Perhaps the most popular article on this blog at this point is my guide on How to Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility and Spouse Visa for Japan. But I often get questions there about Japanese Dependent Visas, as well.
This article, I hope, will make that process clear.
How to Get a Dependent Visa to Bring Your Family to Japan
Of course, we all want to live together with our family. But when you first come to Japan, it can be hard to understand how to do that. If you have one of the Residence Status listed below, you will be able to apply for a Dependent Visa for your spouse and children.
First, let’s get clear on who you can bring to Japan on a dependent visa.
- Your (legally married) spouse
- Your (legal) children
Who Cannot be Your Dependent
You cannot apply for a Dependent Visa for a parent or other relative, regardless of whether or not they depend on you for income.
You cannot apply for a Dependent Visa for a fiance.
You cannot apply for a Dependent Visa for your spouse’s children from previous marriages if you have not legally adopted them as your own.
Statuses Eligible to Apply for Dependent Visas
Almost all international residents in Japan are eligible to bring their family to Japan as Dependents. As long as your Residence Status is in the list below, you’ll be able to apply.
- 教授 Professor
- 芸術 Artist
- 宗教 Religious Activities
- 報通 Journalist
- 高度専門職 Highly Skilled Professional
- 投資・経営 Investor/Business Manager
- 法律・会計業務 Legal/Accounting Services
- 医療 Medical Services
- 研究 Researcher
- 教育 Instructor
- 技術・人文知識・国際業務 Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
- 企業内転勤 Intra-company Transferee
- 介護 Nursing Care
- 興行 Entertainer
- 技能 Skilled Labor
- 文化活動 Cultural Activities
- 留学 Student*
Additional Criteria for Student Residence Status Holders
If you are living in Japan on a Student status, then the type of school you are attending determines whether or not you can apply for a dependent visa for your family.
Types of Schools that Can apply for a Dependent Visa | Types of Schools that Cannot apply for a Dependent Visa |
---|---|
Graduate School (Doctor, Master, or Research Student) 大学院(博士、修士、研究生) |
Advanced Vocational School (Specialized Course, Higher Course, General Course) 専修学校(専門課程、高等課程、一般課程) |
University (Undergraduate, Auditor, Elective Course Student, Research Student, Japanese Language Course Student) 大学(学部生、聴講生、科目等履修生、研究生、別科性) |
Japanese Language Institution (Advanced vocational school of specialized course, preparatory courses, others) 日本語教育機関 (専修学校専門課程、準備教育課程、その他) |
Junior College (Regular Student, Auditor, Elective Course Student, Japanese Language Course Student) 短期大学(学科生、聴講生、科目等履修生、別科性) |
Senior High School, Junior High School, Elementary School 高等学校、中学校、小学校 |
Technical School 高等専門学校 |
You’ll see that there are several options for Japanese language, so if you are in Japan studying Japanese, you may wonder which applies to you. The simple answer is to look at your institution. If the institution is a university or junior college (i.e. if it also grants associates degrees or higher in other fields), then you would be eligible to apply for a Dependent Visa. If you are studying Japanese at an advanced vocational school or at a dedicated Japanese language school, you would not be eligible to apply for a Dependent Visa.
Other Residence Statuses
Someone who is living in Japan as a Dependent cannot have their own Dependent.
There are a few other statuses, such as Trainee and Designated Activities, that are not eligible to bring family members.
Other statues, such as Spouse of Japanese National, Permanent Resident, Diplomat, etc., have other methods to bring their family members to Japan and will not need the Dependent Visa process.
Can I Bring my Family With Me to Japan at the Same Time?
It depends on your employer.
Certain types of companies in Japan have special authorization to accelerate their Certificate of Eligibility application process for foreign employees and simultaneously apply for Dependent Visas for their spouses. Those companies are able to get Certificates of Eligibility for both the employee and the dependents within about 2 weeks from application.
If you are coming to Japan as a student, researcher, or working for anything less than a large enterprise, then you will not be able to bring your dependents to Japan at the same time as you. After you arrive in Japan, you will have to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for your dependents so they can join you Japan. That application process can take up to three months. Skip down to the instructions below.
What Companies Can Apply Simultaneously for Dependent Visas?
According to the Ministry of Justice, companies designated as Category 1 or Category 2 are eligible for the accelerated Certificate of Eligibility application process, provided that they are paying you enough to support your family members as well.
Category 1 and 2 companies must be “of a certain size” and make their present operating situation clear through public documentation. Specific examples include:
Category 1
- Companies listed on the Japanese stock exchange
- Mutual insurance companies
- National or regional public organizations (公共団体 kokyo dantai)
- Independent administrative institutions (独立行政法人 dokuritsu gyosei hojin), Special public corporations (特殊法人 tokushu hojin), Specially-authorized corporations (特別認可法人 tokubetsu ninka hojin), Public organization-authorized public service organizations (公益法人 koeki hojin)
- Tax-exempt public benefit corporations listed in Table 1 of the tax exempt corporations list.
Category 2: Individuals or organizations that paid over 15,000,000 yen in income tax during the previous fiscal year.
If you are to be employed in Japan and want to know if your company can apply simultaneously for your dependents’ certificates of eligibility, the best thing to do is ask them directly!
Applying for a Dependent Visa Yourself
If you have to bring your family to Japan yourself, you will need to start with applying for their Certificate of Eligibility. Approval can take up to three months, so get started as soon as you can after you arrive in Japan.
As usual with the Immigration Bureau, the information available in English is vague. The requirements below are translated from the Japanese webpage:
Dependent Certificate of Eligibility Required Documents
- Completed application form. You can download the form from the Immigration Bureau website.
- One ID-quality photo: 30mm wide by 40mm high, showing the applicant (your dependent) from the chest up, facing forward, with no hats or background.
Write the applicant’s name on the back and attach it to the application form in the designated spot - One self-addressed reply envelope with 392 yen in stamps attached.
- One of the following documents to prove your relationship:
- Family Register
- Certificate of acceptance of registration of marriage
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificate
- Any other document that can be accepted as meeting the requirements of the previous items
Note: Any documents in a foreign language must have a Japanese translation attached.
- Copy of the supporter’s (you) Residence Card or passport. (Submit copy of the Residence Card if you have it!)
- Proof of employment/activity and financial resources.
- If the supporter is engaged in business management or income-generating activities:
(a) 1 copy of certificate of employment or business license (must show supporter’s occupation); and
(b) Certificate of Residence Tax amount and payment showing one full year of tax payment. (Acquired from the City Hall where you resided as of Jan 1.
*If you have not been in Japan long enough to acquire a Certificate of Residence Tax showing a full year of tax, consult with the Immigration Bureau. A certificate of employment with salary may be sufficient. - If supporter is not employed or earning income through operating a business:
(a) A bank account balance statement in the supporter’s name or scholarship award statement showing the amount of award and period of payment.
(b) Documents equivalent in nature to (a) that show proof of sufficient finances for the applicant to be able to meet their expenses while in Japan.
- If the supporter is engaged in business management or income-generating activities:
- Proof of identity, in case of application by proxy.
It is acceptable to fill out the application form in English, but all documents submitted as evidence must be in Japanese or be accompanied by a translation.
Financial Resources for your Dependent
As a general rule, 80,000 yen per month is considered sufficient resources for one person. Since you will be living with your dependent, you don’t need to double that for each person, but count on adding at least 40,000 for a spouse and a little less than that for each child (depending on their age).
As an example, I know of MEXT scholars who were successful in bringing a spouse and two children to Japan with a total income of 145,000 yen.
The Dependent Residence Status does not allow your spouse or children to work in Japan, so you need to plan to support them from your income. Your spouse will be eligible to apply for a work permit (called “Permission to Engage in Activities Other than that Permitted Under the Status of Residence Previously Granted”), but they will be limited to working no more than 28 hours per week. This is not going to be enough for your spouse to support him/herself.
A dependent is able to search for a full time job and use that to apply to change to a working residence status. However, finding a full-time job in Japan is quite difficult without some level of fluency in the language.
