How can a Business Manager Visa holder bring family to Japan on a Dependent Visa?

Family members of Business Management visa holders need a ‘Family Residence Visa’ to stay in Japan. Some people may think that they can invite their family members to Japan if they obtain a business management visa. However, obtaining a business management visa does not automatically mean that family members can also live in Japan!

The main points of this article are as follows.

✓Even if a business management visa is granted, family members must obtain a separate ‘family residence visa’. ✓Financial support by dependents and proof of family relationship are mandatory for obtaining a family residence visa. ✓It should be noted that if the child is over 18 years of age, it is more difficult to obtain a permit. ✓Work is not permitted on a family residence visa in principle, but it is possible to work with conditions if a ‘Permit to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence ’ is obtained.

This article provides a detailed overview of the family residence visa, the process of obtaining it and points to note. Make sure you have all the necessary information beforehand so that your family can live in Japan with peace of mind.

1.A visa is also required for family members of business visa holders to stay in the country

When a foreigner establishes a company in Japan and obtains a business management visa, his/her family members (spouse and children) need a ‘family stay visa’ to stay in Japan.

In other words, not only the business administration visa holder himself/herself but also his/her family members need to apply for a separate visa.

Permission is not automatically granted.

This section provides an overview of the family residence visa, the process of obtaining it and the family members who can be invited.

1-1. What is a family residence visa?

The Family Resident Visa is a status of residence granted to foreign nationals with a work visa (including a Family Resident Visa) who wish to bring their dependent spouse and children to Japan.

For example, in the case of a family of three consisting of a father with a business management visa, a mother who is a housewife and a child of primary schools age, the mother and child can live in Japan with the father by applying for a Family Residence visa. Adopted children of foreigners with a work visa can also apply for a family residence visa in the same way.

However, as a rule, working is not permitted on a family residence visa. If you wish to work part-time, you must obtain a separate ‘Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence’.

1-2. How to apply for a family residence visa and required documents

The main steps in obtaining a family residence visa are as follows

process			Location	correspondent
（1）	Preparation of application documents		Japan	Foreigners residing in Japan on a work visa (Invitee)
（2）	Application for the issuance of a certificate of recognition for a family residence visa
（3）	Sending a ‘Certificate of Eligibility’ for a family residence visa to family members abroad
（4）	Visa applications	Apply for a visa with the ‘Certificate of Eligibility’	Local Japanese embassy or consulate	Spouse/children of foreign nationals
	Receive a residence card		Airport or municipal office of residence in Japan

(1) [Preparation of application documents]

The required documents are listed below. Other documents may be required depending on the individual circumstances of the applicant, so please check the Immigration and Immigration Management Agency website for details.

• Application form for a certificate of eligibility (1 copy)
• 1 photograph (a photograph meeting the specified standards must be prepared and submitted with the application)
• Return envelope (a self-addressed, stamped envelope with the required amount of postage stamps (for registered mail) attached) 1 copy
• Documents certifying the relationship between the applicant and his/her dependants One of the following
• A copy of the family register
• Certificate of acceptance of marriage registration 1 copy
• Marriage certificate (copy) 1 copy
• Birth certificate (copy) 1 copy
• Documents equivalent to (1) to (4) above, as appropriate
• Copy of the dependent’s residence card or passport 1 copy
• Document certifying the dependent’s occupation and income

(2) [Application for the issuance of a certificate of recognition of a family residence visa]

The first step is for the person holding a work visa in Japan (the inviting party) to apply for a certificate of eligibility for ‘family stay’ for their spouse or children at the regional immigration office.

The examination of this application usually takes between one and three months, but may vary depending on the individual case. If there are any deficiencies in the documents under examination, you may be asked to amend them or submit additional materials, so make sure you respond promptly when you are contacted.

(3) [Sending the certificate of recognition of the family residence visa to family members abroad]

You will be informed of the result within one to three months of your application, and if approved, you will be issued with a ‘ Certificate of Eligibility ’. This certificate is a necessary document for obtaining a visa. The Certificate of Eligibility is sent to the spouse and children in the home country.

