Reviewed by the XROSS HOUSE team — a Tokyo-based operator of share houses and furnished apartments across 11 prefectures in Japan, with more than 50,000 residents housed to date.
- Married to a Japanese national? You apply for "Spouse or Child of Japanese National", granted for up to 5 years.
- Married to a foreign resident who works or studies in Japan? The status is usually "Dependent".
- Both usually start with a Certificate of Eligibility, then a visa at a Japanese embassy.
- Spouse visa holders can take any job. Dependents need permission, up to 28 hours a week.
- Some XROSS HOUSE furnished apartments accept two residents.
Moving to Japan as a couple? Ask us about housing
Spouse visa or Dependent visa: which one applies to you?
"Japan spouse visa" is the everyday name, but Japan has more than one status for partners. Which one you need depends on who your spouse is.
| Your spouse is | Status of residence | Period of stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Japanese national | Spouse or Child of Japanese National | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 6 months | No limit on the type of work |
| A permanent resident of Japan | Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident | Set by the authorities (see the MOFA page) | No limit on the type of work |
| A foreign national working or studying in Japan | Dependent | Set case by case, up to 5 years | Permission needed. Comprehensive permission: up to 28 hours a week |
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Dependent, MOFA, Spouse of permanent resident (as of October 2026)
Some other statuses have their own family routes. For example, family members of Highly Skilled Professionals and of digital nomads apply under the rules for those statuses. This guide covers the two most common cases: spouses of Japanese nationals and Dependent visa holders.
Japan spouse visa: Spouse or Child of Japanese National
This status covers the husband or wife of a Japanese national. It also covers biological children and specially adopted children of Japanese nationals. The authorities grant a period of 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 6 months.
Japan spouse visa requirements and documents
To enter Japan on this status for the first time, you apply for a Certificate of Eligibility. The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) lists these documents for a spouse:
- The COE application form and one photo that meets the size rules
- The Japanese spouse's family register (the full certificate), showing the marriage
- A marriage certificate issued by an authority in your own country
- Proof that you can cover your living costs in Japan. Usually this is the supporting person's resident tax certificate and tax payment certificate for the latest year. If these are not available, for example soon after arriving in Japan, bank passbook copies or a job offer letter from a Japanese company can be used
- A letter of guarantee signed by the Japanese spouse living in Japan
- A copy of the Japanese spouse's certificate of residence listing everyone in the household
- A questionnaire about your relationship. The ISA provides it in English and several other languages
Certificates issued in Japan must be dated within 3 months. Documents in a foreign language need a Japanese translation. The ISA notes that missing documents can delay the review a lot or lead to an unfavorable decision, and it may ask for more papers during the review.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Spouse or Child of Japanese National (spouse applicants) (as of October 2026)
The list assumes your Japanese spouse lives in Japan. If you both live abroad now, ask the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country before you start. Embassies explain how to apply when a COE is hard to obtain.
Source: Consulate-General of Japan in Edinburgh, Spouse/Child of Japanese National Visa (as of October 2026)
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Japan dependent visa for a spouse or child
The Dependent status is for the spouse or child who is supported by a foreign national living in Japan. The supporting person must hold one of the statuses listed by law, such as:
- Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Intra-company Transferee or Highly Skilled Professional
- Business Manager, Professor, Researcher, Instructor, Skilled Labor or Nursing Care
- Specified Skilled Worker (ii). Specified Skilled Worker (i) is not on the list
- Student or Cultural Activities
The period of stay is set for each person by the Minister of Justice, up to 5 years.
Documents for a Dependent visa COE
- The COE application form, one photo and a return envelope with postage
- A document proving your relationship, such as a marriage certificate or a birth certificate
- A copy of the supporting person's residence card or passport
- Proof of the supporting person's job and income, such as an employment certificate and the resident tax certificates
- If the supporting person is not working, for example a student, a bank balance certificate in their name or a scholarship certificate
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Dependent (as of October 2026)
If your partner is still deciding which visa to come on, see our guides to the Japan work visa and the Japan student visa.
Planning your move? We can help with your first home
How to apply: COE, visa and arrival
The steps are similar for both statuses.
- The COE application is filed in Japan. Usually your spouse or another permitted person files it at the regional immigration bureau. The application form asks for your planned address in Japan.
- The COE is issued. It certifies that you meet the conditions for landing in Japan.
- You apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate with your passport, the visa application form, a photo and the COE. The COE can be shown electronically or as a printed copy.
- You enter Japan and receive a residence card at the airport or later by mail, depending on the port.
- You register your address at the city or ward office within 14 days of settling in.
A COE does not guarantee that the visa will be issued. If you are already in Japan on another status, you apply for a change of status instead.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Spouse or child of Japanese national (as of October 2026)
We cannot judge whether a particular person qualifies, and we do not handle visa applications. The immigration authorities decide each case. For complex cases, you can consult the regional immigration bureau or a licensed administrative scrivener (immigration specialist).
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Can you work on a spouse visa or a Dependent visa?
