Japan Spouse Visa Application Support | COE, Status Change & Documents
Japan Spouse Visa Application Support
COE, Change of Status & Required Documents
Married to a Japanese national and planning to live together in Japan? Get clear, English-language guidance on the Spouse or Child of Japanese National status, whether you are applying from overseas or already living in Japan.
What Is a Japan Spouse Visa?
“Japan spouse visa” usually refers to the status of residence called Spouse or Child of Japanese National (日本人の配偶者等). This page focuses on a foreign national legally married to a Japanese citizen who wishes to live with their spouse in Japan.
Marriage alone does not automatically grant a status of residence. Japan’s immigration authority examines your marital relationship, intended living arrangements and other relevant circumstances. A person who holds this status is not restricted to a particular occupation under immigration status rules.
Which Application Do You Need?
Your spouse is outside Japan
If you intend to move to Japan from overseas, the Japanese-side procedure normally begins with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application. After the COE is issued, the foreign spouse normally applies for an appropriate visa through the responsible Japanese diplomatic mission overseas.
You already live in Japan
If you hold a different status of residence, such as Student or a work status, you may need to apply for Permission to Change Status of Residence. We first check your current status, expiration date and circumstances. A change from Temporary Visitor has special restrictions and should not be assumed available.
You already hold spouse status
If you plan to continue living in Japan under the same status, a Period of Stay Extension application may be required before your current period expires. We review changes in employment, residence, marital circumstances and household finances.
You are planning your marriage
Requirements for a legal marriage depend on where it takes place and each spouse’s nationality. We can identify which Japanese immigration documents will be relevant after your marriage is registered.
Requirements and Points the Immigration Office Reviews
Main Documents for a Spouse COE Application
The Immigration Services Agency publishes the core document list. Exact documents, translations and supplementary evidence depend on your circumstances and application type.
From Marriage to Living Together in Japan
Professional Fees and Application Support
| Service | Professional fee (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Spouse COE – bringing a spouse to Japan | From ¥110,000 |
| Change to Spouse or Child of Japanese National | From ¥110,000 |
| Standard extension of spouse status | From ¥44,000 |
Professional fees are separate from any government permission fees, translation, document acquisition, postage and other necessary expenses. Complex cases are quoted individually. We confirm the scope and fee before engagement.
How We Can Help
Initial eligibility review
We review marriage records, living arrangements, current immigration circumstances and your intended timeline.
Forms and evidence preparation
We help prepare the application, questionnaire and necessary supporting explanations and organize the documents for submission.
Application intermediary support
Where eligible and within our agreed scope, we can submit residence applications through the application intermediary system.
Follow-up after filing
We assist with requests for additional documents within the agreed scope and explain the next steps after an immigration decision.
Ask Us About Your Particular Situation
Provide your nationality, both spouses’ locations, where the marriage was registered and your intended date of living together in Japan. We can identify the documents that need particular attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a marriage certificate enough to obtain a Japan spouse visa?
No. A valid marriage is essential, but the immigration authority also examines the relationship and the applicant’s circumstances, including the intended life in Japan.
Can I apply while I am outside Japan?
Normally, a Japanese-side COE application is considered for a spouse intending to move from overseas. After issuance, the spouse follows the applicable visa procedure at the relevant Japanese mission abroad.
Can I change from Temporary Visitor to spouse status in Japan?
This is not a standard route. A change from Temporary Visitor is restricted and depends on special circumstances; do not assume that marriage alone will make an in-country change possible.
Do we need to submit foreign marriage records?
The Immigration Services Agency lists a marriage certificate from the foreign spouse’s country or an accepted equivalent. If issuance is not possible in your circumstances, the facts and supporting evidence require individual review.
Can I work under Spouse or Child of Japanese National?
A holder of this status is not subject to a job-category restriction based on the immigration status. Other laws, professional licenses and ordinary employment requirements may still apply.
Can your office help if I live outside Yamagata?
We accept inquiries from across Japan and overseas. Whether a case can be handled remotely and by application intermediary is confirmed individually.
Related Services
Official Immigration Information
Discuss Your Japan Immigration Application in English
Tell us your current location, residence status (if you are in Japan), relevant dates and the assistance you need. Our office will review the available procedure and provide a quotation before engagement.
Kawagoe Masanobu Administrative Scrivener Office
Sagae City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
Phone: +81-237-86-7198 (9:00–18:00 Japan time)
Online or remote consultation is available depending on your location and case. The linked contact form may display Japanese labels; you may write your inquiry in English. Application approval cannot be guaranteed.