How to Bring Your Family to Japan with a Dependent Visa?
Foreign nationals working or studying in Japan may be eligible to obtain a “Dependent” status of residence for their spouse or children living overseas, allowing them to come to Japan and live together as a family.
📌 A husband working in Japan under the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” status wishes to bring his wife from overseas.
📌 A foreign national working in Japan wishes to bring his or her child from overseas.
📌 An international student studying at a university in Japan wishes to bring his or her spouse or child to Japan.
These are typical cases in which a Dependent Visa may be available.
When bringing family members to Japan from overseas, the general procedure is to first apply in Japan for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
① Who Can Be Brought to Japan on a Dependent Visa?
As a general rule, the “Dependent” status of residence is available to a dependent spouse or child.
Eligible family members include:
✅ Wife or husband
✅ Biological children
On the other hand, the following family members are generally not eligible for a Dependent Visa:
❌ Parents
❌ Brothers and sisters
Although this status of residence is called “Dependent,” it does not allow you to bring every family member or relative to Japan. It is important to understand who is eligible before applying.
② Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) When Bringing Family Members from Overseas
When bringing family members living overseas to Japan, the procedure generally follows these steps:
Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in Japan
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The Certificate of Eligibility is issued
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Send the COE or forward the electronic COE to your family member overseas
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Apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy, consulate-general, or other competent diplomatic mission
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Visa is issued
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Enter Japan
A Certificate of Eligibility can also be issued electronically. If you receive an electronic COE by email, you can forward it to your family member overseas for use when applying for a visa and completing the necessary procedures to enter Japan.
③ Documents Proving the Family Relationship Are Required
When applying for a Dependent Visa, you must provide documents proving the family relationship between the applicant and the sponsor living in Japan.
When bringing a spouse to Japan, documents may include:
📄 Marriage Certificate
📄 Other official documents proving the marital relationship
When bringing a child to Japan, documents may include:
📄 Birth Certificate
📄 Other official documents proving the parent-child relationship
If any documents are written in a foreign language, a Japanese translation must be attached to the application.
④ Required Documents
The main documents generally required when bringing family members to Japan from overseas include:
📄 Application for Certificate of Eligibility
📄 Photograph of the applicant
📄 Copy of the applicant’s passport
📄 Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificate, or other documents proving the family relationship
📄 Copy of the residence card of the sponsor living in Japan
📄 Copy of the sponsor’s passport
📄 Certificate of Employment or other documents proving the sponsor’s occupation
📄 Certificate of Residence Taxation and Certificate of Tax Payment
Additional documents may be required depending on the circumstances of the applicant and the sponsor.
⑤ Dependent Visa Holders Are Generally Not Permitted to Work
The “Dependent” status of residence is intended for family members who live in Japan while being financially supported by their spouse or parent.
Therefore, holders of a Dependent Visa are generally not permitted to work freely based solely on this status of residence.
However, by obtaining Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted, they may generally engage in part-time work for up to 28 hours per week.
If you wish to work full-time in Japan, you may need to change to a work-authorized status of residence, such as “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services,” depending on the nature of the job, your educational background, work experience, and other relevant circumstances.
⑥ Process for Bringing Your Family to Japan from Overseas
STEP 1
Confirm the sponsor’s status of residence in Japan
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STEP 2
Prepare documents such as a Marriage Certificate or Birth Certificate
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STEP 3
Prepare documents relating to the sponsor’s income and employment
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STEP 4
Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at the Immigration Services Bureau
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STEP 5
Receive the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
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STEP 6
The family member overseas applies for a visa at the Japanese embassy, consulate-general, or other competent diplomatic mission
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STEP 7
After the visa is issued, enter Japan
For Assistance with Bringing Your Family to Japan, Contact Administrative Scrivener Taro Fujita Office
🌍 Administrative Scrivener Taro Fujita Office provides support for “Dependent” visa applications to bring your spouse or children from overseas to Japan.
“I want to bring my wife or husband from overseas to Japan.”
“I want to live together with my children in Japan.”
“I recently arrived in Japan and cannot obtain a Certificate of Residence Taxation yet.”
“I am not sure which documents I need, such as a Marriage Certificate or Birth Certificate.”
Please feel free to contact us if you have any of these concerns.
✅ Confirm whether your family member is eligible for a Dependent Visa
✅ Check which documents need to be obtained overseas
✅ Assist with preparing and collecting the required documents
✅ Review Japanese translations and other application documents
✅ Support your application for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
✅ Online applications handled by a certified Administrative Scrivener
💼 We support you from the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application process until you can begin living together with your family in Japan.
