# Japan Spouse Visa Interview: What to Expect at Immigration
> What happens at your Japan spouse visa interview, the documents officers check, common questions, fees, and how to avoid rejection in 2026.
**URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/japan-spouse-visa-interview-what-to-expect-at-immigration
**Last Updated:** 2026-05-27
**Tags:** culture, resources, listicle
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If you are applying for a Japan spouse visa (officially "Spouse or Child of Japanese National", 日本人の配偶者等), the interview or document review at immigration is where most applications are won or lost. Officers are looking for one thing: evidence that your marriage is real, stable, and financially sustainable in Japan.
*Last updated: May 27, 2026*
## Who qualifies for the Spouse of Japanese National visa
The status applies to foreign nationals who are legally married to a Japanese citizen, or who are biological or legally-adopted children of a Japanese national. A common-law partnership, an engagement, or a same-sex marriage not yet recognized under Japanese family law does not qualify under this category.
Once granted, the period of stay is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 6 months, and it is renewable. First-time applicants almost always receive a 1-year status. The visa carries no work restrictions, so the foreign spouse can work full-time, part-time, or be self-employed without applying for separate permission.
After three years of marriage combined with at least one year of residence in Japan, a spouse may apply for permanent residency, though approval is not automatic and depends on income, tax compliance, and pension records.
## The two-step process: COE first, then visa
The spouse visa is issued in two distinct stages, and the "interview" most applicants worry about happens during the first stage, not at the embassy.
1. Certificate of Eligibility (COE / 在留資格認定証明書). The Japanese spouse, acting as sponsor, files at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau closest to their residence in Japan. The immigration officer reviews the file, may ask follow-up questions in writing, and issues a COE if satisfied. Average processing is 1 to 2 months, though it can stretch longer if officers request additional evidence.
2. Visa stamp at a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad. Once the COE arrives, the foreign spouse submits it with a visa application form, passport, and photo at their local Japanese diplomatic mission. Processing at the embassy is typically about one week (a minimum of five working days at many missions). You must enter Japan within three months of the COE issue date, regardless of any other dates on the visa.
For applicants already in Japan on another status (student, work, etc.), the equivalent step is a Change of Status of Residence application at immigration, which takes roughly 2 to 8 weeks.
## What "the interview" actually looks like
Unlike US or UK spouse visas, Japan does not always conduct a formal sit-down interview with both spouses. In most COE cases, the review is paper-based. However, immigration officers can and do call applicants in for questioning when:
- The relationship history looks short, thin, or inconsistent.
- There is a large age gap or limited shared language.
- The sponsor's income, tax filings, or housing situation looks unstable.
- Documents from the foreign country are hard to verify.
- There have been prior visa refusals or overstays.
When an interview does happen, it is usually held at the Regional Immigration Bureau (Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, etc.) in a small office or partitioned booth. Interviews are conducted in Japanese; if the foreign spouse is not yet fluent, the Japanese spouse or a hired interpreter usually attends. Expect 15 to 45 minutes of questioning, sometimes with the couple interviewed separately to compare answers.
At the embassy stage abroad, an in-person interview is rare for spouse visas once the COE is already in hand. Consular staff typically only check that your documents match the COE and that your passport is valid.
## What officers are actually checking
The Immigration Services Agency has been transparent about what it reviews. According to its own published guidance and the practice of immigration lawyers across Japan, officers look at:
- Whether the story of the relationship, from how you met to the wedding, is natural and consistent.
- Frequency of communication before marriage (chat logs, call history, video calls).
- In-person meetings: how often you saw each other, where, with what travel records.
- Whether both families recognize the couple as married (introductions, wedding photos, family events).
- The Japanese spouse's income, employment, and savings, and whether they can support the household.
- Housing: lease or property ownership confirming you will actually live together.
- Consistency between the family register (戸籍謄本), residence certificate (住民票), tax certificates (課税証明書 and 納税証明書), the statement of reasons (理由書), and the relationship questionnaire (質問書).
If any of these elements look weak or contradictory, that is when an interview gets scheduled.
## Document checklist
Exact lists vary by bureau and consulate, but a typical COE file for a Spouse of Japanese National includes:
From the Japanese spouse (sponsor):
- Family register copy (戸籍謄本) showing the marriage entry, issued within 3 months.
- Residence certificate (住民票) for the household, with My Number redacted.
- Income certificate (課税証明書) and tax payment certificate (納税証明書) for the most recent year.
- Employment certificate (在職証明書) or proof of self-employment.
- Bank statements or savings book copies.
- Statement of reasons / cover letter (理由書) explaining the relationship history.
- Completed relationship questionnaire (質問書), 4–5 pages, handwritten or typed.
- Photos of the couple together, ideally across multiple dates and locations, with family.
From the foreign spouse:
- Passport copy (photo page).
- Marriage certificate from the home country, if married abroad, plus Japanese translation.
- Birth certificate (some bureaus request it), translated.
- Photograph: 45×35 mm at most missions, taken within the last 6 months. Embassies in the US use 2"×2".
- Visa application form (for the embassy step).
Supporting evidence:
- Chat and message history (printed selectively, with date stamps).
- Travel records: flight tickets, hotel bookings, passport stamps.
