Moving your family to Japan requires careful planning, especially when it comes to visa strategies for your spouse. Typically, one spouse obtains a work or management visa, while the other gets a dependent visa. Dependent visas may be approved for periods up to 5 years long. But what about when spouses work remotely in Japan? With many families relying on dual incomes for financial security, the dependent visa might not be the best option. Here’s why:

Limitations of the Dependent Visa for Spouses in Japan

🟥 Additional permission is required for spouses to work.

A dependent visa allows your spouse to live in Japan but not to work by default. To work, they’ll need to file additional paperwork for “permission for activities other than the status of residence.”

🟥 Spouse incomes are restricted while on a dependent visa in Japan.

The dependent visa imposes restrictions on earnings and work hours. Your spouse cannot earn more than the work visa holder and is capped at approximately $10,000 per year, with a limit of 28 hours of work per week. This can be a deal-breaker for those used to full-time employment in Western countries.

🟥 Benefits are limited for spouses of “Highly Skilled Professionals.”

The Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa offers benefits for spouses, including a “designated activities” visa. However, these benefits are less appealing in practice, as the spouse still needs a Japanese employer to sponsor the visa and obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. A Bachelor’s Degree is not required for this visa, which is a minor advantage. But being a dependent of a highly skilled professional isn’t a great solution when spouses want to work remotely in Japan.

🟥 Japan does not yet allow same-sex spouses use the dependent visa.

Same-sex marriage is not recognized nation-wide – just in some regions such as Tokyo. So it makes sense that Japan also does not extend depent visa eligiblity to same-sex couples, even when legally recognized in home countries.

Strategies for Spouses to Work Remotely In Japan

🟥 Plan for a quick change in visa status.

The dependent visa is easy to obtain and can be used as a temporary solution. Once in Japan, you can explore other options for your spouse’s income, such as getting permission to work or targeting a fast track to permanent residency, which allows unrestricted work hours without the need for a Japanese company sponsorship.

🟥 Apply for separate work, business or digital nomad visas.

Consider applying for separate visas for both you and your spouse’s remote businesses. Options include an investor/management visa for the business owner and a work visa for the employee, or two separate work visas for unrelated activities. The digital nomad visa (6 months) might also be a reasonable short-term solution for spouses who don’t plan to stay in Japan full-time.

🟥 Restructure your business to cover their work.

If you’re opening a business in Japan, your spouse’s projects could potentially be integrated into your business. For example, if you operate an Airbnb and your spouse has an online photography business, you could declare their revenue as part of your business plan when applying for the investor/management visa. In that situation, your spouse could stay on the dependent visa. Their income would just be classified as your income.

Other Requirements for Foreign Spouses in Japan

If a spouse is applying for a dependent visa, they will likely be asked to supply:

• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificate
• Main applicant’s visa/residency proof (passport, residence card, proof of income, etc.)
• Certificate of Eligibility

Depending on the departure country, a tuberculosis or criminal check may also be required.

The dependent visa may be a good choice for your spouse in Japan.

But strategizing your visa pairing is crucial if both you and your spouse work remotely and plan to move to Japan. Depending on your situation, the dependent visa might be a temporary solution, or it could be suitable with your spouse’s income structured under your family business. It’s often better for both spouses to have their own long-term visas for risk management. If one of you faces job loss or business failure, the other’s residence status could provide stability.

At Japan Remotely, we consider all these scenarios when creating your Action Plan. Talk to us! We are happy to discuss your options!