Who this is for
- Foreign nationals who want to bring their spouse or child to Japan from overseas
- Spouses or children who want to change from another Status of Residence to Dependent Status while in Japan
- People whose period of stay under Dependent Status is nearing its expiration, and their sponsors
Main application and consultation offices:Applications are filed with the relevant Regional Immigration Services Bureau. For an application for a Certificate of Eligibility, check jurisdiction based on factors such as the planned place of residence and the location of the accepting organization. Applications for a change or extension should be filed with the bureau responsible for the applicant’s place of residence. For document-related inquiries, contact the Foreign Residents Information Center.
Eligible applicants are spouses and children who are supported by a sponsor
The principal activity under Dependent Status is daily life in Japan as a spouse or child. It is not a Status of Residence for bringing parents or siblings to Japan. The system also differs from Statuses of Residence for family members of Japanese nationals or permanent residents, so first check the sponsor’s residence card.
Eligible sponsor Statuses of Residence include Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Business Manager, Highly Skilled Professional, Skilled Labor, Nursing Care, and Student, among others. Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is eligible, but Specified Skilled Worker (i) is not among the eligible Statuses of Residence for a Dependent sponsor. Technical Intern Training and Training are also not eligible Statuses of Residence; being a foreign national’s family member alone does not make someone eligible to apply.
Supporting materials:[1]
Prove the family relationship and financial support with documents
For a spouse, prove the marriage; for a child, prove the parent-child relationship, using official certificates. If the name on a certificate differs from the name shown in the passport, organize an explanation of the reason. The applicant is expected to live with the sponsor’s support, so explain with documents how the sponsor will cover living expenses.
If the sponsor is employed, key documents include proof of employment and certificates of residence tax assessment and payment. If the sponsor is a student or otherwise does not engage in activities for which they receive remuneration, check documents such as a bank balance certificate in the applicant’s name or a scholarship certificate showing the amount and period. The documents below are examples of the main documents; not everyone needs to submit the same materials.
Supporting materials:[1]
Choose between a Certificate of Eligibility, change, and extension application
To bring family members who are overseas to Japan, consider applying for a Certificate of Eligibility before their entry. The certificate, once issued, is used for the subsequent visa application at a Japanese diplomatic mission overseas and the landing application. Issuance of the certificate does not by itself complete entry into Japan.
If a person in Japan changes the purpose of their activities, they should apply for a change of Status of Residence. If a person already living in Japan under Dependent Status wishes to continue their stay, they should apply for an extension of the period of stay. Marriage alone does not automatically change a person’s Status of Residence. For a child born in Japan, check the separate application for permission to acquire a Status of Residence, rather than an application to bring someone to Japan or to change status.
Permission to work outside your status of residence
Dependent Status itself does not permit general employment. Before starting an activity for which you will receive remuneration, such as a part-time job, check whether you need permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under your Status of Residence. Blanket permission covers activities of up to 28 hours per week, but this does not mean that any employer or type of work is allowed as long as you stay within that limit.
Individual permission is required in cases such as contract work or self-employment where working hours cannot be objectively verified. Also check the employer’s industry. If the contract or activity would make work the primary purpose of your stay, you may need to change to a work-related Status of Residence rather than obtain permission to engage in activities outside the scope of your current Status of Residence.
Supporting materials:[4]
Checking required documents and where to obtain them
The documents listed are representative examples. Required materials vary depending on the type of application, such as an application for a Certificate of Eligibility, change, or extension, as well as your current status of residence, affiliated organization, nationality, and family relationships. Additional materials may be requested for individual cases.
Documents to prepare as the applicant
Application form and photograph appropriate to the application type
- Purpose
- Provide information about the applicant, family relationship, and activities in Japan.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Download the application form from the official website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, and have the photograph taken at a photo shop or similar establishment.
- Points to check
- Applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change, and extension use different forms. Check the specified photograph requirements. For residence cards issued on or after June 14, 2026, photographs are not required for people who are under one year old on the date of issuance. Do not confuse this with older guidance exempting children under 16 from the photograph requirement.
Supporting materials:[1]
Applicant’s passport and residence card
- Purpose
- Verify the applicant’s identity and current Status of Residence.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Prepare the original documents kept by the applicant. The passport is issued by the passport-issuing authority of the applicant’s country of nationality.
- Points to check
- For an in-person application for a change or extension, present both documents. For an application for a Certificate of Eligibility, submitting a copy of the passport can help verify the spelling of the applicant’s name.
Supporting materials:[1]
Return envelope for an application for a Certificate of Eligibility
- Purpose
- Materials for receiving the paper Certificate of Eligibility by mail.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Prepare a standard-size envelope with the recipient’s address written on it, and postage stamps in the amount required for registered mail.
- Points to check
- This is listed among the documents for a Certificate of Eligibility application. Since electronic receipt is also available, check the application and receipt methods. This is not a document required for both change and extension applications.
Documents showing the relationship between the applicant and the supporter
Documents proving a marital or parent-child relationship
- Purpose
- These prove that the person is a spouse or child.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Examples include marriage or birth certificates issued by a civil registration authority in the person’s home country, and a certified copy of the family register or a certificate of acceptance of a marriage notification issued by a Japanese municipality.
