I am Teruyoshi Yoneda, the representative of Yoneda Legal Servives and a certified immigration procedures specialist. My office specializes in international matters such as visa and naturalization applications. Based mainly in Hiroshima Prefecture, we support foreign nationals living in Japan with various immigration procedures, including work visas, spouse visas, permanent residency applications, and naturalization.In this article, I will explain the documents required when a foreign national who is married to a Japanese citizen applies for Spouse of Japanese Visa.
For those who have entered into an international marriage with a Japanese national and wish to live together in Japan, one of the visa options to consider is the Spouse Visa for the spouse of a Japanese national. To obtain this visa, applicants must demonstrate through the required documents that: ①The marriage is legally valid, ②The marriage is genuine and substantive ③There is a stable and sustainable financial foundation to support the marriage. This section explains the documents that are generally required for obtaining a Spouse Visa.
●Documents to be Prepared by the Applicant (the Foreign Spouse)
(1) Application for Certificate of Eligibility / Change of Status / Extension of Period of Stay
The designated form prescribed by the Immigration Services Agency must be used according to the type of application (Certificate of Eligibility, Change of Status, or Extension of Period of Stay).
(2) Photograph (4 cm × 3 cm)
Taken within three months prior to the application.
(3) Marriage certificate issued by the competent authority of the applicant’s home country
It can be obtained from the relevant government office in the applicant’s home country. This document is required to prove that the marriage is legally valid in both spouses’ respective home countries. (On the Japanese side, the fact of marriage is verified through the family register koseki tohon.)
(4) Passport
(5) Residence Card
●Documents to be Prepared by the Japanese Spouse
(1) Family Register (Koseki Tohon – Full Certificate of All Registered Matters) of the Japanese Spouse
A copy that includes the record of marriage with the applicant. If the marriage record is not yet entered in the family register, a Certificate of Acceptance of Marriage Notification (kon’in todoke ukeiri shōmeisho) must be submitted in addition to the family register.
(2) Copy of the Resident Record (Juminhyo) Listing All Members of the Japanese Spouse’s Household
The Individual Number (My Number) must be omitted, and no other information should be kept. Since living together is generally required for the Spouse Visa for a Japanese national, the resident record is used to verify that the couple resides at the same address.
(3) Letter of Guarantee
The designated form prescribed by the Immigration Services Agency must be used. The Letter of Guarantee referred to here is not interpreted as creating any civil liability under Japanese law (i.e., it does not impose a strong legal obligation such as that of a joint guarantor for debts). The guarantor’s responsibility is limited to covering the foreign spouse’s living expenses in Japan, travel expenses for returning home, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. Therefore, the scope of the guarantor’s obligations is considered to be quite limited. In principle, the Japanese spouse residing in Japan serves as the guarantor.
(4) Questionnaire
This is a very important point in the screening process.You will be required to answer questions regarding the applicant’s personal details, the circumstances leading to the marriage, the language used between the spouses, the names of the witnesses on the marriage notification, the date and place of the wedding ceremony, marital history, both spouses’ travel history to each other’s home countries, whether the applicant has any record of deportation prior to the marriage, and a list of relatives of both spouses. These questions are necessary to confirm the continuity and genuineness of the marriage.
(5) Documents Showing Evidence of Communication Between the Spouses
Snapshots showing both spouses clearly, as well as records of communication such as social media messages and call logs, are used to demonstrate the couple’s ongoing interaction. These materials are required to verify the continuity of the marriage and the authenticity of the relationship.
(6) Statement of Reasons (Optional)
If there are circumstances such as unstable financial conditions, a history of immigration violations by the applicant (such as deportation or a departure order), or a remarriage, it is preferable to provide additional explanations in a Statement of Reasons.
●Documents Proving Financial Stability
(1) Certificate of Municipal Taxation (or Non‑Taxation) and Tax Payment Certificate
These documents are required to demonstrate that the couple has sufficient financial means to maintain a stable married life in Japan and that tax obligations are being properly fulfilled. Documents must be prepared by the person responsible for covering the applicant’s (foreign spouse’s) living expenses in Japan. Although no official minimum income level has been published, an annual household income of around 3 million yen is generally considered a guideline, and the assessment is made based on the combined income of the couple. If the financial supporter has regular employment income, documents such as a Certificate of Employment issued by the employer should be submitted. In the case of self‑employment, copies of tax returns should be provided to demonstrate stable income.
(2) Documents Proving Assets(Optional)
If the financial supporter has assets, documents such as copies of bank passbooks or the property registry for any owned real estate should be submitted.
To obtain a spouse visa, it is necessary to demonstrate—through these documents—that the applicant meets the required conditions while addressing the key points of the screening process. Our office conducts thorough interviews to accurately understand the circumstances of the applicant and the couple, and we provide guidance on and prepare the necessary documents tailored to each individual case. If you are considering applying for a spouse visa following an international marriage in the Chugoku region (Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori) or elsewhere in Japan, we offer free consultations. Please feel free to contact us. We are committed to fully supporting you so that you can live together in Japan with peace of mind.