Upon receiving the Certificate of Eligibility, the spouse and children residing in the home country take the Certificate of Eligibility to the local Japanese embassy or consulate and apply for a visa. In some countries, the application must be made through an agency, so it is advisable to check this beforehand. Once the examination is completed, the visa will be affixed to the passport and returned to you. You will then book a flight ticket and come to Japan to complete immigration procedures.

(4) [Receipt of residence card]

When a foreign spouse enters Japan for the first time, a residence card is issued at seven airports – New Chitose Airport, Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Chubu International Airport, Kansai Airport, Hiroshima Airport and Fukuoka Airport . After receiving your residence card, you must register at the municipal office of your place of residence within 14 days.

If you enter the country from an airport other than these seven airports, an entry relating to your residence will be made in your passport, which will temporarily serve as your residence card. The residence card is officially issued by post within a few days of registering your residence at the municipal office of your place of residence within 14 days of entering the country.

1-3.Scope of family members who can be invited on a business management visa

The scope of family members that a Business Management Visa holder can invite to Japan is limited to spouses and children of legally valid marriages.

With regard to spouses, only those whose marital status has been formally recognised are eligible. Divorced or bereaved former spouses, common-law partners and partners in same-sex marriages are therefore not included.

With regard to children, it does not matter whether they are biological or adopted. Specifically, legitimate children, recognised illegitimate children, ordinary adopted children and specially adopted children are covered.

On the other hand, relatives such as parents and siblings are not eligible for a family residence visa. If you wish to invite these relatives to Japan, you will need to consider a short-stay visa or similar.

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2. Family residence visa requirements

In order to obtain a family residence visa, a number of important requirements must be met. These requirements are intended to ensure that family members can lead a stable life in Japan and to prevent unauthorised entry. The main requirements and their details are explained here.

2-1. Spouse and children actually receive support

An important requirement of the family residence visa is that the spouse or child must actually be dependent. It is not just a question of having a family relationship, but also of being financially dependent on the dependent.

In the case of a spouse, financial dependence must be established on the basis of cohabitation. In the case of children, they must be under the care and maintenance of their dependants. Make sure you have the relevant documents to prove the fact of dependency.

However, if the dependent has a higher annual income than the dependent or is financially independent, he or she may not be eligible for a family residence visa.

Also, if the child is over 18 years of age, the dependent relationship is less likely to be recognised. Evidence must be provided regarding the fact that the child is dependent on a parent, e.g. student status.

2-2. The dependent has sufficient financial resources to support a family member living with them

One of the key requirements for obtaining a family residence visa is that the dependent must have sufficient financial resources to support the entire family. This requirement is designed to determine whether a family member can lead a stable life in Japan.

The criteria for determining economic capacity are based on a comprehensive consideration of the dependent’s income, the cost of living in the area of residence, rent and other factors. As a specific guideline, an annual income of at least 2.5 million yen is required if only the spouse is brought in , at least 2.8 million yen if one child is added, and at least 3.2 million yen if one more child is added.

However, these amounts are only a guide, and in practice other factors such as the amount of savings, length of service and company-paid rent are also taken into account.

To prove financial ability, the applicant is required to submit a ‘tax payment certificate’ or ‘taxation certificate’, which checks for a stable income and appropriate tax payment.

Dependents must show that they are financially able to live in Japan, taking into account the increased living costs that will be incurred by the addition of family members.

Marital status is also looked at in terms of whether they live together

The Immigration Bureau of Japan places importance on the fact that the applicant is ‘living together’ when determining ‘marital status’ in the examination of family residence visas.

If they do not live together, the visa will not be refused in all cases, but they may require a satisfactory explanation as to why.

For example, it may be assumed that one of the children is living alone because it is difficult for the child to change schools, or that the child has started living on his or her own, for example, to go to university.

2-3. Can prove a family relationship

To apply for a family residence visa, documents proving the family relationship between the dependent and the applicant are required. This includes official documents such as the Japanese equivalent of the family register, marriage certificate and birth certificate.

These documents must be prepared and submitted in the home country. If these certificates are in a foreign language, a Japanese translation must be provided.

3. Precautions when applying for a family residence visa

There are many considerations when applying for a family residence visa. The age of the children, the timing of inviting family members and the cost of living together are often issues. Specific precautions are explained below.

3-1. Children are more difficult to obtain permission depending on their age

When applying for a family residence visa, be aware of the age of the child: if the child is over 18 years old, it is more difficult to be granted a visa.

