visa to a spouse visa can I start working before i get the spouse visa back?? Or should i apply from the 3rd country and wait for it all to be cleared and enter the country on a spouse visa?
Bit confusing, but would greatly appreciate your advice…
Technically you should not enter the country on a tourist visa if you intend to work, if you work you’ll be doing so illegally, and in any case you may be forced to leave the country in order reenter on your new visa. If there is no way for you to get a work visa, then you would be best to wait or your spouse visa to clear first.
I’m not sure about the latest immigration rules, but this is what I know from my Internet research and the stories of people I’ve worked with. I personally feel that trying to enter the country on a tourist visa is a risk that you need to consider carefully.
Cal, I am an Australian, I entered Japan on a tourist visa and later got my spouse visa, you don’t have to leave the country, it’s just like changing your status, similar to what James said. Took about 1 month to get everything done, you can’t work before getting the spouse visa.
Wow, I got my spouse visa 4yrs ago and don’t remember having to provide a translation of my passport nor was there an 8page shitsumonsho to fill out. I did get a 3yr one, in fact every 3yr visa I’ve applied for has luckily been granted. I’m not sure what sways it so you get a 3yr one.
I now have PR status. One thing you should remember about Permanent Residency is that you still need to get your re-entry permit every three yrs. If you move back to the UK and then return to Japan without a valid re-entry permit in your passport, like any regular visa the visa becomes void. Or that’s my understanding of it anyhow.
It’s very true. You don’t need to supply a translation of your passport, but I think it’s always useful just to keep the wheels greased.
The shitsumonsho is an attempt to combat marriages for the sake of visas/trafficking.
The 3 year/1 year thing is entirely arbitrary on your first attempt. I wonder if there is a quota system in place or something. When I came to Japan, I got a one-year visa, some of my colleagues received a three-year visa.
My understanding of permanent residency is the same as yours, so I guess it’s true :)
Right now I’m waiting for my visa renewal confirmation. If all goes well, then it was a cakewalk!
Extremely thankful to run into all this information. It’s daunting trying to figure out exactly every form I need to fill out. Thank you so much for posting this.
Always glad to help. As I said above, it’s might be overkill in places, but whatever greases the wheels can only help.
Good luck and congrats if you’re recently married!
Great post.
I’m wondering if anyone knows what documentation Japan wants from the foreign country for spouse visa if married in Japan. I got married in Japan but have no documentation of the marriage from my country (USA). I can get my marriage certificate translated into English and notarized but how would that help.
Getting a spouse visa when you are married is very easy. If you registered your marriage at the US Embassy – essentially only to get an English language marriage certificate, there should be no need to supply it for your visa. I think the only US documentation you need is your passport (but I’m not 100%).
James, Great site. Thanks for this. I have a question. I’m American who married a Japanese woman in the U.S. You said getting a spouse visa when you are married is very easy. I’m wondering if I need to do the same steps you took or is there an easier process. Thanks so much, Phil
I can’t say for sure, but I imagine it’s very similar to the steps above. Only the US documentation will be different. As some commentors have noted, some of the steps are not necessary, but a stitch in time and all that…
Thank you for the information, James.
I have one question about the proof of employment. The one who shows their employment lettter, income, etc… must they also have to show a certain amount of money in their bank account at the time aswell? Or just the letter is fine?
Thanks!
I just checked with my wife, we don’t remember supplying any sort of bank statement or anything. The emphasis is on long-term support, not short-term survival. Might be an issue if you try to get a spouse visa from abroad though. I’m afraid I have no idea on this.
Thank you for the reply. It was a great help!
Thanks for this post, you’re a legend!
I’m just embarking on getting married/visa change at the moment and it’s good to see it all laid out.
Cheers!
Very useful post. Just got my visa today. (I asked for 3 years, but they gave me one – which means I’ve gotta do it all again in about 8 months. )
I’m in tokyo,so I had to go to the shinagawa immigration office (15 min bus ride from shinagawa station – well signed).
Didn’t need the passport translation, or the english version of the letter of guarantee.
Also, note that you don’t need the 4000yen payment stamp until you go back to pick up the visa. I got carried away and bought it the first time I went, which was no problem, but I didn’tactually need it until the postcard arrived telling me to come back a 2nd time.
Took about 2 weeks for me.
I was in Japan with a valid visa from America and I had problems to enter
Is it necessary to renew an expiring vias while an application for another is underway? I expect the results of my pemanent residency application to arrive AFTER my current visa expires.
I’m wondering if anyone has any information regarding this.
Thanks.
As far as I recall, when it comes to PR, you need to keep your visa valid during the course of the application, presumably in case they say no.
James excellent site mate. I just put in my application – but they never asked for the photos. They also decided on my father-in-law’s Koseki instead of my wife’s because it was newer.
I am suppose to get a response from immigration 2 days before my current visa expires. I am curious – for those that got their postcards early like a week or two, did they tell you to expect it in a month too?
If you got married in Japan, the photos might not be necessary, plus the information regarding necessary documents is different depending on where you read it and in what language. I present the above as a kind of most-prepared situation. Glad you didn’t have to do it though.
I have always been told to wait a month so I wouldn’t worry about it.
Thanks for the reply James. At least your site info is consistent and its always nice to hear it from guys who had to go thru it.
Just worth noting that the forms for change of resident status are out of date.. According to the guy at Shizuoka immigration. He said “Did you print these out from the (immigration) website?”, “Yeah, why?”,.. “Ah, they’re out of date, you’ll need to fill in new ones…”. The new form seems to just have a box for “Do you have criminal record, if so what for?”.
Also you do not need to have your alien registration card or certificate of application with you when you register your application but your application won’t get processed until you send them the certificate to prove your registration.. When we got married the people at the town hall advised against registering as an alien right away as once my residence has changed I will have to go back and get everything updated.
If you are a British national chances are you will be getting pretty close to 90 days in Japan by the time you apply for your spouse visa if you get married in Japan (21 days in Japan before you can get your certificate of no impediment, 21 days with your names outside the embassy, a week or so for your marriage to be verified and to appear on your spouse’s family register).
If you get married in Japan along with the above you need to get the town office to make a official copy of all your marriage stuff in a bundle .. I forget the name of it.. it will include your konintodoke, copies of your CNI, copies of your passport, any official extras (We have a letter from someone at the town hall explaining that the address on the CNI is different to the one on the konintodoke because we have moved since applying for it).
Don’t worry too much about having stuff missing though. As long as you have most of the stuff needed you will get a stamp in your passport and a letter explaining that as long as you have that stamp you can stay in Japan while the application is being processed, a list of extra things you need to provide and an addressed envelope to send everything in.
Just waiting for the postcard to come now.. fingers crossed. :)
i am really shocked and upset about Japanese humanity and stubbornness.
My wife went to Japan on 21st feb 2009 for Her PhD.
So far i recall she applied for eligibility certificate on Oct or Nov 09 so that i can get dependent visa. but they denied my eligibility certificate 1st time and cause was her scholarship is not much high. and we need to verify our marriage certificate by “Bangladesh foreign ministry”. Actually we didn’t have any idea how much income we need show or what is the guideline.then she include her Teacher Assistant-ship, research assistant ship salary, her Bangladesh salary, our both savings.
and we verified our marriage certificate by Bangladesh foreign ministry also Bangladesh high commission in Tokyo. After that they issued eligibility certificate on April in this year (2010). then i applied for visa in Japan Embassy Dhaka. After long time they denied my visa without any cause and suggest me to apply again. i was upset and frustrated and i requested my wife please don’t peruse me to come japan.
But main tragedy is my wife was feeling sick from September and finally doctor found some tumor on her right neck. then they found it’s a gland tuberculosis. Every day she needs to take 12 medicine and always feeling tired. and cant work properly. now she is living alone in university I-house in couple room (she has taken couple room due to me from this october). she also cannot attend lab properly due to tiredness. she need to take this medicine for long time. after that she insist me again to live with her. so that i can help her in daily activities. she is also afraid for her sickness. then she applied again on 8th November 10 for eligibility certificate with same document also doctor’s certificate. again application already rejected and they claimed our document is not real. but i know its totally untruthful cause and double-dealing.
i really astonished about this types of attitude and they reject several times without any reason. both we are really upset. may be this type of problem and lonely time will pass. everything will be ok. but it will be horrible experience in our life. both we feel helpless. i am just counting the day.
Here is my question.
can two foreigners, one American and one British, get married in japan whilst there on tourism visas?
OR, if one of them is a resident and wants to bring the other over and marry there, can they just get married and then apply for the non-resident to become a resident, or do they both need to be rsidents beforehand?
Many thanks.
Andrew
Two foreigners can get married in Japan with only tourist status.. you don’t need foreigner registration either, I didn’t. The problem with the British half is that you have be in Japan for 21 days before you can apply to the embassy for the Certificate of No Impedance and you have to wait a further 21 days for no impedance to be shown and then a few more days for that to arrive in the post. Apparently you can get the CNI in the UK and then have the embassy translate it for you want you get there.. that will still take a few days I guess. The British embassy charge 5000+ yen for every little service. :(
Also whether or not you can actually get married is going to be dependent on getting an understanding person at the city or town hall. We had a really great person that filled in most of the konintodoke for us and listed everything, checked everything against the books.. the biggest issue was my home address which is just written as “England” for some reason. But my wife is Japanese.. two foreigners getting married probably poses a ton of headache for the person at the town/city hall especially if it’s some little country side town that has never done it before and they may just tell you “you don’t live here, we can’t do it”. Getting a dependent visa seems to be more difficult if neither of you is Japanese.
I’m really pleased I stumbled upon this site today. Everyone is giving such clear and helpful advice – much nicer than the cynicism I met with when I enquired on a different site about the legal procedures to marry my Japanese husband.
I’m a British citizen; we married in the UK in 2009. I am currently in Japan on a work visa (professor) and work at a big-name university. Since I will begin a Ph.D in October in the UK, I want to leave work from April in order to have 6 months here purely to focus on my research, which is Japan-based, before my course begins. I have tried to balance research with working but it has not gone well, so this period is crucial for me. However, my husband, who works at the same university, will also come to the end of his contract in April, which means that neither of us will then have a full-time income. For us, it’s a short-term means to an end so that we can achieve our degrees quickly to move our careers on, and naturally, we are sure that we have enough in the bank to do this fully independently.
However, if “Proof of Employment” is also required for the spousal visa, does my application stand to fail if neither of us is going to be in full-time employment? Alternatively, does anyone know of a way for me to continue living in Japan for six months after terminating a work permit (my permit is actually valid until late2012)? I don’t mind being unable to work – I just need a means to stay with my husband, near the library where I can quietly read my books. Yoroshiku for any experienced wisdom or advice.
If your husband is working now, even if his contract is up in April, you should still be able to apply for the spouse visa based on your current conditions, if you apply ASAP. However, I’m not 100% sure about that.
If not, and if you can afford to, you could always try reentering Japan on a tourist visa. British citizens are eligible for a 6 months stay without a visa. The only problem with this is that I’m not sure if this is an automatic right or not. A quick call to immigration should clear it up.
Well that makes sense. I’ll make some phone calls in the working week. Thank you for your help =)
Excellent site! Thanks so much for this.
Would a copy of the marriage certificate be sufficient? I of course do not want to give them the official copy. Does anyone know? Thanks in advance.
I think it needs to be an official copy – take a copy and the real one with you and show them the copy first and check it’s okay. We ordered several copies for the registration process in Japan, so we just gave them the real thing.
Thanks James!!
Really appreciate this site and your generosity!
If it’s the Japanese marriage certificate.. the one with the gold leaf around the outside that isn’t what you need. Shizuoka immigration didn’t even know what it was.
If you got married in Japan you will need a certified copy of all the stuff you handed in when you submitted your konintodoke. It should have copies of the konintodoke, your passport scans, …
I got my spouse of Japanese permit two weeks ago. ;)
Thanks for all the help. I’ll put my experience in here for others to use as a resource. I just got my spouse visa at the Tokyo immigration office near Shinagawa. I’m American and married my wife in the U.S.
Changing to a spouse visa was quite simple. As some have stated, maybe it’s easier if you’re American or British, but I submitted all the necessary documents on a Wednesday. A copy of the original wedding certificate was deemed ok. They requested 3 pictures which you don’t get back. Otherwise, everything was rather simple and straight to the point. The only problem was the unbelievably long wait! I went in the afternoon and ended up waiting 2.5 hours before I finally got to the counter. Anyways, my previous visa was to expire the following Monday. No problem as they give you a stamp that will let you stay past the expiration for either up to 2 months or once they make a decision, whichever is the earliest date.
I got my approval the following Monday, so it took less than a week. I just went there, paid for the revenue stamp at the conbini on the 1F, and went up to Counter A and got a 3-year spouse visa. Easy peasy. Good luck all.
Based on my experienced, IT NEEDS TO BE A CERTIFIED OFFICIAL(STAMPED) COPY.
Just stumble upon this site in my quest to find some info on a japanese spouse visa.
I just married my japanese wife, and am in the process of sponsoring to move to Canada. But at the same time I wouldn’t mind applying for a Japanese spousal visa, just to keep our options open.
If I am granted the Japanese spousal visa, but I end up not using it, can I still apply again after it expires? Will the fact that I didn’t use it affect the second application?
Thanks, and your site is awesome!
I don’t think it would affect your second application too much, but if I were you I would just try to get your certificate of eligibility (assuming you are not in Japan now). The certificate of eligibility will take a month or so, but when you get it, you have a few months in which you are able to fast-track your application.
To be honest though, you’d be better just waiting. It wouldn’t be too hard to get that spouse visa if you decide to move here.
Thanks for the info man! You’re awesome!
What if I has a spouse visa before and it expired ? Have just returned to Japan. Surely I do not require letters of proof etc. I’ll just take along the kids !!!
Presumably if you’re in the same marriage and have already qualified for a spouse visa, you don’t need to fill out the shitsumon-sho, but I’m not entirely sure. In their eyes, you’re applying afresh – I would call the Immigration Office and explain the details of your previous visa and then ask them what you need to provide. Given how many times I have to submit the same information to different parts of the government, it wouldn’t surprise me if you need the full lot.
Sorry I can’t be of much help on this.
Thank you for the excellent write up and for continuing to check the site. I am in a unique bind and your site has helped me to regain confidence to try this process. I am currently in a visa called SOFA which is basically an American military base work visa. It is technically a gray area that no one really knows about. I was able to get info from the Tokyo Immigration office. Basically, since I got married after I got SOFA sponsorship, I am not allowed to get a spouse visa unless I am no longer working for a company on a military base. They said I needed a termination letter from the company saying that my SOFA status would be terminated before they would issue a spouse visa.
I know that you’re range of knowledge doesn’t cover this particular point but I have two questions that you (or other posters) may be able to help out with. I am hoping that the paperwork is the same except for the employment proof since I wouldn’t be employed at the time of application.
1. If I can get a termination letter that shows that as of a certain date, I will lose the sofa visa, will the Immigration office easily grant me permission to move on to a Spouse visa? Will they need to contact the company for any reason regarding the proof of employment?
