The TranSenz Guide to Applying for a Certificate of Eligibility and Spouse Visa for Japan
This guide is a follow-up to our guide to Getting Legally Married in Japan and is based on a translation of Sawa’s original article, 国際結婚手続き 配偶者ビザ編.
An updated version of this guide, including step-by-step instructions, translations and annotations of all required materials, and sample forms is now available for purchase in your choice of ebook formats.
I wrote this guide based on my own experience. Sawa and I were living together in Bangkok, Thailand when we decided to move back to Japan so we had to rely heavily on my parents-in-law in Japan for assistance. You will need someone in Japan to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) on your behalf- whether that be family or an attorney. I will walk you through what that person needs to do as much as possible.
Difference Between Certificate of Eligibility and Visa
Even though the title of this article says “Spouse Visa,” the first and most difficult step is acquiring the “Certificate of Eligibility,” (CoE) or 在留資格認定証明書 (zairyu shikaku nintei shomeisho). The CoE takes anywhere from 1-3 months to acquire. Once you have it in hand, applying for your visa takes about one week.
A CoE is essentially a mandatory prerequisite to applying for your visa, no matter what type of visa you want. It is technically possible to apply for a visa without a CoE, but you will have to submit all of the same documents that you would submit for the CoE, plus a convincing explanation as to why you couldn’t apply for the CoE first. In this case, you are basically applying for both CoE and visa simultaneously but, since the CoE process is conducted only in Japan, all of your documents will have to be mailed back and forth, lengthening your application process significantly especially if there are any mistakes in your application.
The Immigration Bureau has Certificate of Eligibility application instructions on its website, but we learned during application that the instructions in English and the instructions in Japanese are, in fact, vastly different in specificity. If you follow only the English procedures, you’ll likely wind up in months of tsuika shorui (追加書類) hell. Tsuika shorui means submitting additional documents and accounts for the reason the process takes 1 to 3 months: One month if you follow the Japanese directions (or my translation, below). Three months if you content yourself with the English explanation and then submit supplemental documents, one-by-one.
Certificate of Eligibility Application Documents (English and Japanese)
| English List | Japanese List | Japanese list translation |
|---|---|---|
| Application form [PDF] or Application form [Excel] | 在留資格認定証明書交付申請書 [PDF] 1通 or 在留資格認定証明書交付申請書 [Excel] |
(same) |
| Photos (4cm×3cm) 1 copy (The photos must be clear enough without background, must be taken within 6 months before the application procedure and cover upper body with uncovered head.) | 写真（縦４cm×横３cm） １葉 ※ 申請前６か月以内に正面から撮影された無帽，無背景で鮮明なもの。 ※ 写真の裏面に申請人の氏名を記載し，申請書の写真欄に貼付して下さい。 |
Photos (4cm×3cm) 1 copy *The photos must be clear enough without background, must be taken within 6 months before the application procedure and cover upper body with uncovered head. *Write applicant’s name on the reverse of the photo and paste it to the appropriate place on the application. |
| A return-mail envelope affixed with stamp(s) worth 404 yen (for the recorded delivery purpose) | 404円切手（簡易書留用）を貼付した返信用封筒 ※ 返信用封筒には，あらかじめ宛先を記載して下さい。 |
Return-mail envelope with a 404 yen stamp (for registered mail) *Return address should be clearly written on the envelope (Note: this is for domestic post, within Japan) |
| Documents certifying that the person concerned is a spouse of the Japanese national and the copy of his or her resident card. | 配偶者（日本人）の方の戸籍謄本 １通 ※ 戸籍謄本に，婚姻事実の記載がない場合には，戸籍謄本に加え婚姻届出受理証明書の提出をしていただきます。 ※ 発行日から３か月以内のものを提出して下さい。 |
Japanese spouse’s Koseki Tohon 1 copy *If the marriage is not recorded in the Koseki Tohon, then a Certificate of Acceptance of Application for Marriage must additionally be submitted. *Documents must be issued within three months of the application. |
| 日本人の方の世帯全員の記載のある住民票の写し １通 ※ 発行日から３か月以内のものを提出して下さい。 |
Residence Registration Certificate (Juminhyo) of the Japanese spouse, showing all family members. *Documents must be issued within three months of the application |
|
| Documents certifying that the profession and the income of the person concerned or his or her spouse. | 配偶者（日本人）の住民税の納税証明書（１年間の総収入、課税額及び納税額が記載されたもの。） １通 ※ ただし、納税証明書に総収入、課税額及び納税額の記載がない場合は、課税証明書及び納税証明書の提出をしていただきます。 ※ 発行日から３か月以内のものを提出して下さい。 |
Japanese Spouse’s Certificate of Receipt of Juminzei (Residence Tax) Payment, that shows both the amount of tax and amount of payment for one entire year, 1 copy. *If the Residence Tax certificate does not show both the amount of tax and the amount of payment received, then separate certificates of taxation and of payment must be submitted *Documents must be issued within three months of application. |
| A letter of guarantee by the person living in Japan. (PDF) | 配偶者（日本人）の身元保証書 １通 [Japanese] or 配偶者（日本人）の身元保証書 １通 [English] or ※ 身元保証人には，日本に居住する配偶者(日本人)になっていただきます。 |
Letter of Guarantee written by the Japanese Spouse. *This letter must be filled out by the spouse if they are residing in Japan |
| A document that proves the status (if a legal representative or agent submits the application form on behalf of the applicant) | 代理人の身分を証する文書等 | Documents proving the identity and validity of the proxy, if necessary. |
| (No instructions provided in English) | 申請人の国籍国（外国）の機関から発行された結婚証明書 １通 ※ 申請人の方が，韓国籍等で，戸籍謄本が発行される場合には，お二方の婚姻が記載された外国機関発行の戸籍謄本の提出でも差し支えありません。 |
Wedding Certificate issued by the foreign spouse’s country, 1 copy *If the applicant’s country also issues family registers (e.g. Korea), then a copy of the family register showing the marriage may be submitted instead. |
| 質問書[PDF] １通 | Questionnaire Form The form is also available in other languages, but if written in another language, it must be accompanied by a Japanese translation. |
|
| スナップ写真（夫婦で写っており，容姿がはっきり確認できるもの）２~３葉 | Snapshots of the husband and wife together that clearly indicate married relationship, 2-3 photos |
This chart is meant to show that, while the English site’s general descriptions give the false impression that a wide range of documents might be acceptable, they are in fact looking for very specific proofs- proofs that would not be immediately obvious to anyone who hasn’t done this before. I will go over each of these requirements in more detail below.
One more piece of advice on turning in documents: If you require an exception to a particular condition- for example, your spouse does not have proof of residence tax payment because s/he is not employed in Japan, call the immigration bureau nearest your spouse’s hometown ahead of time to confirm what would be accepted as an alternative. Also, tell your representative in Japan to insist on turning in every document that you have prepared. The person at the desk may say that they are not all necessary, but our experience is that the person who told us that was wrong. If you have been told at any point (over the phone, etc.), or remotely suspect, that a particular document is necessary, turn it in, regardless of the desk worker’s protests. In our case, a document that was determined to be “unnecessary” at the desk, was requested by phone less than 24 hours later. Our parents, who had driven over an hour each way to the Immigration Bureau the day before had to drive back to turn it in again.
Applying for a CoE When Husband and Wife are Both Overseas
It’s easier to apply for the CoE if your Japanese spouse is working in Japan and has an established record of working there. But, if that were your case, you probably wouldn’t need this guide. If both you and your Japanese spouse are working overseas or if your Japanese spouse is in Japan but not working, the process requires a few extra steps, and a lot of mail between you and your representatives in Japan.
If your Japanese spouse is also working overseas, s/he will not have a current Juminzei and will not be able to fill in the letter of guarantee. You will also need a proxy applicant. According to the Immigration Office’s website, family members of either spouse who are legally resident in Japan can serve as the proxy. If you do not have family members in Japan, then a person with a letter of attorney or a legal scrivener can apply on your behalf.
Before You Apply: Are You Changing your Name?
If, following your marriage, either partner wants to change their legal name, do so before continuing with the CoE process (and make sure to update your name in the Japanese spouse’s Koseki!), so that you have the same legal name throughout your paperwork. Since we were moving to Japan, I decided to adopt my wife’s Japanese name. Laws on name changes vary by country (and US State), but I was able to change mine with no more documentation than a certified translation of our wedding certificate.
Important: If you change to a Japanese last name, know that you are not legally allowed to use kanji to write your name. You must continue write your name in English letters! I screwed this up and it has caused me no end of trouble.
Application Documents in Detail
Attention to detail and accuracy are absolutely critical in Japan, whether you’re applying for a CoE, college admission, or a job at Seven Eleven, so be extremely careful! Careless errors will lead to delays or possibly rejection of your application. Fill in forms digitally when possible. If using a pen, make sure it is a black, ball-point pen, and write in all capital letters. Forms will be rejected over the use of blue pen. To make corrections, do not use correction fluid. Draw a double line through the mistake and write the correction above it.
Documents below are listed in the order that they appear on the Japanese checklist. Japanese bureaucrats like it when documents are submitted in order, with multi-page documents joined by paperclips, not staples. (The first thing anyone will have to do with your document is to remove the staples to make photocopies, and careless staple removal may physically damage your application. I’ve seen it happen.)
1. Application for Certificate of Eligibility
Download from: the Immigration Bureau website. Be careful, as there are different forms for different visa types!
Notes for completing the application:
- The “Regional Immigration Bureau” is the regional HQ, not the branch office to at which you plan to apply. For example of your representative in Japan will apply in Kyoto, the regional bureau is Osaka. You can find a list of the regions and their offices on the Immigration Bureau website.
- “Nationality” in Japan means “country of nationality”. For example, “America” is correct, “American” is not. Your application is not going to get rejected over this, though.
- “Name”: Refer to the line near the bottom of the information page of your passport. You should see a code like: P<USATRANSENZ<<TRAVIS<TARO<<<. Ignore the three-letter country code (USA in the example) and write your name in the exact order it appears. Everything before the double < is your “last name” and everything after it is your “first name.” Japan considers middle names to be part of your first name.
Vietnamese applicants: Write your name in this order, even if the last name in the list is your “first name.”
Thai applicants: The “last name” field in your passport may show Mr. or Miss, but do not write that as part of your name! - “Place of Birth” and “Hometown”: If these appear in your passport, then what you write in the application must match the passport. Otherwise, write the name of the city and country.
- “Occupation” should be your job before emigrating to Japan, regardless of your intended profession once you enter the country.
- “Address in Japan” and phone numbers: Enter the address of the person who is applying on your behalf (with their concurrence, of course).
- “Accompanying Persons”: Write the number and their relationship. (i.e. Wife and 2 children, total 3 persons.) If you have none, write “None”
- “Family in Japan”: It is only necessary to enter your wife or children if they are already in Japan. If you have no immediate family in Japan, write “none.”
- If you got married under Japanese law, like we did, you may not have had to register your marriage legally in your home country. Leave question 22(2) blank.
- Fill in Section 27 with your proxy’s information and have them sign. Section 28 is only necessary if you’re having a lawyer, etc., file for you.
2. Japanese spouse’s Koseki Tohon
If you were married outside of Japan and your marriage has not been entered in your Japanese spouse’s Koseki, you will need both the Koseki and a Wedding Certificate (with translation, if the certificate is not Japanese). The Koseki will have to be acquired from your spouse’s hometown city hall and the wedding certificate from wherever you legally registered your wedding.
These documents are there to prove your relationship to your spouse. Even if your marriage is not recorded in the Koseki Tohon, you still have to submit it. . . in order to prove that your marriage is not recorded therein, otherwise your alternative documentation might not be accepted. Yes, this is as ridiculous as it sounds.
3. Wedding Certificate issued by Foreign Applicant’s home country
If you are from a country that has a similar family register system (e.g. Korea), then a Koseki-equivalent, that shows the marriage will also suffice.
If you were married under Japanese law and are from a country that doesn’t issue any certification for marriages conducted under foreign law (such as the US), write a note titled “Foreign Wedding Certificate” and explain in one-to-two sentences that your country does not issue them. Have your spouse translate this into Japanese and sign it.
4. Japanese Spouse’s Certificate of Juminzei (Residence Tax) Payment
This serves as the “Proof of occupation and income.” Specifically, Immigration is looking for proof of employment (sufficient funds to support your lifestyle) in Japan. Tax records overseas aren’t sufficient here, since it’s assumed that overseas employment will no longer be valid once you’re living in Japan. If both spouses lack employment records in Japan, you will need a Japanese sponsor, such as a parent-in-law, to submit their Juminzei and act as your sponsor (this person incurs additional paperwork responsibilities, too, including your Letter of Guarantee).