This is because the Immigration Bureau suspects that the intention is to ‘work in Japan’ rather than ‘be dependent on their parents’.
Therefore, it is necessary to explain clearly and reasonably why you are bringing them to Japan for a family stay. Even if the child is under 18 years of age, the applicant is required to show a justifiable reason for bringing the child to Japan and an educational plan for the future.

It is also important to note that if you switch to a student visa when your child enters university or vocational school, you will not be able to return to a family stay visa unless you find a job after graduation.

3-2.Reasonable grounds are required if there is a difference in the timing of the call within the family.

When applying for a family residence visa, it is possible for the business manager with a business management visa to come to Japan first and then invite the spouse and children later, but there must be a reasonable reason if the family members are invited sequentially.

If only the couple comes first and then the children are called several years later, the immigration authorities may question why the children have been brought up by someone else in their home country until now, or why they need to be brought up in Japan now.

It is therefore important to be prepared to explain in detail what the circumstances are for calling the child. For example, you are required to explain why the immigration authorities are satisfied, for example, by stating that the manager has established a good basis for living in Japan and that an educational environment has been established.

3-3.Not permitted on the premise of working with a family member to make ends meet

The family residence visa is a residence status for family members who are dependent on the foreign business owner, and the business owner must be able to support his or her family independently at the time of application.

For example, if the initial income from opening the business is not sufficient to cover living expenses and the business owner wishes to make a living by having his/her spouse or children work part-time, this will not meet the visa requirements and is likely to be denied.

The family residence visa is based on the premise that the dependent person is able to meet all living expenses in Japan, so it is not permitted for the dependent person to work together to meet living expenses.

Furthermore, if a foreigner with a family stay visa wishes to work, he/she must obtain a ‘Permit to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence’. This permit allows them to work part-time, but the working hours are limited to 28 hours per week. In addition, it is not possible to work in the entertainment industry.

Including licences

If a family residence visa holder wishes to work, the working hours must not exceed 28 hours per week and the ‘activity must not be in the entertainment business’. If these conditions are met, a ‘blanket permit’ is granted, which does not specify the place of work or the nature of the work.

In order to obtain a blanket permit, it is important that the applicant’s current activity of residence status is not affected. It is also required that the activities related to the application do not violate the law and that the applicant is of good conduct.

This allows foreigners with a family residence visa to work legally. However, activities related to the sex industry are not permitted.

Reference: Immigration and Residence Administration Agency｜Permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence of ‘family stay’.

Individual permission

f the conditions for a blanket permit are not met, an ‘individual permit’ is granted, which allows the individual to work for a specific place of work or job description. To obtain this permit, the following requirements must be met.

First, the requirements for a permit to engage in activities outside the scope of the qualification must be met. Furthermore, it is important that the duration of the activity engaged in does not exceed the majority of the period of stay based on the status of residence. If the activity is deemed to be a substantial change in the purpose of stay, a change of status procedure is required.

When applying, documentation must be provided on the nature of the activity, the hours of activity and the remuneration. It is also important to take care not to deviate from the requirements for support.

Reference: Immigration and Residence Management Agency｜Permission to Engage in Activities Other Than Those Permitted under the Status of Residence of ‘Family Residence’.

4. Summary

This article provides an overview of the family residence visa for business management visa holders who bring their family members to Japan, its requirements and points to note when applying for the visa. The contents are summarised as follows.

✓Even if a business management visa is granted, family members must obtain a separate ‘family residence visa’. ✓Financial support by dependents and proof of family relationship are mandatory for obtaining a family residence visa. ✓It should be noted that if the child is over 18 years of age, it is more difficult to obtain a permit. ✓Work is not permitted on a family residence visa in principle, but it is possible to work with conditions if a ‘Permit to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence ’ is obtained.

The family residence visa is an important visa for foreigners who have obtained a business management visa to live together with their family in Japan. There are several requirements to clear when applying for a Family Resident Visa, such as dependency requirements and proof of family relations.

Make sure you prepare well in advance so that you can smoothly bring your family to Japan.

If you are unsure about the procedures and requirements for a family residence visa, consider consulting a specialist administrative scrivener.

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