2. Since I live in Tokyo, the closest office is Shinagawa. But in my experience in the past, the Tokyo city offices tend to be more strict than the outlying offices. Should I go to another office in hopes of better understanding and/or more compassion? Or does it not matter where one goes because all immigration officers basically don’t want to help us get our visa anyway?
Either question probably is dependent on who helps me but perhaps you may have some info that could lead to the easiest process. I did see that Bill up above had gone to Shinagawa and had a seemingly good experience.
Thank you and Yoroshiku for any help!
John,
Thanks for dropping by.
You ask a difficult set of questions but I’ll try to address them one by one.
1. It shouldn’t be too difficult to get a spouse visa so long as you’ve been a good boy in Japan. Generally we Brits and Americans have an easy time of it, but the whims of the immigration officers are as unpredictable as a random number generator. The only question I would have you check is whether you can stay in Japan after your SoFA permit sponsor has supposedly terminated you. Work visas, for instance, are not tie to your employer, but as you rightly point out, SoFA permit holders are a beast to their own. That is something you should check with the immigration office or someone on base (there must be some sort of specialist on this).
If your wife earns enough money then it shouldn’t be necessary to supply any proof of employment on your behalf other than the termination letter. Your wife is your sponsor – your employer has no hold over your visa in that regard.
2. Where you get your visa does apparently affect the time you spend waiting, but I’m not sure it helps you or hinders you from getting a visa. I would recommend thinking about Tachikawa immigration office – Yokota AFB is nearby so they might have more experience with SoFA permit holders… or that might make it harder for you. It’s a black art.
If you want to try Tachikawa, you can find the address here: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/soshiki/kikou/address/03.html
Personally though, I’d go to Shinagawa simply for convenience.
If anyone else has any comments, knock yourselves out, but I’ll just leave you with this: your case is pretty special, I’d definitely ask your wife to make a few phone calls to the immigration office(s) to discuss what you need an the general timescale and pitfalls. They are usually uncooperative even with Japanese citizens, but it sounds like you only have this one chance to get it right. As your colleagues on base would say: Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance, or maybe that’s a British thing ;)
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Thank you James for the response. According to the immigration office, a person who “loses” the SoFA sponsorship has two months to notify the immigration office and have it changed before it is considered a violation. Technically, the SoFA really has no meaning without a proper set of papers and ID card so just having a stamp in the passport is of no real value.
I have been to the Tachikawa office and although the people are nice there too, I think it might be better to go somewhere that not much is known about SoFA. I’m sure the Yokota AFB folks have tried more than once to get around the system. And honestly, when I went, there wasn’t much that they knew about base relations anyway. I think that most of the people sponsored through the base, stay on the base and all is done for them.
The wife is busy and I just didn’t want to drag her down to the immigration office without a solid case.
One more question: If a person gets their visa, he/she has to go back to reconfirm after one year. Where is that done? Do you go back to the same immigration office or can you go to the local 市役所? And if you have to go back down to immigration, do you have to drag your wife back there with you every year to prove you are still married?
Also, I tried to open the example form above for the application to change status of residence and it leads to a page that doesn’t exist. Do you have or do you know where I can find an application that is already filled out. I’m a little confused on the part about what is my current residence status, and who is my supporter, and who is my guarantor. I assumed all would be the wife but it seems fishy that they would ask the same question a different way.
I had a British buddy in college back in the states. He used to say the same thing!
Thank you again for any help.
Let me just reiterate, right off the bat: you shouldnt have any problems getting a spouse visa. Americans are rarely seen as problematic in terms of cheating the system (although as you mention, staying away from Tachikawa might be a good idea).
One thing that just came to mind, however, is whether you need a change of status form or whether you actually have to apply for a visa given your current status is technically outside the MoJ’s control. That is something I can’t answer though.
The new change of status form is here: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/02.html
When you need to renew your visa, you have to head back to the immigration office, but you only need to submit the application and proof of tax payments from highest-earning spouse (iirc – I have to go back myself next month) – you can do it without your wife :)
You can’t get anything done at the shiyakusho, except your alien registration card (and even that will be handled by immigration soon!)
The guarantor is usually the father or someone like that. Someone with the financial power to take care of any problems. The supporter is basically your day to day financial support – your wife (maybe even yourself if you have the proof that you can support yourself).
Like I said though, at the end of the day, you shouldn’t find it too hard to get the visa – just make sure you have it all prepared before you hand it in or you’ll eat up lots of time.
Just one more thought I had while researching…
According to the Nagoya International Center website, if the applicant stays “3 years or more after the marriage to a Japanese national, permanent resident or special permanent resident and resided in Japan for one year or more” he can get Permanent Residence.
I have been married more than 3 years and have been living in Japan for 3 years, albeit under SoFA, doesn’t it still count? Couldn’t I apply directly for PR instead of Spouse visa, or is there a definite order that one must follow?
Thanks!
From what I’ve heard, permanent residency takes longer (6 months) to apply for than the spouse visa – plus it is more fickle. I would definitely walk before you can crawl and get the spouse visa – then you can apply for the permanent residency without having to worry about your impending lack of a visa :)
James,
Thank you for all your advice. I have been speaking to people in similar cases as mine and the general recommendation is to get a lawyer. The situation I’m in is a little more complicated and I think I would rather pay money and have someone help me than try to go at this alone. Do you have any advice on where to search for a good immigration lawyer or do you have any recommendations on who to go with?
I’ve not got any recommendations, I’m afraid, but I can suggest you try looking here if you’re stuck: http://www.hiraganatimes.com/hp/visa/file/consulting-e.html
Hi there guys, quick question. I got married outside Japan, we are thinking of moving there to get the spouse visa. How do they verify the visa? Did they call any of your parents?
They verify it against you having registered your marriage in Japan. The only issue by which your parents in law are involved is perhaps as your guarantor – depending on your circumstances.
The link to the example pdf for ‘application for change of status of residence’ is broken. I found this: http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fakabaneksk.com%2FDLL%2Ffu9rev0.pdf&rct=j&q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.immi-moj.go.jp%2Ftetuduki%2Fshinseisyo%2Fpdf%2F03-1.pdf&ei=v6p0TeyBJoyGvgOkuvi9AQ&usg=AFQjCNF-9y3xOGhZyon36ZL4ZckPev827A&sig2=4wllzgpudsV7IO9VlrXmkQ&cad=rja
by searching google. Not sure if it correct/up to date but looks fine.
Thanks for writing this.
I got married in Japan, when we called the Japanese immigration department they required an Marriage Certificate from the US Embassy, but the problem here being that the embassy does not issue such certificates, Has anyone encountered this issue?
James, great page and just embarking on the process myself so thanks for the links. I am paying a docs lawyer to handle my case for me – Despite it being simple I dont want any delays, and cant take much time off work so thought it would show willingness to invest in the country to hire a guy to help.
To echo what Alan said, I also called the Japanese Immigration dept. and they also told me I need a Marriage Certificate from the UK (but I am married in Japan – so thats not possible). I can deposit my Japanese certificate in the UK but that isnt certification.
I know the I wont get one, but the FCO (Foreign Consular Overseas – ie the Embassy) told me they can make a translation of the expensive thick Japanese cardboard one. Since there is no “name” for this translated document its hard to verify if that’s enough?!
The document lawyer is also not entirely sure how the immigration dept. might feel on this subject so we will be giving it a shot to see. I will update once this is all under way (1-2weeks start to finish no doubts)
Luc, I contacted the US embassy and they gave me a form letter stating that the Embassy does not have a process in place to register and issue marriage certificates, and a number to contact if they had any questions. Perhaps the British embassy has something similar?
