Applying for a ‘Family Stay’ visa for the spouse or child of an international student.

Basic Knowledge about the “Dependent" Visa

The “Dependent" visa is for spouses or children who engage in daily activities as dependents of foreign nationals holding the visas listed below.

“Professor," “Artist," “Religious Activities," “Journalist," “Highly Skilled Professional," “Business Manager," “Legal/Accounting Services," “Medical Services," “Researcher," “Instructor," “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services," “Intra-company Transferee," “Nursing Care," “Entertainer," “Skilled Labor," “Student"

Even if they hold work visas, spouses or children of those with “Diplomatic" or “Official" visas are not granted “Dependent" visas because the families of those with “Diplomatic" or “Official" visas are also given the same visa.

What Does “Being Supported" Mean?

The reason “being supported" is a requirement for a “Dependent" visa is that those who earn their own income in Japan must obtain other work qualifications. In other words, to stay as a family member, you must not have your own income.

To be supported, the supporter must have the intention and the financial ability to support the dependent.

Additionally, the applicant for support must need support or already be receiving support. For a spouse, this means being financially dependent on the supporter, and for a child, this means being under the care and custody of the supporter.

Even if the dependent is an adult, if they are a student or otherwise dependent on their parents for support, they qualify.

Meaning of “Spouse" and “Child"

In this context, “spouse" refers to a legally married partner and does not include common-law relationships. Generally, same-sex marriages are also not included.

“Child" includes legitimate, illegitimate, and adopted children, but in practice, if an adoption is seen as being solely for the purpose of obtaining a “Dependent" visa, the visa may not be granted.

Schools Where Dependents Can Get a “Dependent" Visa

If the student holds a “Student" visa and is studying at a Japanese language school, their spouse or child cannot obtain a “Dependent" visa. Dependents can only obtain the visa if the student is enrolled in a university (including graduate schools) or a vocational school.

Students with “Student" visas can also attend elementary, junior high, and high schools, but their spouses or children cannot obtain “Dependent" visas.

It Is Difficult for Spouses or Children of “Student" Visa Holders to Obtain a “Dependent" Visa

As previously mentioned, dependent family members engage in “ordinary activities as dependents of someone who provides support," requiring the supporter to have sufficient financial backing.

Even for those holding work visas, it becomes difficult if their monthly income is less than 180,000 yen. For students with “Student" visas, the part-time work limit of 28 hours per week translates to about 100,000 yen per month, making it nearly impossible for their spouses or children to obtain a “Dependent" visa.

If the applicant’s assets or income are limited to part-time work in Japan, it is generally impossible for the spouse or child to obtain a “Dependent" visa.

However, financial circumstances vary, such as having a special skill that allows the supporter to earn 3,000 yen per hour, receiving a salary from a company in their home country while studying, or having substantial family assets.

Here, we will discuss the methods and documents needed for students with certain financial means to obtain a “Dependent" visa for their spouses or children.

Applying for a “Dependent" Visa for Spouses or Children of “Student" Visa Holders

First, Calculate the Funds Needed Until Graduation

How much money is needed? This varies by person.

For example, if the supporter is a first-year university student applying for a “Dependent" visa for their spouse and has three years until graduation, they must calculate the total funds needed for those three years.

Example Calculation of Funds Needed Until Graduation

• Tuition: 700,000 yen x 3 years = 2,100,000 yen
• Rent: 60,000 yen x 12 months x 3 years = 2,160,000 yen
• Living expenses (for two): 100,000 yen x 12 months x 3 years = 3,600,000 yen

Total funds needed until graduation: 7,860,000 yen

This calculation shows that the tuition component makes it more difficult compared to those with work visas.

Calculate the Funds That Can Be Obtained Until Graduation

In the above example, a first-year university student needs 7,860,000 yen until graduation. Next, calculate the available funds, including current savings and expected income.

A typical university student might earn 100,000 yen per month through part-time work, totaling 3,600,000 yen over three years. Therefore, they need to calculate how to cover the remaining 4,260,000 yen (7,860,000 yen – 3,600,000 yen).

Common Sources of Funds and Income

• Existing savings
• Part-time job income
• Remittances from parents or relatives
• Scholarships
• Salary from a company in the home country (if studying abroad funded by the company)
• Other income from the home country

Can you calculate your funds? Remember, do not include income from part-time work of the spouse or child as the goal is to show support dependency.

 

Documents Required for “Family Stay" Visa for Spouses and Children of International Students

Even if you calculate your income as mentioned above, your visa will not be approved unless you can prove it to be true. For example, Immigration will not believe calculations such as “planned remittance of 2 million yen from parents" for someone who has never received remittances from their parents, or “scholarship of 500,000 yen" for someone who has never received a scholarship.

Regarding this visa, Immigration checks the documentation very thoroughly.

Basically, the documents that must be submitted include records of all activities since coming to Japan.

• Copy of all savings account passbooks
• Pay stubs from all part-time jobs
• All tax certificates and tax payment certificates
• Records of all cash brought in (as listed in passport)
• Records of all remittances from home country or other relatives
• Records of all scholarships (including proof if scheduled to receive in future)
• If remittances are from someone other than parents, a statement of reason and proof of income and employment of the remitter
• Other income-related supporting documents
• Records regarding tuition fees paid and planned
• Evidence supporting rental expenses (e.g., rental contract)

Negative evaluation without proof

Among the above documents, even if it’s true that “I lost my pay stubs and don’t have bank transfer records because it’s cash," or “I receive money from my parents by hand and don’t declare it," if you cannot submit supporting documents, it will be evaluated negatively. Submit as much documentation as possible and explain properly with a “statement of reason" for items that cannot be submitted.

Receive remittances from parents in advance

It will be difficult to believe that someone who has never received remittances from parents claims they will receive them in the future. In this case, it is better to submit proof such as proof of parents’ income or copy of savings account.

Excessive Part-Time Income

Be cautious if you have excessive part-time income. If you exceed the 28-hour weekly limit, it can raise suspicion and may jeopardize not only the visa of the family members but also the renewal of your own visa. If the hourly wage is high and the income is substantial, there is no issue, but you must properly explain the hourly wage and provide any relevant documentation from the company to support this.

Required Documents for the “Dependent" Visa for International Students’ Spouses and Children

1. Application form for Certificate of Eligibility or Application for Change of Status of Residence
2. Photograph (H4cm x W3cm)
3. Copy of passport (for Certificate of Eligibility application)
4. Presentation of passport (for Change of Status of Residence application)
5. Presentation of Residence Card (for Change of Status of Residence application)
6. Copy of the sponsor’s passport
7. Copy of the sponsor’s Residence Card
8. Marriage certificate (for spouses) or birth certificate (for children)
9. Resident certificates for all family members (for Change of Status of Residence application)
10. Certificate of enrollment of the sponsor
11. Taxation certificate and tax payment certificate for resident tax of the sponsor
12. Copies of all savings passbooks
13. All part-time job pay slips
14. Records of all cash transfers (noted in passport)
15. Records of all remittances from the home country or other relatives
16. Records of all scholarships (or certificates if the scholarships are confirmed in the future)
17. If the remitter is not a parent, a statement explaining the reason and proof of the remitter’s income or employment
18. Other supporting documents related to income
19. Documents related to tuition fee payment history and plans
20. Proof of rent (e.g., rental agreement)