Who this is for
- People who wish to bring a foreign-national spouse living overseas to Japan
- Foreign-national spouses who wish to change from another status of residence while in Japan
- People who wish to renew the period of stay for a Spouse or Child of Japanese National
- Foreign nationals considering applying as the biological child or special adopted child of a Japanese national
Main application and consultation offices:Applications are handled by the regional Immigration Services Bureau. Renewals must be submitted to the bureau with jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence. For applications for a Certificate of Eligibility or a change of status, confirm in advance which office has jurisdiction and who may submit the documents, based on the details of the application.
Eligible family relationships and periods of stay
Eligible persons are spouses of Japanese nationals, persons born as children of Japanese nationals, and persons specially adopted by Japanese nationals. The “etc.” in the status name does not mean all foreign-national family members. Applications as a spouse require documents showing the marital relationship; applications as a biological or special adopted child require documents showing the parent-child relationship. Take care not to treat an ordinary adoption the same as a special adoption.
The period of stay is five years, three years, one year, or six months. Filing a marriage notification does not automatically change your status of residence. To continue staying in Japan, you must apply in accordance with your current status and period of stay. The period you request is not necessarily the period that will be granted.
Bringing Family to Japan, Changing Status, or Renewing
The procedure for entering Japan for the first time is an application for issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility. A person in Japan under another status of residence uses an application for permission to change status of residence to switch to this status. An application for permission to extend the period of stay is used when continuing to stay on the basis of the same family relationship. The application forms also differ.
For a spouse’s Certificate of Eligibility or change-of-status application, the official list includes a foreign marriage certificate and materials showing interaction between the couple. These are not listed in the standard renewal list, but a certified copy of the family register showing the marriage is required. Do not simply reuse the documents from the initial application; also confirm who currently pays the living expenses. Apply for renewal before your period of stay expires. In principle, those with a period of stay of at least six months may apply from three months before its expiration.
Explain the family relationship and living expenses in specific terms
Proof of marriage and explanations of the couple’s interaction serve different purposes. Use a family register or marriage certificate to confirm the family relationship; for a Certificate of Eligibility or change-of-status application, show interaction with photographs of the couple and any social media or call records that can be submitted. If names or dates differ between documents, organize the information so you can explain why.
Documents concerning living expenses are not limited to those of the Japanese spouse; they should show the income and tax-payment status of the person who will pay the expenses. If, for example, the applicant has just entered Japan or moved and a resident tax certificate alone cannot explain how living expenses will be covered, supplement it with materials such as bank savings or documentation of prospective employment with a company in Japan. For a biological or special adopted child, do not use the documents for couples; select evidence appropriate to the place of birth or type of adoption.
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.
Main documents to be prepared by the applicant
Application form, photograph meeting the requirements, and identity documents
- Purpose
- To confirm the procedure being applied for and the applicant’s information.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Application form: the official Immigration Services Agency website or a regional Immigration Services Bureau. The applicant must prepare the photograph.
- Points to check
- Use the form for the relevant procedure: Certificate of Eligibility, change, or renewal. For a change or renewal, present your passport and residence card. Residence cards issued on or after June 14, 2026 require a photograph for persons aged one or older on the date of issuance. For a paper application for a Certificate of Eligibility, also prepare a return envelope addressed to the applicant with postage for registered mail attached.
Foreign marriage certificate
- Purpose
- To show the marriage as recognized by the foreign country.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The certificate-issuing authority in the applicant’s country of nationality.
- Points to check
- Required for a spouse’s Certificate of Eligibility or change-of-status application. For Korean nationals and others, a foreign family register showing the marriage of both parties may also be used. This is not included in the standard renewal list. Attach a Japanese translation to any foreign-language document.
Supporting materials:[2]
Photographs of the couple and records of their interaction
- Purpose
- To make it possible to confirm the couple’s interaction.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Photographs kept by the applicant and spouse, and social media or call records.
- Points to check
- For a spouse’s Certificate of Eligibility or change-of-status application, prepare two or three snapshots clearly showing both people, and include any records of interaction that can be submitted. App-edited photographs are not acceptable. These are separate from the facial photograph for the application form.
Supporting materials:[2]
Main documents concerning the Japanese spouse and the person paying living expenses
Certified copy of the Japanese spouse’s family register
- Purpose
- To confirm the marriage to the spouse.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The family-register certificate counter of the municipality where the family register is recorded, or another such office.
- Points to check
- A full-record certificate used for a spouse’s Certificate of Eligibility, change-of-status, or renewal application. If the marriage is not recorded in the family register for a Certificate of Eligibility or change-of-status application, also submit a certificate of acceptance of the marriage notification.
Supporting materials:[2]
Copy of the certificate of residence for all members of the Japanese spouse’s household
- Purpose
- To confirm the address in Japan and household composition.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The municipality for the place of residence.
- Points to check
- Used for a spouse’s Certificate of Eligibility, change-of-status, or renewal application. Obtain a certificate that omits the individual number (My Number) but does not omit other information.
Supporting materials:[2]
Letter of guarantee
- Purpose
- To identify the guarantor.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The Japanese spouse residing in Japan completes the official Immigration Services Agency form.
