• JoynOne

Dependent / Spouse Visa Application Support

$300

The Dependent / Spouse route is for people who want to live in Japan together with their partner or family member who already has (or will have) a long-term status in Japan.
If your partner is coming on a work visa, student visa, highly skilled, business manager, or is Japanese/permanent resident, this is usually the path that lets you and your children join them.

Am I eligible?

I am eligible!

Get Your Visa Support

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If your visa is officially refused even after we have checked and approved your documents, we will refund 100% of our Visa Application Support fee (Check our Refund Policy).

Table of Contents

Dependent / Spouse Visa Application Support

1. What the Dependent/Spouse Visa is and Who It’s For

The Dependent/Spouse Visa is a family-based residence status that lets you:

  • Live in Japan together with your partner or parent who already has (or will have) a long-term status in Japan
  • Share daily life in the same home instead of doing long-distance from another country
  • Access Japan’s systems as a family (health insurance, schools for children, everyday life in Japan)

2. What You Get (Dependent / Spouse Visa Application Support)

This service is for people who:

  • Have a partner or parent who already has (or is about to get) a long-term status in Japan
     or
  • Are Japanese / permanent residents who want to bring their foreign spouse or child to Japan

…and want help preparing a clean, convincing and well-organised family visa application.

What’s included:

Family status & route clarification

  • We help you understand which category applies to you in simple language, for example:
    • “Dependent” (家族滞在) – spouse/children of a foreign resident (engineer, student, etc.)
    • “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”

    • “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident”
  • We explain the basic differences (work rights, stability) and what is realistic in your case.

Personalised document checklist

  • A tailored list of what both sides need:
    • Sponsor in Japan (or soon to be in Japan)
    • Family member(s) applying as Dependent / Spouse
  • Typical items include:
    • Passports, photos
    • Marriage certificate / birth certificates
    • Proof of relationship (photos, messages, visit records, etc., especially for spouses)
    • Residence card or CoE of the sponsor in Japan
    • Certificate of residence (jūminhyō) for sponsor (if already in Japan)
    • Income / tax documents to prove financial support
    • Simple explanation letters where needed

Form & document guidance

  • We guide you through the relevant forms (for Certificate of Eligibility, change of status, or visa application at the embassy) and review your drafts to catch:
    • Missing information
    • Conflicting dates
    • Details that don’t match between documents

Relationship & support explanation letters

  • We help you structure short, clear letters that explain:
    • Your relationship story (for spouses)
    • Who will financially support whom
    • Where and how you plan to live together in Japan

File organisation & pre-check

  • We help you arrange everything in a logical order, so immigration or the embassy can quickly see:
    • The relationship is genuine
    • There is enough financial support
    • The story is consistent and believable

Submission & follow-up guidance

  • We explain the general flow for:
    • Applying for Certificate of Eligibility from outside Japan, or
    • Changing status inside Japan, and
    • Applying for the visa sticker at the embassy/consulate
  • If extra documents are requested, we help you understand the request and prepare a clear response.

Q&A helpdesk

  • You can message us with questions about requirements, documents, and next steps during the process.

Important:

  • We are not lawyers or gyoseishoshi.
  • We do not provide legal advice and we do not guarantee approval.

Final decisions are always made by Japanese immigration and the Japanese embassy/consulate.

3. How Long You Can Stay on a Dependent / Spouse Visa

It depends on the exact family status:

  • Dependent (家族滞在 – “Dependent” status)
    • For spouses/children of mid- to long-term foreign residents (work, student, etc.).
    • The period of stay is usually matched to the sponsor’s status (for example, 1, 3 or 5 years), and can be renewed as long as the sponsor remains eligible.
  • Spouse or Child of Japanese National / Permanent Resident
    • For the legally married spouse or child of a Japanese citizen or permanent resident.
    • Periods of stay are often 1, 3 or 5 years, renewable.
    • These categories are usually stronger and more flexible than “Dependent”.