This was very helpful! For some reason I couldn’t find all this information on the US embassy’s website nor the 入国管理局’s website (which right now seems to only be giving info out pertaining to the earthquakes/tsunamis of late)… This was a big help. I’m a little nervous about switching visas because I’m quitting my office job to be a full time artist / writer and my husband is a musician who works part-time as a computer consultant. I have no idea how they feel about letting him sponsor me. I think we’ve got the proof that we’ve been dating/living together out of love, and that this isn’t an attempt to get another visa through lying, but I’ll admit I didn’t marry a wealthy man. I feel like Immigration would be particular about that.
Anyway, thanks for the info and hopefully I won’t run into any problems!
Sponsorship might be tough without the Yen to back it up, but I think if he makes around ¥250,000 a month (old work visa minimum), you’ll have no problem – but it doesn’t sound like that’s what he’s getting.
The least you can do is try! Good luck!
You got a fantastic website! Thanx a lot for the effort you put in it!
But I got a question for you! I’m married to my lovely japanese wife and we are living here in Italy since 2 years now. We got plans to open business in Japan. Obviously when we enter the country, none of us will actually work. And I’m not shure we can open business in 3 month time.
Will this present a problem for us?
イタリアの白人
If you have proof of sufficient saving to live on and a guarantee from her father or something then I’m sure it’s possible. It’s a special case, so I would discuss the issue with the Japanese embassy in Italy first, and I not then maybe consider going over on a tourist visa while your wife establishes the company (it’ll probably have to be in her name anyhow).
Interesting case though! Wish you luck! What type of business will you open?
The guarantee won’t be a big issue. Remains what japanese immigration officeworkers understand under “sufficient savings” :-)
We will need the money to run our business, too! By the way, we still got plenty of time as we have to discuss final contracts with our suppliers in Italy. For now, plans are to open a webshop (based in Italy) open to japanese customers only. In a second time we got plans to move to Japan and import directly. Maybe our business could be opened as a 出店 with the 本社 based in Italy run by a friend.
Maybe this could help us, too!
I’m an American and I have lived in Japan for about 4.5 years now. I left my company job to start freelance translating about 2.5 months ago (my SHIS visa expires in over a year from now), and I am planning to apply for the spouse visa soon. My future wife has regular work as a nurse, but it’s all haken (temp work) stuff, so there’s no guarantee of long-term income. Also, she was out of the country for a big part of last year, so the amount on her tax return isn’t very high, and she has almost no savings at the moment (although I do). Will the immigration officials be concerned about this? Can one of her parents be a guarantor? (They are self-employed but successful.)
Your page has been very useful for me so far, thanks!
You amcan certainly self-sponsor so long as your income meets the minimum threshold decided by the immigration bureau (whatever that is), and she could be your guarantor (they are not really checked into so much). Though while things seem rather unstable, you might want to consider a self-sponsored work visa. Again, you’ll want to discuss the specifics over the phone with immigration officials first, to be safe :)
Thanks for your reply!
I research and asked directly about self-sponsorship. but they require contracts with each client that guarantee income, which doesn’t really happen with freelance translation. So that type of visa probably isn’t possible for me. I guess I’ll just hope they don’t check into finances too closely when they look at the spouse visa application…
What do you think could be an appropriate “sufficient savings?” in Yen? Here in Itay salaries are not as high as in 日本, so maybe a 20.000 Euro could seem ridiculous to Japanese Immigration? I tried to check out salaries in 日本、でも。。。日本人 do not talk easily about it. I know what my wife got and it was about 30% morte than me (and I’m a good part over the median). Then there are some benefits in Japan as f.ex. 切符 is paid by much of the companies. so what could you suggest as “lowest sufficient saving”?
Many grteetings from Italy to everyone and がんばれ日本！！！！
Well, as I said above, you used to have to earn ¥250,000 a month to get a work visa. That might be a decent benchmark (although that requirement no longer stands).
I would definitely speak to the Embassy if I were you – you might be able to get more specific suggestions.
Anyone have any advice on RENEWING a spouse visa? I think i have everything i need, but if anyone has any tips then that would be nice.
The information is here:
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/index.html
The main form here:
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/03-format.html
and the list of supporting documents here:
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/Table3-2.html
Basically it seems I need:
- Application form
- Passport and alien registration card
- a copy of the family registration of the Japanese national
- Documents certifying the profession and the income of the person concerned or his or her spouse or his or her father or mother ( i guess this means proof of employment letter and maybe tax form again).
- a letter of guarantee by the Japanese national
That means we’ve got to go and get ANOTHER copy of the koseki! That’s about the 4th one this year, for various procedures! Gah! ;-)
I finished doing mine last month (right after the quake) – you seem to have it all sorted as far as I can tell. The whole koseki system is as annoying as hell, but when I finally got my 3-year visa, it made it all worthwhile :)
Good luck!
James,
I just wanted to ask you how was your trip to the Immigration office in April? I’ve heard that they are backed up tremendously right now. I posted previously and just to let you know, I’ve contacted a gyoseishoshi to do my paperwork so he said because of my other visa status I had to come back as a tourist in order to change to COE then to Spouse visa. But I’ve been waiting 2 months as of next week and my tourist visa will run out soon. Apparently lots of people are waiting due to the rush on immigration when everyone feared their life because of Fukushima.
When you were at immigration did it seem that they were very busy or business as usual? I’ve heard and by my first experience, the COE takes about 2 months during this season but I know that it is taking about 3 because of the earthquake’s after effects. I just hope that they will speed up their backlog and help us out.
Also, do you know of any place that someone could check the status of how busy the office is or anything at all that shows waiting times? I’d imagine that immigration being a government office would have no interest whatsoever in providing quick service, especially for gaijin. I have my application number but I don’t want to associate it with too many calls to check up. They (the almighty rulers) may just decide to take longer if people show impatience.
Thanks a lot,
John
I actually went to immigration on the Tuesday after the quake when everyone was fleeing – it was the busiest I’d ever seen, but by the time I went back to collect my visa it had calmed down.
Generally speaking, the only guarantee regarding waiting time is the earlier you get there, the shorter the wait. They don’t track queue length or anything so you are just best to turn up just before 9am at the latest to get it done.
Sounds like you’re in a rough spot, but they shouldn’t be too slow at the moment. Keep the faith :)
Great info. thanks and keep on the good work!
Hi James,
Love this info, really detailed and great stuff!
I have been living with my Japanese girlfriend for over 3 years now, she has PR here in Australia.
But we want to move to Japan within the next 2 years. I will get a working holiday VISA to start off with, then decide if I want to make Japan my home and start a family there. (Have spent 3 months in Japan in the last 3 years and something is just pulling me there…) girlfriend is 25, I am only 20 so am waiting till I am around 23 to get married… Probably get married in Japan.
It seems like getting the spouse visa is simple.. but I have a question for the long term.
If I got a spouse VISA and had kids in Japan, is there any danger at all of having visa revoked or extension application denied at any point? Before or after having kids? If I decide to make Japan my home I want to feel stable and have a sense of permanence. Of course until PR might be possible.
Thanks, sorry for going so deep.
- B
It’s not impossible, I suppose, but you’d have to do something to cause them to reject it – criminal act of some sort, divorce or perhaps just a plain inability to support yourselves, but it should be said that those of us from affluent, Western nations will probably have few problems.
If you’re lucky, you will only have to renew your visa once before you can go for PR (generally considered to be 5 yrs after starting on a spouse visa). However, the risk still exists – I’d say that you needn’t worry though.
Thanks for quick reply, very helpful,
That leads me to the question of, what happens if your PR application fails? Just loose 3000yen and have to try again later??
I like the sound of the VISA application processes in Japan, after going through PR (Spouse visa) application in Australia which costs over $2000 and waiting period of 2 years!! unbelievable that you can pay 3000yen and have your visa in Japan in under a week!
Hope you are not feeling the damage and drama of the earthquake/tsunami too much in Kanagawa!