All of that will come later, once your spouse is in Japan. But it’s a good idea to have a clear understanding of your financial situation in advance.
Applying for the Japanese Dependent Visa
Once you have your spouse and/or child’s Certificate of Eligibility, you will need to send it to them so they can apply for their visa in your home country.
I recommend making a photocopy first and sending the Certificate by a reliable courier service. Your spouse/child will need the original Certificate of Eligibility to apply for the visa. The photocopy can help you apply for reissuance of the Certificate if it gets lost in the mail.
Visa requirements vary by country, so be sure to check the website of the Japanese Embassy in your country!
Making Travel Arrangements
Once you have the Certificate of Eligibility, your spouse’s dependent visa is all but guaranteed, so it’s safe to start making his or her travel arrangements to Japan.
Your spouse/child must arrive in Japan within 3 months of the date of issue on the Certificate of Eligibility (regardless of whether the visa has a later expiration date or not).
Congratulations! Your family will be together in Japan soon!
As always, please leave any questions or comments below and I will reply as soon as possible.
Hello I just want to know I came here in Japan last 2017 using a spouse or child of a Japanese nationality visa and now we want to bring my child here he is now 3 years old and staying in Philippines with my parents and he is using my last name because I don’t want him to use my before ex-boyfriend last name.. I just want to ask some help full advice on what procedure should we take so we can bring him here in Japan and we could stay together.
Hi Sayuri,
Are you currently married to a Japanese Citizen, or are you a Child of a Japanese Citizen? That may affect your options.
If you are a child of a Japanese citizen, there are special long-term visas for second and third generation descendants of Japanese citizens.
If you are married to a Japanese citizen and the child is not the Japanese citizen’s child, then there is also a Long-Term Visa you can apply for in that case.
However, both of these application processes are out of my area of expertise, so I would recommend that you consult with an immigration lawyer.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I am Renuka and firstly I want to thank you for writing this post. Yours is the only blog which gives detail information about the process. This has helped us a lot.
My query is regarding CoE for Dependent. My husband is a permanent employee in Tokyo and has been living there since 2 years. He has applied for my CoE a month back with all the appropriate documents. He has sufficient income and has submitted residence tax documents and everything required. However, whenever he calls the number provided, it never gets connected. I want to ask whether they provide status of CoE if he personally visits Shinagawa Immigration Office where he has applied.
Thank you once again 🙂
Renuka
Hi Renuka,
In my experience (and I apply for roughly 300 CoEs each year), the Immigration Bureau never gives updates on the status of CoE applications. It doesn’t matter if you call or visit in person. Typically, their response is just “we will tell you when it is complete. Wait until then.”
Unfortunately, the only thing I can recommend is patience. The application process can take 1 to 3 months and this is a busy time of year, since many universities are now applying for CoEs for their incoming students for the fall semester, so the offices may be busier than usual.
In the meantime, no reply is not a bad thing – it just means they are busy. If there was a problem with the CoE or they needed more documentation, they would contact your husband.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you Travis 🙂
Hi Travis.
Like you mentioned before, Immigration contacted my husband after 2.5 months of application asking for extra documents. Those were 6 months of pay slips from 2017 and 2018. His company could provide pay slips for 2018 but not for 2017 since he was an Independent Contractor during that time. For this, his company gave a letter for Immigration stating their reasons. Immigration said that these documents will suffice.
I want to ask if this will cause any problems and any idea how much longer the wait will be since it is already 3 months from my application.
Thank you,
Hi Renuka,
If Immigration said that the documents will suffice, then I don’t see any cause for concern. I am surprised that it took them that long to contact you to ask for additional documents, though. All I can assume is that they must have had a long delay before they got to your application.
Since even their request for additional documents was later than what I would have expected, I’m not sure I can give an accurate guess as to when you might get the final results, but I would think that it should be within a month, at the latest. Did you have an “expected date of entry to Japan” in your application? In my experience, Immigration usually finishes their processing no less than a month before that.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for your prompt reply.
Yes, as a matter of fact, I did have mid September as my expected arrival date. Of course that is passed now. I sincerely hope it arrives soon now and doesn’t take another 3 months.
Thanks a lot for all your help 🙂
Hi Renuka,
I am sorry to hear that. I’m afraid that your situation is an exception to most every other application I’ve heard of.
For what it’s worth, though, having to wait longer is not a “bad sign” for the success of your application. I have not seen any correlation between processing times and success rates in the past. It is really more about how busy the offices are.
I hope you hear good news soon!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
You have a trove of beautiful information here. I’d just like to start by thanking you so much for all your help already!
I am going to apply as an English language teacher at a number of schools in Japan. Unfortunately, all the language schools that I have found so far do not sponsor visa permits for dependents. Then I found your page here. 🙂
Essentially, my question is as follows: as long as I have a certificate of employment from the employer who hires me, I include this certificate in my application for a dependent visa (certificate of eligibility for my wife), about which the steps are laid out in your article here. Is that right? I would like to make sure that my wife can come with me if the language school does not sponsor visa permits for dependents.
Also, since I am not in Japan yet, nor have I ever lived in Japan, would a certificate of employment with salary details be sufficient for this dependent application? I see that I would meet the salary expectations from the Immigration Bureau for my wife and me.
I truly appreciate all your help so far, and I look forward to your response.
Warm regards,
Alex
Hi Alex,
Yes, your understanding is correct. If your employer does not support dependent visas directly, you can still obtain one by coming to Japan first and applying for the CoE as your wife’s sponsor. The documents I listed in this article should be everything you need.
A certificate of employment showing your salary and term of employment should be sufficient to show your financial resources (though anything else you have, like bank account balance statements, will only help, too).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for your quick and helpful reply. I am evaluating various options, and I am happy to see that this is also an option. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer!
All the best to you!
– Alex
Hello im ume,
I live in japan now for 9 years I am currently a company employee.
I have a step father here in japan, that`s why i have a longterm resident visa.
if i decide to marry someone outside the country, am i able to bring my spouse to live in japan?
Hi Ume,
It depends on what your exact visa status is. If you have one of the specific “Long-term resident” visas, then you would not be able to apply for a Dependent Visa or for a Spouse of Japanese National Visa for your spouse, but there may be another special status that applies to you. I think it depends on the type of Long-term resident visa you have.
I’m afraid that is out of my area of expertise, so I would recommend that you consult with the local Immigration Bureau. They should be able to give you an answer fairly quickly!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Good day!
(Asking on behalf of a friend) I am not sure if this question is reasonable, after reading and knowing that Dependant Visas can only be applied for Spouses or either Legal Children. Is there anyway to invite a sibling from back home (a single mother) to Japan for a long term visa? If yes could you please enlighten me with some useful information and knowledge that you have. Also if there are any other ways or procedure for a sibling to invite to Japan on a long term visa, please advise it.
P.S His Japan visa status is Permamant.
Thanking you in advance!
Nav
Any way*
Permanent*
Hi Nav,
Unfortunately, there is no visa I know of that lets you bring siblings to Japan for any long term stay.
My best suggestion to your friend would be to help his sister find an opportunity in Japan, such as employment or schooling, that would provide a visa for her.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Sorry if you answered this already. You have written here: “Once you have your spouse and/or child’s Certificate of Eligibility, you will need to send it to them so they can apply for their visa in your home country.” In my case, I am the dependent but I’m already in Japan on an Instructor Visa. My work contract ends and I have to do some medical procedure and will be unable to work. I’m getting married to my long-term partner and he will file for me to become his dependent. We’re both Canadian. Does he/do we still need to send the visa application back to Canada, or can I change my visa status here if it’s still valid when the paperwork comes through?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Alex,
When your work contract comes to an end, you can apply for a Change of Status of Residence at your local Immigration Bureau office instead of applying for a Certificate of Eligibility. That would allow you to change your status without having to leave Japan and apply for a new visa.
