Cases in which the extension of the visa for the spouse may not be approved
A spouse visa is a visa that allows you to stay in Japan as the spouse of a Japanese citizen (a person with Japanese citizenship).
A spouse visa has a specific duration of stay, and it is necessary to apply for an extension before this period expires.
However, even if you apply for an extension of your spouse visa, your application may be rejected, and you will not be able to extend your stay.
In this article you will learn what happens if the spouse visa extension is not approved and what are the probable reasons.
What is the procedure for extending a spouse visa?
Unlike a permanent residence permit, a spouse visa does not allow you to stay in Japan indefinitely.
A spouse visa has a specific length of stay, such as 1 year or 2 years, and after that time you cannot stay in Japan.
In practice, the initial grant is often limited to 1 year, with longer periods such as 3 or 5 years typically granted only after demonstrating a stable marriage and financial security.
To continue to stay in Japan on a spouse visa, you must apply for a visa extension before your current length of stay expires.
Applications are generally accepted from three months before the expiration date, so preparing documents and applying as early as possible greatly reduces the risk of denial.
However, an application for a spouse visa extension is not always approved and may be denied in certain cases.
What happens if the spouse visa extension is not approved?
If you apply for an extension of your spouse visa and it is not approved, you will not be able to stay in Japan when your current spouse visa expires.
To continue to stay in Japan, you have the option to reapply for a spouse visa.
If you submit a new application and it is approved, you can obtain a spouse visa. However, there are disadvantages, such as the verification takes more time and the difficulty level increases compared to the first application.
In addition, once your previous application has been denied, subsequent applications are subject to stricter scrutiny, and you may be asked to submit supplementary evidence such as more detailed financial records or proof of cohabitation.
In some cases, Immigration may also require you to leave Japan temporarily and re-enter once the new visa is approved, which can be a costly and stressful process.
You can also try to obtain a work visa, etc., which will allow you to stay in Japan according to the residence status of this visa.
If there are problems with your behavior in Japan, the visa extension application may be rejected
One of the reasons why a spouse visa extension may not be approved is bad behavior.
If you do not pay your taxes or commit a crime while in Japan, your spouse visa extension may be denied due to bad behavior.
If you wish to extend your spouse visa, it is important that you pay your taxes properly and do not commit any crimes.
If the content of the application is contradictory, the extension may not be approved.
When you apply for a spouse visa extension, you will need to submit several documents.
If the content of the submitted documents is contradictory, it can be assumed that you have provided false information and your spouse visa extension may not be approved.
Even small inconsistencies, such as different dates of marriage registration across documents or discrepancies in employment history, may raise suspicion and lead to a request for clarification or outright denial.
Typical examples include mismatches between the couple’s stated living arrangements and the address on the residence certificate, or inconsistencies between reported income and submitted tax certificates.