That’s something I’m not sure about – I’d imagine you lose your money simply by virtue of it being paid in revenue stamps in the first place.
The earthquake itself was tough, as wa the panic buying, but everything is back to normal here. More than I can say for the Tohoku region!
Hmmm, I know in Australia if you fail you have a period you have to wait before applying again.. Just can’t find any info regarding this case in Japan.
Thats good! Luckily I will be moving to Kobe, far from the destruction!
Hey, if you have Japanese drivers licence or international drivers licence, that is an article I would LOVE to read!!
Take care.
- B
Thanks for the info!
Put mine in today and got told the form from here was old. I think this the one I had to fill out (Change of Status Form) http://www.moj.go.jp/content/000052436.pdf
Handed in a couple of forms to show I paid tax. But still need to get another showing my income for the past year. Unfortunately that info wasn’t on the tax forms.
Thank you, someone already wrote about this in the comments, but this time I made the edit to make sure no-one else has any other trouble :)
Got my visa today. Asked for a 3 year and got it. The visa before was a 3 year instructor visa so it might have had something to do with it. When I handed the (old) form in they said it should be okay but when i went back today they made me fill out a new one all again. Took forever to write again! And this was after my application had already been approved!
Got mine yesterday.
ANOTHER 1 years visa. That’s two one year spouse visas . When I asked why they gave me the runaround and said they’ve changed the process (bullsh1t). My friend got married last month and he has just informed me he got a 3 year visa.
I dont get it. I have lived in Japan for 11 years and prior to getting married I got 3 year visas.
Not happy.
Sorry to hear it. Exactly the same thing happened to me, just that I didn’t live here long before I got my spouse visa. It’s an arbitrary and opaque system in dire need of reform, but if it makes you feel better, the third spouse visa was a three-year one.
I have an official marriage certificate from the US that was printed back in 2001. Do you know if there are any time limits on how old (new) the certificate must be? Do I need to have a new copy printed up?
I’m not sure at all, I’m afraid, but maybe someone else here does :)
When renewing my spouse visa (3 year one about to expire but cant remember what I did 3 days ago never mind 3 years). Anyone know if it is better to put the wife down as the bread winner, as she earns a lot more than me and I have yearly contracts.
For this would I need her tax certificates from city office.
cheers, and nice photos on your other site, has to be said.
Thank you :)
I actually did just what you said this time round. My wife earned more than me last year so we used her details. The Immigration staff asked me why it was my wife’s but the accepted it no less and gave me my first 3-year visa. Just tell them that she earns more than you and you’ll be fine.
cheers for that. Went yesterday and all seems good.
All the best.
I have a question. My spouse’s family is un-willing to sponsor me because I am a foreigner and My husbands Job with Taisei corporation does not begin till April of ’12 so he cannot sponsor me either. I have a good friend who is Japanese and is willing to sponsor me. Will the government allow that or am I heading for a not so happy ending?
I’m sorry it took so long to approve and reply to your comment! I hope you’ve found some resolution there. As far as I know, your sponsor could be anyone, but I’m not sure if a spouse visa necessarily restricts that or not. It’s worth a try and certainly wouldn’t hurt to give it a shot.
My Spouse sponsored me despite not meeting the income requirements, but I was required to provide proof of savings to show that I could support myself. After providing such proof I was granted a visa. Hopefully this might be helpful. You could also provide the letter for your husbands job offer.
Hey mate
This is truly a great site – very, very useful – thank you!
It’s also much clearer, more informative and much easier to naviagte than the Japanese Immigration Bureau site, where I have just been hunting around for more info on the shitsumonsho – I couldn’t find a mention of it anywhere…
Anyway, if all the other documents are in place (marriage certificate / translations / passports / employment and tax records / family register / Alien Registration Card / Letter of Guarantee) do you (or any other readers out there) know if the shitsumonsho is a compulsory requirement or just a little extra something to help jig things along a bit?
Thanks again for a great site!
Cheers
Stuart
Stuart,
As far as I’m aware, the shitsumonsho is a requirement instituted largely to fend off human trafficking and mail-order bride operations by showing a verifiable and documented history between the couple. It is thus to demonstrate that it is a real substantial relationship rather than a fake one, which the other documents cannot show (arguably, neither can the shitsumonsho either). Best get writing ;)
James
This is some good info! Do you know how this applies to former US military?
Hi James,
Just starting to apply and found your page…
Looks very very useful. Thank you.
Many many thanks…
Euan
Hi James,
Some of your information is helpful while some of it is out of date. A complete list of PDF documents can be found at this website: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/hituyou_syorui.html
If you already have a spouse visa then I finally got found out that you need the following:
1) Application for an Extension of Stay: http://www.moj.go.jp/content/000052409.pdf
2) Your valid visa (no copies or translations, as you mentioned above)
3) A copy of your spouse’s zeimin shomeisho (tax document)
4) A recent (within 6 months) copy of your kousekitouhon
5) Your wife to apply for a letter of guarantee (obtainable at the website above)
If any of you have more questions, have your spouse contact the Shinagawa Office. Here is their number:
General Affairs Division, Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice1-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8977
Tel: +81(0)3-3580-4111
Good luck everyone!
Nice, thanks for this, just what I needed. However, about number 3, am assuming my tax details will be sufficient rather than my wife’s (I earn more), is that correct?
Absolutely.
Hello, I am married to a Japanese woman, (we have been married almost 14 years now with 2 half Japanese kids) anyway,,, my spouse and I are planning to request a spouse visa for me soon. But I have a few questions before I do because I have been told that if I do so I will have to pay Japanese national health insurance for the my family of four.
Is that true? will I be required to pay my wife’s health insurance? and kids also immediately after they give me a visa? If this is so,,, then when will I be required to pay health insurance and all the other fees associated with me getting a spouse visa to live and work in Japan?? I have my own insurance in America, but am willing to pay for insurance for myself if required. Until now my kids and wife have been covered already due to living in Japan without me.
Will I be required to pay for their coverage each month when I move to Japan? If so, How much is it per month?
I want and need a spousal visa but do not want to hurt my family financially because I don’t have a Japan in Japan as of now, but I know I can start working some soon after I get a spouse visa?
Do you have a website or link that clearly explains this to me? Some of the Japanese immigration links are confusing to me for some reason, so that’s why I’m asking these questions here.
Thank you.
If your wife and children are already covered by your wife’s job or parents in law then I doubt you have to pay anything. My own wife pays for her insurance through her work.
Kokumin hoken, i.e. public health cover is about 2 months wages per year for an adult but price varies depending on wage and location.
James, thank you. God’s speed. You’re website is very informative and I appreciate you taking the time to reply to me, and very quickly, I might add. Keep letting your light shine and thank you again.
Good question David,
I too have been searching around on and off for the past 2 years trying to find some solid figures and information regarding compulsory health insurance in Japan!
It seems like there is no info on the internet at all…
2 months wage per year is very expensive!! 500000 ¥ + per year!?
Does that get paid on a monthly basis or bulk each year?
It seems almost impossible to pay such an amount if you were supporting a family
Sorry, that’s my bad – it’s a month’s wage. I was adding on the residency tax which is approximately another month’s wage.
I pay my health insurance at a convenience store every month – nearly ¥30,000 – for a total of 7 or 8 months a year.
Hey James,
Thanks always for being so informative, not long now until I make the move!
Can I ask, how did you come across info on the health insurance?
Did someone provide you with signup forms when you got visa or entered country or..??
I have many friends living in Japan and not one of them is on health insurance so I can’t get any info out of them! I want to do all the right things though and sign my self up.
