How to Successfully Relocate to Japan with a Foreign Spouse | Spouse Visa Application Support

“I got married overseas and lived abroad for many years, but I would like to relocate to Japan with my foreign spouse for our later years.” The number of people with this mindset has been increasing year by year. In order for a foreign national married to a Japanese citizen to live in Japan, it is necessary to obtain the status of residence known as “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National” (commonly referred to as a spouse visa). However, visa applications require careful handling due to statutory requirements, document preparation, and screening criteria.

This page provides a detailed explanation of the process and key points involved in “how Japanese nationals residing overseas can successfully relocate to Japan with their foreign spouses,” which is one of the cases we frequently assist with at ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office.

1. How to Apply for a Spouse Visa While Residing Overseas

If you are residing overseas and plan to start living in Japan with your Japanese spouse, you must first complete the necessary procedures with Japan’s Immigration Services Agency to obtain the status of residence “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National”. This procedure is called the “Application for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).” After the application is filed and reviewed in Japan, the spouse residing overseas will apply for and receive a visa at the Japanese embassy/consulate, and then enter Japan.

This procedure can be considered an “application for permission to invite someone to Japan.” Key screening points include the genuineness of the marriage, the foundation for living in Japan (housing, income, support system, etc.), and the stability of your future life in Japan. The application package must include evidence demonstrating the relationship (photos, email/message history, marriage certificate, family register (koseki) extract, etc.), as well as a sincere and consistent explanation.

The screening period is typically around 2–3 months, but it may vary depending on the season, region, and the content of the submission. To obtain approval smoothly, it is important to have a professional review the consistency of the documents and whether any supporting materials should be added before filing.

1. What Is a Spouse Visa (Status of Residence: “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National”)?

“Spouse or Child of a Japanese National” is a status of residence granted to foreign nationals who are married to a Japanese citizen and reside in Japan. This status allows the applicant to maintain a stable life in Japan through marriage. It applies to people who fall under the following three categories.

• A foreign national who is legally married to a Japanese citizen (the marriage notification has been officially accepted)
• A person born as a child of a Japanese national
• A person who has become a special adopted child of a Japanese national

The most significant feature of this status is that, unlike other work-related visas, there are no restrictions on occupation or employment type. You can work as a full-time employee, part-time worker, or on a temporary basis, and you may also engage in self-employment or freelance activities freely. In addition, you can enroll in social insurance and pension systems, sign housing contracts, and open bank accounts similarly to Japanese residents.

However, when renewing the status, immigration will confirm the “reality of the marital relationship (cohabitation and living circumstances)” and “stable income.” Therefore, it is advisable to organize and keep certain evidence even after marriage (resident record, photos, remittance records for living expenses, etc.).

2. What Is a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?

A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is an official document showing that Japan’s Immigration Services Agency has confirmed in advance that a foreign national has a legitimate purpose for long-term residence in Japan. By obtaining a COE, the visa issuance process at the Japanese embassy/consulate becomes smoother, and you can receive permission more quickly at the time of entry screening.

Normally, when a foreign national lands in Japan, they must present a valid passport and visa and receive landing permission from an immigration inspector. However, if a COE has been obtained in advance, most of the substantive review has already been completed within Japan, providing significant advantages such as shorter screening time and reduced risk of refusal.

In general, the Japanese spouse (Japanese national) or a relative in Japan submits the documents to the Immigration Services Agency as a representative. After submission, the application is reviewed and the result is typically notified in about 2–3 months. During the review process, immigration carefully examines the credibility of the marriage, the plan for married life, the place of residence in Japan, and the sponsor’s ability to support the applicant.

3. Who Can File the Application for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?

The Application for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) can be filed not only by the foreign national applicant, but also by the husband or wife as the spouse acting as a representative.

However, because the application must be submitted to Japan’s Immigration Services Agency while staying in Japan, either the applicant or the representative must be in Japan.

Therefore, we often receive the question: if both spouses are overseas, does one of them need to return to Japan to file the application? The answer is NO.

This is because a representative can also be a relative living in Japan, not only the spouse. In this case, eligibility is limited to “a relative of the applicant who resides in Japan.” Under the Civil Code, the scope of relatives includes blood relatives within the sixth degree, relatives by affinity within the third degree, and a spouse. However, if the applicant’s own relatives or the spouse are not in Japan, in practice a realistic option is that a relative within the third degree of the Japanese husband or wife—such as an uncle/aunt or a nephew/niece—may act as the representative. If parents are not available, asking an uncle may be one option. That said, many people who have lived overseas for a long time are not close with relatives in Japan, and it can be difficult to ask for such help in reality.

If you use our services at ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, the couple can proceed with the application while remaining overseas, with minimal burden on relatives in Japan. Please feel free to contact us for a consultation.

In addition to the COE application process, we also have cases where the foreign spouse entered Japan on a temporary visitor status and then successfully applied domestically to change status from temporary visitor to “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National,” resulting in approval.

In the above approach, the advantage is that the couple can come to Japan quickly. However, this type of application requires an appropriate reason and is not guaranteed to be accepted in all cases. If you wish to pursue this option, we recommend consulting a professional in advance before proceeding.

For details on the requirements for obtaining a spouse visa, please see the following page.

[2025 Edition] Spouse Visa Application Guide

When a foreign national marries a Japanese citizen and establishes a living base in Japan, they will obtain a status of residence (visa) called “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National” through the immigration authorities.

2. Screening Period for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and Timeline Until Entry into Japan

When inviting a spouse who is overseas to Japan, you will apply for a document issued by Japan’s immigration authorities called a “Certificate of Eligibility (COE).”

Before the spouse enters Japan, the immigration authorities examine whether the applicant qualifies as “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National,” and the certificate is issued if approval is granted. Therefore, when you apply for a marriage visa at a Japanese embassy/consulate overseas using this certificate, the visa is generally issued within a few days.

By coming to Japan with that visa, the status of residence “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National” is granted at the time of entry screening.

The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) has a validity period. In principle, it is 3 months from the date of issuance.

You must apply for landing permission in Japan within 3 months of issuance. If the validity period expires, you will need to redo the COE application process.

Therefore, if you already know when you want to enter Japan with your foreign spouse, you must determine the timing of the COE application by counting backward from your intended entry date.

Below is an approximate timeline for each procedure.

The best timing for a family to relocate to Japan varies depending on your circumstances, such as your child’s school enrollment schedule and the timing of signing a housing contract. At ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, we propose a planned immigration application strategy so that you can enter Japan according to your preferred schedule.

3. Frequently Asked Questions About Relocating to Japan with a Foreign Spouse

4. Summary: Key Points for Successfully Relocating to Japan with a Foreign Spouse

As in this case, many people who marry internationally hope to live together in Japan with their foreign spouse. On the other hand, a spouse visa application is not automatically approved simply because “you are married.” Immigration reviews the case from multiple angles, including background circumstances, the reality of the relationship, and the couple’s living foundation.

In recent years, screening has become more demanding due to strengthened measures against fraudulent marriages. Even if the couple has a genuine relationship, it is not uncommon for applications to be refused due to incomplete documents or insufficient explanation.

If you are unsure where to start or feel anxious about what documents are required, please consult a professional as early as possible. At ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, we provide optimal support tailored to each client’s situation based on nearly 40 years of experience and a wealth of casework.