Japan Spouse Visa

Last verified June 12, 2026 against official ISA/MOFA sources

The reference guide to the
Japan spouse visa

A plain-English walk-through of the spouse visa for applicants of any nationality. We check it against the official sources and update it when the rules change.

Start the guide See the timeline

COE processing (official average)

about 97 days (~3–4 months) [source]

Income requirement

No statutory threshold

Visa at embassy after COE

about 5 working days [source]

Three steps, one long wait

The process looks intimidating, but it comes down to three steps, and only the first one is hard.

  1. 01 about 97 days (~3–4 months)

    Get your Certificate of Eligibility

    Gathering the documents and proving your relationship is the real work, and most of it happens at this stage.

  2. 02 about 5 working days

    Apply for the visa

    With the COE in hand, the embassy or consulate application is straightforward.

  3. 03 3 months from date of issue

    Move to Japan

    Enter before the COE expires, receive your residence card, and finish a short list of first-month tasks.

One question before the guide

Where is your Japanese spouse right now?

Pick one, and the guide below reshapes itself to show only the steps, documents, and deadlines for your situation, hiding the rest.

No selection yet — the guide below currently shows everything, both tracks mixed together. Picking one removes what doesn't apply to you.

Breathe.

Focus your energy on the COE. Get that right, and you're golden.

The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is the real approval step, you will need to submit 7-10 documents for this. Japanese Immigration uses this stage to thoroughly review your relationship and eligibility. Once that's approved, everything else flows smoothly: the visa application, entry to Japan, and settling in are all procedural steps.

Section 1 of 6

Before You Begin

Things to keep in mind for your Japan spouse visa application to go smoothly.

Success starts with preparation. Taking time to understand the process and prepare properly can save you months of delays and reduce stress significantly.

Prepare Your Documents

Gather all required documents before starting your application

Prepare to Wait

Allow 3-6 months for the complete process and receive COE approval

Help is Here if You Need it

Check our list of English-speaking lawyers and registered scriveners for complex cases

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These are the issues immigration practitioners and applicants report most often as causes of delays and rejections. Five minutes here can save you months of waiting.

View All 6 Common Mistakes with Detailed Solutions
1

Submitting incomplete, outdated or incorrect documents

Risk: Application returned, rejected, or significantly delayed

Double-check every item against the checklist below and make sure certificates meet the specifications

2

Getting the guarantor (身元保証人) wrong

Risk: An incomplete application that immigration sends back

Every spouse COE application needs a signed letter of guarantee, normally signed by your Japanese spouse. See the COE form guide for how the role works.

3

Providing insufficient proof of relationship

Risk: Delay and questions about relationship authenticity

Include comprehensive documentation of your relationship history

4

Inadequate financial documentation

Risk: Concerns about ability to support yourself and your spouse

Provide complete tax records, employment certificates, and bank statements where possible

5

Language barriers and missing translations

Risk: Errors in application and delays

Every foreign-language document needs a Japanese translation with the translator's name attached. Anyone can translate it, including you; certified translation is not required

6

Letting documents go stale mid-application

Risk: Re-ordering certificates and restarting parts of the process

Official certificates are generally accepted only if issued within the last 3 months, so gather time-sensitive documents last, just before you submit

Section 2 of 6

COE Document Checklist

Your goal is to gather all required documents for your Certificate of Eligibility application, not the Spouse Visa itself. This is the foundation of your entire visa process. Once your COE is approved, applying for the Spouse Visa and entering Japan is fast and procedural.

You (the applicant)

  • Official COE form download (view)

    Video Walkthrough

  • Passport (copy of photo page and signature page)

  • 1 Passport-style photo (4cm x 3cm, taken within the last 6 months)

  • Relationship Explanation Letter: written by applicant

  • Relationship history / timeline document

  • Photos of you and your spouse together (2–3 minimum)

  • Copy of marriage certificate (if married outside Japan)

Japanese spouse

You (the applicant)

  • Official COE form download (view)

    Video Walkthrough

  • Passport (copy of photo page and signature page)

  • 1 Passport-style photo (4cm x 3cm, taken within the last 6 months)

  • Relationship Explanation Letter: written by applicant

  • Relationship history / timeline document

  • Photos of you and your spouse together (2–3 minimum)

  • Copy of marriage certificate (if married outside Japan)

Japanese spouse

  • Koseki Tohon (戸籍謄本): must show marriage registered (issued within last 3 months)

  • Tax Certificate (課税証明書) or Proof of Income

  • Japanese Spouse's Letter

  • Questionnaire form

    View Questionnaire (JP) View Questionnaire (EN)

What does this person do?

