This, finally, is the complete, step-by-step guide to every form and every document you need to apply for a spouse visa, certificate of eligibility, or Change of Status of Residence for Japan.
Immigration lawyers charge over ¥100,000 to do this paperwork for you. That’s crazy. The application is not difficult: anyone can do it if they have the instructions in hand, and now you do.
This book describes every form and document you need for the spouse certificate of eligibility and visa application process. It is designed to be your one-stop resource. You do not need to pay huge sums of cash to a lawyer. You do not need to agonize over vague directions from the Immigration Bureau. With this book in hand, you can file your application yourself, without fear of error.
I hope you find it to be as valuable as I mean it to be. Please let me know what you think in the comments, below!
hi. Im a filipina. I was married to my boyfriend filipino with long term visa. What he should bring in japan ? What are those documents? thanks
Hi Haze,
If your husband is a permanent resident, then you would need all of the documents I listed in this article (except the koseki, since he wouldn’t have one of those). I also have more details about the slight differences between applying for a Spouse of Japanese National versus applying as a Spouse of Permanent Resident in my book.
If he is just a “long-term resident”, then you’d be applying for a dependent visa instead.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Sir,
I am a filipina with permanent resident visa. I was divorced with my japanese husband. Now, i have a filipino boyfriend living in the philippines. We want to get married in Japan.what are the requirements and procedures?can you help me?thank you in advance
Hi Emdyeyz,
You’ll need to follow the instructions I laid out in my article on international marriage in Japan. But instead of preparing the koseki, like you would if you were Japanese, you’d need your proof of eligibility to marry from the Philippine Embassy, the same as your fiance would.
I’d also recommend that you check with your city hall in advance to see if they have any additional requirements for you. Some cities add a little extra paperwork.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear sir i need to dependet visa apply form sample of fillop
Hi Jp,
I’m afraid I do not have a sample visa form or CoE application form for the Dependent Visa. I have a guide about how to apply for it at the link above, and it’s much simpler than the Spouse Visa, so I think you shouldn’t have much trouble with it!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi I am Filipina who has a tourist visa and was invited by my half brother who is a Japanese citizen, he was a son of my father from a japanese woman. My father is a Filipino who have worked in japan at his younger age and met his Japanese wife but separated/divorced when he got back to philippines and married to my mother (Filipina). I got here in japan because of my half brother who invited me for 90 days tourist visa but before my 3months visa will expire I met this man who is very kind to me and we go on a date to make the story short we decided to get married before I get back to my country. We prepare all the papers for the marriage requirements and he was the one who process for the extension of my visa as a fiancée visa. The immigration granted me a 3months extension. But as days and weeks goes by we rarely communicate to each other and his reason was he was so busy with his work but I had found out he was dating with another woman and he told me to cancel about our plan to get married. Luckily, in my time of sadness there was this man who happen to be a blessing in disguise for me who lift me up and put back broken pieces that I had encounter and willing to marry me but the problem is my 3months extension visa was about to expire again. My question is…is there any conflicts if I will get marry to this guy while i was already given an extension visa by another man for a fiancée visa? I hope you could help me and reply my questions as soon as possible. I have only 10days before I go back to my country and on the next day we are planning to go to Osaka to submit all the papers for the marriage. Thank you very much for your time. God bless!
Hi Rejoice,
Your experience is unlike anything else I’ve ever heard of.
I have never heard of anyone getting an extension to their 3-month temporary visitor stay or of a fiance visa, for that matter. So, I’m afraid my advice would not be based on your exact situation.
There should be no conflict to your marrying your new fiance. Your marriage registration paperwork at the city hall is not related to your residence status.
Since I don’t know anything about the extension you received previously, I’m afraid I can’t say for sure whether or not you’d be able to receive another one, but I think it may be difficult.
I would recommend that after you get married, you return to your home country and go through the visa application process from there. Your husband in Japan would apply for a CoE for you and send it to you, then you would apply for your visa.
