Family Dependent Visa: Complete Guide to Bringing Your Spouse and Children to Japan [2026]

1. What Is a Family Dependent Visa? Eligibility for Spouse and Children

The Family Dependent Visa is a status of residence that allows the spouse and children of a foreign national residing in Japan on a mid- to long-term visa to live together in Japan while being financially supported. It is granted on the premise that the family members live together as dependents, and it is not intended for employment purposes.

Therefore, the approval of a Family Dependent Visa application is primarily determined by two key factors: who you are bringing to Japan and whether you can genuinely support and live together with them in Japan.

1. Eligible Family Members

Under Japanese immigration law, eligible family members for a Family Dependent Visa are limited to the following two categories:

• A legally married spouse of the foreign resident in Japan
• Children who are financially dependent on the foreign resident

The sponsoring foreign resident must hold a valid mid- to long-term status of residence, such as:

• Work visas (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Business Manager, Highly Skilled Professional, Intra-company Transferee, etc.)
• Activity-based visas (Professor, Researcher, Instructor, Medical Services, Legal/Accounting Services, etc.)
• Student or Cultural Activities visas

The following family members are not eligible for a Family Dependent Visa:

• Parents of the foreign resident
• Siblings
• Common-law partners, fiancés, or de facto spouses

For these cases, other visa options such as Temporary Visitor (for relatives) or specific designated activities may need to be considered.

2. Definition of Spouse and Children

Although the terms “spouse” and “children” may sound straightforward, immigration authorities apply specific legal interpretations.

Who Qualifies as a Spouse

• A husband or wife who is legally married to the foreign resident
• The marriage must be officially registered and proven not to be fraudulent

The following cases are generally not recognized:

• Common-law or de facto relationships without legal marriage
• Former spouses after divorce
• Suspected sham marriages

Who Qualifies as a Child

• Biological children (legitimate or illegitimate)
• Legally adopted children
• Children legally acknowledged by the parent

While there is no strict age limit in the law, in practice, the system assumes minor children who require financial support. For adult children, immigration authorities closely examine whether the child is genuinely dependent and not entering Japan for employment purposes.

3. Financial Support and Cohabitation Requirements

Financial Support Requirement

The sponsor must demonstrate sufficient and stable income to support the family in Japan, including:

• Annual income level
• Employment stability
• Overall household budget, including rent and living expenses

There is no fixed income threshold, but applications may be denied if the family’s livelihood is deemed unsustainable.

Cohabitation Requirement

The Family Dependent Visa is intended for families who live together in Japan. Long-term separation may raise doubts about the genuineness of the family relationship.

In cases of unavoidable temporary separation, additional evidence such as remittance records, communication logs, or travel history may be required.

In summary, a successful Family Dependent Visa application requires not only qualifying family members but also a realistic and stable living arrangement in Japan. If you are unsure about your eligibility, consulting a professional such as ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office before applying is highly recommended.

2. Requirements to Bring Your Spouse and Children to Japan (Assessment of Financial Support)

In a Family Dependent Visa application, immigration authorities place strong emphasis on whether you can genuinely support your family in Japan. This section explains how financial capability is assessed when bringing a spouse and/or children to Japan, focusing on income, living costs, housing, and key points specific to international students.

1. Income Criteria and How Living Costs Are Considered

There is no single legal rule such as “annual income must be at least X yen” for a Family Dependent Visa. In practice, however, the overall question is whether the sponsor has sufficient income for the household to live reasonably in Japan.

Main factors typically reviewed include:

• Household annual/monthly income level (salary income, business income, etc.)
• Stability of income (employment type, length of employment, likelihood of contract renewal, etc.)
• Number of dependents (spouse only, or spouse and children, and how many)
• Balance against existing fixed expenses such as loans, debt, or high rent

Even with the same income, immigration tends to examine cases more carefully when:

• There are many dependents
• The applicant lives in an area with very high rent
• The sponsor is already supporting family members overseas with large remittances

This is because the key issue is whether the sponsor can realistically support additional family members in Japan.

To prove income, the following documents are commonly submitted:

• Taxation certificate (or non-taxation certificate) and tax payment certificate issued by the local municipality
• Withholding slip and/or salary statements
• Documents showing continued employment such as an employment contract or certificate of employment

Through these documents, immigration will assess not just a temporary high income, but whether the sponsor can continue supporting the family over time.

2. Housing Requirements (A Livable Environment for Cohabitation)

The Family Dependent Visa is intended for family members who will live together in Japan. Therefore, housing conditions are also considered part of the sponsor’s ability to support the family.

