How to renew a spouse visa in Japan [UPDATED]

It's that time of life in Japan then, visa renewal season.  Except that's not true, is it?  Most mid-to-long-term foreign residents of Japan don't have a visa - we have a status of residence, as evidenced by a Residence Card.  So then it's extension of period of stay of our status of residence season.  Doesn't roll off the tongue with the same ease.  

To this end though, we've updated this article with the recent experiences of the original writer who right now awaits the verdict of their latest "application for extension of period of stay."  The original article was published in Jan. 2019.

*Note: Links from this article to relevant pages on the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website were updated in May 2023.

Where you see "[UPDATE]" is where you'll find the latest and significant observations regarding the application process, from the perspective of the applicant.  Other nuances of the text have also been updated to reflect the current circumstances of the applicant, although each minor update in this case has not been pointed out.

Perhaps the most significant update of all to be found in this article is that the latest renewal (upon which the updates have been based) was a successful one.

Other sections of this guide on how to renew a spouse visa in Japan maintain their original form.  

If you prefer this sort of thing on video, check out the City-Cost Japan YouTube channel for a video covering this very topic: 

So, let's get started:

This guide regarding how to renew a spouse visa in Japan is based on personal experience. As with all matters related to obtaining, renewing, and extending visas in Japan personal experience can provide an idea of what applicants can expect and will hopefully serve as a good place to get started in one's research into the procedures. However, it cannot be definitive. That kind of certainty can only come from immigration officials (although even then the applicant may find themselves subject to the whim of whatever mood the official is in at the time).

*Note -- while common parlance would call this a "renewal of a spouse visa," it's actually, in Immigration Bureau of Japan terms, an "application for extension of period of stay (for spouse of Japanese national)."  Spouse visa - 配偶者ビザ / haigusha visa

The situation is this -- expat living in Japan married to a Japanese national. Both holding down steady incomes, taxes / pensions / health insurance all paid (sort of) on time, second time renewing a spouse visa.  The initial visa was valid for three years as was the subsequent renewal (despite asking for five). 

To address an earlier matter - I know, "How did you get a first spouse visa valid for as long as three years?" (when a lot of folks only come away with one year, sometimes a paltry six months). 

 

The answer -- I don't know. Maybe the Japanese partner wrote an eloquent essay detailing the history of our relationship. Perhaps the officials got all warm and fuzzy over one of our Valentine's Day cards. Or maybe they enjoyed pictures of Japanese partner and I posing for photos with future in-laws in the garden back home? (Yes, as inexplicable as it might sound all of these were among the myriad of non-returnable items that were submitted during the invasive headache that was the initial spouse visa application process.)

Whatever the reason (I suspect that dating for some years in Japan before getting married may have been a factor), we came away with the status of residence, "Spouse or Child of Japanese National," valid for three years.

The current visa, or status of residence, is due to expire mid-December.  We submitted this application in late September.  So that's how recent or up-to-date this guide to renewing a spouse visa in Japan is.

When can you begin visa renewal procedures?

Three months prior to the expiry date of your period of residence, and as long as applicants submit the application before said expiry date, that's also fine. Refer to the relevant Immigration Services Agency of Japan page here:

Updated link: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-3.html?hl=en

(Old link) http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/03.html

*Note -- a Japanese visa, or status of residence, isn't like, say, a Japanese driver license in the case of which holders are sent a reminder that the license is up for renewal. With visas it's up to the holder to stay abreast of things. (Could it be that they want us to forget?)

(Section of the application form for extension of change of status - spouse of Japanese national)

Renewal of a spouse visa will require two visits to your regional immigration office.

[UPDATE] With this taking place amid the coronavirus pandemic one might wonder if the outbreak is having any effect on the ground at immigration offices.  We'd heard, for example, that at the Tokyo Immigration Services Bureau people enter the facility on a numbered ticket basis. 

No such system at the smaller regional facility we went to in this case.  However, according to the list of bureaus produced by the immigration services they are, "Currently operating under reduced hours, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19."  And, "Please note that some branch offices do not handle applications for some statuses of residence." 

Of course, no further details are offered regarding the latter, rather important, point.  Not very helpful then but let's not be under any illusion that these people are here to help.  It's more likely that they are here to test our resolve to stay in Japan.  Either way, we called the bureau in advance to check whether or not they handle extension applications for spouses of a Japanese national.  They do (for those applicants that live in the same prefecture as the bureau location).

