The answers below describe Japanese visa and immigration procedures in general terms. How each answer applies to your specific situation is assessed within an engagement.
1. My spouse is Japanese. Can I get a visa to live in Japan with her/him?
Yes. The status of residence is called “Spouse or Child of Japanese National.” If you are applying from outside Japan, the standard procedure is a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application filed with the Immigration Services Agency in Japan, followed by a visa application at a Japanese embassy or consulate. What differs from family to family is the supporting evidence — which is where the actual work lies, and what our office handles.
2. How long does the process take?
The published examination period for a COE application is one to three months after filing, with document preparation typically taking several additional weeks beforehand. Change-of-status applications filed inside Japan follow a similar examination period. Timelines vary by case; we provide a case-specific estimate at the start of an engagement.
3. Can we apply from overseas if my Japanese spouse is also living abroad with me?
An application can still be made, but Japanese immigration law requires certain roles in the procedure to be filled by a person residing in Japan. Whether your family’s situation allows this, and who can fill those roles, is one of the first things we confirm within an engagement. In some family situations, the sequence in which family members travel to Japan significantly changes how straightforward the procedure is — this is a question of strategy that we assess case by case.
4. Can I visit Japan as a tourist while my COE application is being examined?
Generally yes — visiting Japan on Temporary Visitor status during the examination period does not in itself harm the application. There are practical limits on what you can do during such a stay, which we explain to clients when planning their timeline.
5. I entered Japan as a tourist. Can I change to a spouse visa without leaving?
In some circumstances, yes — Immigration accepts such applications in certain categories of cases, but it is discretionary and depends heavily on the specific facts. Whether your situation fits, and whether it is the wise route compared to the alternatives, is exactly the kind of judgment our office provides within an engagement.
6. Is there an income or savings requirement?
Immigration requires evidence that the family will have a stable basis for living in Japan. There is no single published threshold; the assessment is holistic, and the evidence can be assembled from different sources depending on your situation. Structuring this showing is a core part of our work.
7. My previous application was refused. Can I reapply?
In most cases, yes. A refusal does not permanently bar a new application, but the new application must address the reason for the refusal — simply refiling the same materials is unlikely to succeed. Cases with a prior refusal require reviewing what went wrong and adjusting the approach, which is why they involve more work than a first application.
8. Do you guarantee approval?
No professional can lawfully guarantee approval — immigration decisions are at the discretion of the Minister of Justice, and any office claiming a guaranteed result should be treated with caution. What we offer instead is a clearly written re-application and refund policy, set out in the engagement letter before you commit.
9. What do your fees cover, and when do I pay?
Initial consultation is free. For reference, English-capable immigration specialists in the Tokyo and Yokohama area typically quote between JPY 130,000 and 200,000 (tax included) for spouse-category applications, and our fees fall within this range. A written estimate is issued once the scope of your case is clear. Work begins upon receipt of the signed engagement letter and payment.
10. Why won’t you answer my specific legal questions before I engage you?
Because the answers are the service. Before an engagement, we explain what your situation is and what the available routes look like — enough for you to decide whether to proceed. How each route is executed — the legal basis, the evidentiary strategy, the sequence of steps — is the professional work itself, and it is provided within an engagement. This is our standard policy and applies equally to every client.
11. Do you handle everything, or do I need to gather documents myself?
Both, in a defined split: our office obtains the necessary Japanese public certificates on your behalf, while you gather documents available only to you. A tailored checklist is provided at the start of the engagement.
12. Can we communicate entirely in English?
Yes. All correspondence, meetings, and document instructions are available in English, and where a Japanese-speaking family member in Japan is involved in the procedure, we communicate with them in Japanese directly. No interpreter is needed on your side.