Even that may be difficult, since your relationship before your marriage was short and the Immigration Bureau will want to see proof that it is a legitimate relations, through records of your dating and time together. So, while you are together, I would recommend you do as much as possible to prove that it is a legitimate relationship. For example, visiting his family, going on a trip together, spending time on dates, etc.
Even after you return, you will want to be able to show a consistent communication record, as well.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hi,
can u give me steps by steps process on what to prepare and what to do next ij getting married to a japanese national in japan;?
and by the way my status is a trainee with only 1 year and 2months left of training visa.. pls help.. thank u
Hi Bonita,
I’ve written another article about how to get married in Japan that might be what you’re looking for!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi,
My mother (a Filipina) and Step father (Japanese) have 2 children… they are not yet married. But now my stepfather is planning to marry my mother in Japan. My question is, are they allowed to get married there if she only have a “tourist visa”. Or will it be easier if they will get married here in the Philippines and then apply for “spouse visa” after so my mother can go to Japan? Also, How long will it take for my mother to get a spouse visa and how much will it cost? thank you.
Hi Rach,
In terms of Immigration processing, it would be a lot more straightforward if your parents were to get married in the Philippines, then register their marriage with the local Japanese Embassy. After that, your step-father would return to Japan and apply for the Spouse Certificate of Eligibility for your mother so she can get her visa.
Of course, if they want to bring any minor children to Japan, there’s a little more paperwork involved with that.
It doesn’t cost anything to get the CoE, except what you have to pay to get the documents you need to apply (copies of the marriage certificate, etc.), which shouldn’t be much. It’s generally 300-450 yen per copy for the documents you need in Japan. I don’t know about the Philippines, though.
I’m also not sure if there’s a visa application fee in the Philippines, since that varies from country to country. I suggest you check with the Japanese Embassy.
As for time, after they have all of the marriage process completed, I would figure on about 4-5 months to get the paperwork they need for the CoE application, apply for it (2-3 months processing), have your step-father mail it to the Philippines, then apply for the visa there (I’ve heard that can take 3+ weeks). That’s assuming there are no problems or additional documents required.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Ive married in japanese we have two children they are japanese citizen.. But husband died 6 years ago and we are stay here philippines.. My question is can i still apply the eligibility in japan?
Hi Brenda,
This is not my area of expertise, so I would recommend doing other research on your own, but here’s what I have been able to find:
If your children are Japanese citizens and under the age of 20, you can apply for a “Long Term Resident” (teijusha) Certificate of Eligibility and visa.
It looks like you would need a guarantor in Japan plus proof that you will be able to provide sufficient resources to support your children.
I would recommend consulting with the Immigration Bureau directly or with an immigration lawyer directly for more information.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I know your topic is about “spouse of japanese visa”. This concerns about acquiring “child of japanese visa”. I hope i could hear some thoughts from you. ( im hoping for your kind response )
Currently im living and working in singapore. 34yrs old from philippines. My father is a japanese. Recently he added me in his “kosekitohon”. But since he is old enough and no work at all, he cannot support me financially and I want to clear also if he is eligible or not to apply COE for me because im over 20yrs old. I told him that i can self-support my 1 year stay and once acquire “child of japanese visa”. If possible to submit income tax of my current work and proof of bank statement to cover up my stay in Japan.
I’m not sure about the Tourist to “change of status” application is applicable for me, but if it’s possible I want to take the chance since I have multiply entry to Japan as tourist. So anytime I can fly before it expires.
Please give me some feedback what I need to do. Thank you very much for the help.
I’m looking forward for your prompt response.
One more thing, who is my guarantor?
Thank you.
Hi Gochi,
According to a few immigration lawyers’ websites, there is no age limit to obtain a Child of Japanese National Certificate of Eligibility, but I would recommend double-checking with the Immigration Bureau, because this is not my area of expertise.
Your father would have to be your guarantor, but not necessarily your financial supporter. He should still submit his tax records (I assume he is receiving national pension) and the Letter of Guarantee in his capacity as guarantor, but you would be able to submit your own bank account balances statement to show that you will be your own financial supporter.