Main points typically checked include:

• Whether the home is realistically large enough for cohabitation (e.g., a one-room apartment for a family of four may be seen as unrealistic)
• Whether the rent places an excessive burden on the sponsor’s income
• Whether the lease terms and the contract holder’s name include any clauses that could prevent cohabitation

For example, if the sponsor currently lives alone in a small studio, it is often necessary to move to family-appropriate housing when bringing family members. In such cases, it helps to clearly explain in the application and/or statement of reasons:

• When you plan to move
• The location, rent, and size of the new residence

This makes your living plan easier for immigration to understand.

Housing information may be supplemented with a copy of the lease agreement, a real estate quotation, or a provisional lease agreement.

3. Special Considerations for International Students (Part-Time Income Is Generally Not Counted)

If the sponsor is an international student on a Student visa, the assessment of financial capability differs from that of work visa holders.

A Student visa is a status of residence for academic study as the primary activity, and employment is not permitted in principle. Part-time work may be allowed within limits with permission for activities outside the status of residence; however:

▶ Income from part-time work is generally not evaluated as the sponsor’s primary income for supporting dependents.

Therefore, when a student applies for a Family Dependent Visa to bring a spouse and/or children, immigration will review the overall funding plan, such as:

• Stable remittances from family members in the home country
• Scholarships (type, amount, and duration)
• Bank savings in the sponsor’s name (accounts in Japan and/or overseas)
• Whether the plan depends on the spouse working immediately after arrival

Part-time income may be considered as a partial supplement, but in practice, approval becomes very difficult if the plan implies: “I cannot support my family unless I rely on part-time work.”

In addition, the student’s attendance rate, grades, and enrollment status can affect the examination. If there are frequent absences or long leaves of absence, immigration may doubt whether:

• The student is genuinely continuing their studies
• The stated purpose of stay matches the actual activities

Such concerns can negatively impact the Family Dependent Visa application.

In summary, successfully bringing your spouse and/or children to Japan under a Family Dependent Visa requires more than just current income. You must prepare comprehensively, including family composition, housing, the sponsor’s status of residence, and a realistic future living plan. If you are unsure about your approval chances, consulting a professional before applying can provide peace of mind.

3. Required Documents for a Family Dependent Visa Application

Required documents may change frequently due to legal amendments and operational updates. Please check the latest information on the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website.

If you retain our services, we will prepare an application package based on the official required documents and, in addition, select and organize the documents that are most likely to strengthen approval according to your specific circumstances.

4. Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Application Process and Immigration Processing Time

A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application is a procedure filed with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan by a representative in Japan (such as a spouse, relative, or employer) on behalf of a foreign national who plans to enter Japan from overseas.

In addition to filing at an immigration office counter, it is also possible to use the online application system (Immigration Online System).

1. Application Flow

※1 When a visa is issued, a brief interview may be conducted at the Japanese embassy/consulate. Depending on the result, the visa may not be issued.

※2 The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is valid for 3 months (90 days) from the date of issuance. If you do not enter Japan within this period, the COE becomes invalid.

2. Immigration Processing Time

Processing times are published on a monthly updated basis. Please check the latest average processing days from the link below.

5. Family Dependent Visa Application Q&A

There is no legally fixed threshold such as “annual income must be at least XX million yen” for a Family Dependent Visa. However, immigration carefully examines whether the household can realistically maintain living expenses in Japan. Therefore, low income does not automatically mean the application will be denied.

Key points typically include:

• Your current annual/monthly income level and stability (employment type, length of employment, etc.)
• Number of family members you will support (spouse and how many children)
• Balance with fixed expenses such as rent, loans, and remittances
• Whether you have supplementary funds such as savings or financial support from overseas

Even if income is not very high, there are cases where approval was obtained by carefully explaining bank balance certificates, household budget details, and realistic income prospects. On the other hand, if immigration determines that living costs are clearly insufficient, the likelihood of denial increases.

The required level of explanation varies depending on your income, family size, rent, and other factors, so we recommend consulting with a professional before applying.

A Family Dependent Visa is intended in principle for dependent spouses and children. In practice, it is mainly applied to minor children who require parental support.

If your child is already an adult, immigration will examine the following points strictly:

• Whether there is an actual situation of ongoing financial dependency
• Whether the entry to Japan is effectively for employment purposes
• Whether another status of residence (such as a Student visa) should be considered instead

Especially if the adult child plans to work in Japan, you will typically need to consider a work visa, student visa, or another appropriate status rather than a Family Dependent Visa.