If neither you or your spouse have income in Japan, and you have no family in Japan to provide this certificate on your behalf, contact the Immigration Bureau directly to find out what to submit.
For maximum coverage, you could also submit your overseas employment records, accompanied by an explanation of exchange rates and what the same/ similar job would pay in Japan (we did). However, submitting these documents alone will not be sufficient.
Juminzei records are issued in June and refer to the 12-month period that ended with the preceding December, so you/your spouse would have to be employed full-time in Japan a minimum of 18 months, if you timed it perfectly, in order to have a report that covered one full year. In some cases, a Certificate of Employment (在職証明書, Zaishoku Shomeisho) and Tax and withholdings report (源泉徴収票, Gensenchoshuhyo) may be an acceptable substitute. As always, make sure you get approval for substitutes before trying to submit your package.
5. Letter of Guarantee written by the Japanese Spouse
Even though it clearly says “written by the Japanese Spouse,” the spouse is ineligible to fill out the letter if they are not living in Japan. The Letter of Guarantee must be written by a Japanese citizen who is working inside the country. Generally speaking, whoever submitted the Juminzei for your application should also fill out this letter.
6. Residence Certificate (Juminhyo) of the Japanese spouse, showing all family members
If your Japanese spouse is not residing in Japan, they will not be able to get a Residence Certificate, so you will need to submit the Juminhyo for whoever provided documents 3 and 4, above. At this point, you may want to also consider getting this person a thank-you gift.
7. Questionnaire Form
Get ready for an invasion of privacy unlike anything you have experienced outside of a counterintelligence interrogation cell. This sneaky form doesn’t show up on the English checklist, and does not appear to exist in English. It has to be filled out in Japanese, so you’ll likely be turning to your spouse to fill it out.
According to the instructions at the top of the form, this is an important form for consideration of your application, all answers should be as detailed as possible, and any falsehoods will result in the rejection of your application for a COE.
The foreigner is the “Applicant” (申請者 , shinseisha) and the Japanese Spouse is the “Spouse” (配偶者, haigusha). Here is the information you will need to enter:
- Applicant’s nationality, name, and sex.
Spouse’s name with furigana, nationality, address, phone number, household members
Spouse’s type of housing (owned/rented), monthly rent, and number of rooms (in LDK format)
Spouse’s employer (including address and phone), position, and date he/she started working there.
*In this case, fill out the spouse’s information, regardless of whose documents you turned in for 3-5, above. - When, where, and how you first met and a detailed explanation of your relationship up to the date of your marriage. Include dates and be as detailed as possible. You may attach additional sheets, as necessary, and may also attach photos, letters, and international phone bills to verify your statements. (We did not attach any of the latter).
Were you formally introduced (matching service, etc.)? If applicable, enter all of the following:
Nationality, name, sex, birthday, address, phone number, residence card number of your match-maker
Date, location, and method of your formal matching introduction
Relationship between the applicant and the matchmaker as well as the relationship between the spouse and the matchmaker, in detail. Writing “friend” or “work colleague,” is not sufficient. - What language do you use in your home?
What are the applicant’s and spouse’s native languages?
To what degree do you understand each other’s native languages?
If the applicant understands Japanese, describe in detail where and when he or she studied it.
When you can’t understand one another’s language, how do you make yourselves understood? (If you use an interpreter, the interpreter’s details are necessary) - If you were married under Japanese law, fill in your witnesses’ information.
- Fill in the details of your wedding ceremony/reception, if you held one.
- Fill in information about the applicant’s/spouse’s previous marriages, if applicable.
- Fill in the number of times, dates of, and reasons for the applicant’s previous visits to Japan. If the applicant previously resided in Japan, then the “reason” should refer to the residence status at that time.
- Fill in the number of times and dates of the spouse’s visits to the applicant’s home country, before & after marriage.
- Has the applicant ever been deported (received a deportation order) from Japan?
If yes, fill in the reason, date, your passport information at that time, and whether you and your spouse had lived together in a married state before that time. - Fill in details of the husband’s family, wife’s family, and your children, including relationship, name, age, address (enter “dead” for deceased relatives), and phone number. If you have no children together, you must enter “none” (なし) in table (2)
- Circle the family members that are aware of your marriage.
8. Snapshots of you as a couple.
Two to three standard-size photos that clearly show both husband and wife and indicate that you are a couple.
9. Application photograph
4 cm high by 3 cm wide, showing head and shoulders face-on, with no hat or head cover and no background. Pictures must be taken within the past six months, have the applicant’s name on the reverse, and be glued to the appropriate place on the application form. Japanese bureaucrats will compare the photo you submit to your passport photo and any other photos of you they have and check the dates to see if they can prove that the photo is more than six months old. If they determine that it’s too old, your application will be held up until they get a new photo.
10. Self-addressed envelope with at 404 yen in stamps (thanks to reader Iifu for pointing out the price change with the recent tax hike!)
You must apply for the COE within Japan, so there is no provision here for an international reply. Once again, you’ll have to rely on your domestic sponsor to receive your documents and forward them to you by EMS, etc.
11. Other
Other items may be necessary, depending on your situation.
- Your Guarantor’s inkan (personal seal). Alternatively, the guarantor can simply seal the document in advance, but if your guarantor is Japanese, the chances are good he/she carries his seal everywhere, anyway. A Ginko-in is sufficient (but a shachihata, rubber stamp, will not be accepted).
- If you are applying by way of a proxy, documents that prove the proxy’s relationship and suitability to serve in that position.
In the case of Spouse Visa, acceptable proxies include family members. Your proxy’s Juminhyo (if it shows the relationship) and government ID should be sufficient. If your proxy is your guarantor, they they’re already submitting their Juminhyo anyway.
If a lawyer or legal scrivener is applying for you, you’ll need a letter of attorney or contract, in Japanese, of course. But then, the lawyer or scrivener ought to be able to supply that. - Anything else that is arbitrarily determined to be necessary at any time during the evaluation of your application.
Submitting Your Application
The decision on where to submit your applicant will depend on your location: if you reside in Japan, or your spouse/proxy’s location. It is rumored that the more distant the Regional Office is from major cities/ concentrations of foreigners, the faster it will be able to process your application, but it really depends on the office’s backlog at any given time. It is certainly best to avoid areas that have a lot of international college students in the Feb-Mar and Jul-Aug time frames, as these offices tend to get flooded with applications from the area colleges.
In our case, we applied to the Sendai Regional Office during January and got approval within a month, despite a few delays that resulted from the Immigration Office flip-flopping on whether certain documents were necessary (insist on turning in everything, regardless of the desk clerk’s opinion).
My mother-in-law did all the running back and forth to the Immigration Office (an hour drive each way) and my father-in-law provided all the necessary certificates. Without their help, this process would have been even more of a nightmare, so I am eternally grateful!
Validity Period and Entering Japan
Check the validity period on your Certificate of eligibility- it should be 3 months from the date of issue. You have to be in Japan before the CoE expires, so get going on your visa application and travel arrangements right away! The last thing you want to do is go through all that work a second time, right? (Thanks to Vernon Reid for pointing out that this should be in here.)
Now, it’s time for the Visa
The Certificate of Eligibility is the hard part, so once that’s done, only a simple application and a week or so of waiting stands between you and your visa! Generally, Japanese embassy websites will tell you that the visa application process takes 1-3 months, but that is assuming that you don’t have a Certificate of Eligibility and are completing both processes at once. If you have a CoE, then the visa will be a breeze.
In most places, you’ll apply directly to the Japanese Embassy or Consulate for your visa, following the instructions on their website. In Bangkok, however, the Embassy has contracted out management of the application process to a private, Thai-owned business called the Japan Visa Application Center. I assume this is due to the volume of applications received in Thailand. The JVAC office was larger and busier than many travel agencies I have seen, and appeared quite profitable, despite charging about 500 baht for their services.
*Trusting my passport in the hands of a private Thai business seemed like a risky proposition to me, based on past experiences, but when I called the Embassy to ask if the business was trustworthy, they got offended at my question. The JVAC is on the up-and-up, so don’t be worried.
Requirements for the Visa Application
Fortunately, there are no sneaky differences between the Japanese and English explanations here. The visa application process is straightforward and simple and takes about a week to complete.
- Certificate of Eligibility
- Applicant’s Passport
- 5 cm by 5 cm ID-style photo (see above for description and warnings
- Visa Application Form
- (Another) Questionnaire
*Whether or not this questionnaire is necessary seems to depend on the country from which you are applying, rather than your nationality. The primary purpose of this questionnaire appears to be a weak effort to stop Trafficking in Persons (TiP). - Visa fees (There are no fees for Americans, but if there are fees for your country, don’t get upset- fees are based on your country’s visa treaty with Japan, and whether or not your country charges visa fees to Japanese.)
If you want more detail, an updated version of this guide, including step-by-step instructions, translations and annotations of all required materials, and sample forms is now available for purchase in your choice of ebook formats.
Single- or Multiple-Entry?
It doesn’t matter. Once you’re in Japan, you’ll get a residence card that will double as a re-entry permit for almost all situations. Multiple entry only matters if your period of stay in Japan is 90 days or lesss, because you don’t get a residence card in that case. Not a problem for Spouses.
Congratulations! It’s time to book your flight!
If you’ve been following our guides from the beginning, you’ve probably been working on this process for nearly three months, or so, beginning with your international marriage. Now, you’re finally ready to move to Japan! お疲れ様です!
If you found this guide useful or if you have anything that you think we should add, please let me know in the comments below!
Hello Travis,
Really clear writeup, thank you!
I currently live in Japan on Engineer visa that expires mid-2021 and would like to change it to spouse visa soon (I married a Japanese national last year). Do I need CoE in that case? If not, are the application and the necessary documents for this status change different from what are needed in the case of CoE followed by visa? Any idea on how long such status change might take?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Amit,
In your case, you do not need a CoE. You should apply instead for a Change of Status of Residence – that will change your status from Engineer to Spouse directly without you having to leave the country or apply for a visa or any of that.
It’s essentially the same process as applying for a CoE – you will need all of the same documents that you have to submit for the CoE – but the application form is slightly different, since you’re already living in Japan.
Typically, the processing time is 1-3 months, but this year Immigration has been consistently behind their deadlines, so it may take a little longer. However, there’s no reason why you can’t start your application now. It would certainly be finished before your current residence status expires!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I have received a job offer in Japan and I have applied for change of visa status from ‘Intra Company Transferee’ to ‘Engineer’. My wife is in Japan with me on ‘Temporary Visitor’ visa which will expire on 15 December 2019.
Given her situation, should we apply for CoE in Japan or change of status of residence will suffice?
If applied for CoE and if it is not received by 15 December 2019 should she go back and the application for CoE has to be freshly started?
I hope I have explained our situation well and I would really appreciate your help in this regard. Awaiting your reply!
Thank you,
Kiran
Hi Kiran Kerudi,
As far as I know, your wife is not eligible to apply for a Change of Status of Residence in her current situation. The Immigration Agency specifically says that it is not allowed to apply for a Change of Status of Residence from Temporary Visitor to Dependent. The only exception I know of to that rule is that it is possible to apply if she already has her CoE. (If she applies for a CoE and that CoE is issued while she is still in Japan, then she could take it to the Immigration office and apply for a Change of Status of Residence there, without having to leave the country.)
Unfortunately, even if you apply today, the chances of her receiving her CoE by December 15 are practically non-existent. Immigration has been extremely slow in its processing this year. (They just went through a major structural reform and expanded their mission, but have not yet expanded their staff to be able to handle the new demands).
If she applies for her CoE now and it is not received by Dec 15, she would have to go back to her home country, but you would not need to start the CoE application over again. The finished CoE would be sent to you (assuming you provide your address when you apply for it), and you could then send it to her so that she could apply for a visa.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you very much for taking time to reply. It was really helpful.
I have few more doubts on CoE application.
1) As my wife is here in Japan, can she go in person to apply for CoE or should I accompany her (as I will be the supporter)?
2) As I am in process of changing my job, should I add my current employer details or my next employer details in the principal place of employment section of the application form? My employment with current employer will end on 31st October, 2019.
Once again, I really thank you for your help!
Best Regards,
Kiran
Hi Kiran,
1) Your wife could go alone, but I think it would be helpful if you were with her. Since the chances are slim that her CoE will be issued before she leaves the country, if you’re there, at least they’ll see quickly that you will be able to receive it in the mail even after she leaves and send it to her.