- Wedding photos and reception photos.
- Lease agreement or property documents for the home in Japan.
Applicants from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, and China are also subject to Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening under MOFA rules.
## Fees and processing times
Fees in Japan have been moving recently, and more changes are pending. Here is what stands as of May 2026:
| Item | Fee (physical) | Fee (online) |
|---|---|---|
| Change of Status of Residence | JPY 6,000 | JPY 5,500 |
| Extension of Period of Stay | JPY 6,000 | JPY 5,500 |
| Multiple Re-entry Permit | JPY 7,000 | JPY 6,500 |
These figures took effect on April 1, 2025 and replaced the previous JPY 4,000 / JPY 6,000 schedule. The COE itself is issued free of charge; you only pay the fee above when changing or extending status, and the embassy visa fee is set locally per mission.
On March 10, 2026, the Cabinet approved a bill raising the statutory upper limit for immigration fees from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000, and the cap for permanent residence applications from ¥10,000 to ¥300,000. The Immigration Services Agency has indicated future fees may settle around ¥10,000 for stays of three months or less, ¥30,000 for 1-year, ¥60,000 for 3-year, ¥70,000 for 5-year, and ¥200,000 for permanent residence. These ceilings are not yet in force; actual amounts will be set later by Cabinet Order, so check the Immigration Services Agency (https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/) before paying.
Processing time, at a glance:
- COE issuance: typically 1 to 2 months.
- Visa stamp at embassy after COE: about 1 week (minimum 5 working days at many missions).
- Change of Status (in-Japan applicants): 2 to 8 weeks.
- Entry deadline: within 3 months of COE issue date.
## Common pitfalls that trigger extra scrutiny
Most rejections and most surprise interviews come down to a short list of recurring problems:
- Thin paper trail before marriage. A couple who met online, married within a few months, and has no travel history or shared photos will almost always be called in.
- Inconsistent dates. The date you say you met in the questionnaire does not match what is in the statement of reasons or your chat history.
- Sponsor income too low. There is no fixed minimum, but officers expect the household to be self-sufficient. Annual income below roughly ¥2.5–3 million with no savings raises questions.
- Unpaid taxes or pension. Tax delinquency on the sponsor's record is one of the fastest ways to a denial.
- Address mismatches. The residence certificate, lease, and the address on your forms must all agree.
- No photos with family. Officers like to see that parents and relatives know about the marriage.
- Translations missing or sloppy. Any foreign-language document needs a Japanese translation with the translator's name and date.
- Forgetting the 14-day rule after divorce. If a marriage ends, the foreign spouse must notify the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days. Failing to report can lead to revocation of status.
## How to prepare if you are called in for an interview
- Re-read your own questionnaire the night before. Officers will ask things straight from it: "Where did you go on your third date?" "What is your mother-in-law's first name?"
- Bring originals of every document you submitted as a copy, plus your passport and residence card.
- Bring extra evidence that you did not submit: more photos, more chat logs, recent travel records.
- Answer briefly and factually. Do not volunteer information beyond the question.
- Do not coach each other. Couples are sometimes separated. Small differences are fine; rehearsed identical answers look worse than honest small variations.
- If you do not understand a question in Japanese, say so. Asking for clarification is normal and expected.
- Dress neatly. Business casual is fine. The Immigration Bureau is a government office, not a job interview.
## Frequently asked questions
Do both spouses need to attend the interview?
If an interview is scheduled, both are usually expected. The Japanese spouse is the sponsor and is often questioned first or separately.
Can the interview be conducted in English?
No. Japanese is the working language at Immigration Bureaus. Bring your spouse or a paid interpreter if your Japanese is limited.
What if my COE is approved but I cannot travel within 3 months?
The COE expires and you must reapply. There is no extension. Plan flights only after you have the COE in hand.
Will officers check our chat history line by line?
They will scan it for date range, frequency, and content that matches your stated relationship history. Submit a representative selection (50–100 pages is common), not a 2,000-page dump.
What happens if we divorce later?
You must report within 14 days and change to another status of residence (work visa, long-term resident, etc.) within six months, or risk revocation.
Can I work on this visa?
Yes, with no restrictions. You can change jobs, freelance, or run a business.
Is permanent residency automatic after three years?
No. You can apply after three years of marriage plus one year in Japan, but approval depends on income, taxes, pension, and clean conduct.
## Useful next reads
If you are weighing options or settling in after approval, these guides may help:
- [Japan Engineer/Specialist in Humanities Visa](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/japan-engineer-specialist-in-humanities-visa-requirements-explained), in case a work visa is a better fit for your situation.
- [Japan Post Bank Account for Foreigners](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/japan-post-bank-account-for-foreigners-how-to-open-one), one of the first things to set up after arrival.
- [Understanding Japan Work Culture](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/understanding-japan-work-culture-overtime-hierarchy-balance), useful if the foreign spouse plans to job-hunt locally.
A spouse visa interview goes much smoother when you can understand the officer's Japanese directly and answer in your own words. If that is a gap you want to close before your appointment, [try Migaku](https://migaku.com/signup) and learn from the same Japanese news, dramas, and YouTube your in-laws actually watch.