All of the requirements and paperwork for the Change of Status of Residence are the same as for the Certificate of Eligibility, only the application form itself is slightly different.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello! I’m not sure if this has been asked already but my husband works in Japan and we wanna file a COE but we just recently got married so I’m still using my old passport since there are no free schedules to get it renewed. Is it okay to use the old one or does it have to be updated?
Hi Visac,
It is fine to use the old one. If you get it updated after you move to Japan (e.g. change your family name), then you would have to file that change with the local Immigration Bureau office to get your records updated, but it is not a problem to do it in that order.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi TranSenz,
Good day!
I am now in the process of applying for COE for my wife and my son and still getting all the necessary required documents. I do have following questions to ask below.
1. If there’s no problem with the documents, how long would it take?
2. Will 260000 monthly after tax be sufficient for spouse and 1 child?
3. Do I need to fill up the COE application form in Japanese? or English will do?
4. In the Application form, Do I need to attached both picture or my wife and my child? or I need to fill up a for each one of them separately?
Thank you in advance
Hi Roy,
1. It really depends on how busy the particular office/region where you apply is when you submit your application. Anywhere from 1-3 months is what the Immigration Bureau says. Most often I see responses between 1-2 months, but I live in a rural area with few international residents.
2. That should be plenty.
3. English is fine for the form itself. Most information about your dependents would have to be in English anyway. The only thing you could really fill in in Japanese would be your address and personal residence status info.
4. My understanding is that you would need to submit a complete application, including the form and all supporting documents for each person.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Good noon!
Thank you for the reply. I do have some follow up questions.
1. Is it necessary to include a back account certificate when submitting the documents? or the Tax certificate and your Certificate of employment with salary details will suffice?
2. Also, just follow up question on item 4. Is this mean that I need to fill up one form for my wife and another form for my child?
3. Do the form can be fill up electronically by filling it up thru excel or It must be in hand written?
My apology for having all these questions as this is really my first time in processing these papers.
thank you.
Roy
Hi Roy,
1. The tax certificate and certificate of employment with salary details should be fine.
2. Yes, plus submit a complete set of supporting documents for them, at least as far as I know. You may want to check with the Immigration Bureau first to see if they can use one set or one set of originals and one set of copies.
3. The form should be available in excel format, so you can fill as much of it as possible in excel then fill in the questions you couldn’t answer electronically after printing.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Good day!
Thank you so much for the reply. I really appreciate your response and it give me much help in understanding the requirement details. I’ll give some updates and feedback for any results I get from the immigration.
Thanks a lot.
Hi Travis,
Good day!
I’ve just received the COE for my familiy. It took me 62 days of waiting. Thank you very much for the help.
Btw, I have a follow up question. When they arrive here in Japan. They will be issued with a residence card at the airport immigration, right?. Does the validity of their visa would be the same as mine?
Hi Roy,
Thank you for sharing your processing time! It’s helpful to know what the current practice is.
Now you will have to send that CoE to your family so they can apply for their visas.
Once they arrive, they will receive a residence card at the airport (provided that they arrive at one of the major airports, which can issue residence cards). They will then have to go to the city hall or ward office where you live to register their residence withing 14 days, and that is when they will get their address written on the residence card (if they arrived at an airport that does not issue residence cards, then they would get their card after completing residence registration).
The period of stay your family will have is already printed on the CoE, about halfway down, on the right. If that is shorter than your stay (or you extend your stay later) your family can also apply to extend their period of stay when it gets close to the end.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, I’m Bigi. My husband has recently applied for CoE. How long does it take to get CoE to come normally, if there isn’t any problem with the documents? Also will 170000 after tax be sufficient for spouse and 2 kids?
Thank you in advance
We hve also enclosed bank statement with 700000 jpy
Hi Bigi,
The standard processing time is 1-3 months.
170,000/month is going to be tight for four, but it isn’t impossible. I have known people who brought a family of the same size to Japan with a lower monthly income. (They lived in a rural area, in low-income housing. Between the income and bank balance, it should be possible to get the CoEs, but it may depend on where you live.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you very much. It is in a rural area, i hope the bank statement will be supportive
Hello,
could you please tell me that, how much bank balance will be needed to apply a dependent visa by student of senmon college?
Hi Anilino,
The general guideline I have seen is that you should be able to show that you have enough money to provide your dependent with 80,000 JPY per month of support in addition to the money you spend on yourself each month. So, add those support numbers together and multiply by the number of months your dependent will stay in Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi i am benita thapa
I am apply dipendent visa in 2018/05/02 wgen i an bought dipendent visa my father stay in japan
Hi Benita Thapa,
Are you saying that you successfully brought your father to Japan on a dependent visa? If so, you are the first one I’ve heard of who did so. I would love to learn more about how you succeeded!
Could you share the details with us here?
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I would like to ask If I can get my wife here in Japan? I’m a third generation, long term resident. We just married last may 8. I am studying in the Philippines before that’s why I dont have tax yet but I now have work here in Japan. Is it possible if I’ll apply for her eligibility but my parents will be the one to guarantor for my tax since i dont have yet. Me and my parents are living together here in Japan. May I please know if it’s possible. Thank you so much and looking forward to your answer.
Hi Dominic,
Yes, your parents should be able to serve as your wife’s guarantor if you do not have the required tax records yet (that’s what my wife and I did!)
With your residence status, though, you would not be applying for a “Dependent” (家族滞在) status for her. There is a specific separate process for spouses of third-generation status holders (日系3世の配偶者).
The link above has details, but they are only available in Japanese, I’m afraid. If you do not read Japanese, then I would suggest going to the Immigration Bureau office for details.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi
I am tilak
I just want to know my wife is in japan as language student spend 8 months can she able to apply dependent visa
Thanking you
Hi Tilak Katwal,
If your wife is on a student residence status then yes, she is eligible to apply for a dependent CoE for you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hi there;
i was working in Japanese company and it has already been 1 week of processing my working visa. But i want to bring my wife as soon as possible. can you guide me after getting visa what time or day or month is suitable for appling eligibilty letter for my wife? Thank you. 🙂
Hi A Nish,
As soon as you have arrived in Japan, registered as a resident, and can acquire all of the documentation that you need for the application, you should be able to start the dependent CoE application.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
thank you for your kind information. 🙂
Hi I am on a child of a Japanese national visa and my son is in Japan too. We are living with my grandma in osaka. I am trying to get my husband to Japan from the USA. You mentioned that there are other ways to get my spouse in on a special visa. Can you please explain?
He has promise of work if he gets in and has already passed interview with that company in yakushima. Our family also has a house there.
OTHER RESIDENCE STATUSES
Someone who is living in Japan as a Dependent cannot have their own Dependent.
There are a few other statuses, such as Trainee and Designated Activities, that are not eligible to bring family members.
Other statues, such as Spouse of Japanese National, Permanent Resident, Diplomat, etc., have other methods to bring their family members to Japan and will not need the Dependent Visa process.
Hi Rain,
My only expertise is in the Spouse of Japanese National Visa and Dependent Visa. I know there are other paths available, but I do not have any detailed information about them, so I’m afraid I would have to recommend that you consult with the Immigration Bureau or with an Immigration lawyer.
But before you do that, is there any reason why your husband cannot simply get a working visa if he already has a job lined up? That would seem to be the simplest solution.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear TranSenz,
This is a very educational article for individuals like myself who are intending to move to Japan. I have a fast inquiry and I trust that I will find a solution to it. I had connected for work in a Japenese organization and as of late they educated me that they have acquired my declaration of qualification from the movement authority. Presently I am wanting to have my visa issued at the neighborhood Japanese international safe haven. Presently, there are a couple of things I have to think about the family/subordinate visa in Japan.
I am hitched with two youngsters, having the official government provided marriage/family enlistment testaments with me
I need to know to what extent do I need to sit tight before applying for my wards’ by means of after landing in Japan
What will be the length of visa in years that the neighborhood japanese consulate will give to me (1 or 3 years)? The organization that has enlisted me is a medium measured endeavor. On the off chance that they issue my visa for multi year or less, will regardless I have the capacity to apply for my wards’ visa upon landing?