2) In general, you should fill in the information that is accurate as of the day you submit it, since you will have to submit your proof of employment and income, and I presume you would not be able to get those from your new employer until you start working there. Your other option would be to wait to apply until after you have changed jobs and can get the documentation from your new employer.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for all your help and my wife received her CoE today (seems like immigration processed application a lot quicker than expected). Now, her tourist visa expires on December 19th. Does this mean she has to still go back to India and apply through embassy? Or, can she go to immigration office here in Tokyo?
Best Regards,
Kiran Kerudi
Hi Kiran Kerudi,
Thank you very much for sharing your results and for your kind words! I’m glad to hear that your application processing took shorter than the recent trend.
If she is still in Japan with her CoE in hand, she should be able to go to your local immigration bureau and fill out an “Application for Change of Status of Residence.” She would need to submit that, along with her CoE, and maybe some other supporting documents (that is up to the discretion of the office). I would recommend calling them in advance to see what supporting documents they might require, if you can, or going to the office as early as possible to ask in person so that she has time to acquire and submit any documents before her Temporary Visitor visa expires.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
You are awesome! Thank you for taking time answering all my questions. She had to submit CoE and Change of Status Application Form and 1.5 week later she received notification postcard. And, today she received her residence card.
Appreciate your help!
Best Regards,
Kiran
Hi Kiran,
Thank you very much for letting me know how it went! I’m glad to hear that it was relatively simple and quick to process.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
By the way I forgot to mention that I am currently in Japan on a designated activities visa for one year. I have checked the immigration bureau website. The certificate of eligibility form says it is for applicants intending to enter Japan. I am already here on a visa so can I apply for the change of status of residence form instead? I realize I still have to submit all the same documents but I just want to make sure I’m filling out the right form and not wasting any time.
Once again thank you.
Regards
Adam
Hi Adam,
Yes, exactly. You should be using the Change of Status of Residence application process. Status of Residence means your reason for permission to stay in Japan (Japan does not use the word “visa” for this, unlike most other countries. A visa is only permission to enter the country and becomes invalid the minute you arrive and obtain your residence status).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis.
Your article is fantastic and very clear to follow. I have one issue however. Me and my fiancee already live in Japan and are due to marry in the next couple of weeks. Your article only seems to describe the situation as if the applicant is outside of Japan. Is there anything different I need to know or will the process be easier for me? I have no problem acquiring all the documents needed.
Also, do I need to fill out the application forms for the certificate and visa in English or Japanese. I have a tendency to overlook these things when reading so much information and then panic when the time comes.
Thank you for any help you can give me.
With regards
Adam
Hi Adam Turner,
Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. I saw from your second question that you you are on a Designated Activities Residence Status.
In your case, since you’re applying from withing Japan, the biggest thing you need to be aware of is that you will be applying for a “Change of Status of Residence” instead of applying for a CoE. All of the required documents are the same, but the application form itself (specifically, the first page) is different. You do not need the visa application form.
You can fill in the Change of Status of Residence Form in English or Japanese (with your fiancee’s help). If you do fill it out in Japanese, though, all English words (like your name and place of birth, etc.) should be in English. Do not convert them to katakana.
Of course, you can’t apply until you have your marriage formalized and all the documentation (from both of your countries, if applicable) proving it.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thanks a lot for being very helpful. My wife just arrived in Japan for her MEXT scholarship. We plan to apply for my CoE as soon as we get all the required documents. I would like to ask if there are difference/s in the process and documents for spouses MEXT scholars. For example, for the proof of income, the university or the embassy did not give her any official document regarding her stipend, it was just indicated in an orientation letter. Would you know if this document would suffice as a proof of income? Thanks.
Hi Ralph,
First things first, you would be applying for a Dependent Visa, not a Spouse Visa. (The Spouse Visa is only for spouses of Japanese nationals or Permanent Residents). Click the link above for more information on that (much simpler) process.
Regarding the certificate, once your wife has finished her enrollment procedures and all of the MEXT scholarship paperwork, she should be able to go to the International Student Office (or whatever office it is that is administratively processing her scholarship) to get a certificate of scholarship award that shows the amount of monthly stipend that she receives. I remember my office issuing those on a regular basis to MEXT scholars when I worked on the scholarship directly.
She will also need a certificate of enrollment from the university. In most cases, there will be a certificate printing machine where she can get it, but the international student office should be able to help point her in the right direction.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thanks a lot. We got the documents already. I have another question. We plan to get our documents translated so that we can get the CoE earlier. Someone told my wife that there are “professional(?)” translators for these kinds of applications/documents? Would you know if we’re required to have it translated by these translators or is it ok if we just have them translated by our friends? Thank you very much!!! 🙂
Hi Ralph,
There is no standardized certification process for translators. For a translation to be considered “professional” it would need to have the translator’s certification that they are competent to translate from English to Japanese and that they have done so accurately. This is a phrase the translator can write themselves.
It would also need the translator’s signature and contact information.
That’s really all you should need to be considered “professional”. The only other condition I am aware of is that neither you nor your spouse can be the translator for official documents, even if you have the ability to do so.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi! I applied for eligibility for my husband, November last year. It’s been granted February of this year. I just wanna ask if you know, how many months or years interval, to apply for another eligibility for my child?
Hi Karen,
There is no required waiting time. It would have been possible to apply for both your husband’s CoE and your child’s at the same time.
As long as you meet all of the other requirements to apply, then you can start any time!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis! I hope this trend is still updated.. 🙏
I’m a Filipina married to my Japanese Husband. We will be processing my COE this coming October, and I just read your article about it..
The article is really a big help, though, I have some questions also..
1. I am now currently using my husband’s surname in some of my IDs, particularly in my Passport. Should we need to change my name in his Koseki Tohon? Because my name written there is still my birth name with my father’s surname.
2. I am planning to apply for a company in japan, do i need to put my employer even though my employment is not yet confirm?
I am hoping for your response. Thank you in advance!
Hi Celyn Shinya,
Yes! This is still a live thread!
1. It is not a problem that your name has not yet been updated in your husband’s Koseki Tohon. (To be honest I still haven’t changed my name in my wife’s Koseki, 10 years later, even though I’ve changed it everywhere else). You will also be submitting your proof of marriage from the Philippines, so that should clearly show your pre-married name for easy reference.
2. If your employer is not confirmed, then you should not list the company name in your application. For now, I would recommend that you indicate that you would be supported by your husband, since that will be the case on the day that you arrive. Of course, that situation can change later.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you do much Mr. Travis! Really a big help. Godbless you! ☺️
Thank you for having this information! It can be confusing. I am US citizen and my wife is Japanese. (Green card). We live in the US. I am retired. Her US employer is opening a branch office in Tokyo in January 2020 and wants her to Manage the office. It will be for at least 2 years – or longer. Her salary is around $9,600,000¥. We plan to move to Tokyo in January, 2020. I have been told she cannot be Guarantor since she currently lives in US. Is that true? Her sister in Japan has offered to be Guarantor and has a good job. On the CoE do I fill out #25 (“Supporter) with wife’s information or just fill in #25 (Guarantor) with her sister’s information…or BOTH? In this case how would I fill out #24 (Method of Support to pay for expenses while in Japan)? Thanks again!
Hi Rob,
May I ask shere did you hear that your wife could not by your guarantor because of living outside of the country?
Part of the reason I ask is because that is the general rule, and the one I touted on this blog for a while. But then I heard about a situation similar to yours where the Japanese spouse was going to be continually employed by the same company before and after their move to Japan. In that case, the Immigration Bureau said that the spouse could be the guarantor, so it seems like there is a potential exception here. (I think in that case, the person was working for a Japanese company overseas and moving back to the main company, so it’s a little different from your specific case). It might be worth contacting the immigration bureau office directly to ask about what to do in your situation.
In either case, applying with her sister as your guarantor seems to be a safe route with no obstacles, especially if her sister is going to be the one submitting the application for you in Japan.
In your application for, you would fill out #25 (Supporter – for dependent spouses) with your wife’s information and refer to her as your sole financial supporter. Her salary is more than sufficient.
26. Guarantor would be her sister, unless the Immigration Bureau office says that your wife can serve in that role.
For 24., you would fill in: 24.(1). Supporter in Japan: The amount of support your wife will provide you on a monthly basis (100,000-120,000 JPY should be a good target figure) and leave (2) and (3) blank, since they are not relevant in your case.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Travis! Thank you so much!! I think the difference may be that it’s a US company… So I’m clear, her monthly salary is 800,000¥ but you’re saying I should put 120,000, for example, in 24.1 (Supporter in Japan)?
On #25 (Supporter) I guess I leave #4 and #5 blank (Residence card #, Status of residence, Period of stay and date of expiration)? Also, the koseki tohon I have is from 2013 and I read that it should be a current one (which sometimes takes 4-6 weeks to get)! True? Also, (sorry!), do *I* fill in #27 (Applicant, legal rep..or authorized rep…) or leave blank? After all, I am the Application…confusing.
I will also submit 10 labeled couple photos (including wedding ceremony) and 5 pages of emails after we met, Certificate of Marriage (US), my birth Certificate, her Green Card and the Questionnaire. Everything has to be translated into Japanese, correct? On a separate piece of paper?
We were both previously married once before. Do I need to send those Marriage Certificates and copy of Divorce Papers??
Finally (!) Is a copy of the first page of our passports sufficient? I’ve read some say every page should be copied and sent… (What an experience!!)
-Rob – and a million thanks.
Hi Rob,
For the salary and support, you are welcome to put a higher number, if you want. There is no hard and fast rule to put in there, but the general figure I have heard is that they are looking for a CoE applicant to have at least 80,000 – 120,000 JPY of income available to cover living expenses each month. In any case, yes, that figure would go in “Supporter in Japan” in 24.1.
In 25, you would leave (4)-(7) blank. (6 and 7 are on the same line as 5).
All legal documents issued by the Japanese government must be no older than 3 months. Regarding the Koseki Tohon, I have never heard of it taking that long. If your wife can visit the City Hall in the town where her Koseki is registered, she should be able to get it on the spot. Of course, it would take longer to get it by mail.
For 27, that would be the person who is submitting the application to the Immigration Bureau office in person (your sister-in-law?) That would also be the same person to sign below 27.
You may not have to include the email correspondence if you and your wife have been living together for several years after your marriage. That should be proof enough. Email records and those proofs of relationship are more important when you have limited time living together. I also do not think you need your birth certificate – your passport should be sufficient proof of your identity. The US Certificate of Marriage must be translated into Japanese (by a translator, not self-translated) and the Questionnaire also needs to be completed in Japanese, but things like the passport and Green Card do not need translation.
You should not need to send proof of your previous marriages and divorces for this application. You would only need to do that at the stage of registering your marriage with the Japanese authorities in the first place, which I am assuming you have already done.
You only need the copy of the first (information) page of the passport.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Travis,
Thank you again. I took your advice and had my wife call the Immigration Bureau in Kobe and they confirmed that she *can* be the Guarantor even though she is not currently living in Japan. They want her to include last years US income tax form along with the CoE. And you were right – no emails are necessary. We are sending all the papers out on Monday to her relative in Japan who will take the papers to Immigration. Fingers crossed!
You’ve been incredibly helpful!
Hi Rob,
Thank you for your follow-up and kind words! I’m glad to hear that it worked out for your wife to be your guarantor and it sounds like everything is settled.
I have heard recently that CoEs are taking longer than usual to process over these past few months, but I hope you get your favorable results soon!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Good day! I would like to ask some questions regarding on my visa application. I have already received my COE. On my COE I have given 1 year. I wanna live with my Japanese wife who is currently living in Japan. I would like to know what should I put on “Intended length of stay in Japan” can I put “forever”? since I wanna live there.. Should also put a specific date on ” Date of Arrival” and last thing is my last day of work is on August 30, 2019 but I will be applying on August 31, 2019. Should I put my current profession.? Hope you could help me with this. Thank you so much.
Hi jesterph2600,
Congratulations on getting your CoE!
Since your CoE is for a 1-year stay, then you would also fill in 1 year for your visa. Your initial visa length cannot exceed the length of your CoE. But don’t worry, once you are 3 months away from the end of that year, you can apply to renew your residence in Japan for a longer period. I initially came to Japan on a 1-year stay, too, and I’m not a permanent resident without ever having had to leave in the meantime.
For your date of arrival, yes, put a specific date. It is not a commitment, just an estimate, and it can change, but they need to be able to verify that your intended date or arrival is within the validity of the CoE and Visa. You may also be asked to enter your flight number. In most cases, you don’t need to actually have the flight booked at that point, you just need to be able to show that you have researched how you will get to Japan.