Spouse visa: no limit on the type of work
Under the Immigration Control Act, holders of Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident and Long-Term Resident can work in any type of job. You can work full time, part time or change jobs freely.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Categories of foreign workers in Japan (as of October 2026)
Dependent visa: permission first
On a Dependent visa, you need permission to engage in activity outside your status before you start paid work. Comprehensive permission covers work of up to 28 hours a week. Work beyond that range needs individual permission for the specific job. The application itself is free.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Permission for activity outside status for Dependent (as of October 2026)
Planning a budget for two? Our cost of living in Japan guide breaks down monthly expenses, and our National Health Insurance guide explains coverage for family members.
After you arrive: renewals and the long term
Before your period of stay ends, you apply for an extension at the regional immigration bureau. Keep your address up to date, pay taxes and insurance on time, and keep copies of what you submit. These records matter at every renewal.
Spouses of Japanese nationals can later have a shorter path to permanent residency than the general 10-year rule. Our Japan permanent residency guide explains the current guideline. For general moving tips, see our guide to moving to Japan from the US. Readers from the Philippines and India may like our guides to jobs in Japan for Filipinos and Indians in Japan.
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Finding your first home in Japan as a couple
Many couples arrive with a few suitcases and a short timeline. Furnished housing on a flexible contract is a practical first step. It lets you register your address soon after arrival and decide on a long-term area later.
XROSS HOUSE offers two options:
- Furnished apartments: your own home with a private kitchen and bathroom. Furniture and appliances are already in the room, and you set up your own internet. Some rooms accept two residents. For two people, rent is ¥10,000 higher per month, and the initial fee is charged for one person. A support service fee of ¥1,500 a month is charged per resident.
- Share houses: a private room in a shared home. This is the lower-cost option for one person, and free shared Wi-Fi comes with it.
Start-up costs compared with a typical rental
| Item | Typical Japanese rental | XROSS HOUSE |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit and key money | Often around one month's rent each | No deposit. The only one-time payment at move-in is the initial fee below |
| Agency fee | Typically charged | No agency fee |
| Initial fee | Not applicable | Furnished apartment: ¥30,000 during the current campaign (normally ¥50,000). Share house: ¥30,000 |
| Furniture and appliances | Usually you buy your own | Included in furnished apartments |
| Move-out fee | Cleaning and repair costs vary | Furnished apartment: ¥55,000, charged for one person even when two live together. Share house: ¥16,500 |
In furnished apartments, you sign up for electricity, gas and water yourself. A free set-up service is available, or you can choose the all-in utilities plan at ¥15,000 a month, where XROSS HOUSE holds the contracts for you.
Individual contracts also involve a guarantor company, explained in the next section. Contracts are signed online, online viewings are available, and you can apply from abroad. The earliest move-in is 7 days after applying. See our fees page for current details.
Get an estimate for a home for two
Guarantor and guarantee company
- No personal joint guarantor is needed.
- Individual contracts generally require joining a rent guarantee company. An initial guarantee fee and a monthly guarantee fee are charged separately, on top of the initial fee. For two residents in one room, the guarantee fees are charged for one person. The amounts are given in your estimate.
- If you pay everything from the initial costs through to the move-out costs in full at move-in, you do not need to join a guarantee company.
Ask for a written estimate so you can see the total for your stay. It lists every cost from move-in to move-out before you sign.
FAQ: Japan spouse visa and Dependent visa
What is the difference between a Japan spouse visa and a dependent visa?
The spouse visa (Spouse or Child of Japanese National) is for partners of Japanese nationals and does not limit the type of work. The Dependent visa is for partners and children supported by a foreign national who works or studies in Japan, and work needs permission. See the ISA Dependent page (as of October 2026).
How long is a Japan spouse visa valid?
The period of stay for Spouse or Child of Japanese National is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 6 months, decided by the authorities. You can apply for an extension before it ends (as of October 2026).
Is a "marriage visa" the same as a spouse visa in Japan?
Yes. "Marriage visa" is an informal name. If your spouse is Japanese, the official status is Spouse or Child of Japanese National. If your spouse is a foreign resident, it is usually Dependent, or Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident if your spouse is a permanent resident.
Can I work in Japan on a dependent visa?
Yes, with permission. Comprehensive permission for activity outside your status allows work of up to 28 hours a week. Work beyond that needs individual permission. The application is free. See the ISA page (as of October 2026).
Can a Specified Skilled Worker bring a spouse to Japan?
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is one of the statuses whose family can apply for Dependent. Specified Skilled Worker (i) is not on that list. Check the ISA Dependent page for the current list (as of October 2026).
Do I need a Certificate of Eligibility for a spouse visa?
In most cases, yes. The COE is applied for in Japan, and you then apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate. A COE does not guarantee the visa. If a COE is hard to obtain, ask the embassy or consulate in your country first (as of October 2026).
Can two people live in one XROSS HOUSE apartment?
Some furnished apartments accept two residents. Rent is ¥10,000 higher per month for two, and the initial fee and guarantee fees are charged for one person. No personal guarantor is needed. Individual contracts generally require a guarantee company, unless you pay everything from the initial costs to the move-out costs in full at move-in. More answers are on our FAQ page.
Talk to our English-speaking team about your home
The right visa depends on who your spouse is, and every application starts with the official document list, so read the ISA pages first. Once your plans are set, the next step is a place to live together. If you are looking for a furnished home for two in Japan, XROSS HOUSE can help you find one. Feel free to contact us.