In all cases, as long as the family relationship continues and financial support is stable, many people renew and stay long-term.

4. Main Perks of the Dependent / Spouse Route

The biggest benefit is simple:

You don’t have to live apart. You can build your life in Japan together.

Some key perks:

  • Live in Japan with your partner and/or children
     You can build daily life together instead of doing a long-distance relationship.
  • Access to Japanese schools & healthcare
     Children can attend local schools, and the family can join the Japanese health insurance system once registered.
  • Possibility to work (with conditions)
    • On Dependent status (家族滞在), you can usually apply for permission to work part-time (up to 28 hours per week) under “Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted”.

    • On Spouse of Japanese National / PR, you generally have full work rights similar to other work-eligible residents.
  • Path to long-term stay
     Staying with your family on a stable status may help towards permanent residency later (especially for spouses of Japanese/PR, or long-term stay with a stable sponsor).

Flexibility
 You can later change status (for example, Dependent → Student or Work) if your situation changes and you meet the requirements.

5. Criteria to Apply (High-Level Summary)

There are several “family-based” categories. Here’s a simple overview.

A. Dependent (家族滞在 – “Dependent”)

For spouse/child of a foreign resident in Japan.

Basic ideas:

  • The sponsor in Japan must hold a mid- to long-term status such as:
    • Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
    • Highly Skilled Professional
    • Business Manager
    • Student
    • Other work/long-term statuses
       (Not short-term visitor.)

  • The applicant is:
    • The legally married spouse, or
    • A child (in practice usually minor and financially dependent).
  • The sponsor must show:
    • Sufficient income / savings to support the family in Japan
    • Stable place to live (or a clear plan)
    • Evidence that the relationship is genuine (for spouses).

B. Spouse or Child of Japanese National

For the legally married spouse or child of a Japanese citizen.

Common expectations:

  • A valid, legally recognised marriage (with correct registration in both countries where needed).
  • Evidence the relationship is real and ongoing (photos, visits, messages, remittance history, etc.).
  • Sufficient financial support, either from the Japanese spouse or jointly.
  • Clean immigration and criminal background.

C. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident

Similar idea, but the sponsor is a foreign permanent resident in Japan rather than a Japanese citizen.

In all cases, immigration wants to see:

  • The relationship is genuine, not only for visa purposes.
  • The family can support themselves financially.
  • The applicant intends to live together with the sponsor in Japan.

We help you translate these requirements into a concrete document plan and realistic expectations.

6. Locations Available

The Dependent / Spouse statuses themselves do not restrict you to a single city.

  • You can live anywhere in Japan, as long as you:
    • Register your address at city hall, and
    • Update immigration if you move.

In practice:

  • You will normally live in the same city/area as your sponsor (partner/parent), since the idea is to live together as a family.

JoynOne / JoynTokyo’s strongest local support is currently in Tokyo, but the visa itself allows you to build your family life anywhere in Japan.

7. Typical Other Costs You Need to Plan For

Our Dependent / Spouse Visa Application Support fee only covers our support service. You should also plan for:

  • Immigration / embassy fees
    • Visa issuance fees at the Japanese embassy/consulate (varies by nationality)
    • Possible fees for Certificate of Eligibility shipping (courier)
  • Document costs
    • Official copies of marriage certificates / birth certificates
    • Legalisation / apostille
    • Translation into Japanese (if required)
    • Police certificates (if requested)
  • Flights & travel
    • Plane tickets for each family member
    • Local travel in Japan when you first arrive
  • Housing
    • Deposit, key money, and first month’s rent if moving into a new place
    • Initial furniture / setup
  • Daily life costs
    • Food, utilities, mobile plans, transport
    • School-related costs (supplies, uniforms, etc.) for children

We can help you create a simple budget plan so you don’t underestimate the cost of joining your family in Japan.

