Marrying A Japanese Citizen
Marriage to a Japanese citizen makes you eligible for a spousal visa. If already in Japan, you will need to apply for a Change of Status at immigration. Fill out the application form and take your original passport and copies, alien card, two different photos of you and your spouse together, an eight-section questionnaire, your spouse’s Family Register (koseki tôhon) and certificate of residence (jyûminhyô) to the immigration office. You will need to prove financial stability (this can be done by submitting tax returns – both jyûminzei kazei shômei and jyûminzei nôzei shômei) and a letter of employment from an employer (either yours or your spouse’s). You can also send a proxy (often a Japanese in-law) to immigration to apply on your behalf.