- Points to check
- For Certificate of Eligibility, change, and extension applications, choose documents that prove the relevant relationship. You do not need to collect every document listed. Attach a Japanese translation to documents in a foreign language.
Supporting materials:[1]
Copy of the supporter’s Residence Card or passport
- Purpose
- This verifies the supporter’s identity and status of residence.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Make a copy of the Residence Card or passport held by the supporter.
- Points to check
- These documents are listed for Certificate of Eligibility, change, and extension applications. Prepare the documents of the person providing support, separately from the applicant’s passport and Residence Card.
Supporting materials:[1]
Documents showing the living expenses the supporter will provide
Certificate of employment or copy of business license, etc.
- Purpose
- This shows the supporter’s occupation or business activities.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Ask the employer to issue a certificate of employment. Business operators should prepare a business license or similar document issued by the relevant licensing authority.
- Points to check
- For supporters engaged in business activities that generate income or other remunerated activities. For Certificate of Eligibility, change, and extension applications, choose documents that show the supporter’s occupation.
Supporting materials:[1]
Certificate of residence tax assessment or non-assessment and certificate of tax payment
- Purpose
- This shows the supporter’s total income for one year and tax payment status.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- As a rule, obtain it from the tax office of the municipality where the supporter lived on January 1 of that year.
- Points to check
- This is checked for Certificate of Eligibility, change, and extension applications for supporters who are working. Either certificate is acceptable if it includes both total income and tax payment status. If the certificate cannot be issued, such as shortly after arrival in Japan, check with the competent immigration office about alternative documents.
Supporting materials:[1]
Bank balance certificate, scholarship award certificate, etc.
- Purpose
- This shows that the family’s living expenses can be covered without relying on salary or similar income.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Ask the financial institution where the supporter holds an account, or the organization providing the scholarship.
- Points to check
- These are checked as documents for Certificate of Eligibility, change, and extension applications when the supporter is not engaged in remunerated activities or similar work. For a scholarship, prepare a document showing the amount and period of the award, and consider providing equivalent evidence of living expenses depending on the circumstances.
Supporting materials:[1]
Consultation and application preparation process
- 1
1. Check the eligible status and type of application
Establish whether the applicant is overseas, holds a different status of residence in Japan, or is continuing their stay as a Dependent. Check the supporter’s status of residence and period of stay, as well as the marital or parent-child relationship.
Supporting materials:[1]
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2. Gather documents on the family relationship and support
Request identity and living-expense documents from each issuing authority. Check names and dates against the application form, and attach Japanese translations to foreign-language documents.
Supporting materials:[1]
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3. Apply to the competent immigration office with the deadline in mind
For a Certificate of Eligibility application, prepare well in advance of the planned entry date. Apply for an extension before the period of stay expires. As a rule, those with a period of stay of at least six months may apply from three months before its expiration. Also check who may submit the application and the conditions for using the counter or online services.
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4. Respond to requests for additional documents and complete procedures after the decision
If additional documents are requested during screening, confirm what has been specified and submit them. After a Certificate of Eligibility is issued, proceed with the visa and landing procedures. After a change or extension, check the new status of residence and period of stay. Fees and processing times are not uniform, so check current guidance and individual notices.
Points to check before applying
- Submit certificates issued in Japan if they were issued within the past three months. If you have an original document that is difficult to obtain again and want it returned, request this when applying. The documents listed here may not be sufficient to complete the examination.
- If the supporter’s status of residence, the family relationship, or the circumstances regarding living expenses change, check again whether the family can continue to stay as Dependents. The period of stay is determined individually, and permission is not guaranteed even if all required documents are prepared.
This page provides general information about the system and does not determine individual cases or guarantee permission or approval. Required documents and requirements vary depending on individual circumstances. When applying, check the latest official information and consult an administrative scrivener about the procedures suited to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my parents to Japan under the Dependent status of residence?
The Dependent status of residence is for a spouse or child who is supported by the applicant. Parents are not eligible. If you consider another system, you will need to check that system’s own requirements.
Supporting materials:[1]
What annual income does the supporter need?
The official document requirements do not specify a minimum annual income applicable to everyone. Explain that the family’s living expenses can be covered using documents concerning the supporter’s occupation and income, savings, scholarship, or other resources. Having income above a certain amount does not guarantee permission.
Supporting materials:[1]
Can I work part-time while staying as a Dependent?
For remunerated activities, check whether you need permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted under your status of residence. The blanket permission covers work of up to 28 hours per week. Depending on the form of contract or the employer, individual permission may be required. Permission to stay as a Dependent and permission to work part-time are separate.
Supporting materials:[4]
Official Immigration and Legal Affairs Sources
Check the following official pages for application forms and the latest required submission materials. Official materials are displayed in Japanese or other languages provided by each organization.
- [1] Immigration Services Agency of Japan | Status of Residence “Dependent”: Documents to Submit for Certificate of Eligibility, Change, and Extension Applications
- [2] Immigration Services Agency of Japan | Application for Extension of Period of Stay
- [3] Immigration Services Agency of Japan | Application for Issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility
- [4] Immigration Services Agency of Japan | Permission to Engage in an Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence “Dependent”