*Since this is an exception to the usual system (under which the parent is the guarantor and financial supporter), be sure to consult with the Immigration Bureau first.
I do not know for sure if you would be able to change your status for Tourist to Child of Japanese National in Japan, but the worst case scenario is that you would be told that you cannot and have to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility, instead, so it would seem to be worth a shot.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I have a colombian boyfriend who is my coworker in japan from 2006 but we separated in 2008 then i’ve met a japanese guy on the same year and we got married in 2009 but he died in 2013 due to his diabetic complication i got a 3yrs spouse visa on 2012 but when he died i only have 1 year left on my visa i ask for extensión but the immigration told me to go home in my country since my husband is already dead but i still applied for about 3x coz im expecting a humanitarian reason to let me stay but the tokyo immigration said i have no Child to allowed me to stay in their country instead they gave me 3 months visa to pack up my things and pay all the billings that I need to pay before i go home but still i applied again with the power of attorney but still i got the same answer from them so i decided to go home on the very Last Day of my visa. Now my concern is my colombian boyfriend that I told u first he heard my stories from a friend and he contacted me in the philippines thru social media and asking me to marry him in japan he is working Just like a japanese they called it (seishain) permanent worker as a certified welder of Subaru car company, my question now is how can i marry him in japan? i am now in philippines! is it possible to marry him if i enter as a tourist visa? Do u think they will grant me a visa? What documents or requirements should i bring?and lastly how to get married as a tourist visa holder?what is the first thing to do when i arrive?Do i still need to go back home?Pls accept my warmest greetings and thank u so much for reading my novel. Lol! Hoping for your soonest response…sincerely,vanezza
Hi Vanezza,
That is quite a story! I have never heard of Japanese Immigration granting any humanitarian exceptions to the rules. (There would have to be a rule allowing for humanitarian exceptions, and there isn’t.)
Based on what you told me about your boyfriend, you should be able to get married to him in Japan, but after you get married, you will have to return to the Philippines to apply for a Dependent Visa. This is different from a Spouse Visa. “Spouse” is only for spouses of Japanese Nationals or Permanent Residents. Unfortunately, it is not allowed to change from tourist status to Dependent status inside Japan.
After you arrive in Japan, the first thing you should do would be to complete the marriage paperwork at the city hall where your boyfriend lives. You will both need to get proof from your home countries’ embassies that you are eligible to marry (i.e. that you are of legal age and are unmarried now).
After you have filed your marriage at his city hall, he can apply for a Dependent Certificate of Eligibility for you (see the link above). He will mail that to you in the Philippines and you can apply there for a visa.
As long as you left Japan while your visa was still valid last time and you were not deported or given a departure order, then you should have no trouble applying for a new visa (both the tourist visa to go there to get married and the dependent visa after you are married).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
My wife left Japan to her home country.she has spouse visa for one year.It happened she was pregnant and delivered baby while she was in her home country.After delivered a baby ,her spouse visa expired.How can she re-entry Japan?
Hi Seidu Issaka,
Unfortunately, the only way I know that will certainly work is for her to reapply for a new spouse visa from scratch.
If her visa expired very recently, she may be able to ask the embassy for an exception. In my experience, embassies and the immigration bureau are not willing to give humanitarian exceptions, but if she can show that doctors ordered her/her baby not to fly and that she was not able to extend her spouse status before leaving Japan to give birth, they might offer some workaround.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
How can i get my visa if i already have my eligibility?
Hi Jocelyn,
If you already have your Certificate of Eligibility, your next step depends on where you are.
1) If you are outside Japan (e.g. living in your home country), you need to apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy. Requirements vary by country so contact the embassy to find out what you need.
2) If you are living in Japan under a different residence status, then you should take your Certificate of Eligibility, a photo, and your passport/residence card to the nearest Immigration Bureau office to apply for a Change of Status of Residence.
In either case, you have already completed most of the difficult part of the application process, so you don’t need this book.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz