Changing from work residence permit to spouse residence permit

[curwenx]

Hi,

I'm currently in Japan on a one-year work residence permit that will soon expire (status is intra-company transferee).

I married a Japanese national in August, and I want to change to a spouse residence permit. Since I'm applying from within Japan, I'm a bit confused on how to go about. Here's what I found:

- Bring marriage certificate
- Fill out forms at: http://www.moj.go.jp/ONLINE/IMMIGRATION/16-1.html (is the 身元保証書 form to be filled out by my wife?)

Is there anything missing, or is there any way to simplify the process since I am already in Japan with a valid residence permit.

Also, I'm not changing jobs or anything. Do I still need to bring some paperwork from my current job?

[paulh]

Hi,

I'm currently in Japan on a one-year work residence permit that will soon expire (status is intra-company transferee).

I married a Japanese national in August, and I want to change to a spouse residence permit. Since I'm applying from within Japan, I'm a bit confused on how to go about. Here's what I found:

- Bring marriage certificate
- Fill out forms at: http://www.moj.go.jp/ONLINE/IMMIGRATION/16-1.html (is the 身元保証書 form to be filled out by my wife?)

Is there anything missing, or is there any way to simplify the process since I am already in Japan with a valid residence permit.

Also, I'm not changing jobs or anything. Do I still need to bring some paperwork from my current job?


You also need a form from your consulate which is a declaration of eligibility to marry (i.e. prove you are single when you marry) as well as wifes family register.

People applying for spouse visa also need to fill out a questionnaire (in Japanese filled out by your wife)


What you have is not really a residence permit but a status of period of stay and you are changing from one to another.

[curwenx]

You also need a form from your consulate which is a declaration of eligibility to marry (i.e. prove you are single when you marry) as well as wifes family register.


I already used that to get married in the first place. I assume I don't need to bring the same document again since I am already married.

[kotoha]

I never got that certificate of eligibility to marry for either the marriage or the visa, and they gave it to me anyway... *shrug*

But I did need a copy of my husband's family register, as well as his jyuminhyo, to change my visa from work to spouse. You need documents to verify that you make enough money to support your family, that can be a variety of things... a copy of your company contract, certificate of employment, tax records from last year... anything is okay I think, as long as you can prove that you have an income. I think I brought all of those documents just to be safe and let the immigration officer take the ones he wanted to take.

I did this a couple of years ago, and at the time we had to fill out the questionnaire but either they didn't care who filled it out (I filled ours out, not my husband... the questions were basically the same though), or maybe we just misread it and did it wrong. They also asked us to submit pictures of us together. There was no specific request as to what kind of picture they wanted, but we chose a picture of me with his family and a picture of him with my family. Seemed to be a good way to prove our marriage was legit. LOL

So... you do need at least something more than what you've mentioned, I'm fairly sure... check with your immigration office.

[bland]

I already used that to get married in the first place. I assume I don't need to bring the same document again since I am already married.

Immigration may ask you to show evidence that your marriage is legally recognised in your own country.

If your country has a system involving registration of marriages entered into overseas by their citizens (I think New Zealand has such a system), then a certificate of that registration would be evidence.

If your country doesn't have such a system, then you might get your embassy to issue what the Australian embassy refers to as a

"Marriage Recognition Letter(for Japanese immigration) 2,800 (yen)"
http://www.consular.australia.or.jp/fees.html


"I am applying for a spouse visa in Japan (sic) and Japanese Immigration have requested a letter from the Embassy stating that I am legally married. Can the Embassy provide me with this letter?
Yes - on sighting of suitable identification and official evidence of marriage in the form of either your Konin Todoke Juri Shomeisho, or if you have married a Japanese national their adjusted Koseki Tohon (Family Register)."
http://www.consular.australia.or.jp/marriageinjapan.html

[bland]

...
They also asked us to submit pictures of us together. There was no specific request as to what kind of picture they wanted, but we chose a picture of me with his family and a picture of him with my family. Seemed to be a good way to prove our marriage was legit. LOL


Good point - photos showing acceptance and support (for your marriage) by your Japanese spouse's parents and family. Helps show stability. Such photos are probably more helpful than photos of just the two of you on a date.