Finally, do put your current profession. Even though you are leaving your job in your home country, they want to see that you have skills that you can use to find work in Japan in the future.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!! Thank you so much for your quick response and well explained. I am just thinking what if they will call my former company during the application of my visa and am not currently in that company anymore? would it be okay.
by the way the agency told me it’s okay not to put my current job so I’m thorn apart if I will put my current job. hope you could clear up my mind. thank you.
Hi jesterph2600,
I do not think it’s really important on your visa application so it should be fine to leave it out. You already have a CoE, so the visa application is more or less a formality. They use the same exact visa application form for all kinds of visa types, and the job information is only really important in some cases (intra-company transfer visa, etc., or if you have a job waiting for you in Japan and are applying for a working visa).
In your case, it is not worth stressing over, so if leaving it out makes the most sense, that should be fine!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi jesterph2600,
If you are worried about that, then I would recommend that you indicate your date of resignation in the application form. So, you could write your profession/employer then “(resigned 2019 Aug 30 to move to Japan)”. That way, if they do check with your employer, all the information would be truthful.
By the way, I didn’t think about this when I read your first comment, but Aug 31 is a Saturday and I think the embassy would be closed on weekends.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for unending reply Travis! Salute to you!
Travis. One last question can I put the purpose of my stay is “to live with my wife and work”.?
Hi jesterph2600,
I would recommend that you stick with just “to live with my wife”, since that is the purpose of the visa. You don’t want to accidentally give off the impression that it’s a marriage of convenience so that you can work in Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much, Travis. Lots of big help! keep it up for your undying reply to those who ask!
Hi @jesterph2600 ,
Travis is super helpful. And you know we have the same coe which is 1 year validity. And waiting for the visa which I applied last July 31.
I hope I can receive the visa with coe soon. 😇
Cheers!
I do agree Kris! This thread is so helpful to us. I would like to know what is your nationality? Is it normal to wait for a month for the visa with COE.?
Hi jesterph2600,
I’ll let Kris27 answer, but I just wanted to add my comments:
1. Thank you for your positive feedback!
2. This varies by country. The application process in the Philippines is notoriously long, based on the feedback I’ve seen here. And it’s usually a little longer when an agency is involved, because of their processing time. But a month is certainly on the high end of what I have heard in the past.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi 😇
Filipino here.
I called the agency (Attic Tours). My visa with coe is still on verification. I applied July 31. My coe will expire on October 20. I am worried now. It has been a month.
Thanks much Travis and all in here.
Hi Kris27,
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Yikes! That is a particularly long wait. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of one that bad before. I can’t imagine what would be taking the Embassy so long to review it, unless the agency itself is getting in the way.
I hope you hear back soon!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hope you’ll get your visa soon kris!
Hi! I was wondering if you have received your Visa? I’m from the Philippines and I applied it in the same agency that you did. Any updates?
Hi Travis!
I’m amazed that you still reply to comments so regularly! I have been trying to look up information on the CoE timescale and process online for a student visa, but all the information is very vague. I applied to getting a student visa CoE on May 14th, and was asked to submit further documents on July 28th (I have a misdemeanor, so they needed translated court forms). I submitted them to my school, and they translated them and sent them in by July 29th. My flight is scheduled for August 27th, so I am very scared that I will not get the CoE in time, or that it will be rejected. It has been almost 3 months since I applied. I heard that it is difficult, but is there a strategy in calling them to actually get them to tell you how far along your application is, or to have them speed it up at all? Also, are you familiar with any similar cases to mine, and their timescale? Thank you for your time!
Hi Anna,
Thank you for your kind feedback! I do try to get to the comments section here every day for at least a few minutes per day.
In general, the Immigration Bureau does not reply to inquiries about the status of individual application, but if you have a good reason, then your school may be able to follow up for more information. In your case, if the university submitted the original application on May 14, then the 3-month window for issuing the CoE would end on August 14th, so that’s a good reason to be able to check. The CoE application form also included a line where you were asked to fill in the date that you would plan to fly to Japan, and they should be prepared to issue it in enough time for you to be able to receive the CoE, apply for a visa, and make that flight. So, if time is running short, that, too, is a good enough reason that the Immigration Bureau should listen to to give you a status update.
I would recommend explaining the flight dates to the school again and asking them if they can call the Immigration Bureau to get the status of your CoE and the bureau’s advice for what to do if it does not arrive on time. (Depending on your country, you might be able to enter Japan on a visa-free stay of up to 90 days, then receive your CoE after you arrive in Japan and apply for a Change of Status of Residence. I have done that with my students in situations where their CoEs got lost in the mail, had to be reissued, and didn’t make it to them in time).
Unfortunately, there is a series of holidays in Japan from Aug 10-15 so all universities and government offices will be closed. I would recommend that you contact them by email in the meantime, anyway, and perhaps follow up by phone on Aug 16, Japan time.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
My school said that they do not allow students to go on the study abroad program unless their Certificate of Eligibility is obtained, or notified to be finished and on its way. Since school is starting on the 26th in America, they told me that they have to hear about the CoE being finished by Wednesday the 21st (less than a week from now) otherwise I will not be going. And with the holiday, I will not hear back from the Immigration Bureau until this Sunday the 18th. I sincerely doubt that I will get a positive result in this small amount of time, so I assume I won’t be able to go to japan. I am debating being risky and just going to Japan without a visa but not attending the program until my CoE is received. But then I run the risk of it not being accepted, or of it arriving too late and then it will be too late to take classes in America, and I would have to take a semester off of school. If I would apply for a change of status of residence for a student visa in Japan, about how long would that take? Or would it be a better idea for me to get the school to grant the visa in the US, then send it to me, and have me exit and re-enter Japan. Also, would I then have to travel all the way back to America, or just to the closest country, like Korea?
Hi Anna,
Are you talking about your school in Japan or America that won’t allow you to go without the CoE? That makes a difference in negotiating with them for an exception.
As an American, you can go to Japan on a visa-free stay for up to 90 days (“Temporary Visitor” status) and there is no prohibition against your studying full-time at a university on that status. So, you could go to Japan and start your studies. Your CoE should certainly be issued within that 90-day window and you would then be able to take the CoE, a letter of explanation (stating why you could not wait for the CoE to arrive in America), and a copy of your original CoE application materials, if possible, to the local Immigration Bureau office in Japan and apply for a Change of Status of Residence. Usually, that process takes only a few days to a week, so that should not be a problem.
Exchange students at my university do that all of the time. They come to Japan early for a short program at another university or to intern, or just to travel, all on a Temporary Visitor status. Then, when they arrive on our campus, we hand them their CoE and they go apply for the Change of Status of Residence. It’s never been a problem.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
This post really saved me a major headache after looking high-and-low for the ‘right’ information, so thank you!
I do have a question that I didn’t see addressed in your post though: I’m currently working on an air base under SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) with the U.S. military, and was wondering if I need to actually quit my job BEFORE submitting my documents for the CoE, or if I can begin the CoE process prior to quitting my job? My passport has me legally in Japan via SOFA, but I’m not sure if that will prohibit me from applying until I quit.
If you have any information about this, please let me know!
Hi Patrick,
I’m glad the information from my experience was helpful!
I was also in Japan previously on SOFA status, though I left the country for a year (nothing to do with visa reasons) then applied for my Spouse Visa while living abroad.
However, I researched a few lawyers’ blogs for information on how to transition directly from SOFA to a residence status in Japan and, while the main purpose of their sites is to sell their own services (some charge 100,000 yen to file the application for you. Yikes!), of course, the points below were consistent enough that I believe them to be true:
1. You must apply to acquire a status of residence after terminating your SOFA status. You cannot start the application process while still on SOFA.
2. After terminating your SOFA status, you have to apply to acquire a status of residence within 30 days. (Ministry of Justice page in Japanese)
3. The application process, including the documents that you would need to submit are the same as for applying for a Certificate of Eligibility, etc., but the application form itself is slightly different.
If you can, I would highly recommend that you consult with your local immigration bureau in advance, before separating from your SOFA status to double check the steps and requirements and give yourself enough time to prepare necessary documents, etc.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Travis,
Thank you for your quick reply and helpful insights – you always hear about ex-military members being ‘grandfathered’ in, or ‘flying under the radar’ when it comes to applying for Visas/drivers licenses while still under SOFA, but I had a feeling I’d need to quit before I could start the CoE/Visa process.
Hi Patrick,
When I was stationed here, I didn’t know anyone else who’d decided to move permanently to Japan, so I didn’t hear any of those stories.
Drivers licenses, yes, there was a special military license, but even after driving in Japan for a year with that, when I went to apply for my Japanese license, I still failed the road test.
You can still have everything prepared ahead of time so that you can drop your paperwork on the day you quit. Hopefully that will keep the limbo in the process relatively short.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi! I just want to know if my japanese husband and I (Filipina) should wait first to include my name to his koseki tohon before applying for my CoE? how long does it usually take to register? Thank you so much for this comprehensive blog.
Tina
Hi Tina,
Thank you for your kind words!
Yes, your name does need to be reflected in your husband’s koseki before applying for the CoE. That should generally happen automatically within a few days of your submitting the report of marriage to the city hall. It takes less time if you report your marriage to the city hall in his honseki (legal domicile city) and the amount of time can also depend on how busy that city hall is.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for your reply. He is living in differrent prefecture so we will wait for his updated koseki tohon before we apply my coe. I fully understand the process now. Thanks and more power! 🤗☺
Hi Travis and all,
I hope all goes well.
Tomorrow marks the 3rd month of waiting for the result of COE.
Is there any chance that Japan Immigration will release the result more than three months?
I am worried right now. ^^
To all who have experienced more than three months of waiting, will you be able to share any advice.
Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi Kris27,
I’m sorry to hear that.
In almost every case that I am aware of, the Immigration Bureau gets back to applicants one way or another within 3 months (or usually at least a month before the intended arrival in Japan date on the CoE application).
Did they contact you during the process to submit additional documents? That could sometimes lead to a delay.
Since it has been more than three months, I would recommend that you contact the office where you applied. In general, they do not respond to inquiries about the application status, but they should if they have exceeded their timeline.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis and all,
How are you?
Thank you for your kind response Travis ^^
Mu husband called June 28, 2019 (3rd month) and good timing that was also the day that Japan immigration sent mail by post for additional requirements to be submitted on July 16, 2019.
1. Report of Marriage
– We submitted receipt when we applied and we were asked to submit the original and write explanation letter for returning the original ROM.
2. Advisory On Marriage or AOM.
– As PSA , AOM is not yet available in case because marriage certificate is not yet in their record. PSA said it will be 6 months or more. To request AOM. fill up the CENOMAR application form. CENOMAR is the counterpart of AOM.
3. SNS
Today, my husband will give the additional requirements with the explanation letter as why we cannot provide AOM. Also , a letter asking the original ROM back, ^^
I hope all goes well with my COE application.
Thanks Travis!
Hi Kris27,
Thank you for sharing the update on your progress! It is good to know that you need the original ROM (and that you can get it back) and not just a receipt. I’m sure that will be important information for a lot of applicants here.
The same goes for submitting the explanation form about the AOM.
I hope that with the new submissions it won’t be long before you get the final result – and good news!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I applied COE 23 of May 2019 but still did not answered from them they just asked additional documents and I provided after that no reply from them today 100 Days marked. I am getting worried about COE.
Could anyone share this kind of experience
Thanks
Hi Sohaib,
I’ve heard more and more this summer about people’s applications taking longer than expected, so you are certainly not alone.
Since it has passed the 90-day mark that is their expected maximum processing time, I would recommend that you contact them to follow-up.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for your feedback really appreciate.
One more thing please .if they asked additional documents what does that mean
Is refusal chances high or they asks additional documents from mostly.
Or is it normal practise to ask additional documents. I hope it goes best for me
Thanks
Hi Sohaib,
If they asked for additional documentation, it means that either something was missing or that the evidence that you provided at first was not sufficient for your application to be approved based on that alone.
If you submitted the additional documents that meet their expectations, then you should not have any trouble. But it does usually mean that your application is going to take longer to approve, since they will put it on hold for review until the additional documents arrive.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
Thank you very much for all the helpful information. I would like to ask for your opinion, as you know I applied on 23 of May 2019 but still did not got any reply. we called them and they said wait its under process now at this moment really worried point because its already 4 months and 15 days passed.
whats your opinion regarding this matter if they take this much long what is successful chances of COE.
And have you heard more applicants like this whos COE taking this long period of time.
