Who this is for
- People who wish to live in Japan as the spouse of a permanent resident or special permanent resident
- People changing from another status of residence due to marriage or another event
- People renewing their period of stay as a spouse or child of a permanent resident
- Parents or guardians seeking information about procedures for a foreign-national child born in Japan to a permanent resident or similar status holder
Main application and consultation offices:Regional Immigration Services Bureau. For a change, renewal, or acquisition, confirm the office with jurisdiction over your place of residence; for a Certificate of Eligibility, confirm jurisdiction based on the intended place of residence or the location of the domestic representative, among other factors. The Foreign Residents Information Center also accepts inquiries about required documents.
Who qualifies as a spouse or child
Eligible persons are spouses of permanent residents or special permanent residents, and people born in Japan as children of permanent residents or similar status holders who have continued to reside in Japan since birth. This is not a system that covers “any family member of a permanent resident.” For a child, the place of birth and residence status after birth must be confirmed.
The period of stay is five years, three years, one year, or six months. Even if your spouse is a permanent resident, you do not automatically become a permanent resident. If you wish to remain in Japan beyond the period granted, you must complete a procedure such as an extension of stay.
Supporting materials:[1]
Choose between a Certificate of Eligibility, change, and extension application
If you wish to enter Japan under this status for the first time, apply for a Certificate of Eligibility. If you are switching from another status in Japan, apply for a change of status of residence. If you stop engaging in the activities associated with your previous status and your family relationship has also changed, do not leave the matter unattended based only on your residence-card expiry date; promptly check what procedures are required.
If you currently reside in Japan under this status and wish to continue your stay on the basis of the same family relationship, apply for an extension of period of stay. If your period of stay is at least six months, you can generally apply from three months before its expiry date. For a renewal, prepare documents showing that the marriage is continuing, not just documents submitted at the time of marriage.
Explain the marriage relationship and living expenses in Japan
For a spouse’s application, use a marriage certificate from the country of nationality of either spouse or documents relating to the marriage notification filed in Japan to support the marriage information on the application form. For a Certificate of Eligibility or change-of-status application, guidance also calls for evidence of the couple’s interaction, such as photographs. Organize the details so that there are no inconsistencies in the account of how you met and married or in the addresses provided.
Explain living expenses mainly through the income and tax-payment status of the person covering the costs. For a renewal, if the applicant covers their own living expenses, submit the applicant’s own tax certificates. If tax certificates cannot explain the situation, such as immediately after entering Japan, prepare documents such as evidence of savings or planned employment.
Supporting materials:[1]
A Child’s Status of Residence After Birth and Family Changes
If a foreign-national child born in Japan will stay for more than 60 days after birth, an Application for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence must be filed within 30 days of birth. Prepare documents proving the birth and also confirm the parents’ statuses. Since the official page also lists documents for spouses, confirm individually with the competent office which documents are required for the child’s application.
A mid- to long-term resident who holds this status as a spouse must submit a notification concerning their spouse within 14 days of divorce or the spouse’s death. This notification and an application to change or extend the period of stay are separate procedures. Please also seek advice early about your future stay.
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 / standard-format photo / passport, etc.
- Purpose
- To confirm the applicant’s information and type of application.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The application form is from the Immigration Services Agency; the passport and residence card are documents held by the applicant.
- Points to check
- The application form differs for applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change, extension, and acquisition. For a change or extension, present your passport and residence card. For change, extension, and acquisition applications, a photo is required for anyone aged 1 or older for residence cards issued on or after June 14, 2026. For receipt of a paper Certificate of Eligibility, also check requirements such as a return envelope.
Supporting materials:[1]
Marriage certificate / certificate of acceptance of marriage notification, etc.
- Purpose
- To prove the marriage to the spouse with official documents.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The responsible authorities in both parties’ countries of nationality, and the municipality that accepted the marriage notification in Japan.
- Points to check
- For a Certificate of Eligibility or change application, marriage certificates from both parties’ countries of nationality are generally required. In some cases, a foreign family register showing the marriage may be accepted. If the marriage was registered in Japan, submit a certificate of acceptance. For an extension, a document proving that the marriage is continuing is required; confirm which certificates can be used.
Supporting materials:[1]
Photographs of the couple and records of their interaction
- Purpose
- To provide specific evidence of the couple’s interactions.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Photographs, social media and call records kept by the applicant and spouse.
- Points to check
- For a Certificate of Eligibility or change application, prepare two to three unaltered photos clearly showing both people, as well as interaction records that can be submitted. The basic list for an extension does not include the same interaction records, but additional documents may be requested.