Other virus measures at the time of our first visit included the usual sort of thing - limited seating, a member of staff at the entrance holding a temperature-checking devise (but not doing anything with it), and alcohol spray, among other measures.

This applicant had wondered if the pandemic may have made things a bit quieter at immigration.  Perhaps not.  We turned up at 9:30 after the opening time of 9:00 to find a lot of people had arrived ahead of us.  It probably took about an hour before we were seen to.

Documents for spouse visa renewal

Well, the good news here is that renewal of a spouse visa is emphatically easier than getting one in the first place. 

First visit:

The bad news is that you still have to go to city hall and get the following (because these things are made to expire, photocopies are no good, and ostensibly, the city just wants more of your money and immigration wants to test your resolve and well, some of it will have been updated since the last time):

Your spouse’s koseki-tohon (戸籍謄本) - this is a kind of family registry

Juminhyo (住民票) - certificate of current registered residential address

Spouse’s kazei-shoumeisho (課税証明書) - Tax Certificate (income / taxes paid over last fiscal year)

Spouse’s nozei-shoumeisho (納税証明書) - Resident Tax Certificate (residence tax paid / due to be paid)

Cost: ~ 300 yen per copy (in our case)

*Note - The koseki-tohon can only be obtained from the city hall where the family was initially registered and only by your spouse, their lineal relatives (or an attorney). So, in our case this meant asking a favor of the mother-in-law (who still lives in the area that is some distance from where we reside now). Allow for the time required to do this and get it posted out.  

*Note - Regarding obtaining a koseki-tohon, a number of readers who have had experience in the process of renewing a spouse visa in Japan have commented that they were able to collect a koseki-tohon from the city hall on behalf of their spouse (without their spouse having to be present).

Otherwise these documents can be prepared in a matter of minutes (depending on how many people are waiting).

[UPDATE] In the case of the tax certificates we went with those belonging to both Japanese spouse and myself.  Technically, applicants only have to submit those belonging to whoever it is that is providing the financial support for them.  In our case, we both work so why not submit documents for both of us?  Maybe it will strengthen the application?

[UPDATE] Be careful with the nozei-shoumeisho.  If you ask your city office to provide one for the current fiscal year you may be currently making payments and still have more to pay.  In this case, depending on the city office, some certificates will also detail the amount paid the previous fiscal year.  Others may not.  If the latter is the case, you should bring certificates for the current fiscal year and the previous fiscal year, too.

For the official word on documents required for the application:

Updated link: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/spouseorchildofjapanese01.html?hl=en

(Old link) https://www.isa.go.jp/en/applications/procedures/zairyu_koshin1.html

You will also need to bring along ... 

Your passport

Your Residence Card (aka Gaijin Card)

Photo (4 cm by 3cm, taken in the past three months)

Letter of Guarantee - mimoto-hoshousho (身元保証書)

Application forms (Application for Extension of Period of Stay)

The mimoto-hoshousho (身元保証書) is available in Japanese and English and can be collected at the immigration office or downloaded and printed out.

Japanese letter of guarantee (updated link): https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001373949.pdf

English letter of guarantee (updated link): https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001373950.pdf

More details about the photo:

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/photo_info_00002.html?hl=en

[UPDATE] My residence card has gotten a bit worn of late, to the point that had this application not been approaching I might have contacted immigration to see if I should be applying to replace a damaged card.  I mean, it's not damaged but a couple of the numbers are wearing away.  I had worried that it might raise some eyebrows during the extension application, but nothing was said and the card was returned to me with the stamp on it indicating that I'm in the midst of an extension application.  The photocopy I submitted showed the card in good condition anyway and besides, they have that app now with which anyone can scan and read a Residence Card. 

The application forms

Application forms for extension of period of stay applications are available online at the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website. You can download them in PDF format, print them off (A4 size), and fill them out in advance. This is what we did and highly recommend doing likewise as it's a real timesaver on the day, and rather than filling them out in the tense atmosphere of an immigration office, you can do it in the calm and considered surrounds of home.

Download the forms:

Updated link: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/spouseorchildofjapanese01.html?hl=en

(Old link) http://www.moj.go.jp/content/001290232.pdf

For the most part we found the forms pretty straightforward. Where there was some confusion or hesitation ... 

