Japan Dependent Visa (Family Stay): Bring Your Spouse & Children

Quick answer (30 seconds): The Dependent / "Family Stay" visa (家族滞在 / kazoku taizai) lets the spouse and minor children of a foreign national living in Japan on a work or student visa come and live with them. Important: this is different from the "Spouse of Japanese National" visa — Family Stay is for the family of a foreign "sponsor." A dependent cannot work by default; to take a part-time job they need permission, and then only up to 28 hours/week. The sponsor must show enough income to support the family, and you apply through a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), which takes about 2–3 months. Rules are tightening in 2026 — confirm current criteria with the Immigration Services Agency (ISA).

Disclaimer: General information, not legal advice. Immigration criteria are changing in 2026 and each case differs — confirm with the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) or a licensed immigration specialist (行政書士).

Family Stay vs. Spouse of Japanese National (don't confuse them)

• Dependent / Family Stay (家族滞在): for the spouse/children of a foreign national on a work or student status. Work is restricted (permission needed; 28h/week cap).
• Spouse or Child of Japanese National (日本人の配偶者等): for the family of a Japanese citizen — unrestricted work, easier path to PR. (See the spouse-visa guide.)

If your partner is Japanese, you want the spouse visa, not Family Stay.

Who qualifies

• The legal spouse of the sponsor, and/or
• their minor children (including adopted or legally recognized children).

The sponsor must hold an eligible work or student status of residence, and must show they can financially support the family.

Parents, siblings, and adult children generally don't qualify for Family Stay.

The sponsor's income (assessed, not a fixed number)

Japan does not publish a single fixed income threshold for dependents. Instead, immigration assesses whether the sponsor's income clearly covers the family's living costs, using documents like salary slips, tax certificates, and bank statements. A stable, sufficient income for your household size is what matters.

Working on a Dependent visa: the 28-hour rule

A Dependent visa does not allow work by default. To take a part-time job, the dependent must apply for "permission to engage in activity other than that permitted" (shikaku-gai katsudo) — and then work is capped at 28 hours per week. Exceeding the cap (or working without permission) can jeopardize the status.

Want to work full-time? You'd need to change to a work visa in your own right.

How to apply (COE route)

1. The sponsor applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for the family member at immigration in Japan.
2. Processing takes roughly 2–3 months.
3. With the COE, the family member gets the visa at a Japanese embassy/consulate abroad, then enters Japan (or, if already in Japan on another status, applies to change status).
4. On arrival they receive a residence card; enroll the family in health insurance and other basics.

2026: rules are tightening

Reports indicate stricter scrutiny of dependent visas from 2026, including closer checks on the sponsor's income and tracking of dependents' work hours (the 28-hour cap). Keep your documents in order and don't exceed the work limit — confirm the current rules with ISA.

FAQ

1. Who can I bring on a Dependent visa? Your legal spouse and minor children — not parents, siblings, or adult children.

2. Is this the same as the spouse visa? No. Family Stay is for the family of a foreign work/student-visa holder (restricted work). The "Spouse of Japanese National" visa is for the family of a Japanese citizen (unrestricted work).

3. Can my dependent spouse work? Only with permission, and then up to 28 hours/week. Full-time work requires switching to their own work visa.

4. How much income does the sponsor need? There's no fixed published figure — immigration checks that your income clearly supports the family for your household size.

5. How long does it take? The COE typically takes about 2–3 months, plus the visa/entry step.

Sources

• Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) — Dependent / Family Stay status (authority): https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/
• Visa Japan (immigration specialists) — Family Dependent visa: eligibility, documents & processing: https://english.visajapan.jp/kazoku.html
• Coto Academy — dependent visa Japan guide: https://cotoacademy.com/dependent-visa-japan-guide/

Related guides

• Japan spouse visa guide (Spouse of Japanese National) — the different visa for marrying a Japanese citizen
• Student to work visa transition — the sponsor's own status path
• National Health Insurance for foreigners — enroll your family
• Your zairyu (residence) card explained — the card your family will receive

Last updated: 2026-06-19