Wanting to got notification from you soon.
Hi Ben,
You can apply for the Certificate of Eligibility for your dependents as soon as you arrive in Japan and can assemble all of the required documents. There is no period that you have to wait first.
For your own visa, you should be able to see the period of stay that you will be given written on the Certificate of Eligibility. Regardless of your period of stay, even if it is only one year, you should be able to apply for a CoE for your Dependents. Both your period of stay and theirs can be renewed after you arrive in Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Is it still possible to get dependent visa rejected even though you have COE?
Hi Ajita,
Technically, yes, but it is very unlikely.
The only examples I have heard of were if applicants did not submit the visa application correctly or if the COE conditions had become invalid after the COE was received (for example, if someone had received a COE for a dependent visa but then gotten divorced so they were no longer the person’s dependent).
I do not think you should have anything to worry about!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Transenz!!!
This is me Serpuja Kiran .I am a student of Msc. IT Business Technology in Kyoto city of the Japan . It has been six month in Japan .I have still eighteen months visa duration . Actually , I want to call dad as my dependent .So, is it possible to call ? Is there any sufficiant way to call dad as dependent ? If so, how can i call or what sort of process should i follow?
Please give me some ideas and suggestion .
Hi Serpuja Kiran,
No, unfortunately, you are not able to use a dependent visa to bring a parent to Japan. It is only intended for spouses and children.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi I’m japanese language student here in japan .i want to bring my wife here.how could I bring my wife here?
Hi Nirmal,
You would need to apply for a Dependent CoE for her, as covered in this article, then send it to her so that she can apply for a visa.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
May I know the duration to apply depending visa after returning the first COE to immigration?
Regards
Dipen
Hi Dipen,
After the CoE is issued, you have to apply for the visa and arrive in Japan within 90 days.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, is there a way fiancé and I (after we marry), are able to go to Japan with student visas and bring our son with us at the same time (for him to learn as well) for either a full year (365 days), Academic year (fall and spring terms), or summer term at a Japanese language school or college/university? I will be 20 in June, son will be 1 in June, and fiancé is 22. We would like to do this by the time he is elementary school age. Is it possible both our son and us could all get a student visa?
Hi Kayla,
Unfortunately, there is no way I know of to bring a spouse or child on a dependent visa at the same time that you arrive on a student visa. As far as I know, simultaneous applications are only available to some employers for working visas. I think the best way forward would be for one of you or your husband-to-be to arrive before the other and apply for your son’s CoE. Then your son could arrive with the other parent, if the timing worked out.
You would not be able to get a student visa for a 1-year old, since there are no schools at that age. It would have to be a dependent visa.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello I am Acharya Ramesh I am bachelor student l am married and I want to bring my wife with me what should I do first n how can I get application form and if she will come Japan she can do part time job or not if can what should we do please send me answer
Hi Acharya Ramesh,
You can get the CoE application form from the Immigration Bureau’s website.
Once your wife is in Japan, she would have to apply for a separate work permit to be able to work part-time. That form is also available from the Immigration Bureau.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hassan Zaman
sir please send orignal mext scholarship form for undergrduate students to my email….
i shall be very thankful to you
[edit: address removed]
Hi Hassan Zaman,
This is an article about applying for visas, not about the MEXT scholarship.
I linked to the original application form for undergraduate and graduate scholarship application at the top of my article about the 2019 Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, so you can download it there.
However, my best recommendation is that you get the form from the Embassy where you plan to apply. They may have additional forms for you or specific instructions.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
My status is trainee. Is it possible for getting CoE for my husband in Indonesia? Thank you
Hi Satwika,
Only people with one of the statuses of residence I listed in the article are eligible to apply for dependent CoEs for their family members. Unfortunately, trainee is not on the list, so you would not be able to apply.
I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you.
– Travis from TranSenz
I am pooja i just arrive japan in student visa 20 days ago. I was married and i have a certificate of married..soo now how can i apply dependent visa for my husband how to process?
Hi Pooja,
Once you’re in Japan, registered, and can get all of the documents I listed in this article, you can apply! All the general instructions are in the post.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Helow trnsenz
am sri lankan student in japan. And now am marride wthi student (senmon gakko) shi have a 3yy student vis in japan. can i get a dependent visa? I whont chenge my visa. I cant like go to school
Hi Dilip,
If you are married to a foreign national who has a valid residence status in Japan, then you should be able to apply for a “Change of Status of Residence” to change to a dependent status.
The application for a Change of Status is practically identical to applying for a Certificate of Eligibility, only the application form and a few of the required documents are different.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Dear
I am already in Japan for 3 weeks since started the teaching job in Japan. When is the possible date for applying fependent visas for my husband and two kids. Alsao 239,000¥ is sufficient for finance to live in Japan for 2 adults and 8 and 4 year old kids.
Regards
Zola
Hi Zola,
As soon as you can acquire all of the documents you need for the application, you can apply! By now, you should be fine to start your application.
Yes, I think you can live on that income, though you would have to live somewhat frugally. It should be enough for the Immigration Bureau’s purposes.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, Travis, thank you for all the information that u sent to me thru email.
I just want to ask a question i hope u could reply.
My situation is like this, i have a multiple visa for five years in japan, got married last january this year to a japanese national, i already applied for certificate of eligibility and waited for almost three months only to know that i was denied to have COE. What would you suggest or what do u think is the best thing that i can do for me to get COE. I go back to the philippines every 30 days and go back again to japan after a week so that my husband and i can be together. Your reply will be most appreciated. Thank yoU
Hi Bel,
I would recommend that you try to figure out why your application was declined. Did they ask for any replacement documents or additional information during the process? Was the evidence of your relationship not strong enough, or the proof of your financial support?
If you can figure that out, then you can try again.
Is your 5-year visa a multiple-entry tourist visa? If you come to Japan with any status other than Temporary Visitor, you can also try to apply for a Change of Status of Residence while you are in Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for all of this, you are helping people immeasurably!
Do you know if it is at all possible to apply for a COE by mail, or do you have to submit all documents in person? I live on an island so getting to my regional immigration bureau means using a lot of money as well as leave days.
Also: does the one year of tax thing have to start from January 1? When I apply for the COE I will have been in Japan for a year but from August to August. Is that not valid?
Lastly: do I have to register our marriage anywhere in Japan prior to applying for the COE? In my understanding this is only necessary if the applicant is married to a Japanese national, but I want to make sure.
Thank you again!!!
Hi Julia,
Unfortunately, you do have to submit everything in person. Part of the process is that they have to verify the identity of the person submitting the documentation.
The one full year of taxes would go from January to December. Your tax records and invoice are produced once per year based on the total amount of income earned in the previous Jan-Dec period. So, your current record would only show 5 months of income (Aug-Dec).
In that case, I would recommend double-checking with the immigration bureau, but a certificate of employment with your salary and term of employment should work.
Finally, you are correct, your marriage only needs to be registered in Japan if one of you is a Japanese national.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hello,
i am applying for dependent visa since my husband is already working in japan. we received certificate of eligibility. but i am currently i am in UAE, is it possible for me to apply for visa from japan embassy from UAE or i need to go go back in my hometown?
the reason i am thinking to apply from UAE is it will take time while i will resign from my current job.
please suggest me which way will be better.
best regards,
Hi Binita,
It should be possible for you to apply at the Japanese embassy in UAE if you are residing in that country for work, but double-check with the embassy, just to be sure. A quick phone call to them should be enough to confirm!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Sir my father is working in cook visa in japan. my mother went to japan under dependent visa few years ago. At the present time my father had applied for dependent visa for me and my brother. its almost 70 days and visa hadnot come yet. Do i still have the chance of visa? I just wanna ask how much time does it take for visa normally? I will be grateful if you reply as fast as you could? Feeling sad
Hi Adhikari Krishna,
As far as I know, parents can only get dependent visas for their children if they are minors and dependent on the parents for income.
