2025-09-13

The “Spouse Visa” is a residence status available to foreign nationals married to Japanese citizens. However, simply having an international marriage does not guarantee approval. Under what circumstances might it be denied?

What is a Spouse Visa?

The “Spouse Visa” is a residence status that foreign nationals residing in Japan can obtain when they marry a Japanese national. However, “Spouse Visa” is merely a common name. The official name is “Residence Status: Spouse or Child of Japanese National”.
Note that this residence status, “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”, includes not only foreign nationals married to Japanese nationals, but also foreign nationals who have been specially adopted by a Japanese national and those born as the child of a Japanese national.

Main Reasons for Denial

There are two primary reasons why a “Spouse Visa” application may be denied.
The first relates to the relationship between the applicant and their spouse.
For example, suspicion of a sham marriage may arise if:

• The relationship history is short
• There is a significant age difference between the spouses
• There is insufficient communication between the couple
• The applicant’s relatives or the spouse’s relatives are unaware of the international marriage
  For foreign nationals, obtaining a “Spouse Visa” guarantees the ability to live securely in Japan. Consequently, foreign nationals seeking sham marriages with Japanese citizens and brokers facilitating such marriages remain a persistent issue.
  For this very reason, if the relationship prior to marriage was short or there is a large age difference with the spouse, the Immigration Bureau (Regional Immigration Bureau) processing the application will suspect a sham marriage.
  Additionally, international marriages require completing marriage procedures in both spouses’ countries. Therefore, if procedures in one country remain incomplete, the very authenticity of the marriage itself becomes questionable.
  The second factor concerns income. For a foreign national to obtain a “spouse visa” means they intend to lead a stable life in Japan going forward. Consequently, if they currently lack stable income, or their employment status is unstable (e.g., part-time, temporary work), the likelihood of rejection increases significantly.

Additionally, if the applicant cannot submit an “Income Tax Certificate” due to being unemployed the previous year, has tax arrears, or is not enrolled in pension or health insurance, the likelihood of approval is also low.

What if the application is denied?

What should you do if your “Spouse Visa” application is denied?
First, you must confirm the reason for denial. Specifically, you should take the denial notice and your identification documents to the Legal Affairs Bureau where you submitted the application and supporting documents to inquire about the reasons for denial. After confirming the reasons, you can take measures such as reapplying.

Summary

The reasons for denial of a “Spouse Visa” application primarily relate to the status of the marriage (or relationship) and income matters. If the marriage is suspected to be fraudulent, or if it appears difficult to maintain a stable life in Japan going forward, the application may be denied.