Marriage Visa (Spouse Visa)

Generally, it is called “foreigner’s visa”, but it is originally “status of residence”. However, for the sake of clarity, we will use the term “foreigner’s visa” here.

The Japanese law (Immigration and Refugee Recognition Act) stipulates 28 different types of visas. And every foreigner living in Japan has one type of visa that is appropriate for their activities.

For example, if you are married to a Japanese person, there is a “marriage visa” or a “spouse visa”, if you are a working person, there is a “working visa” and if you are a permanent resident, there is a “permanent resident visa”.

In this section, we explain “Marriage visa (Spouse visa)”

Benefits of a marriage visa

Work visas are usually limited to the work you can do depending on the type of visa.

The applicant’s educational background and experience will also be examined, so not every job will do.

However, there are no work restrictions on the marriage visa.

You can work as a part-time , or you can start your own business.

There are also preferential treatment of the requirements for becoming a permanent resident.

Usually, you need to be in Japan for at least 10 years continuously.

If you have a marriage visa, you must have been married with substance for at least three years and continue to live in Japan for at least one year.

There are also other requirements such as household income, tax and pension payment status, etc.

Requirements for a marriage visa (for a foreigner married to a Japanese national)

A foreigner who marries a Japanese national is granted the status of residence as a “Spouse of a Japanese national”.

The requirements for a “Spouse of a Japanese national” are as follows

• A legally recognized marriage has been consummated in both countries.
• True marriage.
• Economic stability.

What is a legally recognized form of marriage?

Both Japan and your spouse’s home country must have been legally notified of the marriage and the marriage must be accepted.

Therefore, married couples who are de facto married cannot apply for a marriage visa.

The procedure for marriage in Japan is to submit a marriage registration at a city or ward office.

This procedure also requires a certificate of capacity to marry for the foreign spouse.

The foreign spouse must obtain this certificate before filing.

Depending on the municipality, other documents may be required, so please check the required documents in advance.

The procedure in a spouse’s home country is different in each country.

In many cases, you will be required to provide documents such as a certificate of fitness to marry a Japanese national.

Inquire about the necessary documents at the embassy in Japan in advance.

What is a true marriage?

The number of applications through sham marriages for work purposes is very high, because the marriage visa has no requirements such as education or work experience, and the marriage visa has no restrictions on work.

You must NOT apply for a sham marriage.

If the marriage is the result of two people loving each other, there is nothing wrong with that.

When you apply Marriage visa, you must submit a questionnaire that you need to write about your history.

You should explain how you met and married in this questionnaire.

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of cases where people meet through social networking service and get married.

This does not mean that a marriage triggered by social networking service is bad, but it is necessary to explain more clearly how the relationship has been going on.

If there is a large age gap or if the relationship period is short, explain more politely that the two of you really do love each other and get married.

economic stability

As a married couple living in Japan, they need to be able to live without financial problems.

If you are working on a permanent basis and have a certain income, you don’t have to worry too much about it.

However, if you are self-employed, you need to be careful.

Proof of income in Japan is provided by a tax payment certificate.

If you are filing a tax return with a low income as a tax saving measure, you may not be able to prove that you are financially stable because your income is low on paper.