¥240000 per year doesn’t seem AS BAD. But in Australia we have free health insurance so it’s hard to come to terms with~
The wife says that children’s kids and dependent spouses are covered at a reduced rate (subsidised by the government).
BILLY asked:
>Can I ask, how did you come across info on the health insurance?
>Did someone provide you with signup forms when you got visa or entered country or..??
Well, your employer must arrange insurance for you, but those who are unemployed can sign up at their local town hall. There is no guarantee on how much you will have to pay until they take all your information. The best thing to do is to visit the town/city/ward hall when you arrive in the country, you’ll be forced to do so in order to get your alien registration card.
Very grateful for your help!
Thanks James
Hi james! Thank you so much for all the information, it is indeed very useful. I recently got married to a japanese citizen, how soon can i apply for a spouse visa? I currently have a working visa.
AFAIK you can apply right away. It’s only the length/substance of your relationship that the authorities are concerned about. But I could be wrong. I got my Spouse visa less than a year after marriage.
Hello James! Great site!
I just got married to a Japanese citizen but se grew up abroad, so she does not read and write japanese well, especially the kanji. I called the immigration hotline and they said that there is an english version of the shitsumonsho, but I just can’t find it.
Do you have any idea if the english shitsumonsho exist and where can we find it?
I just had a quick look but couldn’t find it. Maybe someone else knows?
Hello James!
Im sansei from Brazil and married to a vietnamese.
we got married in vietnam and i come back to japan by myself and he stayed there.
when i was there we went to the consulate of japan and they said to me that ill need to come back to japan and go to immigration to apply the documents.
i already fill in the certificate of eligibility,the shitsumonsho and the letter of guarantee.
can you tell me if he will be apply to get his visa?
he came to japan once but his visa was under contract and its over.
i appreciate if you help me.
thanks
If you’ve submitted the documents, it is all in the hands of the immigration officials. Hopefully it’ll go well, but it’s never easy to tell – the process is anything but transparent. All I can tell you is “Good luck!” – his having been in Japan is probably a good sign though :)
=) thank you very much for the reply…
i want to bring him to japan,cause i really dont wanna live in vietnam,so i hope gets all right…
I got married in Japan a few months ago and have got all the documents ready for application. Until now I have had 5 years worth of humanities visas. I would like to get it done by the end of the year. I will take a holiday just before xmas and need my passport by then. If I apply tomorrow that will leave 3 weeks until I leave to go abroad. What if they haven’t finished processing it by then? Do you know if there is any way to get the passport back in such a case?
As far as I know, no. If I were you I’d wait til January, or call the immigration bureau first to secure a guaranteed option of some sort. Far too risky to submit and hope it comes back in 3 weeks, if you ask me.
Thanks for the info!
I have lived here over 12 years (on a previous set of marriage visas). I got given the route of 3 one year visas followed by continuous 3 year visas. I was told on my end of my 10th year that I could go for permanent residency next time instead of renewing all the time. However, I have now divorced and have to go through the whole process again. The weirdest thing happened after the divorce : I was put back on to a tourist visa. I had already met somebody during the time on this visa but was forced to go home due to time restrictions. We stayed on contact and 2 years later I am back in Japan, yet again on a tourist visa. I have asked her father’s permission for marriage, met her friends and family.. all the usual. Just the marriage and the spousal visa to go now, until we can truly settle down. Thanks to your info, I don’t have to traipse around multiple sites for the information.
hi james, im a japanese girl trying to marry foreigner guy, and i am currently trying to help him coming to japan first, so we can marriage..but i dont know why but they have rejected his apps to japan twice,probably because of his nationality and how strict the government is,, now im confused and i dont know how to get married if he cant come to japan.. could you please advice me what to do and how to deal this situation?
My understanding of these issues is that they are usually about nationality. For those of us lucky enough to have been born in a country with close ties to Japan, it is very easy to enter. For others, however, it is far more difficult. If it is very important that he comes to Japan to arrange the marriage, all I can suggest is that he keep trying.
Are you acting as a guarantor in this situation? Did you write a letter to support his entry? Is that even necessary? If you are not acting as a guarantor and it is possible for you to do so (or perhaps one of your family – whoever is most financially stable), that might aid his application. Alternatively, of you are acting as guarantor to these failed attempts, then perhaps you need to see if someone else will be willing to guarantee his visit. It depends on the details of his application.
Another option is for him to attempt to come to Japan on a student’s visa, or something to that effect, however this is a) no guarantee that he’ll be able to come, b) expensive and c) requires him to attend classes for the duration of his term to meet the conditions of his stay.
The best bet, however, might be to look into getting married in a third country where you can both gain entry without any problems.
Unfortunately, none of these problems are easy to solve, not is there any clear good option. It all depends on your circumstances.
Good luck and stay in touch.
thank you very much for your kind reply, and encouragement for us to keep in touch with you. it helped me a lot to think what to do next..im really happy that you are here to advice us, because we are really confused and we don’t know what to do with this situation.we met in oversea,we are in relationship for 3years now, and this was making us feel like we can never be together because of the law T.T
quote*Are you acting as a guarantor in this situation? Did you write a letter to support his entry? *
my father acted as a guarantor in this situation,,and yep, we wrote it carefully, twice, for the tourist visa.
i too, think its because of his nationality, and i believe that my country is being cautious with Arab nationality, but we are really in different case :(
i looked it up with about the student visa,like you said, the rules were complicated and expensive too, so we are planning to just submit our papers without he being present/married in 3rd country, maybe after that he might be able to be accepted visiting japan..i hope so :(
thank you again, i’l be keeping in touch with you with the progress *bows*
My sister-in-law is in a similar situation, so I appreciate how tough this must be for you. I hope everything goes well :)
im sorry to disturb your time and thank you for reading.
Hello,
Fantastic site, so helpful & full of information.
I came to Japan on October 5 last year(2011) I came here on a 1 year working holiday visa from UK (I’m British) to be with my partner who is a Japanese national. We have been together 1 and half years and plan to get married in April so that we can stay together, otherwise when October comes we would have to part ways as I have no possibility of extending it and nether of us wants that. We are not to fussy about where we live, being it here on back in the UK.
But I want to know, if I was to apply for a spouse visa after we are married, would the Japanese authority’s deem that a too short time and decline me the visa? if so we will try the UK.
Her parents and family are in full support of us getting married so that will make things very easy for help with obtaining documents etc.
I haven’t done a lot of research yet into spouse visas and this great post is one of the first I’ve come across but it’s very helpful.
Any help or info on what would be the best plan is greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Take care.
I think one and a half years would be a ‘sufficient’ (as though anyone has the right to judge) amount of time for a pre-marraige relationship, so long as you can back it up in the Shitsumonsho (with photos to go with it). You lived in Japan for a year, it seems likely that they will appreciate that. Plus, as a fellow Brit, you’ll notice that we get rather good treatment from the government (just read through the most recent comments for an idea of how hard other nations’ citizens have it).
However, there is always a big ‘but’ and that is that the visa system is pretty opaque. There is no guarantee that you’ll be granted a visa, and the same goes for back home too. The best thing to do is to get married and apply straight away and see where it gets you. Money-wise, Japan’s visas are cheaper (IIRC) than similar ones in the UK, so that’s a plus, and you’ll be here anyway.
However, as big as that ‘but’ maybe, I think you’ll be fine.
As James said : one and a half is absolutely fine. I came to Japan in December 1999, got married in April 2000, spouse visa issued in May 2000 (one year visa). Once you have your one year visa, it’s fairly simple to renew for another year. After renewing 3 times for 1 year at a time, you will be moved on to 3 year visas. Once you go through 2 of these you will be told you can go for permanent residence. The paperwork for the initial change of status is fairly intensive. Your partner will essentially become your sponsor. She will have to provide tax records for her work place and proof of her address. You will both need to provide photos of your past together and perhaps some past correspondence. I would say that as long as you have a clean criminal record in the UK and Japan (including cautions) and you can prove your relationship is genuine then you will have no problems what-so-ever. I remember I got all worked up about getting the visa, I was worried sick and extremely nervous but the immigration official was very nice, smiled and wished me luck in Japan after handing back my newly stamped passport.
