The Immigration Bureau’s website provides a list of required documents for applying to change your status of residence to “Spouse or Child of Japanese National.”
However, simply submitting the listed documents is not always sufficient. What truly matters is how you convey—through these documents—that your marriage is genuine. Immigration officials assess the reality of your marital relationship based solely on the content of the documents.
In other words, they determine whether you are truly living as a married couple and whether the marriage is authentic—not fabricated—entirely through written materials.
If the number of documents is insufficient, or if the explanations within them lack clarity or detail, your application may be denied. Please also note that there is no opportunity to explain your situation verbally; everything must be communicated through the documents you submit.
The key is not only “what you submit,” but also “what you want to convey.” Preparing your application with this in mind is essential for a smooth and successful process.
1) Application Form for Extension of Period of Stay – 1 copy
The form is available for download on the Immigration Services Agency’s website.
2) Photograph — 1 copy
If the photograph does not meet the specified requirements, it will need to be retaken. The photo must meet the following criteria:
- Size: 4 cm (height) × 3 cm (width)
- Taken of the applicant themselves
- No hat or head covering
- Plain background (no patterns or scenery)
- Clear and in focus
- Taken within the past six months
- Applicant’s name written on the back
★Please Note Before Taking Photos Here
The photo you attach to your application for a status of residence is more than just an image—it’s an important document subject to detailed regulations, and it can influence the outcome of your application.
It’s common for foreign nationals to use smiling photos for resumes or passports, but in the context of a residence status application, such photos may be deemed inappropriate depending on the judgment of the immigration officer.
While a warm smile is a wonderful part of who you are, for application purposes, a “natural expression that complies with the guidelines” is ideal.
Since immigration officers assess whether the photo qualifies as an official document, it’s safer to take one with a slightly serious expression.
3) Family Register (Full Certificate) of Japanese Spouse – 1 copy
The document must include a record of the applicant’s marriage.If the marriage is not yet recorded in the family register, both the Family Register (Koseki Tohon) and a Certificate of Acceptance of Marriage Notification must be submitted. All documents must have been issued within the past three months.
4) Marriage Certificate Issued by a Foreign Authority – 1 copy
You are required to attach a Japanese translation with the translator’s signature.
5) Documents to Prove Financial Means for Staying in Japan
- Certificate of Municipal Resident Tax (Taxable or Non-Taxable) and Tax Payment Certificate for the Past Year
- Copy of Bankbook or Passbook Showing Savings and Deposits
- Certificate of Scheduled Employment or Notification of Job Offer
- Other documents equivalent to the above
6) Letter of Guarantee from the Spouse (Japanese Spouse) – 1 copy
The form is available for download on the Immigration Services Agency’s website.
7) Copy of the Resident Record Listing All Household Members of the Spouse (Japanese Spouse) – 1 copy
Make sure your resident record does not include your Individual Number (My Number).
8) Questionnaire
The form is available for download on the Immigration Services Agency’s website.
A written statement is a document that includes information such as the applicant’s personal details, the circumstances leading to the marriage, the language used when communicating with the spouse, the names of the witnesses on the marriage registration, and other related matters.
9) Records Showing Marital Contact or Interaction
Snapshots (showing both individuals clearly, with unaltered facial features; app-filtered images are not accepted), social media records, call logs, etc.
10) Passport to be Presented at Immigration Counter
11) Residence Card to be Presented at Immigration Counter
★Important Notes When Applying for a Change of Status of Residence
When applying for a change of status of residence, it is essential to pay close attention to your current period of stay.
If your period of stay is nearing its expiration, we recommend renewing your residence period first. This is because, if your change of status application is denied and your period of stay expires in the meantime, you may be considered to be residing illegally.
★Ask a Legal Expert Now!
The screening process for a change of status of residence can take time depending on the content of your application.
There have been actual cases where applicants assumed that “everything is fine because the application has been submitted,” only to receive a notice of denial after their period of stay had already expired.
To avoid such risks, it is safer to renew your period of stay first if the expiration date is approaching, and then consider applying for a change of status. Certified immigration specialists (Gyoseishoshi lawyers) can provide careful, personalized advice on the appropriate order and timing of applications based on your individual circumstances.