Spouse Visa in Japan (Spouse of Japanese): How to Apply & Documents [2026]

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The "spouse visa" is a residence status for foreign nationals married to a Japanese national or permanent resident. There are no work restrictions — you can take any job. This guide covers marriage registration, the three application routes, documents, period of stay, and fees, plus what happens after divorce or bereavement.

① Two types of spouse status

• Spouse or Child of Japanese National: spouse, biological child or special adoptee of a Japanese national
• Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident: spouse of a permanent / special permanent resident, and a child born in Japan who has continued to reside here

Both have no work restrictions — you may work in any job, just like a Japanese national. To bring other family members such as children, see the dependent visa guide.

② First, make the marriage legally valid

A spouse visa requires a legally valid marriage. In an international marriage you generally need both a marriage registration at a Japanese city office and completion of marriage in your home country (the order depends on the country). Applications require the Japanese family register and the home-country marriage certificate.

③ Three application routes

• Bringing a spouse from abroad: apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at the regional immigration bureau → apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy/consulate with the COE → enter Japan (the COE is valid for 3 months from issue)
• Already in Japan, changing status: Application for Change of Status of Residence (e.g. from student/work to spouse)
• Extending: Application for Extension of Period of Stay

④ Main documents (Spouse of Japanese, COE example)

• COE application form, photo (4cm×3cm)
• Japanese spouse's family register showing the marriage
• Foreign spouse's home-country marriage certificate
• Questionnaire (an immigration form describing how you met and married)
• Snapshots of the couple together (2–3 photos)
• Japanese spouse's resident-tax certificates (income & payment) and juminhyo (whole household)
• Letter of guarantee (guarantor is the Japanese spouse), reply envelope

* Attach Japanese translations for foreign-language documents. Japanese certificates must be issued within the last 3 months.

⑤ Period of stay

The period granted is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 6 months. Where the relationship or cohabitation has been short, 1 year tends to be granted at first.

⑥ Fees & processing time

• Fees: the COE application is free. For change of status or extension, the fee depends on the period of stay granted. For applications received on or after October 1, 2026, the counter fee is 10,000 yen (3 months or less), 18,000 yen (over 3 to 6 months), 25,000 yen (over 6 months to under 1 year), 33,000 yen (1 year), 48,000 yen (over 1 year to under 3 years), 64,000 yen (3 years to under 5 years) or 75,000 yen (5 years or more), paid by revenue stamp. Online applications are cheaper for most periods (for example 27,000 yen for 1 year, 56,000 yen for 3 to under 5 years, 65,000 yen for 5 years or more), but for a permit of 3 months or less the online fee is the same as the counter fee. A settlement fee (330 yen for under 3 years, 550 yen for 3 years or more) is added online, so for a permit of 3 months or less the online total is higher. Online fees are paid only by convenience-store or bank payment (credit cards and QR payments are not accepted). Applications received up to September 30, 2026 are charged the former fee (6,000 yen at the counter, 5,500 yen online) even if approved later. Fee reductions exist, but they are limited to people who are in hardship at a level comparable to those receiving livelihood protection (whether or not they currently receive it) and who also fall into limited categories such as recognized refugees, victims of human trafficking or patients with designated intractable diseases. The reduced fee is 10,000 yen regardless of the period granted, for counter applications only (the online system does not support reductions). Check whether you qualify in the Immigration Services Agency's guideline on fee reductions (PDF, in Japanese).
• Processing (standard period published by the Immigration Services Agency): COE 1–3 months / change of status 1–2 months / extension 2 weeks–1 month

FAQ

How do I bring my spouse from abroad to Japan?Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in Japan, then take the COE to a Japanese embassy/consulate to apply for a visa and enter Japan. The COE is valid for 3 months from issue.

Can I work on a spouse visa?Yes. “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” and “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” have no work restrictions — you can work in any job, like a Japanese national.

How much are the fees?The COE application is free. For change of status or extension, the fee depends on the period of stay granted: for applications received on or after October 1, 2026 it ranges from 10,000 yen to 75,000 yen at the counter (33,000 yen for a 1-year permit), with online amounts that are lower for most periods plus a small settlement fee (for a permit of 3 months or less the online fee equals the counter fee, so online ends up higher). Applications received up to September 30, 2026 are charged the former 6,000 yen (5,500 yen online).

What happens to the visa if I divorce?You must notify immigration within 14 days of divorce or bereavement. If you do not act as a spouse for 6+ months without a justifiable reason, your status may be revoked. You may need to change to a status such as “Long-Term Resident” to stay.