Dependent Visa in Japan 2026: Requirements, Work Rules & Fees

A dependent visa in Japan is the family stay (家族滞在, kazoku taizai) status of residence. It lets the legally married spouse and children of foreign nationals in Japan live with them. The Immigration Services Agency grants it for up to 5 years, tied to the sponsor's status.

Parents, siblings and unmarried partners do not qualify. A dependent spouse can take a part time job of up to 28 hours a week with permission. From 1 October 2026, extension and change of status fees range from ¥10,000 to ¥75,000.

This guide explains eligibility, required documents and the full dependent visa process. It also covers work rules, the new 2026 fees and what happens when your family situation changes.

Dependent Visa in Japan: Quick Overview

Visa name	Dependent visa, officially the family stay (家族滞在, kazoku taizai) status of residence
Who qualifies	A legally married spouse and children, including legally adopted children
Who does not qualify	Parents, siblings, common-law partners and same-sex partners
Who can sponsor	Most work visa holders (except Specified Skilled Worker (i)), plus Highly Skilled Professional, Business Manager, Cultural Activities, university-level Student and Specified Skilled Worker (ii) holders
Who cannot sponsor	Specified Skilled Worker (i), Technical Intern Training and temporary visitor status holders
Period of stay	A specific period set by immigration, up to 5 years
Work permission	Part time job up to 28 hours a week with 資格外活動許可 (shikakugai katsudo kyoka). No full-time work.
Processing time	Certificate of eligibility: 1 to 3 months. Embassy visa: about 5 to 10 business days.
Where to apply	The sponsor files the CoE application in Japan. The dependent applies at a Japanese embassy in their home country.
Fees from 1 October 2026	CoE: free. Extension or change of status: ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 at the counter, ¥10,000 to ¥65,000 online.
Extension	Apply from 3 months prior to the expiration date on the residence card
Governing body	Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁, Shutsunyukoku Zairyu Kanri-cho)

Who is eligible for a dependent visa in Japan?

Inviting family members to Japan depends on two things. The sponsor must hold a qualifying status of residence. The applicant must be the sponsor's legal spouse or child.

Who can sponsor family members

The Immigration Services Agency lists these sponsor statuses:

• Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, the most common work visa

• Highly Skilled Professional, Business Manager and Intra-company Transferee

• Professor, Instructor, Researcher, Medical, Nursing Care and Legal/Accounting Services

• Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist, Entertainer and Skilled Labor

• Specified Skilled Worker (ii) and Cultural Activities

• Student, for those enrolled at a university or graduate school

Specified Skilled Worker (i) holders cannot bring family members. Neither can technical intern trainees or anyone on temporary visitor status.

Which family member can apply

Family member	Eligible?	Notes
Legally married spouse	Yes	You need a marriage certificate. Common-law partners do not qualify.
Biological or legally adopted child	Yes	Children aged 18 and over face closer checks.
Same-sex spouse	No	Some couples married abroad receive designated activities status instead.
Parents	No	Only Highly Skilled Professional holders have a narrow exception.
Siblings and other relatives	No	They can visit on a temporary visitor visa only.

Requirements for dependent visa in Japan

Immigration checks two things. The family relationship must be legal and genuine. The sponsor must be able to provide financial support.

Proof of family relationship

You prove the relationship with official documents, or documents equivalent to them from your home country. Common examples:

• A marriage certificate for a dependent spouse

• A birth certificate for each child, including legally adopted children

• A family register (koseki tohon) if the marriage or birth is registered in Japan

Attach a Japanese translation to every document in a foreign language. Keep the original certificate ready in case the immigration office asks for it.

Financial support

Japan sets no official minimum income. Instead, immigration weighs your income, the cost of living, rent and family size.

Most sponsors submit a certificate of employment, a residence tax certificate and a tax payment certificate. Student sponsors often add a bank statement or a scholarship certificate.

Household	Typical annual income that passes review
Sponsor + 1 dependent	About ¥2.5M to ¥3M or more
Sponsor + spouse + 1 child	About ¥3M to ¥3.5M or more
Sponsor + spouse + 2 or more children	About ¥3.5M or more

These figures are practitioner guidelines, not official limits.

Children aged 18 and over

Japan lowered the age of adulthood from 20 to 18 on 1 April 2022. Immigration may suspect an adult child of coming to earn money rather than to receive support.

Strengthen the application with proof of school enrollment and proof of no independent income. Add a short letter explaining why the child still needs your support.

Children who finish high school in Japan

A child on family stay who graduates from a Japanese high school may get a full work status. ISA allows a change to Long-Term Resident or Designated Activities for those who qualify. Both need a job offer for more than 28 hours a week (ISA).

How to apply for a dependent visa in Japan

The visa application process has two stages. The sponsor obtains a certificate of eligibility in Japan. The dependent then applies for the visa abroad.

Step 1: Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility

COE application form for dependent visa in Japan

A Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) confirms that your family member meets the family stay conditions. The sponsor, the employer or an authorized agent files the CoE application. Processing takes 1 to 3 months, and the application is free.

You can apply for a CoE online or at your regional immigration bureau. Prepare the following documents:

• Application for Certificate of Eligibility

• One photo of the applicant, 4 cm x 3 cm, plain background, taken within 3 months

• A return envelope with your address and postage stamps, for paper applications

• Proof of relationship: marriage certificate, birth certificate or family register

• The sponsor's residence card or passport

• Proof of income: certificate of employment, residence tax certificate and tax payment certificate

Immigration may ask for additional documents depending on your status. Add a Japanese translation to every foreign-language document.

The CoE stays valid for 3 months from issue. Forward the electronic CoE by email, or mail the original CoE to your family member. If you apply at the counter, request email delivery with the ISA request form.

Step 2: Apply at a Japanese embassy

Your family member submits the visa application at a Japanese embassy or consulate in their home country. They bring:

• The visa application form (PDF)

• A valid passport

• One photo taken within 6 months

• The original CoE or the electronic CoE

The embassy usually issues the visa within 5 to 10 business days. Your family member must enter Japan within 3 months of the CoE issue date. Time at the embassy counts toward those 3 months. Major airports issue the residence card on arrival.

Applying without a certificate of eligibility

You can apply at the embassy without a CoE. This route takes longer and carries a higher risk of refusal. The embassy usually asks for:

• A visa application form, passport and photo

• Proof of the sponsor's address in Japan, such as a juminhyo

• A family register (koseki tohon) or marriage certificate

• A Letter of Guarantee

• Documents that certify the sponsor's finances

Check with your Japanese embassy for the specific documents it requires.

Required documents at a glance

This table shows which application documents each stage needs.

Document	CoE application	Embassy visa	Extension	Change of status	Who prepares it
Application form for that procedure	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Dependent (sponsor fills the CoE form)
Photo, 4 cm x 3 cm, plain background	Within 3 months	Within 6 months	Within 3 months	Within 3 months	Dependent
Passport	Copy	Original	Original	Original	Dependent
Residence card	Sponsor's copy	No	Both	Both	Both
Marriage certificate, birth certificate or family register, with Japanese translation	Yes	Sometimes	Sometimes	Yes	Sponsor
Certificate of employment	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Sponsor's employer
Residence tax certificate and tax payment certificate	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Sponsor (city office)
Juminhyo showing all household members	Sometimes	No	Yes	Yes	Sponsor (city office)
Original CoE	No	Yes	No	No	Sponsor sends it
Bank statement or scholarship certificate	Student sponsors	No	Student sponsors	Student sponsors	Sponsor

Certificates issued in Japan must be dated within 3 months prior to the application date.

Which application form do I need?

• Certificate of eligibility: Application for Certificate of Eligibility, filed by the sponsor in Japan

• Embassy visa: visa application form, filed by the dependent abroad

• Extension: Application for Extension of Period of Stay

• Part-time work: permission to engage in other activities

• Change of status: Application for Change of Status of Residence, from the ISA site

Can I get a work permit for a dependent visa in Japan?

Yes, but only for part-time work. Family stay does not allow any work by default. You first need Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted (資格外活動許可, shikakugai katsudo kyoka).

What the permission allows

• Up to 28 hours of work per week, counted across all jobs

• Any lawful part time job, except adult entertainment businesses (風俗営業, fuzoku eigyo)

• Work to earn money for the household while you keep your residence status

How to apply for permission

• Apply at your regional immigration bureau after you enter Japan.

• You can also file it together with an extension or change of status application.

• Use the form on the ISA family stay work permission page, available as PDF or Excel.

• Bring your passport and residence card. The application is free.

ISA also grants individual permission for specific work outside the 28-hour rule. Apply for it separately if you need it.

Immigration marks the permission on the back of your residence card. Do not start work until you see it there.

What happens if you work more than 28 hours

Working beyond 28 hours counts as illegal work. It can lead to refusal at renewal or even deportation. It can also hurt the sponsor's immigration record, so track hours across every job.

Want to work full-time?

The 28-hour cap cannot be raised. To work full-time, you must change to a work status of residence. See the section on converting to a work visa below.

How long is a dependent visa in Japan? 

Immigration grants family stay for a specific period of up to 5 years. The period usually matches or falls short of the sponsor's own period of stay.

Your status ends in three common cases:

• The sponsor's visa expires and is not renewed.

• The sponsor leaves Japan permanently.

• You divorce, or the qualifying relationship ends.

How to renew a dependent visa

• Apply for an extension from 3 months prior to the expiration date on your residence card. This applies if your period of stay is 6 months or more.

• File at your regional immigration bureau or through the online residence application system.

• Renew at the same time as the sponsor where possible. Immigration reviews the sponsor's current income and tax payment record.

If you applied before expiry and immigration has not decided yet, you may stay while you wait.

👉 Read also: Visa Renewal Japan 2026: Fees, New October Fee Table & How to Apply

Dependent visa fees in 2026

Japan raised residence fees on 1 October 2026. Extensions and changes of status now cost more for longer periods of stay. The CoE application stays free.

Extension and change of status fees from 1 October 2026

Period of stay granted	At the counter	Online
Up to 3 months	¥10,000	¥10,000
Over 3 months, up to 6 months	¥18,000	¥15,000
Over 6 months, under 1 year	¥25,000	¥21,000
Exactly 1 year	¥33,000	¥27,000
Over 1 year, under 3 years	¥48,000	¥42,000
3 years to under 5 years	¥64,000	¥56,000
5 years	¥75,000	¥65,000

Before October 1, every extension or change cost a flat ¥6,000, or ¥5,500 online. Immigration charges the old fee if it accepted your application by September 30, 2026.

Source: Immigration Services Agency.

How to pay

• At the counter: buy revenue stamps (収入印紙, shunyu inshi) for the exact fee. Check the period on your notification postcard first.

• Online: pay after approval at a convenience store, an ATM via Pay-easy or by internet banking. ISA adds a ¥330 or ¥550 settlement fee. Credit cards and QR payments are not accepted.

• Pay on time: pay by the day before you collect your new residence card.

• Avoid scams: payment emails come only from @service-dgft.com and @veritrans.jp. Ignore payment requests from any other address.

Other costs in the visa application process

• CoE application: free, apart from postage

• Embassy visa fee: set by nationality, and some nationalities pay nothing

• Translations: a Japanese translation for each foreign-language document

How to convert a dependent visa to a work visa in Japan?

First, secure a full-time job offer that matches your degree or work experience. Then apply for a change of status of residence. You do not need a new certificate of eligibility for this.

Who files the application

Your new employer can file it through an authorized staff member or agent. Otherwise, you submit it yourself at the immigration bureau.

Required documents

• Application for Change of Status of Residence

• Valid passport and residence card

• One photo, 4 cm x 3 cm, taken within 3 months

• Employment contract showing your position, salary and contract period

• Degree certificate and any professional certificates

• Employer documents: company registry certificate, withholding tax report and recent financial statements

Your target work visa may need other documents. Check the immigration services agency checklist for that status.

2026 rules to check before you apply

• JLPT N2: since 15 April 2026, some Engineer/Humanities applicants must prove JLPT N2 (CEFR B2). It applies when the job relies on Japanese communication.

• Fee: a change of status now costs ¥10,000 to ¥75,000, based on the period granted.

• Work limits: keep within 28 hours a week until immigration approves the new status.

Changing to family stay from inside Japan

Your family member may already live in Japan on another long-term status, such as a student visa. They can apply for a change of status to family stay without leaving Japan. No CoE is needed.

A temporary visitor usually cannot switch this way. Immigration generally asks them to return to their home country and enter Japan again with a CoE.

Children born in Japan

A child born in Japan to two foreign parents does not receive Japanese nationality. The child needs their own status of residence, usually family stay.

