Dependent Visa in Japan: Bring Your Spouse & Children [2026]
- The "Dependent" status is a residence status that lets a foreign national living in Japan on a work or student status bring their spouse or children to Japan.
- This article explains which residence statuses can and cannot sponsor family, whether work is allowed and its limit (up to 28 hours a week), required documents, period of stay, and fees.
- It is a different residence status from the "spouse visa" for those who married a Japanese national.
- Requirements vary by individual circumstances. For the latest information, check official sources from the Immigration Services Agency.
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Open the Residence Reminder →"Dependent" status lets a foreign national living in Japan on a work or student status bring their spouse and children. (It is different from the spouse visa for those married to a Japanese national.) This guide covers which statuses can sponsor family, work limits (28 hours/week), documents, period of stay and fees, plus what a child can do after high school.
① What the Dependent status is
It is for the spouse and children supported by a foreign national who holds certain statuses. Family of a Japanese national or permanent resident use a different status (Spouse, etc.).
② Statuses that can / cannot sponsor family
- Can (examples): Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Business Manager, Highly Skilled Professional, Intra-company Transferee, Professor, Researcher, Instructor, Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker (ii), Student, etc.
- Cannot: Technical Intern Training, Specified Skilled Worker (i), Temporary Visitor, etc.
* For Specified Skilled Worker, (i) cannot bring family, but (ii) can.
③ Work is limited to "28 hours a week"
Dependents cannot work by default, but with permission to engage in activity outside status you may do a part-time job of up to 28 hours a week. To work full-time you must change to a work status.
④ Three application routes
- Bringing family from abroad: Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application → visa at an embassy → enter Japan
- Changing status in Japan: Application for Change of Status of Residence
- Extending: Application for Extension of Period of Stay
⑤ Main documents (COE example)
- COE application form, photo, reply envelope
- Proof of the family relationship with the sponsor (marriage/birth certificate, family register, etc.)
- Copy of the sponsor's residence card or passport
- Sponsor's proof of occupation and income (employment certificate, resident-tax certificates; for a student sponsor, bank balance or scholarship proof)
⑥ Period of stay & fees
- Period of stay: individually designated within a maximum of 5 years, according to the sponsor's period of stay
- Fees: the COE application is free. Change/extension cost 6,000 yen at the counter or 5,500 yen online from April 1, 2025 (formerly 4,000 yen)
FAQ
Can I work part-time on a Dependent visa?With permission to engage in activity outside your status, you can work up to 28 hours a week. To work full-time you must change to a work status.
Can Technical Intern or Specified Skilled Worker holders bring family?Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker (i) cannot bring family on a Dependent visa. Specified Skilled Worker (ii) can.
How long is the Dependent period of stay?It is individually designated within a maximum of 5 years, according to the sponsor's period of stay.
How can a child on a Dependent visa work after high school?If they entered Japan before 18, graduated from a Japanese high school and have a job offer, a change to “Long-Term Resident” or “Designated Activities” may be allowed.
Sources
- Immigration Services Agency — Dependent Status
- Immigration Services Agency — Outside-status Work Permission (Dependent)
- Immigration Services Agency — Working After High School (Dependent)
- Immigration Services Agency — Extension of Period of Stay (fees)
- Immigration Services Agency — Fee Revision (April 2025)
* Rules may change. Please check official sites for the latest information.
📌 Where to get help with your residence status
For questions about changing or renewing your residence status or period of stay, please contact the Immigration Services Agency (Foreign Residents Information Center) or your local municipal office.
Immigration Services Agency (official) →📌 Need help with your residence status application or renewal? In-house service
Changes and renewals to your residence status can be handled yourself at the Immigration Services Agency (Foreign Residents Information Center) or at your local municipal office. If you'd like to ask a professional to help prepare documents and handle the application process, you can use our free consultation and referral service with a partner administrative scrivener (gyoseishoshi) (operated by MRI Co., Ltd.). Please note that a consultation does not guarantee approval; whether it is approved depends on the review by the Immigration Services Agency.
Consult a partner administrative scrivener for free →* Consultations and referrals are provided in Japanese. Please confirm official procedures and decisions with the Immigration Services Agency or a professional.
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