Thanks
Hi Sohaib Khalid,
Up until this year, I never heard of applications taking more than 3 months to process, regardless of whether they were successful or not. Yours is the longest processing time that I have heard of so far, but I do not think that has any connection to whether or not it will be successful or not. Both successful and unsuccessful applications have been taking longer.
I learned recently that the Immigration Bureau had a structural reorganization this year. They expanded to take on a much larger mission, but so far, their funding and staffing have not caught up to the larger responsibilities. So I think that is one of the main reasons that responses have been so slow. A better indication of the chances of success is not time, but how much (if any) additional documentation you have been asked to submit during the application review. A larger amount could indicate more potential challenges.
In your CoE application, did you fill in the line saying when you intend to travel to Japan? In my experience, they sometimes use that entry as a guideline (or as their own deadline) for when they need to finish the application review.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks a lot for your precious fast reply.
i dont know about intend to travel to japan my lawyer filled the application and submit.
lets see what result comes hope for the best .
thank you so much
Hi Sohaib,
If a lawyer submitted the application on your behalf, they should have kept a copy, so you might be able to check with them to see what date they filled in for your intended travel.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
Thank you very much for all the helpful information. I would like to ask for your opinion,
On 28/10/2019 they asked additional documents and i provided them documents on 01/11/2019.
its already 5 months and 15 days passed. How long i should wait more to get the Result of COE.
Thanks
Hi Sohaib,
Wow, that is the longest I have ever heard for the CoE application processing.
I do not know what to tell you about how long it should take, since the original time frame is supposed to be three months. But if you only just submitted the additional documents, I would expect it to take at least another month from that date.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
GOOD DAY TO YOU SIR TRAVIS 🙂
finally i have seen detailed information regarting for applying COE..
and i know you can help me with few questions. please
1.In the 1st page of 質問書 there are kanji
申 請 人 (applicant)
国籍・地域 (im confused in this kanji)
should my husband fill out this with my nationality (ex.firipinjin or philippines) ?
氏 名 女/男 = this is my name and my husband i guess.
2. 2nd box below (1st page)
is this about me (my information to be fill out with my husband) or its about him?
3.in the 2nd box the is also this kanji 国籍・地域 is this a nationality or a country of who? me or he?
4. there are question about job/company name/company number etc.
if this is about me how he could write N/A as no job or he can leave that blank?.
i know he must be the one who fill out the form but for mistaken purpose i want to send a sample.
because this month i was denied for some mistake he send me guarantee letter for my visiting relatives visa but he only filled out his information and leave incomplete my information. I am really affraid to make the same mistake again.
thank you travis im expecting for your reply…
i actually saved your page in my small notebook thank you very much
Hi Mrs. Nakakura,
1. On the first page, that should be your information. You do not fill in anything for the 申請者 box itself. 国籍・地域 would be your nationality. 氏名 is your name and for the 女/男, you should circle your sex (female 女).
2./3. The second box is about your husband.国籍・地域 in tha tbox should refer to his nationality.
4. If your husband has no job, then he should write no job (無職), not leave it blank. If he leaves it blank, the Immigration Bureau might just think it is incomplete and ask him to resubmit it.
For what it’s worth, I hear very often that people who are married to Japanese nationals often get rejected for a tourist visa to visit their spouses. I think it is because the Immigration Bureau does not want them to come on a tourist visa and become an illegal overstay, so it tries to force you to apply for a spouse visa, instead. Getting rejected for a tourist visa should not have a negative effect on getting a spouse visa later.
I hope that helps!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
GOOD DAY TO YOU TRAVIS,
Been looking for this detailed kind of article finally…i guess laptop waybetter than my phone.
thank you it really help me a lot. and the jap. translation help me a lot here ,because my husband dont understand english im just started studying jap.(only basic)
my husband and i were married for almost 2 years. because of being naive to the application. were married in japan and were waiting for my coe gto arrive without applying it we didnt even bother to ask lol. at the same time we didnt registered our marriage in the philippines.so it takes a long long time. i also applied to tourist visa and my passport was rejected. my husband went to philippines early this year to bring all documents feb this year we registered our marriage here and until now im waiting for my marriage certificate to arrived.(this takes forever) i applied the same tourist visa guarantored by husband and denied again.(very stressing) i talk to him few days ago and he was crying he kept asking me gomen ne jenny.. now we will try COE application. i hope everything goes well…. thank you travis i note every requirements you posted here. so helpful
Hi Jennychan,
I am sorry to hear about all the struggles you have experienced so far in the application process.
I hope the marriage registration process goes quickly for you so that you can get your certificate soon.
While my post and book are in English, most of this information already exists in Japanese on the Immigration Bureau‘s website, so I think your husband might be able to refer to that site for more information. I wrote this blog because the English explanation on the Immigration Bureau’s site was not nearly as complete.
I hope that link helps get him the same information in Japanese that you have in English!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis. This article is a huge help. Thank you. We are going through the checklist for the certificate of eligibility now. Just went to get the family register copy and tax information. Including the questionnaire, some photos and messages of our time together I think we’re nearly ready. Stressful is an understatement. Can’t wait to celebrate
Any problems I’d like to ask for your humble advice. Thanks
Hi David,
Thank you for your kind words! If you do have questions, please leave them in the comments here and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Right now, we are in the final days of the MEXT scholarship application process, which is another of the main focuses of this blog, so I am getting a lot of questions and am several days behind on answering, but I will try to get back to you as soon as possible!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for your wonderful blog! One of the questions I have is about the wedding certificate (which my son who has permanent residency and his Costa Rican wife received in Costa Rica) Can they turn in a COPY of the certificate for their COE application ? Does it need an apostille? Does it need to be translated into Japanese?
Thanks so much for any help you can give us!
Hi Kari,
I was just in Costa Rica visiting family!
Your son would need an original or notarized (apostille) copy for his wife, with a Japanese translation, and would possibly also need one from his home country (unless he is also a Costa Rican citizen, in which case, one copy will do).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
What a helpful article you have written! and it looks like you have helped MANY people through the comments, too! Thank you. We are permanent residents in Japan, and we are trying to help our son and his wife. She is Costa Rican and they have been married for 4 years and living in Costa Rica that whole time. But our son has permanent residency in Japan, and they would like to move to Japan soon. I have two questions.
1. On the website it says, “Once the COE is issued, you can then go to the Japanese Embassy or Consulate nearby, in order to have the visa issued/stamped on your passport.” But what if they are already in Japan? (she will come on a ninety day visa this summer). Can the visa be issued here in Japan? or would she have to go back to Costa Rica first?
2. They were given a marriage certificate in Cost Rica. Would they need to turn in the original marriage certificate? or could they turn in a copy? would a Costa Rican marriage certificate be sufficient?
Thank you so much in advance for your help!
Hi Kari,
Thank you very much for your kind words!
I’m actually off to Costa Rica next week to visit a relative. It’ll be my first trip there.
1. In general, someone who receives a CoE would be expected to apply for a visa outside of Japan. It may be possible to take the CoE to an Immigration Bureau office in Japan and apply for a Change of Status of Residence by filling out the form and submitting it with just the CoE, but there is no guarantee that it would be accepted. There are no rules on whether or not to accept a Change of Status application from a Temporary Visitor status to Spouse status and it is up to the discretion of the office. Usually, they would make the applicant submit an explanation and make the determination based on that. In the worst case scenario, it would not hurt to try!
Even if she was not able to change her status of residence in Japan, it is possible that she would not have to go back to Costa Rica. She could also consider taking the CoE to a Japanese embassy in another country (such as Korea or somewhere else close) to apply for a visa there.
2. They would need an original or certified/notarized copy of the marriage certificate, plus a certified translation into Japanese. As long as your son is a citizen of Costa Rica and Permanent Resident of Japan, that should be sufficient. (If your son had citizenship in another country, then they would also need a marriage certificate from that country).
I hope that helps!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Good day!
I am quite anxious at this time for we haven’t received our COE. We submitted together on March 28, 2019 in Japan Immigration – Tokyo Region. . I am now in Cebu. Maybe I expected the wrong way. I thought I would receive within a month after submitting because we did all from the marriage until COE application in Tokyo.. ^^ Please enlighten me. ^^
Big thanks!
Hi Kris27,
The processing time for a CoE is 1-3 months, with 1 being unusually short, so you are well within the range now. Recently, I have seen 2 months or more being a common time frame for CoE applications, and that’s even if nothing goes wrong or Immigration does not contact the applicants for additional documents. If you did the application in Tokyo, it will probably take a little longer, since that is the busiest office.
Is there someone still at the address in Japan that you wrote in the CoE application form? There should be someone there to check the mail when the CoE arrives or if the Immigration Bureau contacts you to request additional documentation.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you very much for your support to all of us here. Should there be someone to receive the coe? Or if it has been sent and no one ia there because of work, will they happen to call ? My husband checked on the address that was in coe form, and it has not yet arrived. Also, no one called. One month has passed by. Probably we will wait until Jume 28. I hope all goes well for our journey. Thanks much Travis! 😇
Hi Kris27,
Someone does not need to be present when the CoE is delivered, but there does need to be someone checking the mail to get it after it arrives. It should come in the normal post.
In my experience, when the Immigration Bureau wants extra documentation, they also ask for it by post, in general.
Since it has been only one month, I do not think there is anything to worry about – I almost never hear of CoEs being issued that quickly. Two months or more seems to be more common.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you so much for making this very helpful blog! I’m a Japanese citizen and married to a Filipino. I have never worked in Japan. We are both in overseas. My husband and I are planning to move there. This is kind of same case with yours except that I’ll go there to collect the docs needed and apply for him. We just have few clarifications below, hope you could help.
1. Since I won’t have work yet when I arrive in Japan, I can’t be his guarantor and financial supporter, is that right?
2. I saw that he can put in the application form that he will support himself. He has savings in his bank account here in the Philippines. How much do you think is needed? And also, do we need a bank certificate (shows the as of balance) or a bank statement (shows the history of account movement)?
Thank you very much!
Hi Mako,
Thank you very much for your kind words!
1) It would depend on what you have for savings. I have heard of cases recently where the Japanese spouse was told they could be the guarantor if they had enough savings in the bank to support the couple’s lifestyle while they looked for work (or if the Japanese spouse had a job lined up already). But if you do not have savings or a job offer, then you probably would not be able to be your husband’s guarantor.
2) Typically, the Immigration Bureau wants to see between 80,000 – 120,000 yen per month in support available to the person applying for the CoE. (It would be on the lower end since you are a married couple and would be sharing some expenses, assuming that you also intend to support yourself). A bank certificate/balance statement should be fine. You should not need a statement showing account movement unless you were using that to show regular salary deposits, but that does not seem to be the case for you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for your response! You helped a lot. One more question though, in application form and guarantee letter, do we need to write in english letters or in japanese characters? Sorry I got a little bit confused. Thank you in advance!
Hi Mako,
I’m glad I could help!
For the letter of guarantee, I recommend writing in Japanese (except for foreign names, which should be in English), if you can. The document will be submitted to the Japanese Immigration Bureau and they don’t always have great English speakers.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis! Thank you again for all these information, just got my COE and it took almost 3 months but we are truly grateful for this as we didnt have to go back and fort with the requirements and process, we submitted all documents and waited and didn’t hear anything from the immigration, which we believe is a good thing for they won’t require us to submit any other papers. More power and success to you and your family!
Hi James,
Thank you very much for letting me know!
I appreciate your feedback and kind words.
Good luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
OMG Travis! thank you for these comprehensive guide on COE & marriage registration procedures. My Japanese fiance & I were so clueless on whats next (for legal processing in Japan) after deciding to get marry and for me to move to Japan as he is living in Japan while I have been going in & out of Japan via tourist visa for past few years. Thank you so much!
Hi SJ,
I’m so glad I could help! It was a headache for me to go through as well, so that was why I tried to collect all the necessary information in one place.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
My employer has applied for COE. I have reference number of the application.
Is there any website where I can track my COE status online using this Reference number ?
Thanks.
Hi raj Kumar Gupta,
Unfortunately, no. There is no way to know the progress of your CoE application. The Immigration Bureau refuses to provide any updates or respond to inquiries in my experience.
I am involved in hundreds of CoE applications each year and still, I get no word until the completed CoE arrives in the mail. (Unless, of course, there’s a problem that needs correction – in that case they contact the applicant).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks Travis-san. By the way, how many days typically it takes for COE approval ?
