Change from a Short-Term Visa to a Spouse of Japanese National Visa | Principles, Exceptions, and Accepted Practical Cases

2. Relationship with the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) | Two Application Routes

When considering obtaining a Spouse of Japanese National visa, many people struggle with the question of “Should we apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?” or “Should the foreign spouse enter Japan on a short-term visa and then apply to change status to a spouse visa within Japan?”

A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is generally used as a pre-screening process to bring a foreign spouse living overseas to Japan. Because the authenticity of the marriage and the couple’s life plan are carefully reviewed at the screening stage, it can be considered the most orthodox and stable application route from the perspective of immigration authorities.

On the other hand, in practice, there are many cases where a foreign spouse who entered Japan on a short-term visa is permitted to change status within Japan. In this scenario, it may be easier to understand immigration’s approach by thinking of COE screening as a “primary review,” and a change of status as a “secondary review,” with a comprehensive assessment overall.

However, a change from a short-term visa is not approved in every case. Depending on the entry circumstances, the timing of the marriage, the life plan, and the quality of the explanation provided, immigration may conclude that “you should return home once and apply for a COE.”

Therefore, the key is not to decide based only on whether a change from a short-term visa is possible, but to organize:

• The route of applying for a COE while remaining overseas
• The route of entering Japan on a short-term visa and then filing a change-of-status application

If you are a couple currently living overseas and are about to start your life in Japan, we recommend first confirming the COE route (applying for a COE while overseas), and then comparing it with the option of changing status after entering Japan on a short-term visa.

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

We explain in detail how to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for a foreign spouse from overseas.

Whichever route you choose, the outcome can vary greatly depending on how the application is structured, so it is important to consult a professional early and decide on the optimal strategy.

3. Cases Where Changing from a Short-Term Visa Is Difficult

Changing from a short-term visa to a Spouse of Japanese National visa must be handled with an accurate understanding of the gap between legal principles and practical operation. If you choose the wrong route or mis-handle the documents and explanation materials, an application may be denied even in cases that might otherwise have been approvable.

• When the marriage appears formal and there is limited evidence supporting its authenticity
• When you marry and apply immediately after entry, and the relationship history is not adequately explained
• When there is a history of overstay or false applications
• When the ability to cover living expenses is unclear

At ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, we propose the best application approach based on numerous practical cases related to spouse visas, including changes from short-term visas. If you are currently in Japan on a short-term visa or are unsure whether a change is possible, please feel free to contact us.

4. Process and Screening Period for Changing from a Short-Term Visa to a Spouse of Japanese National Visa

1. Step-by-step process to change from a short-term visa to a spouse visa

Changing from a short-term visa (Temporary Visitor status) to a Spouse of Japanese National visa is not permitted in principle under the law, but in practice there are exceptional cases where the change is approved. For that reason, it is important to carefully prove the authenticity of the marriage and the stability of your life together, and to structure the application based on the points immigration will review carefully.

At ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, for foreign spouses currently in Japan on a short-term visa, we propose the optimal application route depending on your circumstances, including considerations such as: “Is there a possibility to change status without leaving Japan?” and “Should we prioritize applying for a COE first?”

2. Immigration screening period

The screening period for changing from a short-term visa to a Spouse of Japanese National visa is typically about 1 to 3 months. However, depending on the marriage history, entry circumstances, and the content of the submitted documents, it may take longer.

Even if the short-term visa expires during screening, your stay in Japan remains lawful as long as the application has been properly accepted. On the other hand, until the spouse visa is officially approved, employment is not permitted.

5. Q&A: Changing from a Short-Term Visa to a Spouse of Japanese National Visa

Changing from a short-term visa (Temporary Visitor status) to a Spouse of Japanese National visa is, in principle, not permitted under the law.

However, in practice, there are exceptional cases where the change is approved, such as when the marriage is already established and the couple’s living situation is clearly demonstrated, based on individual circumstances.

It is not something that can be judged uniformly as “possible” or “impossible.” Proper application planning tailored to your situation is essential.

The period of stay under a short-term visa (Temporary Visitor status) is generally up to 90 days. Therefore, if you intend to apply to change to a Spouse of Japanese National visa within Japan, it is a fundamental requirement to submit the application within the period of stay (within 90 days).

If your application for change of status is lawfully accepted within the period of stay, the Immigration Control Act’s “special grace period (up to 2 months)” applies. This means that, until the screening result is issued, you may continue to stay in Japan lawfully even after the short-term visa’s original expiration date.

However, this special grace period does not extend the application deadline. It is simply a “waiting period for those who applied within the deadline to await the result.” Submitting an application right before the expiry date often leads to insufficient document preparation and explanations, and tends to increase the risk of stricter screening or denial.

If you are considering changing from a short-term visa, do not plan around the special grace period. It is important to decide your strategy as early as possible after entry and apply with sufficient time.

If your application for change of status has been lawfully accepted within your period of stay, then even if the short-term visa expires while screening is ongoing, you may continue to stay in Japan lawfully under the Immigration Control Act’s special grace period (up to 2 months).

However, this period is only a waiting period to receive the screening result. Until the Spouse of Japanese National visa is officially granted, you are not permitted to work at all, including part-time work.

