Who qualifies for a Japan family visa?

Dependent: the legally married spouse and children (including adopted) of a foreign national on a work, Highly Skilled Professional, student or similar status who can support them; parents and siblings are not eligible except HSP parents in narrow cases. Spouse or Child of Japanese National: a spouse whose marriage is registered in both India and Japan (recorded in the Japanese spouse's family register), or a child of a Japanese national. Spouse of Permanent Resident: the same, for spouses of PR holders.

The Certificate of Eligibility is free and the visa is ₹500 per person at VFS plus the service fee. Indian marriage certificates need an apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs and a Japanese translation; registering the marriage in Japan at the municipal office is free. After arrival, extensions cost ¥33,000 (one year) to ¥75,000 (five years) at the counter from 1 October 2026, and permanent residence ¥200,000.

How long does it take from India?

The COE takes one to three months; spouse-of-Japanese cases that include the questionnaire, photos and the Japanese spouse's tax documents sit at the longer end when the marriage is recent. The visa takes about five working days at the mission plus VFS handling, and entry must follow within three months of the COE date.

Can my spouse work in Japan on a dependent visa?

Yes, up to 28 hours a week after obtaining permission for activities outside the status; spouses of Highly Skilled Professionals can work full time in professional roles, and spouses of Japanese nationals have no restriction.

How long does a Japan spouse visa take?

The Certificate of Eligibility takes one to three months, longer for recent marriages, and the visa about five working days at VFS; entry must follow within three months of the COE date.

Do I need to register my Indian marriage in Japan?

Yes, for a Japanese spouse: the marriage notification at the municipal office records the marriage in the family register, which immigration requires. Dependents of foreign residents need the apostilled Indian certificate with a Japanese translation.

Can I bring my parents to Japan?

Not on a dependent visa, except Highly Skilled Professionals earning ¥8 million who have a child under seven or a pregnant spouse. Parents otherwise visit on temporary visitor visas, or in exceptional cases on Designated Activities.

Does Vistolane handle Japan family visas?

Yes. Vistolane's immigration partner prepares the apostille and translations, the COE file and the questionnaire, and files the ₹500 visa at VFS; the government fee is shown as listed.

Japan visaJoin family in Japan

Japan dependent and spouse visas for Indian families

Spouses and children of Indians working or studying in Japan join on the Dependent status, and spouses of Japanese citizens or permanent residents on the Spouse or Child of Japanese National or Spouse of Permanent Resident status. In both cases the sponsor in Japan applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (free, one to three months) and the family member takes the ₹500 visa at VFS in about five working days. Dependents may work 28 hours a week with permission; spouses of Japanese nationals work without restriction and can apply for permanent residence after three years of marriage with one year in Japan.

6 min read Verified 29 October 2026 against in.emb-japan.go.jp · How we verify

Japan dependent and spouse visas: quick answers

Who qualifies for a Japan family visa?: Dependent: the legally married spouse and children (including adopted) of a foreign national on a work, Highly Skilled Professional, student or similar status who can support them; parents and siblings are not eligible except HSP parents in narrow cases. Spouse or Child of Japanese National: a spouse whose marriage is registered in both India and Japan (recorded in the Japanese spouse's family register), or a child of a Japanese national. Spouse of Permanent Resident: the same, for spouses of PR holders.
What does it cost?: The Certificate of Eligibility is free and the visa is ₹500 per person at VFS plus the service fee. Indian marriage certificates need an apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs and a Japanese translation; registering the marriage in Japan at the municipal office is free. After arrival, extensions cost ¥33,000 (one year) to ¥75,000 (five years) at the counter from 1 October 2026, and permanent residence ¥200,000.
How long does it take from India?: The COE takes one to three months; spouse-of-Japanese cases that include the questionnaire, photos and the Japanese spouse's tax documents sit at the longer end when the marriage is recent. The visa takes about five working days at the mission plus VFS handling, and entry must follow within three months of the COE date.

At a glance

Item	Detail
Status	Dependent (family of work or student visa holders); Spouse or Child of Japanese National; Spouse of Permanent Resident
Government fee	₹500 visa per person; Certificate of Eligibility free
Sponsor	Resident spouse or parent in Japan with income to support the family; Japanese spouse with tax records
Processing	COE 1 to 3 months; visa about 5 working days
Work	Dependent: 28 hours a week with permission; spouse of Japanese: unrestricted
Period of stay	Matches the sponsor's status (Dependent); 1, 3 or 5 years (spouse of Japanese)
Permanent residence	Spouse of Japanese: after 3 years of marriage and 1 year in Japan; ¥200,000
Verified	29 Oct 2026 against mofa.go.jp, moj.go.jp/isa and in.emb-japan.go.jp

Which status applies, and what each requires

Status	Who	Sponsor evidence	Work rights
Dependent	Spouse and children of work, HSP, student and similar status holders	Sponsor's residence card, employment and income certificate, tax certificates, marriage and birth certificates (apostilled, translated)	28 hours a week with permission; HSP spouses full time in professional roles
Spouse or Child of Japanese National	Spouse of a Japanese citizen; child of a Japanese citizen	Family register (koseki) showing the marriage, Indian marriage certificate apostilled, questionnaire, photos, Japanese spouse's tax and income documents, guarantor form	Unrestricted
Spouse of Permanent Resident	Spouse or child of a PR or special PR	PR's residence card, tax and income documents, marriage certificate, questionnaire	Unrestricted

A marriage with a Japanese national must be valid in both countries: register it in India under the Special Marriage Act or the applicable personal law, apostille the certificate at the Ministry of External Affairs, and have the Japanese spouse file a marriage notification at their municipal office so the koseki records it. Immigration then tests the marriage with a detailed questionnaire about how you met, the wedding, visits and contact, supported by photos and chat logs, and checks the Japanese spouse's income and tax payments.