I think that is what we are going to do, get married in April and apply then.
Reading the comments I agree, easier indeed.
As always in life, every situation has a “but” :) can’t escape that so we will apply after we are married later on in the year and see what happens :)
Thank’s again.
James, if one was to let ones spouse visa lapse while living abroad, will I need to go through the whole process getting the visa reissued from scratch when I want to re-enter? Appreciate any input on this if you have encountered it before?
If your visa expires, you will have to go through it all again. As far as I know, there are not shortcuts.
Hi, im british married to a japanese and want to live in yokohama this year in uk at present i see the spouse visa process it straight foward enough and cheaper then here!! BUT how much money do you need in the bank??
Good question, one I don’t have a good answer to. The idea is to show that you can survive as a couple, but I changed my visa having worked in Japan, showing your income is far more important than having savings in that case.
If I were you, I would ask someone at the Embassy in Green Park and try to get them to suggest a figure. If not, then at least ensure you show them that you have enough money to survive for a month without work.
It’s not based on a figure in the bank or an even on an income of your own. It is based on the fact that you have access to funds which are sufficient to sustain your life in Japan without recourse to public funds by either yourself or your spouse. It can be that you are not working but your spouse is. As long as they deem that your spouse is able to comfortably pay the rent on the property you are in along with all other bills and still have money to spare then they can issue the visa based on his/her income alone.
My situation at that time: During my first 2 years I was not working, I was studying. Lived in a small 1LDK apartment with just the two of us. My wife was earning 4,500,000 yen/year before tax. The rent was 67,000 yen/month. The gas and electric came to around 13,000 yen/month. I was issued with my visa pretty easily, no questions asked.
I think the difficulty for Justin is that they seem to both be living in the UK, so neither of them have income nor a property to pay rent on, but certainly good advice for those already in-country.
Thankyou this is so helpful!! my wifes parents life in hachioji and we could stay there for a short while! i have had a job offer (almost) at a pre-school in yokohama infact two schools have shown interest but nothing in concrete! i worked in kawasaki 8 years ago in a kinder garten i do not have a degree and was told not to even bother coming to japan without one!! i done last time and i think i can do it again as its more important now as we have a child who was born in hachioji 2 years ago, this is so good being able to talk to you guys!
Thanks for the information James.
Does anyone know if it is all up to date? I’m off to the visa office in Fukuoka next week.
Thanks again.
Paul
Ah, also, my wife is currently unemployed. Can she still be my guarantor?
Good questions: people have made some addendums to this information, and I definitely recommend checking the Justice Ministry’s site for the latest information and sheets: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/02.html
As for guarantor, I’m not sure. I would see if her parents (if not retired) would be willing to be your guarantor but if you have no choice then you really don’t have any options. Anyone else got any insight into this?
Thanks for the really fast response!
Unfortunately, my wife’s parents are both retired, maybe her older brother…?
Either that, or my wife could possibly be guarantor as she has about 400,000 yen saved in her bank. Enough for repatriation.
Cheers
If she is unemployed then you have to fall back on her parents (even if they are retired). If they own their own property and they are in receipt of a pension then they can order a paper from their city office (Inkanshoumei) . You will need this when you attend the immigration office. It may also raise questions about your wife’s reliance on public funds if you are living separately to any guarantor .
As for her brother, he can act as a guarantor just as your wife could do. In the section which asks about your relationship to the guarantor you should have the option for “Brother”.
If you can get both the parents paperwork and her brother’s paperwork then I would say you should have no problems. Oh the parents may require proof of property ownership too.
Thanks Bobby.
I will make a call tomorrow to see which will be the best course of action.
The thing about my wife’s reliance on public funds shouldn’t be a problem as I fully support her financially,
Also, I know I am changing to a spouse visa, but I was wondering if my company could still act as guarantors…..? Of course, the best thing would be to ask them. Just thinking aloud…
Thanks guys
more power to you.. good bless you..
hi,
i am a filipina & married a nikkie jin, also a filipino. we are married here in the phils. my husband is currently in japan and applying for my eligibilty and visa so that i can get to japan this year. id like to ask what are the important docs needed and how long will it take? we have submitted docs like koseki, copy of my passport, id picture, no wedding picture though. and other docs cited in the application. my question is how long will it take? or im afraid that a problem might arise during our application and might get denied. im still here in the phils and waiting for results. thank you so much.
jeana
I’m not really sure, mainly because it is much harder for Filipina to get visas. I had a look at the Japanese embassy’s site (here) but it seems like spouse visas are only temporary. I recommend you get in touch with the local embassy or consulate for more concrete advice.
Hi James!
I would just like to ask something about the shitsumonsho. the section about how you met and got married, do we really need to be detailed on our love story? :0 you know, like what we have in common , why we love each other an so on.? I feel that its a private matter and i just dont know how much info should we put in there i’m afraid that if we dont give out much, my COE will be denied..
I hope you can give me some insight on the matter.
thanks!
This is one of those hoops you have to jump through – my advice is to write as much detail as you feel comfortable with and embellish or tone down in places you are less comfortable. The key is to have no holes or inconsistencies in your story – the shitsumonsho is primarily to weed out fishy fake marriages.
thank you James! please continue your great job in helping out people through your site! :)
if you go to japan on a normal 90 day stay with no visa, will there be enough time to get married and apply for a spouse visa within your stay time?
In terms of time, it depends on whether you already have a fiancée :-P
I’ve known people to come to Japan and get married on a tourist visa, but I’m not sure the government will be happy with you doing a visa run – and you probably would be required to leave the country, typically to South Korea before you got your visa. However, I don’t know enough to advise you one way or the other I’m afraid.
Hi,
An experience which may help toward your situation. A friend of mine here in Japan was only with his girlfriend (now wife) from November 2009 until January 2010, they then married at the end of January and he applied for a visa at the start of February (his tourist visa was due to end on February 23rd) His visa was issued by the end of February with no real problems. He did have to submit a rather lengthy document regarding how he met his wife and what they have done together. This person was from the UK. They have been in Japan since, no problems. He had already been married in the past and then divorced, so he also had to include information about his previous marriage breakdown. I think, as long as your marriage is genuine, then you should have no problems but again… a lot depends on the inspecting officer, how well you document your relationship, your/her/both incomes, accommodation and so on. The want to see that if you are relying solely on your partners income at the time of application (which you would be if you are on a tourist visa) then they want to see that after rent/mortgage payments each month along with estimations of food, gas, electric and water etc, that there is sufficient disposable income to support you both. Personally (this is in 1999) my wife’s income at the time was around 4,500,000 yen / year and our rent in that apartment was around 60,000 yen/month. They had no problems with that figure at all. However, remember the words that the immigration office in Japan hold dear to their hearts: It is really “case by case”.
Other factors that could effect any visa application but I would say certainly more so a spouse visa would be: Nationality, Qualifications, Proven work background, Criminal records (at home and in Japan), Previous over stays in Japan or other immigration law violations. Previous refusals of visas.
Anyway, good luck!! Be honest and all will be fine!
You really did a great job here. And I was wondering if you can give me advice as of my situation with my husband who is American citizen. Anyways, to cut the story short it is the same love story as the other who write their problem here. Entered Japan with a tourist visa and got married before the visa expired and now waiting. But they we`re asking for my Tax certificate. (I`m the Japanese) And I also have two children from a previous relationship and I am just working as a part time. Probably it raised a question of money. But I have savings and wondering if there`s any advice on how I can write my letter regarding our lifestyle. And the upbringing for my children without the chance of having his spousal visa revoked.