Two distinct roles, usually filled by the same person. As your representative (代理人), they file the application at the regional immigration office. By law this must be a relative of yours residing in Japan, and your spouse's parents qualify. As guarantor (身元保証人), they sign the letter of guarantee covering your living costs, repatriation travel, and compliance with Japanese law.

The guarantee is not a co-signed loan: the ISA's own Q&A says it carries no legal enforcement; it is a moral commitment. The guarantor provides their residence certificate (住民票) and proof of income or tax payment alongside the signed letter.

Required Documents from Guarantor in Japan

  • Letter of Guarantee (身元保証書): signed by Guarantor

    Letter of Guarantee (JP) Letter of Guarantee (EN)

  • Juminhyo (住民票): Residence Certificate of Guarantor (issued within last 3 months)

  • Certificate of Employment (在職証明書), if employed

  • Tax Certificate (課税証明書) or Proof of Income

Optional (Recommended for Complex Cases)

  • Short Guarantor Letter of Support: simple 1-page statement of support

Make it Easy for Your Guarantor

We've created a comprehensive checklist that you can send to your Guarantor. It includes all required documents, deadlines, and helpful examples.

Useful Links

Section 3 of 6

Submitting Your COE Application

After you submit your complete Certificate of Eligibility application, Japanese Immigration reviews your relationship and eligibility.

At this stage, you are submitting your complete Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application. This is the most important official step, when Japanese Immigration reviews your relationship, financial stability, and eligibility. Once the COE is approved, the remaining steps (Spouse Visa and entry to Japan) are simple and procedural.

This section will help you:

  • Understand the COE submission process
  • Check that your documents are ready
  • Know how and where to submit
  • Understand what happens after submission

Prepare Your Documents

  • All documents are current (issued within the required time window)

  • All documents match your checklist (Inside Japan or Outside Japan track)

  • You have included a strong Relationship Explanation Letter and photos

  • All translations are complete and signed (if applicable)

  • You have included your Guarantor documents (if required)

  • You have prepared the correct number of copies for submission

What happens after submission

  1. 1

    Immigration accepts your application

  2. 2

    Initial document review (1–2 weeks)

  3. 3

    Full application review (varies; official average ~97 days as of 2026)

  4. 4

    Notification of result (approved or request for additional documents)

  5. 5

    COE Issued: original document mailed to submitter

Applying from Outside Japan

Your Guarantor will submit your application on your behalf at their nearest Regional Immigration Office.

View Regional Immigration Offices Directory →

You are applying from within Japan

You will submit your full COE application directly to the local Immigration Office. Processing time varies slightly by office.

Section 4 of 6

Waiting for COE Approval

Your application is now under review. This process can take time, sometimes several months, and additional documents may be requested during this period.

More docs may be needed

Immigration requesting additional documents is very common.

Follow-up quickly

Respond quickly and accurately if additional documents are needed.

Next up: visa application

Your Spouse Visa Application is the next step in the process.

Examples of Additional Documents that may be Requested

It's very common to receive requests for additional documents during the COE review process. Respond promptly and provide exactly what is requested.

  • Updated bank statements
  • Additional photos proving the relationship
  • Proof of ongoing communication
  • Updated tax certificate(s)
  • Copies of boarding passes and/or previous visa stamps
  • Written clarification of your situation/plan (in complex cases)

Section 5 of 6

Visa Issuance & Entering Japan

With your approved COE, you can now apply for your Spouse Visa and prepare to enter Japan. This final step is straightforward and procedural.

What to Bring to Consulate

  • Approved COE (original document)

  • Passport (valid for at least 6 months)

  • Visa application form

    View example: Visa application form

  • 1 Passport-style photo

  • Marriage certificate (if applicable)

What to Bring to Immigration Office

  • Approved COE (original document)

  • Passport

  • Current residence card (if applicable)

  • Status change application form

    Download form from Immigration

  • 1 Passport-style photo

  • Marriage certificate

Useful Links

Section 6 of 6

First Month in Japan

Congratulations on arriving in Japan! These essential tasks will establish your residency and help you start your new life smoothly.

Setting up your new life

These tasks are legally required and time-sensitive. Completing them promptly establishes your residency and helps you start your new life in Japan smoothly.

First Month Checklist

Useful Links

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Stuck on something?

Start with the full list of spouse visa requirements or how to get married in Japan as a foreigner, check the FAQ for direct answers, see the COE application form explained line by line, the honest answer on the income requirement, what changing status inside Japan really involves, the printable documents checklist, what happens after the COE is issued, ask your question and get a researched reply, what to do if an application is refused, how to renew the visa, what every step costs, the spouse route to permanent residence, or, for complex cases like prior rejections or overstays, talk to an English-speaking immigration specialist.