Step	What to do	Deadline	Where
1	Submit the birth registration (出生届, shussho todoke)	Within 14 days of birth	City or ward office
2	Apply for a status of residence for the child	Within 30 days of birth	Regional immigration bureau
3	Register the birth with your home country	As early as possible	Your country's embassy
4	Get the child's passport	Before travel	Your country's embassy

The status application is free. You do not need it if the child leaves Japan within 60 days of birth.

What happens when the sponsor's situation changes

The dependent visa depends on the sponsor's status. Any change for the sponsor affects every family member on family stay.

Sponsor's change	Effect on the dependent	What to do
Changes employer, same visa type	Status continues	Sponsor notifies immigration within 14 days
Loses their job	Status at risk if the gap runs long	Find qualifying work quickly and keep records
Divorce or death of the sponsor	Status loses its basis	Dependent spouse notifies immigration within 14 days and seeks a new status
Becomes a permanent resident	Spouse can switch to Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident	Apply for a change of status; that status has no work limits
Leaves Japan permanently	Status ends	Dependent leaves or changes to an independent status

Dependent visa vs spouse visa

Many people confuse these two statuses. The sponsor's own status decides which one applies.

	Dependent visa (family stay)	Spouse visa
Sponsor	A foreign national on a work or student visa	A Japanese national or permanent resident
MOFA category	General visa	Specified visa
Work rights	Part time job up to 28 hours, with permission	No work limits
Path to permanent residence	Through your own status later	Shorter residence requirement

Frequently asked questions 

How long does it take to get a dependent visa for Japan?

Most families finish the dependent visa process in 2 to 4 months. The certificate of eligibility takes 1 to 3 months at the immigration bureau. The Japanese embassy then issues the visa in about 5 to 10 business days. Processing times vary by immigration office and season.

How much does a dependent visa cost in 2026?

The CoE application is free, and embassy visa fees depend on nationality. Renewals and changes of status cost more from October 1, 2026. A 1-year grant costs ¥33,000 at the counter or ¥27,000 online. A 3-year grant costs ¥64,000, or ¥56,000 online.

What are the financial requirements for a dependent visa in Japan?

Japan publishes no minimum income for a dependent visa. Immigration checks whether the sponsor can provide financial support for the whole family. Practitioners suggest about ¥2.5M to ¥3M a year for one dependent. A residence tax certificate, tax payment certificate and certificate of employment prove your income.

Can a dependent visa holder work in Japan?

Yes, but only part-time and only with permission. The dependent must obtain 資格外活動許可 (shikakugai katsudo kyoka) from the immigration bureau. This permission allows a part time job of up to 28 hours a week. Full-time work requires a change to a work status of residence.

Can my unmarried partner get a dependent visa in Japan?

No. Family stay only covers a legally married spouse and children. Common-law partners and fiancés do not qualify, even if you have children together. Same-sex spouses married abroad may receive designated activities status instead.

Can children over 18 get a dependent visa in Japan?

Yes, but immigration reviews them more closely. Japan's age of adulthood has been 18 since April 2022. Officers check that an adult child depends on the parents and will not work full-time. Proof of school enrollment and a letter of explanation help.

Can I bring my parents to Japan on a dependent visa?

No. The dependent visa covers only a spouse and children. Highly Skilled Professional holders may bring one parent on designated activities status to help raise a child under 7. Other parents can visit on a temporary visitor visa for up to 90 days, depending on nationality.

When should I renew a dependent visa in Japan?

Apply from 3 months prior to the expiration date on the residence card if your stay is 6 months or more. Renew at the same time as the sponsor where possible. You can apply at the immigration office or online with a My Number Card. Fees from October 1, 2026 depend on the period granted.

What happens to a dependent visa if the sponsor leaves Japan?

The dependent visa ends when the sponsor permanently leaves Japan. It also ends after a divorce or if the sponsor loses their status. A dependent spouse must notify immigration within 14 days of a divorce. They may then apply for an independent status, such as a work visa.

Do I need to translate documents for a dependent visa application?

Yes. Every document in a foreign language needs a Japanese translation. This covers marriage certificates, birth certificates and family register records issued abroad. Submit the translation together with the original document.

In closing

The dependent visa process starts in Japan with a certificate of eligibility. Your family member then applies at a Japanese embassy and enters Japan within 3 months of the CoE issue date.

Plan around the new 2026 fees and the 3-month renewal window. Keep every document current, and your family can stay in Japan together.