Regards,
Raj
Hi raj Kumar Gupta,
According to the Immigration Bureau, the typical processing time is 1-3 months. There are many variables that can go into it, such as how busy the office is when you apply, the type of CoE, the straightforwardness of the documents. . . I would count on it taking 1-2 months if everything goes well (e.g. no replacement documents required). It usually does not go much longer than that, in my experience at least, unless you are asked to submit additional documentation partway through.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I’d like to ask regarding juminzei (Residence Tax) Payment
My husband had his new job for two months now.
His previous jobs were part-time for 3 years and resigned in January 2019.
Is this fine?
Kris27
Hi Kris,
Your husband’s Juminzei would be based on his taxable income from approximately 1.5 years ago. The Juminzei amount is released in about June of each year and is based on the previous calendar year’s income. So, at this point (March 2019), his most recent Juminzei would have been issued in June 2018 and based on his income in 2017. As long as he was fully employed in that year, it should not be a problem.
He may also want to submit a current certificate of employment that shows his income at his current job, too, especially if it is more than what he earned in the past.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thanks for your kind response.
We submitted the COE application last Thursday and followed the checklist you have shared. There was no certificate of employment included. ^^ Hopefully it will be successful.
Do you think it is a good season for the application?
Best Regards
Hi Kris,
The months leading up to April 1 are extremely busy at the Immigration Bureau, but things should be settling down now after that rush. (Of course, it can change from region to region.) I hope that means your application will be processed quickly!
Please let me know how it goes.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Sure I will let be updating my case.
Thanks heaps Travis!
Best Regards
Hi Travis,
Many thanks for this awesome guide, it’s so helpful your responses.
For question 8 on your checklist for a spouse visa “Wedding Certificate issued by the foreign spouse’s country”
I got married to my Japanese wife in Japan, I’m from the United Kingdom (England).
Would I need a wedding certificate from my country? Even though we got married in Japan and the marriage was registered in Japan?
Lastly, I only have online banking, can I use my online statements to show my savings for the certificate of eligibility?
Hi Richard,
Yes, you would need proof of marriage issued by the UK, if the UK records marriages conducted under other countries’ laws. If it does not, then you would need to include a statement saying that the UK does not issue any documentation for marriages conducted under other countries’ laws and acknowledges those foreign marriages as legally valid. (Japan requires its citizens to register foreign marriages again in Japan, so it assumes all other countries do the same, unless told otherwise). Check with your embassy in Japan to be sure which course is correct for you.
For your banking documents, a statement printed from your online banking system that shows your name and your balance on the same sheet of paper should be sufficient.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
Thank you for all your help! I received my COE today! I understand I have 3 months in which to move to Japan? Once I go to the embassy consulate in the UK (England) to get my Visa, does this still give me 3 months in which to move to Japan?
Many Thanks!
Hi Richard,
Congratulations! You have 3 months from the date of issue of the CoE to arrive in Japan and process through Immigration. Even though your visa may be valid for longer, your first arrival in Japan must be within 3 months of the CoE date, regardless of what the visa says.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, thank you for an amazing blog, its helped me get so far with my applications.
I’m at the stage where i have my CoE all sorted.
I’m ready to apply for visa but havent booked flights yet as i wont be doing so until after i receive the visa.
On the visa application form, it asks for port of entry, flight number etc. I have put down the details i intend to use however this may change as i may find a cheaper deal elsewhere before i go.
Is this an issue at all? Would it be a problem if i turned up in japan on a different flight/port of entry than what i applied to the embassy with? Do they even record it?
Thanks for your help 🙂
Vallie
Hi Vallie,
I’m glad I’ve been able to help!
It is not a problem at all if you change your port of entry or even date of entry later. Most people are in the exact same situation as you, where they haven’t bought tickets yet. It is fine to just look up a likely route and fill in that information for now.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
thank you so much Travis! you’ve removed my doubts which is a huge relief! 🙂
Hi Travis. I am very happy to have found this website/blog. You are such an amazing person. I have a question. I am from the Philippines and I got a job recommendation from someone who works in the bureau of education in Minato, Tokyo. He will be applying for the COE on my behalf soon. I am married and i have a 6-year-old son. I hope to come to Japan with them together. Are they also required to apply for a COE separately? Or can i just include them on my COE application form as indicated in Item #15 (Accompanying persons). If we apply together, besides the marriage certificate and my son’s birth certificate, am I required to show proof of funds? Are there any other documents that I should be submitting as well? And should all my documents be translated to Japanese? Thank you very much🙏🙏🙏
Hi Alan,
Thank you for your kind words!
Each person coming to Japan will need a separate CoE and Visa, which means that you would need to complete the application and all required documents for each one.
Depending on the company that is hiring you, they may be able to apply for a Dependent CoE for your wife and son at the same time as yours – it depends on the size and category of the hiring organization. The only way to check if that is possible would be to contact them directly.
If they cannot, then you would have to come to Japan first and, as soon as you complete your residence registration and have your employment documentation in order, you would apply for a Dependent CoE for each of them. The Dependent CoE application process is much simpler than the Spouse Visa Application I describe in this article (the “Spouse” category is only for spouses of Japanese citizens or permanent residents). The link above will take you to my article about how to apply for that.
Yes, your official documents, such as birth and wedding certificates, would have to be translated into Japanese.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you very much for the prompt reply, Travis. So if the company can’t apply for a dependent COE for my wife and son at the same time as mine, can they come to Japan with me on a tourist visa and process their COE while in Japan? Thank you very much again.
Sorry, Travis. Just found the answers from the link. Thanks a lot!
Hi Alan,
No problem at all. Just to be sure – no, unfortunately, they would not be able to come to Japan and change their status to Dependent while in the country. The change from Tourist status to Dependent status is one of the only changes I know of that is not permitted in the country.
I hope your employer can get the CoE for them so that this is not an issue!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis!
This blog is so helpful! The whole application process made sense to me now. Thanks to you! 🙂
Just a question though, I am a Filipino living in Japan with a long term resident status. My husband and I just got married last month. Our wedding ceremony was held in the Philippines. He is from England. Do I need to register our marriage to UK government before I apply for COE? I’d appreciate your response. Thank you!
Hi Adelfa,
I’m not sure if the UK government does register marriages conducted under foreign law. If it does, then yes, your marriage would have to be registered with them, and you would need to submit proof of that registration when you apply for your husband’s visa.
By the way, in your case, you would not be applying for a Spouse Visa – that is only for spouses of Permanent Residents or Japanese citizens. There is a separate type of visa for spouses of Long-Term Residents. It depends on your category of Long Term Resident Status, though, as to what the requirements and exact process are. The application for spouse of a 2nd generation Japanese descendant or spouse of a 3rd generation Japanese descendant are different.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
My wife has being filling out the COE for me to try and move to Japan with the annual income etc for her as guarantor. I noticed there’s no section for my expenses. Is this something I have to include? like bank statements or how much money I have in my account? Or it’s not needed?
Thank you
Richard
Hi Richard,
There is nowhere in the CoE application form that you have to list expenses – the Immigration Bureau has their own estimates (and therefore standards) of what your expenses would be in Japan, so they don’t ask that.
There is a section under financial support where you are asked to show your monthly amount of support from various sources. In that section, it is possible to fill in the support from your wife’s income as well as any support you might be deriving from your own savings or income (The “Self” line). If you fill in that you will derive part of your support from your own resources, then I would certainly recommend attaching bank statements to indicate your level of savings.
Every source of financial support you can show helps, so if you have any significant resources, I would certainly recommend filling that in and attaching the supporting documents.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you very much for your blog and your help. I am have double citizenship (Mexico and Canada) I have been living in Japan for the past 2 years and a half. The Japanese authorities are asking me to submit documents as a Canadian as a Mexican. Which means I must register my marriage in both Canada and Mexico. The good news is that the Canadian government recognizes the marriage that was registered in Japan (so nothing to do here except directing the authorities to the marriage section of the Canadian consulate of Nagoya webpage). As for the Mexico, they are asking me to register my marriage there, luckily, my father lives there and has been assisting me (it has been a true nightmare dealing with the Mexican government). I will have my marriage registered by February 14th, and then apostilled. Do you know if the Japanese authorities require an official translation? (My wife forgot to ask them). Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Hi Jorge,
Typically, for any official documents, such as a marriage certificate, an official translation would be required.
The standards for an official translation are not precisely laid out though. Essentially, a translation conducted by someone who swears that they are competent in both languages to be able to perform the translation and that the final product is a true and accurate representation, should be fine. (When I first started writing this blog, TranSenz was a translation company and we used to do these kinds of translations).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis.
Regarding the requirements for the visa application.
Do you have a link for the Visa Application Form?
Thank you.
Hi Stephen,
Sorry, but I deliberately do not share links to official forms on my site, because I am worried that the forms could change in the future and do not want to direct anyone to the wrong information.
You should be able to get the visa application form from the website of the Japanese embassy in your country (as well as any other required forms they might have).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Is it possible to apply for a spouse visa from within Japan if I’m in Japan as a temporary visitor?
Hi Stephen,
If you are in Japan as a Temporary Visitor, then you would apply for a “Change of Status of Residence” to Spouse Status (not a visa). If you ask the immigration bureau or embassy if you can apply for a “visa” from within Japan, they will tell you “no”, because they are hung up on terminology.
The application requirements for a Change of Status are exactly the same as applying for a CoE, but the application form itself is slightly different. If you already have the CoE and want to apply for a Change of Status within Japan, that is also possible, and much easier. Typically, you would only need the CoE, the application form, a photo, and an explanation as to why you are applying within Japan, instead of from overseas.
The one caution I would offer is that if you apply for a Change of Status of Residence from within Japan and you do not yet have a CoE, it is the Immigration Bureau’s judgement call as to whether they would accept your application or whether they would tell you that you have to apply for a CoE, then leave the country and apply for a visa. As long as you have a compelling reason why you could not obtain the CoE and visa before arriving in Japan as a Temporary Visitor, they should accept your Change of Status application.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Looking at the webpage for choosing the application for change of status of residence form. Would purpose of entry be my purpose for entering Japan when I entered. Which would be temporary visitor. If so I should choose the temporary visitor form (no 1) and not the spouse or child of Japanese national form (no 13). Is that right?
Thanks again Travis.
Hi Stephen,
You should select the purpose for changing your status, not the status you held before, so choose the form that corresponds to the status you are applying to change to. (Spouse of Japanese National)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Good day Travis,
thank you for the information. I have question, last December I submitted all the necessary documents for applying COE in Yokohama Immigration. last week of December my brazilian husband recieved a letter from immigration asking for additional documents like Family tree, report of marriage to our both home country. I am from Philippines and she is from Brazil and we married in Japan. I already reported my marriage but we went to Brazil consulate to report our marriage but we cannot report our marriage to Brazil consulate unless I didn’t change my last name yet. So I need to change my passport last name. My problem is, if I change my passport last name using my husband’s last name is this a problem to immigration? because I already submitted documents to immigration using my old passport maiden name? what should i do? Looking forward to hear from you. thank you
Hi Lynn,
I’m afraid I’ve never dealt directly with your situation. My recommendation would be to follow-up with the Immigration Bureau to check if it would be a problem if your name changed in the meantime and how you can work around it. There should be some way to make it work, but I don’t know what that would be off-hand.
I imagine that the Immigration Bureau gave you a deadline to submit all of the remaining paperwork and I hope that gives you enough time to take care of the name change!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Do you have any idea of how much is the payment in Japan to notarize documents?
Thanks heaps
Hi Kris,
The only time I had to have a document notarized in Japan, I actually got it done by my embassy. Since the cost would vary by embassy, I would recommend that you contact your country’s embassy or check their website.
I have never had a document notarized by a Japanese notary and have never seen an example of that system, so I am afraid that I cannot be much help. Japan uses a different system and Japanese official documents, in general, do not need notarization. In most cases, you can simply get a new “original” from the issuing office or they use a system of “Jitsuin” personal seals that are the relative equivalent of a notarized signature.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Traviz,
I truly appreciate your response. We have not submitted ROM in Philippine Embassy yet due to work responsibility. So we decided to send by mail. I emailed ”civil registration section” of Philippine Embassy and they replied that we just have to notarized 4 sets of ROM application forms attached with other requirements and can send by mail. We just do not have any idea now of where to have the documents notarized in Japan. We are thinking to look for it in the city hall.
Thanks Traviz
Hi Kris27,
Thank you for your update. You need to be sure to receive some sort of documentation from the Philippine Embassy confirming that they have received your ROM, since you will need proof of having filed it to apply for the CoE.
I’m sorry that I was not able to help with the Notary services. Honestly, my recommendation to you would have been to get it done at the Embassy, but that is counter-productive in your case. Please let me know if you do find someone else who can perform notarial services in Japan!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for all the information 🙂
Is a receipt enough as a proof of Report Of Marriage?