Dependents are tied to the sponsor's status and period of stay; the sponsor must show income to support the household, which is why dependents of language-school students are rarely approved while those of employed graduates and HSP holders are routine. Children attend Japanese public schools free of tuition. Dependents who later work full time switch to their own work status.

Fees and what they cover

Item	Amount	Notes
Certificate of Eligibility	Free	Sponsor applies in Japan
Visa fee (Indian nationals)	₹500 per person	Paid at VFS; not refunded
VFS Global service fee	Set by VFS	Per application
MEA apostille of marriage and birth certificates	INR 50 per document plus agency fees	Through MEA-authorised agencies
Japanese translations	About ¥3,000 to 5,000 per document	Any translator; translator's name required
Extension (from 1 Oct 2026)	¥33,000 (1 year) to ¥75,000 (5 years) counter; ¥27,000 to ¥65,000 online	Paid in Japan on approval

Vistolane charges the ₹500 visa fee per person as listed and shows apostille and translation costs as separate lines.

How the application runs, step by step

1
Register and legalise the marriage
Indian registration, MEA apostille and Japanese translation; for a Japanese spouse, the marriage notification at the municipal office so the koseki shows the marriage.
2
Sponsor files the COE
At the regional immigration bureau with the application, photo, sponsor's income and tax certificates, relationship documents and, for spouses of Japanese, the questionnaire, photos and guarantor form; one to three months.
3
Receive the COE
The sponsor sends the original or electronic COE, valid three months.
4
Apply at VFS
MOFA form, photo, passport and COE; pay ₹500; visa issued in about five working days.
5
Arrive and register
Residence card at the airport; register the address within 14 days; dependents apply for work permission at the airport or the bureau; enrol in National Health Insurance.

Timeline for an Indian applicant

Stage	Typical time	What you do
Marriage registration, apostille, translation	3 to 6 weeks	Both countries for Japanese spouses
COE processing	1 to 3 months	Longer for recent marriages
Visa at VFS	About 5 working days plus handling	Lodge with the COE
Travel	Within 3 months of COE	Residence card on landing

Dependents of a worker who is also applying can be filed together and receive COEs at the same time; plan two to four months overall.

After arrival

Dependents renew with the sponsor and may work 28 hours a week; a dependent hired full time switches to Engineer/Humanities or another work status. Spouses of Japanese nationals receive one, three or five years and renew while the marriage continues; a divorce or death must be reported within 14 days and the status changed within six months, usually to Long-Term Resident where there are children.

Permanent residence is open to spouses of Japanese nationals and PRs after three years of marriage with at least one year in Japan, and to dependents on the standard ten-year rule, at ¥200,000 from 1 October 2026 with tax and insurance compliance; the Japan permanent residence route page sets out the file. Naturalisation for spouses is possible after three years in Japan but requires renouncing Indian citizenship.

Document checklist: identity and forms

Document	Standard the officer applies
Passport valid for the stay and 45x45 mm photo	Two blank pages
MOFA visa application form	Signed
Original Certificate of Eligibility	Within 3 months of issue

Relationship

Document	Standard the officer applies
Marriage certificate, MEA apostilled, with Japanese translation	Registered marriage; religious ceremony alone is not enough
Birth certificates for children, apostilled and translated	Both parents named
Questionnaire, photos and communication records	Spouses of Japanese nationals and PRs

Sponsor

Document	Standard the officer applies
Residence card or Japanese family register (koseki)	Marriage recorded for Japanese spouses
Employment certificate and income and tax certificates	Municipal tax certificate for the last year
Letter of guarantee (mimoto hoshosho)	Spouses of Japanese nationals

Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix

Marriage credibility

Inconsistent questionnaire answers, few photos or contacts, a large age gap unexplained, or a marriage shortly after a previous divorce.

The fix. Provide a detailed, consistent account with photos, visit records and chat logs; both spouses prepare the same facts.

Sponsor's income or tax

Income too low for the household or unpaid municipal tax or pension.

The fix. Settle arrears, add savings or a second earner's proof and wait for a tax year with compliance.

Dependent of a language-school student

Immigration doubts the student can support a family.

The fix. Wait until the sponsor moves to a work status or shows sufficient funds and income.

Documents not legalised

Marriage certificate without apostille or translation, or not registered in Japan for a Japanese spouse.

The fix. Apostille at the MEA, translate, and file the marriage notification in Japan before the COE.

Unregistered marriage

A religious ceremony without civil registration in India.

The fix. Register under the Special Marriage Act or the applicable personal law and obtain the certificate.

Official sources

Japan dependent and spouse visas questions

Join family in Japan · government fee

₹500

Official fee: ₹500 visa fee per dependant (Certificate of Eligibility is free)
Processing: COE 1 to 3 months; visa about 5 working days

Start the Japan family route Check my eligibility

Government fees are charged at the official MOFA and the Immigration Services Agency rate.

Long-form guideJapan Dependent and spouse visas: the step-by-step guideWritten from the same MOFA and the Immigration Services Agency pages, with the month-by-month plan.Refused before?Every Japan refusal reason, with the fixAll 5 Japan routes on one page, grouped by theme.

Other Japan routes

Visit Japan

Temporary visitor visa

₹500 per person (single or multiple entry)

Read the route

Study in Japan

Student visa (Certificate of Eligibility)

₹500 visa fee (Certificate of Eligibility is free)

Read the route

Work in Japan

Work visa (Engineer/Humanities and Highly Skilled Professional)

₹500 visa fee (Certificate of Eligibility is free)

Read the route

Settle in Japan

Permanent residence

¥200,000 permission fee (paid in Japan on approval)

Read the route