8. Procedure to Apply (With JoynOne Support)

Here’s how it typically works if you use JoynOne Dependent / Spouse Visa Application Support:

1. Initial check

  • You tell us your situation:
    • Who is already in (or going to) Japan
    • Their status (or planned status)
    • Your relationship and family members
    • We confirm which family category is most realistic (Dependent / Spouse of JP / Spouse of PR).

2. Purchase the support package

  • If the route looks realistic, you purchase the Dependent / Spouse Visa Application Support package so we can start working on your case.

3. Document checklist

  • We send a detailed checklist for both:
    • The sponsor in Japan (or soon to be in Japan)
    • The family member(s) applying

4. Prepare and upload your documents

  • You collect certificates, photos, proofs of relationship, income/tax, residence documents, etc.
  • You upload drafts of forms and letters for our review.

5. Review and refine your application file

  • We check your documents and forms for:
    • Missing items
    • Inconsistent dates
    • Weak or unclear explanations
    • You correct and re-upload until things look clear and consistent.

6. Submission to immigration / embassy

  • If applying from outside Japan:
    • Usually, the sponsor (or representative) applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) in Japan.
    • Once CoE is issued, the applicant goes to the Japanese embassy/consulate to get the visa sticker.
  • If already inside Japan:
  • You may apply for Change of Status or Extension at the local immigration bureau (depending on your case).

7. Follow-up

If immigration or the embassy asks for more documents or clarification, we help you respond in a simple, structured way.

9. Typical Timeline – From Application to Result

Every case is different, but here’s a rough idea:

  • 2–6 weeks: Preparation with JoynOne
    • You gather documents from both countries
    • Translate / legalise if needed
    • We review and refine your file
  • 1–3 months: Immigration processing in Japan
    • For applications involving a Certificate of Eligibility or change of status, immigration often takes several weeks to a few months, depending on season, region, and case complexity.
  • 1–2 weeks: Embassy stage (if outside Japan)
    • After CoE is issued, many embassies issue the visa within several days to a couple of weeks, depending on workload.

So from “We’re ready to start the family visa process” to “Visa issued”, a realistic planning window is:

Around 2–4+ months, depending on how quickly you prepare documents and how busy immigration/embassies are.

We help you plan backwards from your target arrival date and avoid unrealistic expectations.

10. After Your Visa Is Successfully Approved

Once your Dependent/Spouse Visa is approved, the next step is actually starting family life in Japan – finding a home, registering at city hall, joining insurance, setting up phones, maybe schools for kids, and figuring out daily life in a new country.

To make this much easier, we offer the JoynOne Relocation Support Value Package.

With this package, we help you and your family settle in smoothly so you don’t have to figure everything out alone:

  • Housing Support
    We help you find foreigner-friendly housing (especially in Tokyo), explain contracts, deposits and key money, and avoid common mistakes.
  • City Hall & Registration
    Guidance for resident registration, MyNumber, inkan/hanko basics, and the essential paperwork every new resident must complete.
  • Health Insurance & Basic Systems
    Support joining National Health Insurance (or the correct scheme for your situation) so your family is properly covered in Japan.
  • Phone, SIM / eSIM & Internet
    Help setting up mobile plans and WiFi so everyone can stay connected for school, work, and daily communication.
  • Banking & Everyday Payments
    Simple guidance on opening a bank account (where eligible), and how to pay rent, utilities, and other monthly bills.
  • Family & Daily Life Support
    Basic guidance on schools/daycare options, commuting, shopping, and local services, plus a friendly contact when you receive letters or forms you don’t understand.
  • JoynOne

Dependent / Spouse Visa Application Support

The Dependent / Spouse route is for people who want to live in Japan together with their partner or family member who already has (or will have) a long-term status in Japan.
If your partner is coming on a work visa, student visa, highly skilled, business manager, or is Japanese/permanent resident, this is usually the path that lets you and your children join them.

Am I eligible?

I am eligible!

Get Your Visa Support
Book Consultation Now