[UPDATE] Part 1, item 7: "Home town/city"

This has always confused me.  What are they referring to?  My "home" is detailed in the address in Japan I'm asked for in the next question.  What I might otherwise refer to as my "hometown" in my country of birth isn't where I was born, isn't where I am now, and isn't somewhere I've been for over a decade now (aside from pre-pandemic Christmas visits).  Plus, it's an obscure little place that I'm almost certain will mean nothing at all to whoever it is who checks this form.  Still, I went with what I would normally refer to as my "hometown" back "home," the equivalent of the prefecture, and the country.  Hope it's not a deal breaker! 

Part 1, item 13: "Desired length of extension"

Well, we got three years first time around and three years the second time around (despite asking for five).  Let's try again with five.

Part 1, item 14: "Reason for extension"

This is one of those, "Well, duh!" trick questions, isn't it? A bit like at immigration at airports when they ask you if you're carrying any drugs or guns. We looked online to see what others had put and in the end we went with, "To continue living in Japan with my wife / husband."

Part 2, item 18: "Authorities where marriage, birth or adoption was registered and date of registration" - followed by options for "Japanese authorities" and "Foreign authorities."

[UPDATE] The confusion here might be that you're thinking, "Well, hopefully our marriage is valid here, there, and everywhere." We got married in a city hall here in Japan (as does everyone despite the fancy hotel ceremonial finery) so we just filled in the "Japanese authorities" bit (with the name of the city office where we were wed) and left the "Foreign authorities" part blank.

Actually, this applicant is from the U.K.  According to the U.K. government website, when getting married overseas to a foreign national there is no requirement, or maybe even procedure available, to register the marriage in the U.K.  In general, overseas marriages (between a U.K. and foreign national) will be recognized in the U.K. if the marriage followed lawful procedure in the country in which took place and that the couple in question would be able to be married in the U.K. under local law.

Searching in Japanese for examples of how to fill in the application forms reveals examples in which both "Japanese authorities" and "Foreign authorities" have been entered.  I don't know who these couples are that they're getting married in two countries.  Once is enough, surely!

Part 2, item 20-1: "Method of support to pay for expenses while in Japan"

This section provides space to enter your own income as well as that of a "Supporter in Japan" and "Guarantor." The difference between “supporter” and “guarantor?” Not sure, but given that the partner would also be handing over a signed “Letter of Guarantee” during the application we went with “Guarantor” on the forms, too.  

This meant not filling in anything for Part 2, item 20-3 and Part 3, item 21.

[UPDATE] Next to "method of support" we are asked to enter the "amount of support per month."  The language of this would suggest how much money you have available each month to support yourself.  Otherwise known as a salary?  But we've already entered our annual income in the previous question.

Researching this in Japanese then it seems like what is being talked about here is the amount it costs each month for you to support yourself in Japan, i.e. how much are you spending on rent, utilities and food, roughly.  Perhaps then the immigration people can look at this together with your salary to get an idea as to whether or not you're able to make ends meet under your own steam (or together with your partner in marriage). 

The photo you glue to the space on the form provided (glue available at the immigration office. I also signed and dated it on the back (although not sure if that's required).

The first visit

I turned up at my regional immigration office (not Tokyo) about 30 minutes after opening. All the application forms were available to those who didn't have them already and were laid out in an easy-to-understand fashion.  People were pouring over them.

 

I took a ticket from the machine at the counter and waited -- for about one hour? -- before my number was called. A member of staff went through my documents at lightening speed before taking them all and handing me the postcard to name and address ready to be sent out at the time of collection. 

I was told to go back and wait for my name to be called. About 20 minutes later it was and I was given back my passport with a kind of receipt stapled onto one of the pages indicating a reference number and stamped with the date of the application.

And then we left.

Note -- the Japanese spouse came along on the fist visit to make sure everything went smoothly, and yes, to enhance the appeal that we are still (happily) married! (Note that your spouse doesn't have to be present, in fact nor do you if you have a lawyer go as proxy.)

[UPDATE] This may make me sound slightly psychotic but I like to turn up to immigration in a set of clean and at least relatively well-kept clothes, not wearing flip-flops or shorts, hair in reasonable order, forms and other documents organized and in good condition, and conscious of polite and calm manners.  I mean, it's just good sense, isn't it?  I'm not sure that everyone feels the same way though.