Then can proceed to Immigration for COE or Change of resident status? This is for a spouse of a Japanese national.
All the Best Travis 🙂
Hi Kris,
Yes, proof of the Report of Marriage should be sufficient, based on what I have heard from past applicants.
If you are in Japan, then I recommend trying to apply for a Change of Status of Residence. All of the supporting documents are the same, only the application form itself is slightly different. In the worst case scenario, if they tell you that you need to apply for a CoE, you will still have everything prepared, you would just have to copy your information from one application form to another.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you very much Travis! You are a big help. We are still in the process but hope everything will go smoothly.
Hi Travis.
Do I need to fill in question 25 (supporter) on the coe?
I put guarantor for question 24
For question 27 on the coe am I right in thinking I should put my address in the UK?
For my signature should I actually sign it or just print my name?
Thank you
Hi Stephen,
If you selected Guarantor in question 24, then you do not need to fill in question 25.
For question 27, if you are living in Japan and will submit the application yourself, you should put your address in Japan – of course, if you’re living in Japan, then you should probably use the Application for Change of Status of Residence, instead, if possible. If you are not living in Japan and someone else will be filing it on your behalf, they should fill in their information including their address in Japan.
This is the address and contact information that the Immigration Bureau will use if there are any questions, problems, or additional documents required and is also the address where they will send the completed CoE once it has been approved, so it needs to be within Japan.
For the signature you (or the person submitting the form on your behalf, if you are not doing so yourself) should sign it. (A Japanese person would simply handwrite their name, since the concept of signatures is different here, but a foreign national should sign, using the signature that matches their passport.)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Fill in details of the husband’s family, wife’s family, and your children, including relationship, name, age, address (enter “dead” for deceased relatives), and phone number. If you have no children together, you must enter “none” (なし) in table (2)
What is meant by family here?
Do I need to put my mother, father, brother and sisters?
Any other family then this?
Thank you
Hi Stephen,
I think this question if from the questionnaire, right?
You would need to fill in all of your immediate family: Parents, siblings, children. You would not need to include any other relatives.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Travis, I am filling out the renewal form (very similar to the initial COE form) and have a few doubs:
a) Home town/city / 本国における居住地
Is this the one back from my home country (basically the same I wrote when I applied for the COE) or the new residence address in Japan?
b) Reason for extension / 更新の理由
What should I write here? Something like “To continue living with my wife and working in Japan”?
c) Method of support and an amount of support per month (average) / 支弁方法及び月平均支弁額
I am planning to write something only in the “self” category, specifying my monthly salary (I will include also docs from my company as proof). Would be that OK?
As usual, really thank you very much for your help. Gab.
Hi Gab,
I should probably put together an article about that renewal form at some point in the near future.
a) This would be your home town in your native country, not your place of residence in Japan.
b) If it’s a spouse visa, I would simply say “Continue living with my wife in Japan.” You don’t need to mention working, since that is not the purpose of the status.
c) Your plan sounds perfect!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello there! I would like to ask for your humble assistance regarding my application for COE as Spouse of Japanese National. We got married here in the Philippines and our 1st attempt to apply for COE was denied. However, we are still tried to apply for the 2nd time around with the help of Samurai Immigration Law Firm. They have informed us yesterday that the Immigration Bureau requires additional requirement which is the ADVISORY ON MARRIAGE. I just want to ask the probability of chance to acquire COE after submitting this document.
Hi Fiachra Gil Pancho,
As I mentioned in a previous comment, I’m afraid I do not know what that document is. If that is the only document that the Immigration Bureau requested and you submit it on time, then I would think that you should have a good chance of approval, but since I have never seen your application and the other materials you submitted, my opinion is little more than a guess.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks for the reply! Our 1st attempt to apply for COE on our own was not granted because we did not submit enough evidences like pictures and proof of communucations. But this time around we seek help from Samurai Immigration Law Firm and they filed it last October 22, 2018. We also submit a selective copy of our conversations in Messenger, 50 pcs. of photos together and during our wedding and we submit some copies of Remittances receipts. Last Saturday, we were informed of the said document. My question is how long would it take to wait after submitting it? Advisory of Marriage is a certificate showing a history of your marriage. Since this is my 1st marriage and he is a widowed. Can you please share your thoughts on this matter?
Hi Fiachara Gil Pancho,
Unfortunately, there is no way to tell how long it would take – I have no idea how far the Immigration Bureau was into processing your documents when they determined that item was needed or what other procedures they have left to complete.
In general, the application review process should take no more than 3 months, so I would expect that you would have a response or your CoE around Jan 22, but since they requested additional documentation rather late in the review process, it may take a little longer.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis! I submitted my additional document last January 23 and I received my COE February 10! Its time to apply the visa ! Thank you for the relevant information you have shared with me.
Hi Fiachra Gil Pancho,
Thank you very much for letting me know! I’m very happy to hear that everything went well after you submitted the additional documents.
The visa application should be nothing to worry about, so it should be smooth sailing from here.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Fiachra Gil Pancho ,
I’d like to ask about the selective conversation you sent. How many pages did you submit? We were also asked by this.
Hoping for your kind response.☺
Concerning question 20.
Do I need to write down my Japanese wife as “family in Japan”
Thanks again Travis.
Regards.
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
If your wife is currently residing in Japan, then yes.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Travis,
I’m about finished with the checklist. However, I called the English line and asked if I needed to send in the questionnaire form the and lady said no. Since my wife and I are not Japanese (Canada & USA).
Should I just fill in the questionnaire and letter of guarantee (translated) anyway?
Hi Dennis,
Just to be clear, one of you is a permanent resident of Japan, right?
If one of you is a permanent resident and the other is applying for a spouse of permanent resident CoE, then the Questionnaire is listed as one of the required documents. However, if neither of you is a permanent resident (e.g. working visa, student visa, etc.) then the other spouse would be applying for a Dependent Visa, instead, and that process does not require completing the Questionnaire. It’s possible that the lady you spoke to misunderstood what you are applying for. Immigration Bureau staff unfortunately are not always consistent and on the ball. I recommend calling again to see if you can talk to someone else and make sure that person knows what kind of CoE you are applying form.
If you are applying for a Spouse of Permanent Resident CoE, then everything I know of says that both the Questionnaire and Letter of Guarantee (both submitted in Japanese) are required. Here’s the link directly to the Immigration Bureau website page that says so (in Japanese).
http://www.moj.go.jp/ONLINE/IMMIGRATION/ZAIRYU_NINTEI/zairyu_nintei4.html
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Travis,
Makes complete sense now. I’m not a PR, just with a Work Visa. Thanks!!
Hi Traviz, sorry in advance for any english grammar mistake! (Brazillian here texting) First of all, you are a person of immense heart, never saw someone so commited in helping so many people the way you do, answering every single question and counseling for more than 3 years now, I don’t even have words to express gratitude.
Hope by some way, you can help me too! My situation it’s like this, I met my girlfriend 2 years ago in a language exchange cellphone app (she is, and always lived in Japan, she have double nationality, both Brazillian and Japanese), we are being close to each other every day being on video calls and texting, Since I tryed to apply for a tourist Visa to Japan and got denied (most I think because of finnancial matters) we decided to meet up in South Korea, and we did at July, 2018.
By that travel we stayed together for about 15 days, in that time we took a lot of videos and pictures together as a couple. nowadays we are talking about getting married, but some of my concerns are:
1. Because she is a part-time worker and doesn’t make a good amount of money, we were thinking on taking her parents (Brazillian father, Japanese mom) as guarantor for my COE, do you think we could have any kind of complications trying that way?
2. Because we got to know each other in a different way (being couple in distance) and just met once in Korea for 15 days, maybe they could think this is not strong enough evidence to accept us as a valid marriage? Besides of pictures and videos together, the only way I can think of proving a strong bond would be having historic and log on skype video calls or Whatsapp text messages.
3. There’s any time we should wait to apply for the COE after getting officially married or even we should plan for another trip and be together to have more pictures together after marriage?
4. Even I speak portuguese, and I am studying Japanese we don’t communicate in our native languages, we speak in english, there would be any concerns about that too?
Sorry for this long post, since we are really worried if this work for us, we have to be sure to have all spots covered, and you are really kind and helpful to everyone, hope you can help me too. I read this blog post again and saw that you have an updated guide even with some samples on how to do it, Certainly I will buy it, not only to get more help about this, but because you more than anyone deserves for all the work .
Hi Andre,
Thank you for your kind words! I didn’t realize that it had been three years since I had written this post. Wow!
1. Having your spouse’s parents as your guarantor is perfectly valid – that’s what I did. In our case, we were both living overseas and moving back together, so neither of us had employment at the time. Since your girlfriend does have some income, though, she might want to check in advance with the Immigration Bureau for their advice.
2. The Immigration Bureau specifically refers to attaching records of calls, texts, etc., to show the level of communication between you in the case of long-distance relationships. It might end up making your application package very heavy, but if you can include records that show how often you were in touch (not necessarily including all of the contents of each conversation), that should help prove a strong relationship.
3. You cannot apply for the CoE until you are legally married and have that documentation. In the meantime, getting together again would help make your case stronger, yes. I assume you would also want to get together for the actual marriage.
4. In the “Questionnaire” form, it asks what language you use to communicate and I think it also asks about your relative fluency in that language. If you can show that you can both communicate competently in English, that should not be a problem.
I wish you both the best of luck! I really do appreciate the gesture of gratitude, but please do not feel pressured to buy the guidebook unless you want the more detailed explanations and sample forms I included in there.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thanks heaps fot your blog. ☺
I am married to a Japanese national in Japan. I am a Filipino. And not yet done with report of marriage because his koseki tohon will be released on January 8, 2019.
I would like to ask:
1. Can my Japanese husband do the report of marriage in Philippine embassy in Tokyo Japan? I have come back to Philippines because I have to go back to work. The form is ready with my signature in it.
2. Can he process the certificate of eligibilty without report of marriage?
Hope to hear from you. Thank you very much ☺
Hi Kris,
I’m glad you found the blog helpful!
At this point, it probably doesn’t matter because it is only two more work days before your husband’s koseki tohon is released, but you may have been able to go ahead with the report of marriage based on the Certificate of Acceptance of the Report of Marriage (婚姻届受理証明書 kon’in todoke juri shomeisho), which is also considered a legal document showing that you have registered your marriage. However, that is a much longer form to translate.
1. The answer to this question really depends on the policy of the Philippine Embassy, not the Japanese Immigration Burea. Unfortunately, that is out of my area of expertise, so I would recommend that you call them directly to check.
2. No, you would need proof that you had registered your marriage with the Philippine government. You do not need the final certificate from the Bureau of Statistics, though, just proof that you have submitted the report to the embassy/consulate.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Kosekitohon is already released and my Japanese husband went to Philippine Embassy for the report of marriage with the requirements except I was not with him. Therefore, ROM was not yet processed. Planning to go to Japan and We will both go to Report the Marriage. To my understanding, since I will be in Japan, I will have to apply change of status, right?
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Thanks a lot Travis!
Hi Kris,
I’m sorry to hear that they could not process the ROM without you present. I hope that will not be too much of an obstacle.
In your situation, I think you should be able to apply for a Change of Status. If you are in Japan on a short-term/tourist visa, there are no fixed rules regarding whether you should apply for a Change of Status or a CoE. In general, it is up to the Immigration Bureau office where you apply to decide whether or not they will accept your Change of Status application. In my experience, they will usually accept it if you have a good reason why you had to come to Japan first, before being able to apply for a Spouse Visa.
In your case, the requirement that you come to file your ROM at the embassy should be a good enough reason, so there should not be any problem!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, Hi Kris,
Sorry to barge in here, you mentioned that there’s no need for the final certificate from the Bureau of Statistics? just proof that we have submitted report? any idea what exactly that proof is? receipt or something? sorry I just have no idea at all.. my situation goes: me (filipina) and my husband (japanese) got married in Japan on the last days of my temporary visa, due to some schedule conflict we couldnt report to the embassy in Tokyo and I had to go back here in Phil. Now, ROM requires personal appearance of both needless to say I had to go back to Japan, easy peasy I thought but surprise! for some reason the embassy denied my temp visa application to go to Japan (seriously like why!?) and so I’m stuck here in Phil but after some researching I found out I can report our marriage here by myself in our foreign ministry (which we call DFA here). Well, this one i a bit troublesome though as it requires way more documents and processing also takes 2-4 months (ouch). Of course I felt discouraged since I thought i had to wait for that before I could proceed with the COE. And here’s where I learn that it’s possible to proceed with the COE without waiting for the final document of the ROM? what does that mean exactly, after I submit the documents for ROM, I’ll get some kind of proof and then I’ll send whatever that proof is to my husband in Japan and he can start processing my COE? any ideas would be much appreciated!
and yes thanks for this wonderful blog, you’re saving a lot of lives! haha cheers!
