Things to know when sponsoring your family to Japan while studying abroad

In this article, GoEMON will guide you on the things to note and the requirements to meet when you want to sponsor your family to Japan with a student visa.

1. Types of visas and sponsored individuals 

As a student in Japan, you can sponsor your family members through a "family visa" (家族滞在ビザ). This type of visa applies to both individuals with a student visa and those with a work visa who want to sponsor their family members to come to Japan.

With a family visa, you can sponsor your spouse and children to come to Japan. However, you cannot sponsor your parents to come to Japan with this type of visa.

For children, both biological and legally adopted children can be sponsored, with no specific age limit. However, it’s important to note that sponsoring children over the age of 15 (who have completed compulsory education) will be more difficult.

Source: sendai-visa

1. Points to note when sponsoring your family to Japan with a student visa

Students can sponsor their spouse or children to come to Japan with a family residence visa. However, to do this, you need to meet several requirements. In particular, financial capability and the necessity of caring for the family will be carefully considered.

Here are three specific points to note when sponsoring your family to Japan with a student visa:

a) How will living expenses be covered?

The family residence visa requires the person in Japan (the sponsor) to have sufficient income to support the family. However, the student visa does not allow for work. If you have a Visa-Part-time Work Permits (資格外活動許可), you can work up to 28 hours per week. However, income from part-time work, if only around 100,000 yen or less per month, is usually not enough to support the entire family.

Therefore, you need to prove that you have other financial sources to cover living expenses. For example, you can demonstrate that your family in your hometown sends you monthly financial support. In this case, you need to provide evidence of receiving financial assistance from your family.

Additionally, if you have savings in your hometown, you can use this money to prove your financial capability. You need to submit documents proving assets such as savings books, and property ownership certificates.

b) Depending on the school you are studying at

Not all international students can sponsor their families to come to Japan. Only those studying at universities, colleges, or specialized schools (in specific fields) can sponsor their families. Those studying at high schools, specialized schools (not in specific fields), or Japanese language schools cannot sponsor their families with a family residence visa.

If you are studying at a Japanese language school, you need to graduate and transfer to a university or college before you can sponsor your family to come to Japan.

c) Study and residence situation in Japan

When you want to sponsor your family to come to Japan, your study and residence situation will be carefully considered. You need to prove that you are performing well in your study activities under the student visa. This includes attending all classes and achieving good academic results.

In addition, the accommodation situation in Japan is also very important. You need to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of Japan. Violations of traffic regulations or working overtime will have a negative impact on the process of approving family residence visas.

1. Difficulties when sponsoring family to Japan with a student visa

The above points are just basic things to note when sponsoring a family to Japan with a student visa. Even if you meet all the requirements, sponsoring family members is still not guaranteed 100%.

The main purpose of yours is studying, sponsoring your family to come over will only be truly easy when you have graduated and have a stable job, switching to a work visa. However, if you need to sponsor your family to come to Japan while you are still studying, you should thoroughly research and learn from the experiences of those who have done so  before.

1. List of necessary documents

Below are the minimum necessary documents required for the application. However, depending on the situation, you may need to submit additional documents to provide further  proof.

1. Application for Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書交付申請書)
2. 1 passport-sized photo (4cm x 3cm, taken within the last 3 months)
3. Copy of spouse/child's passport
4. Residence card of the student
5. Student's passport
6. Marriage certificate (required when sponsoring spouse)
7. Birth certificate (required when sponsoring children)
8. Proof of financial capability documents (such as documents regarding money transfers from parents or a copy of a savings book)
9. Certificate of current enrollment and academic transcript for  international students
10. Copy of the rental contract (of the house where you will live with your family)

You need to submit all these documents and provide additional documents if necessary to ensure a smooth approval process.

      5.  Instructions for applying for a family residence visa for individuals with a student visa

1. First, check the conditions for applying for a family residence visa

If you have income from activities other than employment, you must determine if you have enough monthly income to support your spouse or children. If you have enough income to support your family, you can submit a visa application. Note that the family residence visa does not apply to parents or siblings.

2. Prepare documents

Gather necessary documents both in Japan and from your home country, including proof of income, birth and marriage certificates.

3. Write a letter requesting a certificate of residency and the reason

You need to fill in the information in the application for a certificate of residency and note that you must not provide false information. In the letter, clearly state why you want to live with your family in Japan and your plans for living here. Writing a detailed and persuasive reason can help facilitate the approval process smoothly.

4. Apply at the immigration management office or the nearest branch

When the application is completed, please submit it to the immigration management office or the nearest branch. You do not need to pay a fee to obtain a residence certificate. The documents given to you at the office should be kept. The approval process may take from 1 to 3 months.

5. Receive the result and residence certificate

When you receive the result, the immigration management agency will send the residence certificate in an envelope, and you should send this certificate to the visa applicant in your home country. The certificate is valid for 3 months, so please pay attention to the expiration date and send it as soon as possible. The certificate cannot be reissued if lost, so you can use a shipping service with a tracking number.

6. Apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate of Japan in your hometown

When the certificate of residence status is sent to the visa applicant in your hometown, you need to go to the embassy or consulate of Japan to apply for an entry visa to Japan. Please note that the certificate of residence status is not sufficient for entry.

7. Enter Japan and register for a residence card

Once the visa is granted, you can sponsor your family to come to Japan. After being granted permission to enter, a residence card will be issued. The airports that issue residence cards include Narita, Haneda, Chubu, and Kansai. If you enter through other airports or ports, the residence card will be sent by mail after registering your place of residence.

Bringing your family to Japan while studying is a complex process, but with careful planning and the right information, you can make it happen. GoEMON is here to support you every step of the way—if you have any questions or need further guidance, feel free to reach out! What challenges are you facing in your visa application process?

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Source: Compiled and edited by GoEMON team