Hoping for a fast response.
As some of the previous comments have said – be honest! They are just looking for proof you are not simply getting married for a visa. If you have savings, then make sure you mention them in your letter. If your husband has a job offer or is planning to look for a job, then mention that too.
The tax form serves as both proof of earnings and proof of tax payment, so they will certainly see your total income and it might raise questions, but find something to support your ability to survive by showing your savings too.
I can’t really give much more advice than that, but someone else here might have a closer experience to yours. In my case I already had a visa, job and was already married for almost a year before getting a spouse visa.
They always ask for the tax certificate from the city/ward office. Regardless of whether you earn 100,000 en / month or 1,000,000 a month. It is part of their routine at the immigration office, they can not process an application until every single required document is submitted. .You should give evidence of your savings too. If all else fails they may say to you directly that the amount of income is not enough and give you the 2 months application period in which to find the extra paperwork or go full time at your establishment. If not then you can fall back on another guarantor, preferably a property owner with a full time job but a retired person can also sponsor. Don’t panic too much though, whatever you do. If you marriage is genuine, even with a refusal of your spouses visa, it will get passed to the next level of inspector and if he/she sees that you have a sufficient emotional reliance on each other then 8/10 times your spouse will be granted a “Special permission to remain”. Special permission, if granted, can have certain restrictions on your spouses activity (such as working in a paid job) but will mean that he will most likely be given 1 year. In that one year, you can apply for a full spouse visa with new documentation should your circumstances change. It also proves even further to the immigration office that your marriage is genuine, that you can survive together and that your spouse will “stick to the rules” while in Japan and not get into any trouble with the law. I really wish you both the best of luck.
Thank you James for the quick response. I was waiting for this. And as embarrassing as it is I am quite panicking (Thanks Bobby… you actually made me calm down) When we apply I already write my dad as a guarantor/contact and gave them the proof of his tax payment. Do they contact and ask my father about it?
And about my savings I can just give them a copy of my savings account? Do you think it`ll be enough? And I`m pretty sure it`ll cover us for months until he get a job. Although they did not really say that on the letter but just in case I guess you`re both right that I should just give them a copy. Or still they`ll ask about it? (Sorry if I have to many questions.)
I just don`t wanna make mistakes.
Hi Akaxa,
They rarely call anybody. If the tax certificate is an original from the city office then it is genuine and they have no need to check. If you have already put your father down as the primary guarantor then they will most likely skip the checks on yourself, or just glimpse at them. I have never had any calls made about myself to my family in Japan or at home.
Your savings account…
Well, I would give them a photo copy of your bank book, updated on the day you submit it to the immigration office. Even if they say they don’t need it, bring it with you.. signed and dated by yourself. Any supporting documentation for any claim you have made on the application helps.
What you could do is (at least in Osaka Immigration office) go to the counter just inside the door to the left (information counter). They are very helpful at sorting out your documents and giving you back what you don’t need to submit and they are not official immigration officers, they are just admin staff so their opinions on you or your marriage don’t affect the outcome at all.
Remember .. 80% of rejected applications get accepted for a “special permission to remain” visa. The other 20% are those found to have a false marriage or those with a criminal record. Don’t worry too much.
Thank you.
Actually I got a certificate from the bank sealed by them about my savings. And yes it`s the Original copy of my dad`s tax certificate. I was his sponsor because I “assumed” that spouse should be the sponsor. Then at the bottom my Dad as a contact/guarantor.
Well this site really give me a relaxing moment since I got a letter from them asking these papers to be submitted. Additional to what we submit before. I guess having kids raise some issue I guess. But this was really helpful.
Hi james. I have a question agan. What’s the difference between Supporter and Guarantor on the Coe application form? Can my Father in law be the supporter and guarantor at the same time? The thing is my husband just returned to japan and for the moment, he’s still looking for employment. but my father in law said its not a problem for him to guarantee and support us. is that ok?
Hi James. Thanks for such a great source of information! I have an unusual situation and was hoping for a bit of advice. I got married to my Japanese wife a few months ago and she is a resident here in the UK. We are going over to Japan for a wedding party in April and I have recently been offered an exhibition at a department store in May (I’m an artist). I’ll only be working for week but want to get a visa. I suppose my question is, could a spouse visa cover this, seeing as I’m not intending to be a resident. I’ll hopefully be doing this kind of thing once a year so not sure of wheather to go the work visa or spouse visa route. I know I could probably be cheeky and do the whole thing on a tourist visa, but I’d rather be honest. thanks. Matthew
That’s quite an interesting conundrum. You don’t say quite how long you’ll be staying in Japan – that will affect your options. The problem with getting a spouse visa is that you will be required to register as a resident in Japan which brings with it take forms and other things.
I really think you’ll want to talk with the Japanese Embassy at Green Park about this as its a pretty special case. They are quite helpful generally in my experience. Seems like a tourist visa really might be sufficient as it’s a kind of one-off event, but I really can’t say.
The Embassy is open Mon-Fri, 9:00-18:00 and their number is 020 7465 6565. Explain your situation and particularly ask them whether the event will require a working visa.
Sorry I can’t be much help.
Thanks James,
I’ll let you know how it goes. You’ve been a great help.
Matthew
hi everyone just arrived in tokyo, got my first interview monday! i got my spouse visa in london it cost 42 pounds and took just 5 days to arrive, i needed 2000 in the bank (borrowed it) and that was it! only this time i got a visa for 3 years!! last time it was a year,
when i was here eight years ago i applied in yokohama and it took a little longer and there was more paper work but still didnt have any trouble! hope this helps
Great site mate, thanks! Very helpful! Just about to start doing this myself…
Chris Ward
Does anyone know if anything changes with the visa situation after the foreign registration system changes in July? My work visa isn’t up until September, so I have time, but I’m just curious if there will be any changes in July. Thanks!
I am currently covered under SOFA Status and I am married to a Japanese for 9 years with two children. I have been in Japan under SOFA Status for 15 yrs. I am about to retire from my current job and will loose my SOFA Status. I want to apply for a Japanese Spousal Visa and from reading the posts above it should not be too difficult. My question is that my wife has not worked for years due to raising kids and she has not payed taxes. The only income that we will have is my retirement pay which will be around Y200,000 a month with the current exchange rate in Japan. I have ample savings to make a get by for a while, during looking for a Job. Does any one know if this is enough funds to get approved for a spousal visa.
I am woundering if the Japanese Govt will allow me to stay with my wife as the guarantor. Or will my in-laws or someone else have to be the quarantor.
Thank you for any information any one can provide.
Hi James, what do u mean by ‘carbon copy of gensenchoushuuhou’, where do i get that.
源泉徴収票 ー If you’ve been living in Japan and working for less than a year, you won’t have been paying tax. This is proof that the government has been registering your employment and taxable income ahead of next Year’s at payment. You should ask your local ward or city office for details, they should be able to tell you which you need.
Thanks for the great article.
My wife and I live and work in the U.S. right now and we’re moving back to Japan together later this year. We work at different companies but we’re both being transferred to the Tokyo offices of our respective employers. As we’ve both been working in the U.S. for the past couple years, neither of us has any kind of evidence of Japanese tax payments. Do you know if we need to submit a translated copy of our W-2s along with my request for a certificate of eligibility for a spousal visa? This would be a huge pain and I’d like to avoid it if at all possible. My company has provided us with a notarized letter detailing my employment and salary which I’m hoping will be sufficient proof for immigration purposes (I’m a specialized professional with a very specific skill set).
Thanks in advance.