The typical processing period for a Certificate of Eligibility is 1-3 months.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi,
Currently, I am working in Japan. I am going to resign the current company soon. I also has been appointed in a new company. Before Joining that new company I want to go to my country and get marry.
I want to know, Is it possible to bring my wife together with me. If it is possible what is the procedure and essential documents to be submitted while applying for visa. Please suggest me. Thank you.
Hi Nirmal,
If you return to your company and get married then come back to Japan, you would not be able to bring your wife with you at the same time.
You would have to return to Japan first and apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for her as your dependent. Then you would mail that to her so that she can apply for the visa and come join you in Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis. I am not Nirmal. I just dont know how to comment like others so I decided to ask here instead, im sorry. We are currently in Japan as a temporary visitor for 90days and our visa will expire this end of the month. We already went to Immigration to apply eligibility (we didnt submit any documents first, we asked the head of the immigration who’s under eligibility processing) they told us that we cant apply anymore since i am 20 yrs old already. But some websites were saying that u can still apply even tho ure 18 above as long as ur guarantor does have a stable job and paying taxes well (my mother and step father who’s a japanese both have a job and paying taxes very well) and as long as u have a translated b-certificate, u can apply eligibility. Do u have any advice?
Hi Bea Sarah,
In general, if you are an adult capable of earning an independent income, then you would not be eligible to apply for a Dependent Visa. To qualify for a Dependent Visa, you need to show that you are fully dependent on your parent in Japan for income and general day-to-day support. If you are over 20 but were still a student, for example, and so require daily support, then you might still be eligible.
From your comment, it appears that you have been living separately from your mother and supporting yourself, so that would be proof to the Immigration Bureau that you do not require a Dependent Visa.
I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi its bea sarah again. Thank u for your reply. Yes im still in support of my mother on my daily basis. By the way, can we apply for dependent visa?
Hi Bea Sarah,
I’m not an expert in Dependent Visas, and your situation is in a gray area, so you may want to talk to an actual immigration lawyer for more information.
As far as I understand, since you are a legal adult by Japanese standards, you would be expected to be able to earn an independent income. If you wanted to apply for a dependent visa, you would have to prove why you are incapable of earning an income on your own and must remain under your mother’s constant care and support.
But again, that is just my understanding. I am not a lawyer, so I recommend you consult with one if you want to get into the details of the law and possible exceptions.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you Travis. I have one complication too. The girl whom I am getting marry is 10 years younger than me. Does it matter for spouse visa ?
Hi Nirmal,
As long as you can show that your marriage is legally registered, then that should not be a problem at all for a Dependent Visa.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear sir,Last time I applied for a visa. It was rejected. My wife is in Japan. She can take me to Japan. It will be a problem.
Hi Udara,
I’m sorry to hear that your visa application was rejected. Did you have a CoE when you applied?
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
No sir last time i applied as a student.(student visa).but i am rejected ..after 2 years can i apply a depending visa..my wife in japan now..so i can apply a depending visa?
Thank you
Hi Udara,
A previous rejection for a student visa should not have any effect on applying for a Dependent CoE/Visa now, so you do not need to worry about that when you apply.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi there! Thank you for these very helpful pieces of information.
I am in a slightly different situation, though. Do you know if I can apply for a dependent visa while being already in the country?
I’ll explain myself: I am on a student visa that is about to expire, can I register as my husband’s dependent (who is also already here on a visa, for another three years) from within Japan or do I necessarily have to apply from my home country?
Thanks again!
Martina
Hi Martina,
If you are on a Student Residence Status, then yes, you can apply for a “Change of Status of Residence” to change to a Dependent Residence Status at the local Immigration Bureau office.
The application requirements for a Change of Status of Residence are essentially the same as applying for a Certificate of Eligibility. It’s just the application form that is different.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, thanks for this. I’d like to confirm about DEPENDENT VISA.
I am here in Tokyo right now for 90 days stay and I am really confused if I could get dependent visa. I am already in Family Register of my Japanese stepfather, I am already 28 yrs old (but I think I am not eligible to get family dependent visa because of my age). But I got an employer (self support stock company ) wherein they send home caregivers/ home helpers in patients or clients house. I worked in their company before when I was a student here in Japan. I am a licensed nurse in the Philippines and have JLPT n4 level. Do you think I can get DEPENDENT VISA through this company (they also have branches in other part of japan and overseas. What do you think should I do. My company doesn’t have idea too what kind of visa should I get. Hope to hear your advice. Thank you so much.
Hi Rein,
You can only get a dependent visa if you are married to another foreign national who is in Japan on a mid- to long-term residence status (such as student, work visa, etc.).
Also, a dependent visa does not allow you to work.
If you are going through a company and going to be working there, you should be trying to get a working visa. I don’t know what type of specific working visa would apply in your case – working visas are outside my area of expertise, but the company should be able to consult with the Immigration Bureau to find out.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, thank you so much for your response. Luckily, I got a company that sponsored my visa as an ALT. Now, I am thinking if I could bring my child (3yrs old) as my dependent here in Japan, even if I am new at work (running 2months). In case, I can bring my child at my work(preschool), she’ll be studying while I’m working. 🙂
I mean, I don’t have enough savings yet in my bank but i can get a certificate of employment with salary stated. Will that be enough (as proof of employment/activity/financial resources)? Thank you.
Hi Rein,
Yes, that should work in the meantime! They cant expect you to have more than that at this point.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Rein,
Yes, you would be able to apply for a dependent visa for your child. Depending on the size of your company, they may be able to apply for a dependent visa for your child in advance. I would recommend that you contact them to find out.
If they cannot do so (only some companies are allowed to), then you would have to come to Japan first then apply for a Dependent CoE for your child, then bring her to Japan later to joinyou, once the paperwork is complete.
I know that can be hard with such a young child, but I hope you have family in your home country to support you in the meantime!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi there.
I arrived in Japan with single status but days before my flight I got married. I have not yet changed my status until now.
Can I still apply my husband for a dependent visa even if I’m “single” in my status here?
Thank you for your feedback.
Hi Aimee,
It should not be a problem to apply for a dependent visa for your husband. I don’t think they even keep a record of that, but in any case, the Immigration Bureau will understand that the form that you filled in was accurate when you completed it, but that things change! They won’t expect you to stay single throughout your whole stay in Japan just because you were when you applied for your CoE/Visa.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Me and my siblings wanted to go to japan this coming may. Together with our children. So what are the requirements should we bring to apply fo tourist visa? Thanks!!
Hi Ira elaine c. Ramos,
Requirements for applying for a tourist visa differ from country to country, so I would recommend that you check with the Japanese embassy in your country.
My expertise is in longer-term visas, for spouses of Japanese citizens or residents who want to move to Japan permanently. I’m not the best person to help with tourist visas.
But maybe someone else reading this can help you!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hi i’m lives in japan and i has japanis husband and child bat i don’t have visa have you can help me thank you
Hi Nodira,
If your husband is Japanese, you would need to apply for a Spouse Visa. I have written a more detailed article about that process here:
http://www.transenzjapan.com/blog/certificate-of-eligibility-spouse-visa-japan/
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello travis i have already applied dependent visa in japan nearly 50 days already passed but i havent get any emails how long time i have to wait again
Hi Roshni,
The application process can take up to 90 days and this is a busy time of year as universities are applying for CoEs for new students and companies for new hires with the fiscal/academic year starting in April.
In general, they will only contact you if they need you to submit something additional or when the evaluation is complete.
I have never heard of the immigration bureau contacting anyone by email. In my experience, they always use postcards. (If you’re in an area where they are using email, then that might just be the most technologically progressive branch of the Japanese government I’ve ever heard of!)
Regardless of whether your application is successful or not, they will give you an answer, so all I can tell you for now is to hang in there!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for your information
Hi ,
I have applied dependand visa for my family in japan , meanwhile family is in out of japan, application processing time, can my family enter in to japan On 3 month visa?
