Japan Dependent Visa: Eligible Family, Documents and Work Limits

Dependent (家族滞在) is the status of residence for the supported spouse and children of a foreign national living in Japan on a work-based status, as a student or on a similar basis. Parents and siblings are not covered, and the sponsor must have the financial means to support the family. Dependents are generally not allowed to work, but with permission for activities outside the status of residence they may work up to 28 hours a week.

Which family members can join you

Dependent status covers the sponsor’s “spouse” and “children”. It assumes that they are supported by the sponsor and engage in everyday activities in Japan.

• Spouse: a husband or wife in a legally valid marriage. Fiancés and common-law partners are not eligible.
• Children: the sponsor’s children who live on the sponsor’s support. For adult children, the need for support is examined case by case.
• Not eligible: parents, siblings, grandparents and other relatives cannot be brought over on Dependent status.

“Supported” means that the family member relies on the sponsor for living expenses. A spouse or child who lives on their own income does not qualify for Dependent status.

How the sponsor’s status of residence matters

Whether family members can be brought over on Dependent status depends on the sponsor’s status of residence.

Those who set up a company and reside in Japan as its manager bring their family over after obtaining Business Manager (経営・管理) status. The Business Manager criteria were revised in October 2025, so please also see the revised approval criteria for the Business Manager visa.

Highly Skilled Professionals enjoy preferential treatment; for example, their spouses may, under certain conditions, choose a status of residence that allows them to work. Eligibility as a Highly Skilled Professional is determined by the result of a points calculation.

Requirements and documents for Dependent status

The examination focuses on two points: that the family relationship is genuine, and that the sponsor has the financial means to support the family. Income is assessed case by case in light of the number of family members and their living costs.

Certificates issued in Japan must be submitted within three months of their date of issue. Some documents differ depending on the type of application (certificate of eligibility, change or extension), so check the Immigration Services Agency’s list.

Points to watch in the examination

• Sponsors who have just arrived: if a Japanese tax certificate is not yet available, explain income with the employment contract or documents showing expected salary.
• Founders of newly established companies: explain that you can support your family based on the amount of your director’s compensation, the company’s business plan and its financial position.
• Background to the marriage: for recent marriages, for example, documents explaining how the marriage came about may be requested.
• The sponsor’s tax compliance: unpaid resident tax may also affect the sponsor’s own residence status.

If the sponsor’s income is low, the authorities will look carefully at whether the family can make a living. Be ready to show, with documents, income or assets commensurate with the size of the family.

Application process and period of stay

If the family is overseas

1. The sponsor, acting as agent, applies to a regional immigration services bureau in Japan for a Certificate of Eligibility
2. The certificate is sent to the family, who apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate general in their country
3. The family enters Japan and receives residence cards
4. Within 14 days of settling on an address, they notify the municipal office of their place of residence

If the family is already in Japan or a child is born in Japan

Family members already in Japan on a status other than Temporary Visitor apply for permission to change their status of residence. If a child is born in Japan, apply for permission to acquire a status of residence within 30 days of the birth.

The period of stay is designated individually by the Minister of Justice, up to a maximum of five years. When the sponsor extends their period of stay, remember to extend the family’s as well.

What is checked at extension

The extension examination checks whether the dependency relationship continues and whether there are any problems with the sponsor’s income and tax payments. If a dependent is working with permission for activities outside the status of residence, compliance with the 28-hour weekly limit is also reviewed. If it emerges that they have worked beyond the limit, the extension may be refused. If the sponsor changes or leaves their job, or the couple divorces, the family’s status of residence is also affected, so we recommend consulting a professional early.

Working on Dependent status: permission for activities outside the status of residence

Dependent is not a status of residence intended for employment. Permission for activities outside the status of residence (資格外活動許可) is needed to engage in paid activities such as part-time work.

• Comprehensive permission: allows work for any employer for up to 28 hours a week. It can be applied for with the application form alone, and there is no fee.
• How hours are counted: even with several employers, the total across all jobs must be within 28 hours a week.
• Individual permission: activities whose working hours cannot be objectively verified, such as outsourced work or contracting, require individual permission.
• No work before permission: the applicant may not work until the examination is complete and permission is granted.

Work at establishments connected with adult entertainment businesses is outside the scope of comprehensive permission. From October 1, 2026, however, Dependent status holders, and only they, may work at amusement arcades such as pachinko parlors if they obtain individual permission. Even when individual and comprehensive permission are combined, the total of all activities outside the status of residence must be within 28 hours a week. Employers, too, should confirm that individual permission has been granted before hiring.

If a spouse wishes to work full time, consider a change to a status such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, provided the educational and career requirements are met. The employer’s procedures are explained in Hiring foreign employees and work visas.

If a child wants to work in Japan after high school

A child living in Japan on Dependent status who graduates from a Japanese high school may be allowed to change to Long-Term Resident or Designated Activities status if certain requirements are met. For a change to Long-Term Resident, for example, the child must have completed elementary and junior high school in Japan, have been under 18 on entering Japan and have secured a job offer.

If you want to bring your parents

There is no status of residence granted on the grounds of being the parent of a foreign national. Parents visiting Japan generally come as temporary visitors. For Highly Skilled Professionals, a Designated Activities scheme allows parents to accompany them under certain conditions, for purposes such as raising children.

If your family plans to live in Japan for the long term, checking the requirements for permanent residence early makes it easier to plan which status of residence to choose.

Dependent visa: summary

Dependent status allows a spouse and children to reside in Japan on the basis of the sponsor’s status of residence and income. The range of eligible family members is limited, and working requires permission for activities outside the status of residence. It is important to plan the family’s procedures together with the sponsor’s own status of residence from the outset.

Together with partner administrative scriveners (行政書士), TIMOA supports you from obtaining the sponsor’s status of residence through Certificate of Eligibility applications for your family and permission for activities outside the status of residence, to setting up your home and daily life in Japan. For details, see our Visas, Talent & Living services.