- Points to check
- Used for a spouse’s Certificate of Eligibility, change-of-status, or renewal application. For a biological or special adopted child, the guarantor is a Japanese parent, adoptive parent, or other such person residing in Japan.
Resident tax certificates of taxation or non-taxation and tax-payment certificates for the most recent year
- Purpose
- To confirm the annual income and tax-payment status of the person paying living expenses.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The municipality where that person was residing as of January 1.
- Points to check
- Used for a Certificate of Eligibility, change-of-status, or renewal application. One certificate is sufficient if it shows both total income and tax-payment status. For a renewal, if the applicant pays the expenses, submit the applicant’s certificates.
Copy of bank passbook, prospective employment certificate, or similar documents
- Purpose
- To supplement information about living expenses that cannot be explained by tax certificates alone.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The applicant’s or another person’s bank passbook or transaction screen, or the prospective employer in Japan.
- Points to check
- Prepare these when ordinary documents cannot be used as proof, such as immediately after entering Japan or after moving. For online bank statements, use printouts that show the transaction history and cannot be altered.
Key documents showing family relationships for biological and specially adopted children
The parent’s or adoptive parent’s family register or removed family register
- Purpose
- To confirm the family relationship with the Japanese parent or adoptive parent.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The family-register certificate counter of the municipality where the family register is recorded, or another such office.
- Points to check
- A certificate of all matters used for applications for a Certificate of Eligibility or a change of status of residence. It is not included in the standard checklist for renewals by biological or specially adopted children.
Supporting materials:[3]
Proof of birth, acknowledgment of parentage, or special adoption
- Purpose
- To show the facts of the birth, acknowledgment of parentage, or special adoption.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The municipal office in Japan where the notification was filed, an authority in the country of birth, or a Japanese family court.
- Points to check
- Used for applications for a Certificate of Eligibility or a change of status of residence. For births in Japan, use a certificate of acceptance of a birth notification or similar document; for births overseas, use a birth certificate issued by the country of birth or similar document. Prepare acknowledgment-of-parentage documents if applicable. For a special adoption, use a certificate of acceptance of the notification, or a copy of the court decision together with a certificate of finality.
Supporting materials:[3]
Consultation and application preparation process
- 1
1. Confirm the family relationship and type of application
Identify whether the application is for a spouse or a biological or specially adopted child, and whether it is for a Certificate of Eligibility from overseas, a change of status of residence in Japan, or an extension of stay. Also record the expiry date on the residence card.
- 2
2. Obtain certificates from government offices and foreign authorities
Request family-register, resident-record, and tax certificates. Submit certificates issued in Japan within three months of their issuance, and attach Japanese translations to documents in foreign languages.
- 3
3. Check financial support and consistency across documents
Determine who will cover living expenses and, if needed, supplement the application with evidence of savings or planned employment. For a spouse’s Certificate of Eligibility or change-of-status application, also organize evidence of the couple’s contact and check names, marriage dates, and other details for consistency.
- 4
4. Respond to follow-up requests and the decision after filing
Confirm who may submit the application and which office has jurisdiction before applying. Respond to requests for additional documents on a case-by-case basis. Renewal fees vary depending on the application method, period of permission, and other factors, so check the information provided when permission is granted and the official information.
Points to check before applying
- The documents listed here are key materials to prepare, not a complete list of requirements that applies to everyone. Requirements differ by application: for example, for a biological or specially adopted child’s application for a Certificate of Eligibility, a minor uses the resident record of the person supporting them, while an adult uses the resident record of the person they live with in Japan; for a change or renewal, the applicant’s own resident record is used.
- Additional documents may be required depending on the family relationship and living circumstances. Filing a marriage notification or submitting documents does not guarantee permission, and processing times and costs are not uniform. If your family relationship changes due to divorce or another event, do not proceed with a renewal on the same basis as before; confirm the next steps for your residence status on an individual basis.
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
Are a foreign marriage certificate and photos of the couple also required for a renewal?
The standard checklist for a spouse’s renewal does not list a foreign marriage certificate or snapshot photos showing the couple’s interaction. However, additional documents may be requested. These are separate from the photo required for the application form.
Supporting materials:[2]
What should I do if the applicant pays their own living expenses?
Prepare documents for the person who will cover living expenses. For a renewal, official guidance says that if the applicant covers their own expenses, they should submit their own resident-tax certificate showing taxable or non-taxable status and their tax payment certificate.
Does a foreign-national child born in Japan also apply for a Certificate of Eligibility?
A foreign-national child born in Japan who will reside in Japan without going through landing procedures may need to apply for permission to acquire a status of residence. This is a different procedure from an application for a Certificate of Eligibility from overseas or a change from an existing status. Confirm the child’s nationality and intended period of stay, and consult the Immigration Services Agency promptly.
Supporting materials:[3]
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 “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”
- [2] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Applications and documents to submit if you are the spouse (husband or wife) of a Japanese national
- [3] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Applications and documents to submit if you are the biological or specially adopted child of a Japanese national
- [4] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Application for Extension of Period of Stay