Hi Yuki,
Thank you very much for your kind words!
I have heard from several past applicants from the Philippines that they were able to submit their CoE application without the final certificate from the Bureau of Statistics. I do not know what the exact document they used is called, but essentially, it was a receipt or document from the embassy/consulate acknowledging that they had received your Report of Marriage.
I hope Kris or someone else can chime in with the exact document name!
I haven’t heard from anyone in the past who submitted the ROM in the Philippines at the DFA, but if you could get that office to give you a confirmation of having received your ROM with the date, or even get them to sign a photocopy of your ROM with a statement that they had received it, with the date, then that should work just as well as the proof of submitting it from the embassy or consulate in Japan.
My best suggestion to you would be to contact the DFA office and ask them what documentation they can give you to prove that you submitted your ROM.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
That was fast thank you! I actually followed your advice and contacted DFA, they told me they could make some kind of ‘certificate’ for me (that proves that I submitted ROM) 😀
I guess I’ll use that. Just a little worried about doing the process here in DFA coz just like what you said, I never really heard of anyone doing it here… though, I don’t really have a choice I guess since I cannot really go to Japan right now. Welp, I guess I’ll try and will just update here if ever:D
Thanks again!
-Yuki
Hi Yuki,
Thank you for your feedback. I’m very happy to hear that they will be able to produce a certificate for you!
Even though most people I have talked to in the past submitted the proof of submitting ROM from an embassy or consulate in Japan, I see no reason why one issued by the DFA would be treated any differently. Please do let me know how the results go!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Yuki,
I am relieved knowing I am not alone with this. In my case , since ROM in DFA here in Philippines is quite complicated (DFA said NSO marriage certificate is not an assurance even ROM is completed) , the decision is for me to go in person. Now, I am quite anxious because we are at the stage of deciding whereas to come back to Phils and wait for COE or taking the risk which is to quit my job here and stay in Japan waiting for the result of change of status. : (
Hi Kris27,
Even if the NSO marriage certificate is not certain, at least having filed the ROM is enough proof for the Japanese Immigration Bureau and make the results of your Change of Status of Residence application conditional on submitting the NSO certificate. You may need it when you renew your period of stay later, though. I would recommend that you try the Change of Status of Residence application, if you haven’t done so yet and see if they accept it and/or ask for additional documentation. If they have no additional requests, that should be a good sign!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thanks heaps!
I already have the round trip ticket for the flight next month and I am coming back to Philippines. 🙁 I am thinking it would be very relieved to be sure… My husband has started to look for a new job which is more stable. He resigned. We thought at the time of marriage (He still had two part time jobs for 3 years with regular payment of tax ) that we could process ROM and by the time of coming back (January) it would be for me to wait. However, we did not expect that this will take quite longer . Also, it would be better to see the approved status for me to formally bid farewell to my family ‘coz I know I will be away for a long time. Do you have any idea if for example I will get COE maybe in May and at that time I can get the NSO marriage certificate? or shall I resign my work here in Philippines ? and take the risk of waiting for the change of status? I am anxious. Sorry for taking your time Travis..
I hope that this will all be fine.
Thanks a lot!
Hi Kris27,
As far as I understand, you do not need the final marriage certificate from the NSO. Once you have submitted the ROM and have proof of having submitted it, that should be enough for the Japanese Immigration Bureau to approve your CoE application. (You will, of course, still need to have all of the other documents in order, too).
Once you apply for the CoE, it should take a maximum of 3 months to process, then you would need to take it to apply for a visa in the Philippines. I understand that the visa application process there has to go through an agency and can take 3 weeks, or so. So, when you are thinking about when you can quite your job, return to Japan, etc., I recommend keeping those dates in mind!
You can only apply for either the CoE or the Change of Residence Status. I’m not sure which one you are applying for, but you wouldn’t need to worry about both.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thanks heaps! I have commented earlier but I think it was not posted successfully. Anyhow, I would like to ask if you happen to know a format of cancellation letter of a multiple entry visa. I will need this for the application of COE (f apply in Phils) or change of status (quit job in Phils and wait for the result in Japan).
Best Regards
Hi Kris27,
Unfortunately, that’s not something I have ever encountered before, so I do not have any experience with it. The Immigration Bureau would be the best place to ask for clarification on what is needed, if anything. I can’t imagine that it would be anything particularly difficult if anything was required.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for your kind responses to all of us here.
You are part of our success! (for me sooon)
Regrds
Hi Travis
Should the Japanese Spouse’s Juminhyo include her whole family. Including mother, father and siblings?
Thank you.
Hi Stephen,
It should include all members of her household. If she still lives with her family, it would include them, but if she lives apart from them, then they would not be listed in the Juminhyo.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for answering my questions Travis. Here’s another one. Do I need to translate the English I write on to the coe into Japanese. By writing Japanese next to the English for example.
Thanks again.
Hi Stephen,
Are you referring to the application form?
In the application form, you do not need to go out of your way to translate your entries if you fill them in in English. As far as I can recall, the answers are relatively straightforward and would be clear to the Immigration Bureau even in English.
If you are referring to the Questionnaire, then that does have to be completed in Japanese. The same goes for the letter saying that your country does not document marriages under foreign law. Any other official documents should have a formal translation attached.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis.
For the satement that the home country does not document weddings conducted under foreign law. Can this be a statement written by me or does it need to be an official document from my government?
Thank you.
Hi Stephen,
You can write it yourself. I did!
I assume that they are going to look it up themselves – they may even have a list of which countries do and do not document foreign marriages – but they need that statement in there to know to look it up. Otherwise, they person who accepts your application at the desk may just think that you’re missing a document.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis.
Regarding number 23 on the coe form.
If I don’t have a place of employment do I leave this blank?
Thank you.
Hi Stephen,
Yes, you can leave that blank, or fill in “n/a”.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello you’re so nice person giving answer to everyone i hope you will help me…
I married with Japanese women one year ago i have never been to Japan she come in my country Pakistan for one week and married with me and go back to Japan we got all necessary documents for coe but the problem is that my wife is getting public assistance and didn’t payed tax…. So we have proxy guarantor My cousin’s wife is Japanese nation she will be my guarantor…. It will any effect in our case… I’m thankful to you if you help sir….
Hi Umar,
In general, just having a proxy guarantor would not be a problem, but the fact that your proxy guarantor is not related to either of you could be a problem, especially if that person is also your financial supporter. The challenge there would be that if your wife is not working and you have no source of income in Japan, the Immigration Bureau is going to want to get a better idea of how you will support yourselves. If there is someone closer to either of you that could be your guarantor, like a member of your wife’s family, that may be better.
The other challenge that it looks like you might face is proving the legitimacy of your relationship. If you have never spent any time together besides the one week that it took to complete the marriage paperwork, the Immigration Bureau will want to see other proof that you have been in contact with each other constantly, etc.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Good day , I have some questions please. My wife is a student of Keio University and we married about 7 years ago. on oct 1 she applied for coe on my behalf and that of our children 4 in number. On dec 3 she got a reply from the immigration asking for for the below questions:
1.First, you have to prepare photocopies of all passbooks(預金通帳) you keep.
You have to include the front and next page of the passbook.
2. Do your parents send you money?
If so, please prepare photocopy of the record of remittance.
You also have to submit a photocopy of the family relationship certificate.
3. If you have brought money from your country, please submit some document about it.
If your family or friend have brought money, you have to make some document to explain with that person.
4.Do you do part-time job?
If so, please prepare photocopies of all pay slips after Jan.1st of this year.
Then photocopies of your passbook have to show that history.
5. You have to get tax certificates from the city hall in your area for the recent one year.
6. Do you receive scholarship?
If so, please make a photocopy of the scholarship certificate.
Can you please guide me through as she must submit everything latest dec 12.
Realy appreciate all your efforts.
Hi olajide lawal,
I’m afraid I do not know what you are asking. All of the Immigration Bureau’s requests seem straightforward to me. Your wife has to assemble those documents and submit them. Do you have a specific question about any of them?
It sounds like the Immigration Bureau is asking for any possible proof your wife can provide that shows that she has enough money to support your family in Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis. Thank you for your response to my query. I have indicated my emaill add on this comment. Hope to receive the list of documents needed, one in japanese language and with english translation. So that I can guide my husband. Thank you so much.
Hi Maricris San Juan,
At the bottom of the article – above the comments – you will see a place to sign up for my email list. If you enter your email there and sign up, you will get the list of documents in English. (It is an automatic process, so just entering your email address in the comment doesn’t work, sorry).
The list of documents in Japanese is available on the Immigration Bureau’s website. All I have done is translate it and explain the documents, since the Immigration Bureau only provides limited information in English.
I hope that helps!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis. Just want to ask for clarifications on the following items:
1. I will be leaving Japan on January 2019, so my Japanese husband will be applying for my COE. What is the document needed for him to be able to file my application of COE?
2. Once the COE has been released, can my husband apply for a Spouse Visa on my behalf? Considering I am still in the Philippines and my temporary visa has already expired.
3. If the answer in item 2 is no, then what type of visa will I apply while I am currently staying in the Philippines and my temporary visa had expired.
Thank you so much Travis and I hope you can help me out on my queries. Thank you for your continous help to all of us in need of guidance.
Hi Maricris San Juan,
1. He would need everything listed in this article! If you signed up for the mailing list at the bottom of the article, I will send you a checklist of all of the documents, as well.
2. No, you would have to apply for the visa yourself, but you apply for the visa in the Philippines, so being there would not be a problem!
3. Once your husband mails you the CoE, you will apply for a Spouse Visa for Japan in the Philippines then use that to return to Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
1. Do i need to change my passport so that I can use my married surname when i apply for a spouse visa?
2. What about my application for COE, do i still need to use my maiden name? If so, will there be a problem if the name appearing in my COE is my maiden name then in my passport its my married name. (In case i have replaced my passport)
3. When will be the correct time to change my passport? Before my husband applies for my COE or after I receive my spouse visa? My passport is still valid for 10 years.
I am sorry if I have a lot of questions. Thank you again for your assistance.
Hi Maricris San Juan,
1. Yes, if you want your married name to be reflected on your Japanese residence card and official documentation here, I would recommend getting your name changed in your passport before you apply for the Certificate of Eligibility.
2. You have to use the name that is written in your passport. There is no requirement to change your name – you can keep using your maiden name if you want – but if you do want to use your married name, it would have to be changed in your passport, first.
3. Either one is fine – it depends on what you want. But I would recommend that you do it either before you start the CoE application or after you have arrived in Japan. If you wait until after you arrive in Japan, though, you would then have to go around and update your name in all of your Japanese documentation, as well, which would be a bit more work.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, I am in the process to apply to renew my spouse visa (originally got one year, moved to Japan, now also working in Japan). My understanding is that I need to submit pretty much the same documents, with the exception of Questionnaire, pics of my wife and myself together, and foreign marriage certificate. So, I need to submit: the application form, 2 pics, koseki, juminhyo, my spouse tax/income documents, letter of guarantee, fees, current resident card/passport. I will also add my salary slips and my Japanese bank account statement (even if not necessary). Am I missing anything? Thank you very much for your help. Gab.
Hi Gab,
Yes, the list of documents you wrote is accurate. For the passport and residence card, you only need to show them, not submit them. I also think adding your bank account and pay slips is a good idea.
When I first came to Japan, my father-in-law was my guarantor and we submitted his tax information, but from the time of my renewal one year later, we no longer submitted his tax documents and I just submitted my proof of employment and salary, even though I did not have residence tax paperwork yet. I was still able to get a 3-year renewal (which was the maximum at that time). Of course, if you have your spouse’s tax documentation, then I recommend submitting it, we just did not want to keep relying on parents at that point.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks Travis. One more clarification, the fees are actually paid with a “revenue stamp”, correct? The one for the immigration has a particular name? And, do I have to include it with the application or later when I receive the extension? Thanks again. Gab.
Hi Gab,
Yes, the fees are paid by revenue stamp. There is no particular format of stamp specific to the Immigration Bureau.
You would pay it when you receive the extension. They should send you a postcard telling you to come pick up your new card and that postcard will also have instructions about the revenue stamp. You can take the card to any post office on your way to the Immigration Bureau and show it to them and they will know exactly what you need.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz