How to Bring Your Foreign Spouse to Japan | COE & Visa
Bringing Your Foreign Spouse to Japan: Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and Visa Procedures
How Can a Japanese Citizen Bring a Foreign Spouse to Japan?
When a Japanese national is married to a foreign citizen who resides overseas, the Japanese spouse can arrange for their husband or wife to relocate to Japan through the appropriate immigration procedures.
International couples generally meet and marry under various circumstances. Some meet while the Japanese spouse is working or studying abroad, while others marry through international matchmaking agencies or arranged introductions.
Regardless of how the couple met, a foreign spouse who has married overseas generally needs to obtain an appropriate visa and residence status before establishing a long-term household in Japan.
The standard procedure involves obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from Japan’s Immigration Services Agency.
1. Applying for a Certificate of Eligibility
The Japanese spouse or another qualified representative submits a COE application to the appropriate immigration office in Japan.
Once the application is approved, the Certificate of Eligibility is issued and can be forwarded to the foreign spouse overseas. Electronic COEs are also available.
For the residence status Spouse or Child of Japanese National, periods of stay may be granted for one, three, or five years. A one-year period is commonly granted to first-time applicants.
2. Obtaining a Visa at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate
After receiving the COE, the foreign spouse applies for a visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for their place of residence.
The procedures vary by country and diplomatic mission. Some embassies require advance appointments, while others use designated visa application centers or external service providers.
Once the visa is issued, the foreign spouse can travel to Japan.
Upon arrival, the applicant undergoes immigration inspection, and a residence card is issued at designated airports. At other ports of entry, residence cards may be issued through subsequent procedures.
3. Continental Immigration: Spouse Visa Application Support
At Continental Immigration Administrative Scrivener Corporation, we assist Japanese nationals and their foreign spouses with COE applications and immigration procedures for relocating to Japan.
Our services include preparing application forms, supporting documents, and explanatory statements, as well as filing applications with immigration authorities.
As your Trusted Advisor, we provide professional assistance to help international couples establish their marital life in Japan.
Continental Immigration Administrative Scrivener Corporation
Japanese Spouse Visa | Certificate of Eligibility | International Family Immigration
https://en.continental-immigration.com/
Professional
Masakazu Murai
18 years’ experience in Investment Banking at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley (JV, MUFG Bank and Morgan Stanley). He had provided financial advisory more than 500 entrepreneurs and senior management.
During his tenure, he worked as an employee union executive committee member in promoting diversity, including the active participation of foreigners and women in the office, and engaged in activities to improve the working environment. He specializes in financial consulting and VISA/PR consulting.
Gyoseishoshi Immigration Lawyer, 東京都行政書士会 港支部 副支部長
CMA(Japanese financial analyst license)
CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship
