I want to marry a Japanese national and live in Japan. (2024)

FAQs

Can you stay in Japan if you marry a Japanese citizen? ›

If you would like to apply for Permanent Residency, you need to continue your marriage for 3 years with your Japanese Spouses. And you are also required to live in Japan for 1 year. You also need to know that you need to live in Japan for 1 year continuously.

Re: Spouse visa to Permanent resident visa

You will need to show that you have been married over 3 years and that they've been living in japan consecutively for at least a year. They'd also currently need to be holding a 3 year residency card for their current residence status.

Japanese law requires all foreigners who marry in Japan to first prepare a sworn Affidavit of Competency to Marry, affirming they are legally free to marry, from their own country's embassy or consulate in Japan. This is a notarial service. You will need to make an appointment.

If you are married to a Japanese national and you want to join them in Japan, you need a Japan Spouse Visa. Technically, the Japanese Spouse Visa is what's known as a visa for spouses and dependents of Japanese citizens or residents (foreigners who are working/studying in Japan).

If you have not yet married and your fiancé is still living in Japan, you can, if you are a U.S. citizen, petition for your fiancé(e) to enter the U.S. on a K-1 visa in order to get married. Your new spouse could then apply for a green card, if desired, through a process known as adjustment of status.

However, marrying a Japanese citizen does allow the foreign national to immediately obtain a spousal visa. This visa grants the foreign national the right to stay and work freely in Japan without time restrictions or limitations on what type of employment the foreign national may accept.

However, Japan uniformly prohibits multiple nationality, so when a Japanese person voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality, he or she loses Japanese nationality. In addition, persons with multiple nationalities by birth must choose their nationality by the age of 20 (Note 6).

To obtain permanent residency, applicants in principle need to have lived in Japan for at least 10 years with five years of work. It is generally required that they have not been imprisoned or fined and they have fulfilled official obligations such as paying taxes and social security contributions.

As long as you're eligible, the process is pretty straightforward. As long as you don't break any laws, work a stable job with a stable income, pay your taxes, and pay your debts, once you submit your application, you can expect to get permanent residence in about a year.

The time required from visa application to visa issuance is 5 working days from the day following the date of receipt of the application, provided that there is no particular problem with the content of application.

At what age do Japanese get married? ›

Under the Japanese Civil Code the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years for boys and 16 years for girls. A person who is under 20 years of age cannot get married in Japan without parental approval.

According to a survey conducted in 2022, newly married couples in Japan spent on average around 3.04 million Japanese yen on wedding ceremonies and receptions or parties, representing an increase compared to the previous year.

Unmarried couples can certainly live together in Japan if they choose to do so. I've known personally dozens of couples who have done so, sometimes for quite long periods, and known of many dozens more.

Eligibility for Permanent Residency in Japan

The first method involves residing in Japan for a period exceeding 10 years. This must be a continuous period, without significant breaks, on any valid visa type. Furthermore 5 out of the 10 years must have been spent on a valid working type visa.

You can apply for naturalization at the appropriate Legal Affairs Bureau that serves your area by submitting required documents. If you are married to a Japanese or if you were born in Japan, for example, requirements for naturalization are relaxed. Once your naturalization is granted, your new family registry is made.

If you are a spouse visa (marriage) holder, that is, spouse of a Japanese or of a permanent resident, you don't need 10 years. 3-year marriage and 1-year living in Japan is enough to apply for permanent. If you are a long-term visa holder, 5 years are enough.

Marriage to a Japanese national means you are eligible to apply for a spousal visa. That's not the same as eligibility to apply for citizenship or even permanent residency. So no, if you married a Japanese man, that would not immediately or automatically get you a Japanese passport.

The same rule shall apply in the case where an alien who is the spouse of a Japanese national has been married with the Japanese national for three years or more and has had a domicile in Japan for one consecutive year or more.

Once you are legally married, you are eligible for: Spouse of Japanese national visa if your spouse is a Japanese national. Long term resident visa if your spouse is a long term resident visa holder. Spouse of permanent resident visa if your spouse is a permanent resident visa holder.