Supporting materials:[1]
Main documents for the spouse / person covering living expenses
Certificate of residence tax assessment or non-assessment and certificate of tax payment
- Purpose
- To show income and resident tax payment status for the most recent year.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The municipality where the person was registered as living on January 1 of that year.
- Points to check
- Prepare one copy of each document for the person covering living expenses. If one certificate shows both income and tax payment status, that certificate alone is sufficient. For an extension, if the applicant covers their own expenses, provide the applicant’s certificates.
Supporting materials:[1]
Copy of bank passbook, prospective employment certificate, or similar documents
- Purpose
- To supplement information about how living expenses are covered when tax certificates alone do not explain this.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Bank passbook or transaction screen from a financial institution; prospective place of employment in Japan.
- Points to check
- These documents are for cases where tax certificates do not provide an explanation, such as immediately after entering Japan or after moving. For an online passbook, use a printout that shows the transaction history and has not been altered. The same supplementary documents are not required for everyone.
Supporting materials:[1]
Letter of guarantee
- Purpose
- To show information concerning the guarantor for a spouse’s application.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The form of the Immigration Services Agency, completed by the spouse residing in Japan.
- Points to check
- This is listed for a spouse’s Certificate of Eligibility, change, or extension application. For a child’s application, confirm individually whether a guarantor is required and which documents must be submitted. A letter of guarantee does not guarantee that permission will be granted.
Supporting materials:[1]
Resident record for all members of the spouse’s household
- Purpose
- To confirm the address and household circumstances.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The municipality where the spouse resides.
- Points to check
- Prepare one copy for a spouse’s Certificate of Eligibility, change, or extension application. Obtain one that omits the My Number but does not omit other information.
Supporting materials:[1]
Documents to check for an application for a child born in Japan
Document certifying the birth
- Purpose
- To prove the birth that is the reason for applying to acquire a status of residence.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Confirm with the municipality where the birth was reported, etc., which certificates can be used.
- Points to check
- This document is required for an application to acquire a status of residence. Confirm with the competent office which specific certificate and supplementary documents proving the parent-child relationship are needed. If both parents are foreign nationals, also consult the relevant embassy or consulate in Japan about registering the birth in their home country and obtaining a passport for the child.
Consultation and application preparation process
- 1
1. Confirm who is covered and which procedure applies
Confirm whether the application concerns a spouse or a child, the status of the spouse or parents, the applicant’s current location, and the period of stay. Decide whether to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility, a change, an extension, or acquisition based on birth.
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2. Gather official certificates and documents concerning living expenses
Arrange proof of marriage or birth, a resident record, and tax certificates for the person covering expenses. Attach Japanese translations to foreign-language documents, and check that names, dates, and addresses match those on the application form.
Supporting materials:[1]
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3. Apply in line with the deadlines
Prepare a Certificate of Eligibility application before entering Japan, and prepare change or extension applications before the period of stay expires. An application to acquire a status of residence due to birth must be filed within 30 days. Also confirm how and where to submit it, and the conditions under which someone other than the applicant may submit it.
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4. Respond to requests for additional documents and manage your status after permission is granted
If Immigration requests additional explanations, prepare documents as appropriate to the request. After permission is granted, check the period of stay and keep track of the next extension and the deadline for notification of divorce or the spouse’s death.
Points to check before applying
- The documents listed here are examples of the main documents; they are not a complete list of requirements that applies to everyone. Use certificates issued in Japan within three months of their date of issue, and attach Japanese translations to foreign-language documents. Additional documents may be requested depending on individual circumstances.
- Submitting a notification of divorce or the spouse’s death does not by itself mean that your continued stay will be permitted. Also set out your circumstances if they have changed, for example, due to separation. Whether permission is granted and the period of stay are determined through examination; review times and fees cannot be stated uniformly.
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
If I marry a permanent resident, will I also become a permanent resident?
No. The status of residence of Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident has a period of stay and is separate from the status of Permanent Resident. Marriage does not automatically change your status; you must submit an appropriate application based on your circumstances.
Supporting materials:[1]
Does this also cover a child of a permanent resident who was born overseas?
The children covered by this status are those born in Japan who have continued to reside in Japan thereafter. A child born overseas does not meet the same conditions, so check individually whether the child can be admitted under a different status.
Supporting materials:[1]
What should I do if I have just entered Japan and cannot obtain a resident tax certificate?
If tax certificates cannot explain how living expenses are covered, provide an explanation using documents such as a copy of a bank passbook showing savings or a certificate of expected employment or notice of a job offer from a company in Japan. Set out why the certificate is unavailable and who currently covers the expenses.
Supporting materials:[1]
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 Permanent Resident” / Documents to Submit by Application Type
- [2] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Application for Extension of Period of Stay
- [3] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Application for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence
- [4] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Notification Concerning a Spouse