In practice, there may be room for approval if the child is clearly in school (e.g., high school/university) and dependency can be proven, but the hurdle generally becomes higher as the child’s age increases. Because outcomes differ by individual circumstances, we recommend confirming your case with a professional in advance.

Unfortunately, common-law/de facto partners are generally not eligible for a Family Dependent Visa.

Under the Family Dependent Visa framework, “spouse” refers to a couple whose marriage is legally valid under the laws of the home country and recognized as a legal marriage. If the marriage is not officially registered, the partner will not be treated as a “spouse,” even if you have lived together for many years.

Therefore:

• If you wish to bring your partner under a Family Dependent Visa, you generally need to complete formal marriage procedures in your home country and/or Japan to become legally married.
• For relationships that are not recognized as a legal marriage under the home country’s law (including certain same-sex partnerships or de facto unions), it is extremely difficult to use the Family Dependent Visa under the current system.

In some situations, people use a Temporary Visitor visa (tourism/visiting relatives) for short visits, or may explore other options such as Designated Activities in limited circumstances. However, these are strict and there is currently no widely applicable system that generally replaces the Family Dependent Visa.

If you are unsure about your partner’s status of residence options, an individualized review is necessary, including whether marriage procedures are feasible and whether alternative statuses may apply. Please feel free to contact us for consultation.

6. Approved Family Dependent Visa Case Studies

In this section, we introduce real approved examples (client voices) of obtaining a Family Dependent Visa from a work visa or student visa, bringing a spouse/children to Japan, and reapplying successfully after a denial. Please review cases similar to your situation.

1. Case: Family Dependent Visa Approval for a Work Visa Holder

This is an example where a foreign resident in Japan on a work visa invited their spouse and children from overseas under “Dependent.” When there are multiple dependents, clear explanations of income prospects, a realistic living plan, and well-structured documentation are key to approval.

	Client (from Google Reviews)
	[Approved Case] Dependent Visa Approval for 3 Family Members of a Work Visa Holder

2. Case: Family Dependent Visa Approval for a Student Visa Holder

This is a case where a foreign resident on a student visa invited their spouse under “Dependent.” Because students are often examined more strictly regarding financial capability, it is important to organize evidence of who pays tuition/living costs (remittances), the student’s enrollment status, and present them in a way that is clear for the examination.

	VOL.56 Ms./Mr. C (China)
	[Approved Case] Dependent Visa Approval for a Student’s Spouse

3. Case: Approved on Reapplication After a Denial

Even if a COE is initially “not issued” or the application is denied, there are cases where approval is obtained on reapplication by analyzing the reasons, adding supporting documents, and strengthening the explanation.

	Client (from Google Reviews)
	[Approved Case] Dependent Visa Approved on Reapplication After a Denial

See the full list of Dependent Visa case studies

7. Overview of Our Family Dependent Visa Application Support Service

1. Service Overview

This service provides application support for foreign nationals working in Japan (such as those holding Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Business Manager, Intra-company Transferee, etc.) to bring their spouse and/or children to Japan or to change/extend the current status of residence to “Dependent” (Family Dependent Visa).

In a Family Dependent Visa application, immigration authorities assess not only whether a family relationship exists, but also whether the family can maintain a stable life together in Japan. Because factors such as income, housing, financial support capacity, cohabitation, and the sponsor’s past residence history are closely related, the outcome can change significantly depending on how the application is organized and explained.

At ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, our goal is to maximize the likelihood of approval for your Family Dependent Visa. We provide end-to-end support—from a pre-application assessment to drafting the statement of reasons, preparing documents, and filing the application with Immigration on your behalf.

We support cases such as:

We can also provide mid- to long-term guidance for cases where the spouse/family may wish to work in the future, or where the family is considering a future step-up to Permanent Residency or Highly Skilled Professional status.

2. Services Included

1. Selecting and preparing the optimal application documents based on your family structure and income situation
2. Support for drafting a statement of reasons (financial support capacity, cohabitation plan, living plan, etc.)
3. Filing with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and proxy procedures for endorsement upon approval
4. Follow-up during examination, including status checks and responses to additional document requests
5. Free reapplication support in the event of a denial

3. Why Choose ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office

▼Learn more about the 9 reasons ACROSEED is chosen

4. Ratings on Google Reviews

ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office has received high evaluations for service quality from many clients, regardless of visa type or nationality.

5. Family Dependent Visa Service Fees (Tax Excluded)

・There are absolutely no additional charges based on your personal circumstances.

・Our services are available nationwide in Japan. Clients outside our area can also use our services at the fees below.

・Payment by Visa or MasterCard is also accepted.