One of the hardest parts of living and working in Japan is being separated from the people you came here for in the first place. For many Filipinos, the plan was always to earn enough to bring the family over eventually. If you are at that stage now, this guide covers what the Dependent visa actually requires, how to apply, what documents to prepare on both ends, and what to expect once your family arrives.
What Is the Dependent Visa?
The Dependent visa (家族滞在, kazoku taizai) is a residence status granted to the spouse and unmarried children of foreign nationals who hold a qualifying visa in Japan. It allows family members to live in Japan as long as the primary visa holder maintains their qualifying status.
A few important points about what this visa is and is not:
The Dependent visa is tied to the primary visa holder. If your visa expires, is revoked, or you leave Japan permanently, your dependents’ status is affected. They do not have independent standing.
Dependents on this visa can work in Japan, but only up to 28 hours per week with a Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted Under Status of Residence (資格外活動許可, shikaku gai katsudo kyoka). This must be applied for separately. They cannot work full-time without changing to a work-eligible visa status.
Children born in Japan to a Dependent visa holder must be registered and their status updated. This does not happen automatically.
Who Qualifies to Sponsor a Dependent Visa?
Not every visa status in Japan allows you to bring dependents. The primary visa holder must hold one of the following qualifying statuses:
- Professor
- Artist
- Religious activities
- Journalist
- Highly Skilled Professional
- Business Manager
- Legal/Accounting Services
- Medical Services
- Researcher
- Instructor
- Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services
- Entertainer (in some cases)
- Skilled Labor
- Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Category 2 only
- Cultural Activities (in some cases)
- Student
- Training
- Technical Intern Training (in limited cases, check with ISA)
- Long-Term Resident
- Permanent Resident
- Spouse of Japanese National
Important note for SSW holders: Specified Skilled Worker Category 1 (SSW1) does not allow dependents to accompany you to Japan. Only SSW Category 2 holders can sponsor a Dependent visa. This is one of the key practical differences between the two SSW categories and something many Filipino workers on SSW1 are not aware of before they apply.
If you are unsure whether your current visa status qualifies, check directly with the Immigration Services Agency or consult a licensed immigration professional before preparing any documents.
Who Can Be Sponsored as a Dependent?
The Dependent visa covers:
Spouse: Your legally married partner. Common-law partners and fiancees do not qualify. The marriage must be registered both in Japan (if you married here) and in the Philippines. Immigration will want to see that the marriage is genuine, not a marriage of convenience arranged for visa purposes.
Unmarried children: Biological children and legally adopted children who are unmarried. There is no strict age cutoff written into the law, but adult children who are capable of supporting themselves are often scrutinized more carefully. Children who are minors are the most straightforward cases.
Parents, siblings, and other relatives do not qualify for the Dependent visa regardless of how close the relationship is.
Step 1: Confirm You Meet the Financial Requirement
Before gathering documents, honestly assess whether you meet the financial requirement. Immigration wants to see that you can support your dependents without them needing to rely on public assistance.
There is no single published income figure that guarantees approval, but as a practical guide, immigration officers look at:
- Your annual income and whether it is sufficient to support additional household members
- Your employment stability (permanent employment is viewed more favorably than contract or part-time)
- Your current living situation and housing capacity
A single earner supporting a spouse and one child in Tokyo on 2 million yen per year will face more scrutiny than someone earning 4 million yen in a lower-cost prefecture. Be realistic about this before applying.
If your income is on the lower end, strengthening your application with additional evidence of stability, such as savings records, a longer employment history, or a statement from your employer confirming your continuing employment, is advisable.
Step 2: Gather Documents in the Philippines
Your family members in the Philippines will need to prepare their side of the documents while you handle the Japan side. Coordinate early because some Philippine documents take time to obtain and authenticate.
Documents typically required from the Philippines side:
- Valid Philippine passport (must have at least six months validity beyond the intended stay)
- NSO/PSA-issued birth certificate (for children)
- PSA-issued marriage certificate (for spouse)
- NBI Clearance for adult dependents
- Certificate of No Marriage Record (CENOMAR) from PSA, if applicable
- Recent photographs (passport size, white background, taken within the last three months)
- For children: school records or enrollment certificate showing they are currently studying (helps establish their situation)
Authentication: Documents issued in the Philippines need to be authenticated before they are accepted by Japanese immigration. Since the Philippines joined the Apostille Convention in May 2019, Philippine-issued documents can now be apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila instead of going through the full legalization process. Check with the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in the Philippines for their current requirements, as accepted document formats can be updated.
Step 3: Gather Documents in Japan
As the sponsoring visa holder in Japan, you prepare and submit the bulk of the application.
Documents typically required from the Japan side:
- Certificate of Eligibility application form (在留資格認定証明書交付申請書) for each dependent, available from the ISA website
- Your current residence card (both sides, copy)
- Your passport (copy)
- Certificate of residence (住民票, juminhyo) from city hall, showing your full household
- Certificate of employment from your employer, confirming your position, start date, and annual salary
- Recent pay slips, typically the last three months
- Tax payment certificate (課税証明書, kazei shomeisho) and income certificate (所得証明書, shotoku shomeisho) from your local city hall or tax office for the most recent year
- Proof of housing: copy of your lease agreement or, if you own your home, your property registration
- A written explanation (reason letter) of your relationship and your plan to support your dependents in Japan
- Photos of your family together, especially if your spouse is applying, to demonstrate the relationship is genuine
- Bank statements showing savings, if you want to reinforce your financial stability
For a spouse application, immigration pays close attention to whether the marriage is real. Communication records (LINE, email, photos from visits), proof of joint accounts or shared financial arrangements, and evidence of regular contact all help.
Step 4: Apply for the Certificate of Eligibility
The Certificate of Eligibility (COE, 在留資格認定証明書) is the document your family member will use to apply for the actual visa at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in the Philippines. You apply for the COE in Japan on behalf of your family member.
Submit the application at your nearest regional Immigration Services Agency office in Japan. You can submit on behalf of your dependent or have a licensed representative (administrative scrivener or immigration lawyer) submit on your behalf.
Processing time for a COE is typically one to three months. During busy periods it can take longer. There is no official expedite option.
Once the COE is issued, it is mailed to your address in Japan. You then send the original to your family member in the Philippines.
Step 5: Apply for the Visa at the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines
With the COE in hand, your family member goes to the Japanese Embassy in Manila or the Japanese Consulate in Cebu, Davao, or Osaka (for those already outside Japan) to apply for the actual Dependent visa.
They will submit:
- The original COE
- Their valid Philippine passport
- Completed visa application form
- Passport-size photos
- Supporting documents as listed above
Visa processing at the Embassy typically takes three to five business days once all documents are in order. The visa is stamped in the passport and your family member can then travel to Japan.
Step 6: Arrival and Registration in Japan
When your family arrives in Japan, their Dependent visa status is activated at the port of entry. They will receive a residence card (在留カード) at the airport if entering through a major international airport.
Within 14 days of arrival, you must register their new address at your local city hall. Bring their residence card and your own. This registration updates the juminhyo and is required for everything that follows, including school enrollment, health insurance, and opening a bank account.
Health insurance: Dependents need to be enrolled in health insurance. If you are on Shakai Hoken, you can add your spouse and children as dependents at no extra premium cost through your employer’s HR department, as long as their income is below the threshold. If you are on NHI, your family members will be added to your household’s NHI coverage and your premium will be recalculated accordingly.
Children and school: If you are bringing school-age children, contact your local board of education (教育委員会) through city hall to arrange enrollment. Public school enrollment for foreign children is free and the process is straightforward in most municipalities. For more on education options, the article on Filipino Children in Japan covers this in detail.
How Long Does the Whole Process Take?
From starting document preparation to your family arriving in Japan, expect the process to take four to six months at minimum in a smooth case. Delays in document authentication from the Philippines, COE processing backlogs at immigration, or requests for additional documents can extend this.
A realistic timeline:
- Document preparation in the Philippines: four to eight weeks (authentication and PSA documents take time)
- Document preparation in Japan: two to three weeks
- COE processing at ISA: one to three months
- Visa processing at the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines: one to two weeks
- Travel and arrival: immediate after visa issuance
Start earlier than you think you need to.
Common Reasons for Rejection
Insufficient income: The most common reason. If your declared income does not convincingly cover your current cost of living plus additional dependents, the application will struggle.
Relationship not deemed genuine: For spouse applications, immigration is alert to marriages arranged primarily for visa purposes. Thin documentation of the relationship, a very short marriage, or inconsistencies in how you describe meeting each other are all red flags.
Incomplete documents: Missing a PSA document, failing to authenticate properly, or submitting expired certificates causes delays or rejection. Check every document carefully before submission.
Primary visa holder’s own compliance issues: Outstanding tax debt, missed pension payments, or a short remaining period on your own visa can affect the dependent application. Sort your own records first.
Visa holder’s status not qualifying: Applying when your current status does not actually permit dependents, as with SSW Category 1, results in immediate rejection.
What If Your Application Is Rejected?
A rejection letter will state the reason, though sometimes only in general terms. You have the right to reapply after addressing the reason for rejection. Consulting a licensed administrative scrivener or immigration lawyer before reapplying is strongly recommended so you do not repeat the same mistake.
If your income was the issue, waiting until you have a higher-income year on record, switching to a higher-paying job, or accumulating more savings before reapplying strengthens the next application.
Bringing Family: Costs to Expect
Beyond visa fees, budget for:
- DFA authentication / Apostille fees in the Philippines: around 100 to 200 pesos per document
- Airfare from the Philippines to Japan: varies widely by timing and airline
- Increased NHI premiums if applicable
- Additional rent or larger apartment if your current housing is too small (Japanese immigration does consider housing adequacy)
- School supplies, uniforms, and enrollment costs for children starting Japanese school
Factor these into your planning well in advance of the application.
Useful Resources
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan (COE application forms): moj.go.jp/isa
- Department of Foreign Affairs Philippines (Apostille): dfa.gov.ph
- Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA documents): psa.gov.ph
- Japanese Embassy in the Philippines (visa requirements): ph.emb-japan.go.jp
- Japan Pension Service: nenkin.go.jp
- FilipinosInJapan.com Legal and Visa Directory: FilipinosInJapan.com/directory/legal