A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is not necessarily required in every case. However, depending on the immigration office, there may be an operational approach where they conduct COE-style screening in advance and then decide whether to approve the change of status based on the outcome. Whether a change within Japan is appropriate or whether you should obtain a COE first depends on factors such as the marital situation and the circumstances of entry, so careful assessment in advance is important.

A change from a short-term visa to a Spouse of Japanese National visa may be subject to stricter screening or denial in the following situations:

• When there is limited evidence supporting the authenticity of the marriage
• When the dating period is extremely short and the relationship history is not sufficiently explained
• When there is a past history of overstay or false applications
• When the ability to cover living expenses in Japan is not clearly demonstrated

Even if one or more of these apply, there are cases where the change is approved when appropriate supporting documents and an explanation letter are prepared.

6. Case Studies: Changed to “Spouse of Japanese National” After Entering Japan on a Short-Term Visa

If you plan to change to “Spouse of Japanese National” after entering Japan on Temporary Visitor status, it is essential to carefully prepare explanations regarding your residence status and the reality of your daily life together. In this section, we introduce case studies where a spouse visa was obtained through a change-of-status procedure after entry.

	VOL.157 Mr./Ms. K (China)
	[Approved Case] Changed to “Spouse of Japanese National” after entering Japan on a short-term visa

	VOL.150 Mr./Ms. M (Panama)
	[Approved Case] Changed to “Spouse of Japanese National” after entering Japan on a short-term visa

	VOL.146 Mr./Ms. A
	[Approved Case] Changed to “Spouse of Japanese National” after entering Japan on a short-term visa

See the summary of approved Spouse of Japanese National visa cases here

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7. For Those Considering Changing from a Short-Term Visa to a Spouse Visa

Many people consider changing their status of residence to “Spouse of Japanese National” (spouse visa) after entering Japan on a short-term visa (Temporary Visitor status). However, since Temporary Visitor status is originally intended for a “temporary stay,” how you structure your application (consistency of explanations) and how you manage deadlines (timing of submission) can determine the outcome.

In particular, people often feel uncertainty about the following points:

• Consistency with the stated purpose of entry: whether the explanation at entry and the reason for change contradict each other
• Timing of application: whether you can gather the required documents and submit within the short-term stay period
• Authenticity of the marriage and stability of life: whether you can show cohabitation, finances, and relationship history with objective evidence
• Case-specific difficulty: short dating period / continued separate living / major income fluctuations / past denial, etc.

If you are unsure how to proceed, it is important to first organize whether “changing from Temporary Visitor status is realistic in your case”, and then decide on a submission schedule and priorities for required documents. The earlier you can plan, the easier it becomes to submit without time pressure.

8. Support System of ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office

A spouse visa application is not only about collecting documents. It is essential to proactively align the entire set of materials by anticipating the points Immigration is likely to check.
From the initial planning stage, our office identifies potential risk factors and provides end-to-end support—covering submission order, supporting documents, and the overall strategy for the Statement of Reasons.

Nationwide support: Managed mainly via email and online. Clients outside the area receive the same quality of support.

Multilingual support: Consultations available in English and Chinese.

Clear progress tracking: Check application status and required documents through an online system.

Support for difficult cases: Extensive experience with cases likely to face closer scrutiny, including re-applications after denial.

Transparent fees: Clear fee structure designed to minimize unexpected additional charges.

Support even after a denial: If denied, we provide a free re-application and thorough support until approval.

Information security: We properly manage personal information under operations based on ISO27001.

Pages Often Read Together When Applying for a Spouse Visa of a Japanese National

[FY2025 Edition] Spouse Visa of a Japanese National (Marriage Visa) Application Guide

An administrative scrivener explains the requirements for obtaining a spouse visa (marriage), working under a spouse visa, applying for permanent residency from a spouse visa, what happens in the event of divorce under a spouse visa, required documents, and more.

[FY2025 Edition] Spouse Visa of a Japanese National Renewal Procedures Guide

Renewal procedures for a Spouse Visa of a Japanese National (Marriage Visa). An administrative scrivener explains the required document checklist, how to avoid denial cases, and key points to prove eligibility for obtaining a 3-year or 5-year period of stay.

Applying for Permanent Residency from a Spouse Visa of a Japanese National

At ACROSEED, we have a proven track record not only with first-time spouse visa applications, but also with cases that were denied multiple times when filed by the applicant alone, as well as procedures for those with past legal violations or a history of overstaying—across a wide variety of situations.

For More Detailed Questions About the Spouse Visa System

Please explain the requirements for obtaining a Spouse Visa of a Japanese National in detail
Periods of stay for a Spouse Visa of a Japanese National: Differences between 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years
Required documents & Statement of Reasons for a Spouse Visa of a Japanese National: Key examination points and preparation tips (Latest Edition)
How to invite a foreign spouse living overseas to Japan with a COE
Can we apply for a Certificate of Eligibility while both spouses remain overseas?
Changing from a short-term visa to a Spouse Visa of a Japanese National: General rules and exceptions
How to change from a student/work visa to a spouse visa
My spouse visa application was denied (COE not issued). Can I re-apply?