[UPDATE] The second visit

The postcard indicating that the "visa" was ready to be collected arrived just over two weeks after having submitted the application -- so not much different from the last time we did this.

[UPDATE] It turns out that this time the extension of period of stay was for the five years requested.

Documents for the second visit ... 

Postcard

Residence Card (you'll be getting a new one ... hopefully!)

Passport (with receipt inside)

4,000 yen (in a revenue stamp / 収入印紙)

Certificate for Payment of Fee

Yes, the cost for an extension of period of stay is 4,000 yen. This MUST be in the form of a revenue stamp. All immigration bureau in Japan will likely have a post office or convenience store nearby (usually in the same building) where these can be purchased.

[UPDATE] The day prior to the second immigration visit I went to some of the convenience stores near where I reside to try and purchase a 4,000 yen revenue stamp.  Non of the store I went to stocked them (going up to 200 yen only).  In the end I had to buy it from the post office.  Convenience stores located in or near to immigration facilities will likely stock them.

("A 4,000 yen revenue stamp, please." - "Yon sen yen no shunyuinshi kudasai.")

The revenue stamp is to be glued onto the single A4-page Certificate for Payment of Fee. It looks like this:

Note -- At the Tokyo immigration center queues at the on-site convenience store can be long

So, back at the same regional immigration office, I took another number (for a different counter) and waited ... for around 20 - 30 mins. Same kind of deal -- documents checked, wait for name to be called (another 20 mins) and this time take delivery of a new Residence Card. Take time to check the details -- spelling of name, address, period of stay e.t.c.

 

[UPDATE] A slight issue -- staff call out your name with all the enthusiasm of a miserable Monday morning, hence at the immigration branch I go to you can see other applicants loitering as close to the counter as possible - rather than taking a seat in the waiting area - just so they don’t miss their name being called out.  I did likewise as I really would have missed my name being called out had a sat in the waiting area.

Done!

How long do you have to collect a visa?

[UPDATE] I submitted my application on Sept. 29. I went to pick it up on Oct. 19. The deadline for collection was around Nov. 20 (as indicated on the postcard). So, maybe from the time immigration stamps the postcard to be sent out to you, it looks like you’ve got around month to collect.

Notes on how to renew a spouse visa in Japan

Unless you've a really good handling of Japanese, renewing a spouse visa will be emphatically easier with your Japanese spouse onboard, especially when it comes to getting documents from the city hall. That said, for visits to the immigration office itself, you should be fine going solo.

Upon arrival at the immigration office it's probably best (to save time) to collect a ticket first before filling out / checking any assembled documents.

  

At my regional immigration center there is a law firm right next door doing a stiff trade in visa support. For around 10,000 yen said firm will handle a simple visa extension for you. Unless your circumstances are quite particular this would appear to be a redundant service.

Immigration office hours across Japan are generally 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00 (changed to closing at 15:00 due to COVID-19 measures). Submitting an application late in the morning may then mean having to wait through lunch to wrap things up. This is a particular risk at the busy Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau. Late-in-the-day applicants run the risk of having to come back the next day to wrap things up.

If possible, have your Japanese spouse call up immigration and speak to an official beforehand to make as sure as possible you'll have all the documents required. (Two visits to immigration is more than enough for a year or so.) I say “Japanese spouse” because you really want to avoid any ambiguity when it comes to visas.

The Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau in Shinagawa Ward set up a kind of help line at their on-site Immigration Information Center a few years ago. While I haven’t called it in a while, I have in the past. As far as my understanding goes, the people that answer are not immigration officials and are really limited to answering only the basic questions (but will have a stab at answering more complex ones to save face, even if it means dishing out the wrong information). If you feel your question is even remotely complex, call an official department. Better still, have someone Japanese do it.

Do you have any experience with renewing a spouse visa here in Japan? 

***One of the key factors in making this article a (hopefully) useful resource has been the comments provided by others which continue to breathe life into the resource as well as provide important information, updates and corrections.  We look forward to more comments in the same spirit.***

Related

My Number card in Japan, assessing the benefits of the Individual Number ID

See also:

COST OF LIVING IN TOKYO in 2022 | Spending during daily life in Tokyo

Subscribe to the City-Cost YouTube channel here