Hi Moha,
Yes, there should be no restrictions on your family obtaining a Temporary Visitor visa to visit you in the meantime.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello travis
I am from nepal and how long it takes time to get dependent visa for japan.
Hi Roshni,
It can take 1-3 months to get the Certificate of Eligibility, from the time your spouse in Japan submits the application. After that he or she need to mail it to Nepal so that you can apply for the visa, itself. The visa application process length varies by country, but in most cases, it is under two weeks.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
thank u for this information! godbless you
Hello Travis,
My husband and I dropped off his COE and application at the Portland Consulate today for processing into a one year Instructor Visa. Through our extensive research, we have been under the impression that once he is settled there with proper documents, he will be able to apply for my COE so I can apply for a Dependent Visa. The woman at the Consulate said that he cannot do that, and that his company will have to sponsor me as a Dependent for him. She said that he cannot sponsor a COE at all. We cannot find any information to validate this claim. There may have been something lost in translation, or perhaps she is accustomed to processing paperwork for those in the JET program, who do sponsor family visas (my husband is employed through Interac and they do not sponsor anyone other than him). You’ve outlined so much helpful information in this post, but are there any foreseeable reasons as to why we would be told such conflicting information?
Hi Sarah,
My best guess is that there was a miscommunication. Your husband will not be able to sponsor a CoE for you until after he arrives in Japan and is registered there as a resident. After that point, he should be able to do so with no problem. He will need some documentation from his company (employment and salary info) to apply for the CoE, but he will ultimately be your sponsor.
It’s possible that the embassy thought that you wanted to get your CoE and visa before he traveled so that you can go to Japan at the same time. That would be impossible without the company’s sponsorship. The embassy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and immigration bureau (Ministry of Justice) are entirely separate organizations and sometimes don’t understand one another’s policies. I’ve also seen embassy staff get their own paperwork practices wrong on multiple occasions, so it is not unreasonable to think that the person you talked to just had a slight competency deficiency, as well.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for these resources! I understand that once you are in country with your dependent Visa, you can apply for part-time work. What if the dependent has full-time work overseas (US, in this case) as a remote position? Can they continue working for the US company or would that relationship have to cease?
Hi Jennifer,
I am not a lawyer and don’t have any direct experience with this, but my understanding in general is that limitations on employment only apply to activities that generate income from within Japan. So, being paid full-time or part-time by a foreign company would not be a problem, if my understanding is correct.
This is one of those rare occasions on this blog where I do recommend that you talk to a lawyer to be sure!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi! Thanks for this. I would like to ask if it is possible to apply for a dependent visa (for my husband, we married last December 2017) if I just started my full-time work here in Japan this month. My monthly income is 200,000 yen and I will not be able to give a tax certificate. I am currently living with my Filipino mother and Japanese stepfather (who is also the one who supported me when I studied Nihongo last year). The immigration officer told me to give my stepfather’s bank and tax certificate in lieu of my “足りない” documents. Also, I may just include in my reason letter (理由書)that I used my stepfather’s bank statement and tax certificate because I just started working. Is this credible? I am planning to apply for a dependent visa on March and I want my documents to be credible to avoid delay. Thank you so much!
Hi Trixia,
That sounds like it should work. In that case, my understanding is that your father in law would be your husband’s Guarantor for the paperwork.
I would also recommend submitting your own proof of employment and proof of salary if you can, especially if you will be your husband’s financial supporter.
In any case, more proof is always better than not enough!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
In the list of requirements above, there is no “Guarantor” indicated. What do you mean by “Guarantor”? Thank you!
Hi Trixia,
Sorry about that, I was referring to the wrong process. For the dependent visa the term is “Supporter.” It sounds like your stepfather would be your husband’s Supporter in the application form, but I would recommend that you double-check with the Immigration Bureau official, just in case.
(The term “Guarantor” is from the Spouse of Japanese National application process, so you don’t have to worry about that).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis.
Can I apply a COE as a child dependent even though I’m already 20 years old? My mom is a permanent resident in Japan and living there for 14years with her husband. As you can see I’m not a Japanese citizen. I’m a pure Pilipino but my dad is already dead (6yrs ago.) and I’m only depending on my mom. Is there any way to stay in Japan?
Hi Ashley Marie,
Unfortunately, as a legal adult (by Japanese standards), you would not be able to get a Dependent Visa.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
I (the supporter) am currently filling out the COE application for my husband (the dependent). I would like to clarify if I am able to submit the COE application on behalf of my husband in person at immigration, or do I need to go to a legal professional to submit it? From reading the document, it seems that I need a legal representative, but reading all the comments here leads me to believe I can go do it myself.
Thank you again for your help.
Hi Nat Larsen,
You can submit the application yourself! It’s fairly easy to do and you do not need any legal assistance. (That’s why I wrote this article – to try to give you the information you need to submit it without having to pay someone else 🙂 ).
The documentation can be badly written at times. “Legal representative” does not mean legal professional, it means anyone who is legally allowed to submit the application on behalf of the applicant (your husband), including you, the spouse. In this case you are your husband’s legal representative.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much. I thought that was the case, but was confused by the wording on the document! You should get a job at immigration to whip all their English translations into shape! 🙂
Dear Travis,
I got my CEO on last week and i am going to submit my documents to Japan Embassy soon.
I am a Nepali and currently working in Qatar since 7 years.
I already informed to my manager that i am going to resign and wants to be in Japan with my wife but my Boss wants me to be here at least 1 year so that i can teach all my responsibilities to next one.
If i got my visa for 1 year in Japan, may I come back to Qatar again to work for few months?
Because, he allowed me take vacation in Japan and come back to Qatar.
As soon as the next guy is perfect and excellent, he will allow me to make resignation because he is afraid about our project and to missed me because, we are very nice and close to each other.
Please, I would like to get your advice regarding this issue because, I don’t want to lose this opportunity to go in Japan but I have to come back to Qatar for few months…..
Waiting for your reply.
In advance, thank you.
Best regards,
Dipen
Hi Dipen,
You have to arrive in Japan within 3 months of the day your CoE was issued.
After you arrive, you will receive a Residence Status and a Residence Card. While your residence card and passport are valid, you can leave and reenter Japan as many times as you like, as long as you do not stay outside the country for more than a year and you return to Japan before Residence Card expires.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Sir,
Thank you very much for your reply. I really appreciated it and It’s clear to me now.
I think, After receiving my visa, i will be in Japan for 1 month and i will go back to Qatar for helping my Boss as i said to you before.
After, i will return to Japan before to expired my residence card.
On this case, Immigration will renew my visa again?
Please let me know the proceeder to secure my visa, because I want to follow the rules and regulations to avoid any problem for renewing visa. Because it is a good opportunity to be with family in nice and peace country “Japan”.
Kindly advice.
Thanks and Best regards,
Dipen
Hi Dipen,
I know you’re allowed to leave Japan once you have the residence card, as we discussed before, but I don’t know how Immigration would view your long absence when you apply to renew. When you do that, I would recommend that you submit an Explanation Letter (in Japanese) saying that you had planned to move to Japan permanently when you first arrived, but your employer asked you to return temporarily to train your replacement at work. Also say that the training is done now and you do not plan to leave for an extended period of time again.
Once you have the CoE, all that is left is to apply for your visa at the Japanese Embassy. I’d recommend that you contact them in advance to see what other documents and materials you will need for that.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Sir,
Thank you for you’re advice.
I received information that smeone holding a Japanese resident status could loose it without doing the activity more than 3 months…it might be difficult to renew my spouse resident status if i keep leaving Japan. So I don’t want to take risks because, we have plan to live in japan in the future days.
Now, during my annual leave, I would like to visit Japan as visitors.
I would like to ask if it is possible to apply for a visit visa using this COE which was issued on last month 19 January for my dependent visa.
If not, what is the requirements for applying visiti visa in Japan?
And, what do i need to do this original COE ? Do i need to return to immigration with reasons and explanations ?
If I return this COE with reason and full explanations, next time the immigration will issue my COE again ?
Kindly advice please.
Best regards,
Dipen
Hi Dipen,
You are correct that you can lose your Residence Status if you fail to continue the activity your status was given for for a period of three months, but the law says that exceptions can be made if you have an accepted reason.
My understanding is that this primarily applies to situations where you are not continuing the activity, but are staying in Japan. If you have to leave Japan unexpectedly for work (it was unexpected when you applied for the CoE) that might be accepted as a good enough reason.
If you choose to return the CoE, then you would have to return it to the Immigration Bureau via your spouse in Japan along with a letter explaining the reason. If you have a good reason, for example that your employer asked you to remain a certain amount of time to train your replacement, then that should be fine. There should be no problem with applying for a CoE again in the future.
You cannot use the Dependent CoE to apply for a Temporary Visitor visa, but you don’t need a CoE for that application at all. The requirements for applying for the temporary visitor visa vary based on your nationality, so you would have to follow up with the Japanese embassy to get more information.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, Travis! Thank you for all the information.
I’ll be moving in a new prefecture by February because of a new workplace (job) and when I am already there, I’ll be applying for my husband’s Certificate of Eligibility for his Dependent Visa. Are there any documents such as tax records that I should get from my current prefecture now before moving in to the new one? Is the Gensen Chou Shu Hyo from my current company enough?
I understand that by the time I apply for my husband’s COE, the Residence Certificate (Jyuminhyo住民票) will come from my new place.
While, the Proof of Annual Income (Shotoku Shoumeisho所得証明書) and the Proof of tax payment (Nouzei Shoumeisho納税証明書) will come from the old place. However, the Certificate of Employment will come from my new workplace. Is my understanding correct? What should I do regarding this matter? Is the Proof of Tax Payment Nouzei Shoumeisho納税証明書 enough to show to do the immigration? Or should I still present the Proof of Annual Income (Shotoku Shoumeisho所得証明書)?
Also, the information on Proof of Annual Income is about my former company but the Certificate of Employment will be from the new company. Will there be complications regarding this matter? Nouzei Shoumeisho is just about the taxes that I paid for a year, right? Also I applied for my tax refund last yr but I haven’t gotten the refund, do I still need to tell to the immigration that I applied for my tax refund? Please enlighten me. I am sorry for my long post. Thank you so much, Travis!
Hi Klo07,
Your tax refund shouldn’t be relevant to the application. It doesn’t matter that your proof of income and proof of employment are from two different companies, though it may be safe to get your proof of employment with your salary stated on it, if possible. That will show them your expected income at the new job.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
i am dependent visa and i m now in japan. My question to everyone is can i get aju if i m dependent visa , i m not an student or have working visa . can i get aju in japan if i m dependent visa?
Hi Nitesh KC,
By “aju”, I think you mean permanent residency? (eiju)
You cannot go from a dependent status (or student, for that matter) directly to permanent residency, as far as I know. However, if your spouse in Japan gets permanent residency, then you can change your status to “spouse of permanent resident.” Then after a few years in that status, you would be able to apply to obtain permanent residency.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi travis, Please help me because right now i am currently in japan as a short term visa for 3months. But i already extend another 3months. So my final extension is until april 30, I need to go back to the philippines. And now, me and my boyfriend got married here in japan, my boyfriend is long term residence here in japan he’s a filipino and i’m filipina. and we decided to apply COE and spouse visa. But I have only 2months to stay here in japan, you think 2months is enough to apply COE and spouse visa? Please help us. 🙁 thankyou and godbless!
Hi Zelle,
If your husband is a long-term resident, my understanding is that you would be applying for a “long-term resident” visa yourself, not a spouse visa or dependent visa.
The process and requirements are going to be different depending on what kind of long-term resident your husband is and his current working situation. For example, there are different procedures for second generation descendants of Japanese and third generation, and the required paperwork differs depending on his employment situation.
Since there are so many variables, my best recommendation to you would be to go consult with the Immigration Bureau office as soon as possible for their guidance. The typical application process is 1-3 months for a CoE, so it’s already unsure whether you have enough time or not. The sooner you go, the better chance you would have!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Klo07,
Your understanding sounds correct in most cases.
You do not need a Shotoku Shoumeisho 所得証明書, though. What you need is Proof of annual resident tax amount (Juminzei no Kazeishomeisho 住民税の課税(又は非課税)証明書) and the Proof of tax payment (Nouzei Shoumeisho 納税証明書) from your current city hall. Depending on your city, this might be one document that shows both or two separate documents.
Since your annual resident tax is based on your income level, that is sufficient to show your income.
I would recommend getting those documents now before you move. You can always apply for them later by mail, but getting them now saves frustration.
You shouldn’t need your Gensenchoshuhyo if you have the Juminzei records, but yes, that would come from your current employer. The certificate of employment would come from your next employer (where you would be working when you apply.) I know that’s not a problem, because I had the same situation when I applied for permanent residency!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for taking time to read and answer my posts. You truly are a big help!
Just want to clarify, for the tax records, I should have Juminzei no Kazeishomeisho 住民税の課税(又は非課税)証明書) and the Proof of tax payment (Nouzei Shoumeisho 納税証明書) from my current city hall while the Certificate of Employment from my new workplace should have my salary information on it.
Shotoku Shoumeisho所得証明書 and Gensenchushohyo are no longer needed, is this right?
Are tax records just a proof that you are a good tax payer? I am also thinking about the residence tax because it is based on my former salary so does it mean I will still pay the residence tax based on my former salary even if I have a new work/salary? Will the immigration know this?
Also, if I apply through a scrivener, I was told that I won’t need to send the Cert of Eligibility to my home country, I just have to wait a notice from the embassy in my home country that the visa is ready, if that’s the case then where will the embassy stamp the visa?
Thank you so much for all the help, Travis.
Hi Klo07,
As far as I know from the instructions on the Immigration Bureau’s website, the Shotoku SHomeisho and Gensenchoshuhyo were never listed as a requirement, just the tax and certificate of employment.
I think the Shotoku Shomeisho and Gensenchoshuhyo can serve as a replacement if you don’t have the tax documents.
The tax records are a goverment-issued form of proof of income that is more reliable to the immigration bureau than something that a company issued. It is not a problem that you have changed jobs since then.
I don’t know who told you that applying though a scrivener meant that you won’t need the CoE. That does not sound right to me at all, but I would follow up with the source of the information. I would not believe anyone who told you that you do not have to go through the visa application process. There is nothing automatic about this. You need to plan to do all of the legwork.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much, Travis! I appreciate your response. I believe that I still have to go through the visa application. Thank you so much!
Hi, Travis! I already got the Juminzei no Kazeishomeisho 住民税の課税(又は非課税)証明書) and the Proof of tax payment (Nouzei Shoumeisho 納税証明書) from the city hall. My Juminzei is about my 2017 records but as what I’ve understood it’s 0. On the other hand, my Nouzei is about my 2016 records. Are taxes imposed on the income of the previous year one year later? I arrived here October 2016. How will the immigration identify that I am capable of having a dependent? I am going to move to a new company. Does it matter? Thank you so much, Travis!
Hi Klo07,
Typically, your Juminzei no Kazeishomeisho 住民税の課税証明書 is issued around June for the previous year. So, you shouldn’t be able to get your 2017 record until June 2018. Any records you get now should be for 2016. However, since you were not working in Japan for all of 2016, your tax records for that year would not be for a full year, as is required by the Immigration Bureau.
I would recommend that you check with them directly to see what they want you to submit, if your tax records do not show a full year. They may accept your Gensenchoshuhyo 源泉徴収票 and proof of employment.
Will you move to a new employer before or after you file the application? If it’s after, then it shouldn’t matter, unless you are also moving your address for your new job (if you move to the jurisdiction of a different Immigration Office). If you move jobs before you apply, you may have to show proof of employment and salary from the new job.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, I need some advise. My mother is very sick and is confined in the hospital. We, my sister and I, were able to visit her last year with some documents from their end. But the situation now is, they can no longer provide us those required documents as my mother and step-father are both confined in the hospital. Is there any way that the Japan Embassy would grant me a visa so I can visit my parents? And how do you suggest I do it? Applying for Japan visa in the Philippines has to go through agencies and not direct to the embassy.. thank you in advance.
Hi Nadine,
I’m sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, that’s well beyond my area of expertise (spouse and dependent visas), so I would recommend that you try to contact someone with more experience in tourist visas for Philippines citizens.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
I have just interviewed for the JET Program in Japan. If I am successful, can I ask you what options I would have for bringing my fiancee with me? Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards,
Jak
Hi Jak S,
There is no fiance visa in Japan, so you would have to get married to bring your fiance on a dependent visa. Otherwise, your fiance could visit you short-term on a tourist visa (temporary visitor) or could try to secure a visa separately by finding work or enrolling in a school.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
First of all, thank you for the great content you are producing and sharing here. It’s been a great help! So,
I’m planning on going to Japan as a language student for at least 1 year (ideally 2). But I’m having a very hard time finding information on whether I would be able to take my fiancée with me on a Dependent Visa or not. This is a deciding factor on our whole project, as you can imagine.
I know that the College Visa allows it, but I don’t know if there are any exceptions to it since I won’t study at an university or under a scholarship, but at a language school (like KAI or ISI). I’d be very grateful if you could help me with this. We are trying to think ahead and plan our stay there, but this has been like a thorn in our side, always reminding us that maybe it just won’t be possible at all.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Renato Pellizon,
You should be able to invite your wife to Japan as a Dependent even if you are attending a language school, rather than a university. The qualification for a dependent visa is that you must hold a student residence status (or one of the other eligible statuses). There is no rule saying that you have to be enrolled at a university. There are a few other things you should keep in mind, though:
With that last note, I would recommend that you have resources from an outside source or accumulated savings. There has been a lot of news lately of “language schools” really working as illegal worker provision, where students don’t actually end up studying much, but just come to Japan to work. I’m sure that’s not the case for you, but to avoid that perception, I would recommend that you do not rely on money earned working part-time in Japan, as much as possible.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello again, Travis.
Thank you so much for the thorough response! I sent KAI an email yesterday asking about the Visa (since they provide assistance in the whole process for a JPY 20,000 fee), and they told me “Your fiancee can not get a dependent visa, Please be careful.” with no further explanation. But after your answer above, I noticed I picked the wrong word when I said “fiancée”, so… I replied to their answer explaining that we are already married and I hope to get a positive response!
That aside, I wouldn’t rely on money earned working part-time since I have my own funds and would have my uncle as a financial supporter as well, but I was planning to work part-time for the extra income, immersion and more possibilities to put the japanese I learn to practice. They recommend JPY 2,000,000 for each year, so in case I prove I already have this amount, would working part-time still be an issue? Also, I don’t plan on missing any classes as I want to make the most of the language course, so as a few months pass, wouldn’t this “earn their trust” in some way?
Thanks again for your attention and patience!
KAI just sent me another answer:
“Even if you get married, your spouse can not get a dependent visa while you hold a student visa.Only yourself can stay in japan for a long time with a studentvisa.
Please be careful.”
I am a little confused, since every official source I check does not mention any exceptions to the College Visa regarding the possibility of the Dependent Visa. And as you answered before, there should not be.
This is really upsetting since it makes all our plans almost impossible…
Hi Renato Pellizon,
The language school cannot get a visa for your spouse or assist with that Certificate of Eligibility process in any way, but there should be no problem with you getting one for her yourself.
I know people on student visa statuses who have brought their spouses and children to Japan before, so I know that it’s possible. The only possible complication I can think of is that it might depend on your own period of stay. All of the people I knew who successfully brought their family had at least a 2-year period of stay in Japan. It might be more difficult if you only have a 6-month stay. I don’t have any direct experience with shorter stays and spouses.
How long is your period of stay?
In any case, the language school has no legal relationship with your spouse and can play no role in her certificate of eligibility or visa application process, so they have no real interest in helping you. I would not recommend going through them for future inquiries if you have any other alternative options.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Renato Pellizon,
I’m glad to hear that the language school confirmed that your spouse would be able to get a visa. I don’t think they’d legally be able to help you with her visa before you arrive in Japan though. You’ll likely still have to do it once you arrive.
It is not a problem to start working part time after you arrive in Japan. My recommendation was simply that you don’t list that as a source of income to support your wife. There is no way to ever “earn the trust” of the Immigration Bureau, no matter how much of a record you build up, so don’t count up building up credit with them. They will expect you to not miss any classes, and that will be their standard should you try to renew your period of stay later, but it’s just a minimum standard. Meeting it won’t give you any extra credit.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, Travis! Thanks again for your answers.
Your answer was very positive and brought me a little hope that things will work out.
But about what you said: “I’m glad to hear that the language school confirmed that your spouse would be able to get a visa.”, I am sorry but it seems I didn’t make myself clear. Even after clarifying in the last email I sent the school that we are married, they still said it would not be possible for her to go to Japan on a Dependent Visa. So please allow me to put their answer again:
“Even if you get married, your spouse can not get a dependent visa while you hold a student visa.Only yourself can stay in japan for a long time with a studentvisa. Please be careful.”
What I could understand from that was that it really would not be possible in any way, instead of the school just not being able to help us through the process. They could have said “it is possible and legally permitted, but we can not give you assistance you on that”.
Answering your question about how long I plan on staying there, it would be 1 year at first, but hoping to extend for the 2nd year so I can complete the language course. After that I intended to try to stay in Japan as a full-time worker for exemple (the school even advertises that they assist you with that, but I would not only rely on this possibility).
Thanks again!
Hi Renato Pellizon,
Sorry, I saw and replied to your comments in order, so I didn’t see the second change until after I’d replied to the first.
I honestly don’t know what the problem is here. I know for a fact that it is not a problem to invite your spouse on a dependent visa with a student status in general. You should not even need any documents from the language school to do it, according to the Immigration Bureau’s website.
If you have a 1-year stay, that should be long enough, as well. I’m afraid I really cannot understand what the language school is saying. If you can, I’d recommend that you contact the Immigration Bureau office directly or through a contact other than the language school to follow up.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi how to apply certificate of eligibility of my childrens which are above then 18 years old ?
Hi Fahad Arshad,
Unfortunately, if your children are over 18, they should be independent and I do not know of any way for you to bring them to Japan on a family-related visa.
Your best bet would be to help them secure jobs in Japan that could provide a visa.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I just got married and would like to bring my Australian husband (I am also Australian) over on a dependent visa. He already planned to come visit me in March and if all goes well, he will move here then too. If we are unable to finalise his visa before then, will he still be able to come and visit me on a temporary tourist visa? Might immigration turn him away when he arrives in Japan, considering there may be some notification about his visa application in their system? Thank so much for the advice you give to us all!
Regards, Natalie
Hi Natalie,
There is no problem with visiting Japan on a tourist (temporary visitor status) while applying for a Certificate of Eligibility for another status. I see it happen all the time with students in my day job.
As an Australian, your husband would not even need to apply for a tourist visa in advance, he can simply arrive in Japan and receive a 90-day stay when he processes through immigration at the airport. He should avoid mentioning there that your are in the process of applying for a Dependent CoE, though, as that may confuse the Immigration officer and lead to complications.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello. I have a question what kind o f visa my mom will appy to me if the situation i like this.. Mom wants to get me in our country going to japan and stay in Japan with her also and she’s holding permanent visa coz she’s working long time ago until now and I have a Japanese step father but he was died 1 year ago.. im 25 years old now.
Hi Zakky,
Unfortunately, I don’t know of any visa type that would apply for you. To the best of my knowledge, dependent visas and Long-term resident visas only work for children of permanent residents if they are not yet legal adults.
Your best bet may be to try to find a job in Japan to get a working visa.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz