If you are a foreign national married to a Japanese and have a child from a previous relationship, you may wish to bring your children to live with you in Japan. There are some visa options available, depending on your family situation.
Option1. Long-Term Resident Visa (Teijūsha)
If your child is under 18 years old as the biological child and you are living in Japan with spouse of Japanese VISA, your child may be eligible for a Long-Term Resident (Teijūsha) visa. Key requirements are living or will live together, financial support, reasons to live in Japan, evidence of a stable family relationship and better to be under 15 years old.
Option2. Family Stay Visa (Not Available for Spouse of Japanese )
The ‘Family Stay’ visa (Kazoku Taizai) is intended for family members of foreign nationals working or studying in Japan. If your spouse is Japanese and you live in Japan with spouse of Japanese VISA, this visa category cannot be used to bring your child to Japan. This is because Family Stay Visa is only available for working/Studying VISA holders.
Option3. Legal Adoption
If your Japanese spouse wish to legally adopt your child, this creates a formal parent-child relationship under Japanese law. After adoption, the child may apply for a Long-Term Resident visa as the adopted child of a Japanese national. In some cases, adoption may make the child eligible for naturalization (Japanese citizenship) in the future. This procedure will take longer time. Once parent divorce, child will have to make separate divorce procedure.
Summary and Recommendation
– If you are married to a Japanese citizen, the ‘Family Stay’ visa is not an option.
– The most common route is to apply for a Long-Term Resident visa.
When you face any case, please feel free to contact us!
Contact Information
Name: Yokohama Trinity Certified Administrative Procedure Specialist Office
Address: 51 Bizcomfort Aobadai, 3F Aobadai Sankusu Bildg,1-5-4 Aobadai, Aoba-ku, Yokohama -city, Kanagawa Pref.
Phone: 045-507-5689
Email: mail@office-yokohamatrinity.com yokohamatrinity-tk@outlook.jp
Representative: Takahiro Kotani