Dependent Visa in Japan: Bringing Your Spouse or Children to Japan
Dependent Visa in Japan: Bringing Your Spouse or Children to Japan
A Dependent Visa in Japan requires more than family relationship. Immigration also reviews the sponsor’s income, tax status, housing, and ability to support the family.
Foreign residents in Japan often ask whether they can bring their spouse or children to Japan, and how much income is required. This article explains the basic requirements for a Dependent Visa in Japan, including eligible family members, required documents, sponsor income, and permission for part-time work.
1. What is a Dependent Visa in Japan?
A Dependent Visa is a status of residence for the spouse or child of a foreign national who resides in Japan under certain eligible statuses of residence. It allows the spouse or child to live in Japan while being supported by the sponsor.
According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, the eligible sponsor statuses include, among others, Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist, Highly Skilled Professional, Business Manager, Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Researcher, Instructor, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Intra-company Transferee, Nursing Care, Entertainer, Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker (ii), Cultural Activities, and Student.
The official information is available on the Immigration Services Agency page: Status of Residence “Dependent”.
2. Which family members can be invited?
In general, a Dependent Visa is available for the sponsor’s legal spouse or child. The spouse must be legally married to the sponsor. A child may include a biological child and other legally recognized children depending on the case.
Important: Parents, siblings, fiancés, and unmarried partners are generally not eligible for a Dependent Visa. Even if the family relationship is genuine, the application may still be difficult if the sponsor’s status, income, housing, or living situation is not sufficient.
3. Sponsor’s status of residence
The sponsor’s status of residence in Japan is a key point. Common sponsor statuses in Dependent Visa consultations include the following:
This is one of the most common sponsor statuses, covering many office workers, interpreters, sales staff, trade professionals, and engineers.
For company owners or managers, immigration may review company operations, director remuneration, tax payments, and business stability.
For student sponsors, tuition, scholarship, remittance, savings, and living expenses are especially important.
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is listed as an eligible sponsor status for Dependent Visa purposes. Specified Skilled Worker (i) is generally treated differently.
4. Basic documents for a Dependent Visa application
When applying for a Certificate of Eligibility to bring a spouse or child from overseas, the following documents are commonly required:
- Application form for Certificate of Eligibility
- Applicant’s photo
- Return envelope
- Marriage certificate, birth certificate, or other document proving the family relationship
- Copy of the sponsor’s residence card or passport
- Certificate of employment, business license, or other document proving the sponsor’s occupation
- Resident tax certificate and tax payment certificate showing income and tax status
Depending on nationality, certificate format, family records, the sponsor’s work, and household situation, additional documents may be required.
5. How much income is required?
The Immigration Services Agency does not publish a fixed income threshold such as “annual income of JPY X is required.” Therefore, the case cannot be judged mechanically by income alone.
The important question is whether the sponsor can support himself or herself in Japan and also support the spouse or children continuously and realistically.
| Family structure | Practical reference level sometimes discussed | Key review points |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor + spouse | Annual income of around JPY 2.4 million to JPY 3 million may be discussed as one practical reference level. | Rent, job stability, tax status, savings, and total living expenses should be reviewed. |
| Sponsor + spouse + one child | Annual income of around JPY 3 million to JPY 3.6 million may be discussed as a practical reference level. | The child’s age, school or childcare plan, housing size, and family living costs are important. |
| Sponsor + spouse + two or more children | Higher income, savings, and stable living arrangements will usually need to be explained more carefully. | The application should explain the overall household living plan in a concrete way. |
Important: These figures are not official approval standards. In practice, immigration reviews income together with family size, place of residence, rent, employment contract, company stability, savings, tax payments, and past residence history.
6. Supporting documents when income is not high
A lower income does not always mean that an application is impossible. However, the applicant should explain specifically how the family will cover living expenses in Japan.
- Employment contract, payslips, and bonus statements
- Certificate of employment and documents showing company stability
- Bank balance certificate
- Lease agreement and documents showing rent
- Explanation of planned cohabitation, living expenses, and family structure
- For student sponsors: scholarship, remittance, tuition payment records, and savings
The key is not simply to submit many documents, but to show a consistent and realistic explanation that the sponsor can support the family in Japan.
7. Part-time work under a Dependent Visa
A Dependent Visa is primarily for daily activities while being supported by the sponsor. If the dependent family member wants to work part-time or engage in paid activities, permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted under the status of residence is generally required.
For a Dependent Visa holder, comprehensive permission generally covers activities within 28 hours per week. Please check the Immigration Services Agency page: Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted for “Dependent” Status.
Note: If the dependent family member earns too much income, it may raise questions about whether he or she is still being supported as a dependent. Activities related to adult entertainment businesses are also outside the scope of ordinary permission.
8. Points to note for renewal
For renewal, immigration may review whether the dependency relationship continues, whether the sponsor’s income and tax status are appropriate, and whether the family’s living situation is consistent.
If a person holding a Dependent Visa as a spouse divorces or is bereaved, a notification may be required within 14 days. Please see the Immigration Services Agency page: Notification regarding spouse.
9. What matters in a Dependent Visa application
A Dependent Visa should not be treated as automatic simply because the family relationship is genuine. The application should carefully explain the family relationship, sponsor’s status of residence, income, tax status, housing, and living plan.
Advance review is especially important when the sponsor’s income is not high, the sponsor recently changed jobs, the sponsor is a student, there are multiple children, or marriage and birth certificates contain inconsistencies.
Dependent Visa Support in Japan
Tommy’s Legal Service supports Certificate of Eligibility applications, Change of Status applications, and Extension of Period of Stay applications for Dependent Visa cases in Japan.
If you wish to bring your spouse or children to Japan, or if you are concerned about income or documents, please contact us before applying.
This article provides general information only. In actual immigration practice, the applicant, sponsor, employer or school, submitted documents, and current examination tendencies are reviewed together. Individual cases should be evaluated after checking the actual documents.
