Latest for 2026: Requirements and Work Restrictions for Dependent Status of Residence

Foreign nationals working in Japan who wish to call their spouse or children from their home country to live together—the Status of Residence for this purpose is “Dependent“. While it is a Status of Residence based on status for family members of those residing in Japan with work-related Status of Residence or Student Status of Residence, points such as “whether they can work under Dependent Status of Residence,” “how much part-time work is permitted,” and “how it differs from a spouse visa when marrying a Japanese national” are often misunderstood. In this article, an Administrative Scrivener will clarify, from the perspectives of both foreign nationals/their families and HR professionals at accepting companies, the eligible individuals, requirements, work restriction (Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence and the 28-hour-per-week rule), necessary documents for the Status of Residence “Dependent,” as well as the path for children raised under Dependent Status of Residence to work in Japan after graduating high school.

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1. What is a Dependent Visa? — Status of Residence for family members of workers, etc., to live in Japan

“Dependent” is one of the Statuses of Residence stipulated in the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (hereinafter, Immigration Control Act), and is a status for a spouse or child supported by a foreign national (supporter) residing in Japan to live a daily life in Japan.

Those who can be supporters are primarily individuals residing in Japan with the following Statuses of Residence:

• 👩‍💻 Individuals who hold work-related Status of Residence such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Specified Skilled Worker, Business Manager, or Highly Skilled Professional
• 🎓 Individuals who reside under Status of Residence such as Student or Cultural Activities

Dependent is a Status of Residence premised on being “supported” by the supporter. Therefore, individuals residing under Dependent Status of Residence are, in principle, not permitted to engage in work (activities involving income) in Japan. This “work restriction” is the most crucial point for Dependent visas and will be explained in detail later.

Please note that Dependent is a status based on personal status, but it is a different Status of Residence from “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” (the so-called spouse visa) acquired by foreign nationals who marry Japanese nationals. The differences between the two will also be clarified in the latter half of this article.

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2. Who is Eligible and Who is Not for “Dependent” Status of Residence

Eligibility for Dependent Status of Residence is limited to the supporter’s “spouse” or “child”. It is important to note here that the scope of eligibility is surprisingly limited.

Relationship	Eligible for Dependent Status of Residence?
Supporter’s spouse (husband/wife)	Eligible
Supporter’s child (biological or adopted, if supported)	Eligible
Supporter’s parent (father/mother)	Not eligible (cannot be called under Dependent Status of Residence)
Supporter’s siblings	Not eligible

In other words, you cannot call your parents or siblings to Japan under Dependent Status of Residence. While the word “family” might suggest a broader range of relatives, it is important to note that “Dependent” as a Status of Residence is limited to spouses and children.

Furthermore, there are conditions for the supporter. The supporter is required to have the intention to support and the financial capacity (stable income). Whether the supporter has sufficient income and assets to support their family in Japan is a crucial factor confirmed during the Immigration review.

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3. [MOST IMPORTANT] Dependent Status of Residence Generally Does Not Permit Work — Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence and the 28-Hour-Per-Week Rule

This is where Dependent visas are most often misunderstood. Individuals with Dependent Status of Residence cannot work (engage in activities involving income) in Japan as is. To engage in work, including part-time jobs, a separate “Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence” must be obtained.

The Immigration Services Agency has established a framework for Dependent and similar Status of Residence holders that grants a “Comprehensive Permission” allowing activities involving income for up to 28 hours per week. Only after obtaining this permission can individuals with Dependent Status of Residence engage in part-time work, etc.

Item	Content
Principle	Dependent Status of Residence does not permit work (permission is required for activities involving income)
Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence (Comprehensive Permission)	Permits work for up to 28 hours per week
Eligible individuals	Spouses or children who are supported by a foreign national and engage in daily activities
Special provision during long holidays	The relaxation to “up to 8 hours per day” permitted for Student Status of Residence holders does not apply to Dependent Status of Residence (the limit is 28 hours per week throughout the year)

Please pay particular attention to the following two points:

• ⏱️ The “28 hours per week” limit is determined by the total hours if you work at multiple workplaces. It is not 28 hours per workplace.
• 📅 There is no relaxation during long holidays (up to 8 hours per day) like for Student Status of Residence holders. Individuals with Dependent Status of Residence are always limited to 28 hours per week, even during summer or winter breaks.

If you work beyond this limit, it will constitute a violation of Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence, which may negatively impact subsequent Applications for Extension of Period of Stay, future Applications for Change of Status of Residence, or Applications for Permission for Permanent Residence. Since a “just a little bit” attitude can affect your future Status of Residence, please manage your time carefully.

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4. Main Requirements and Necessary Documents for Dependent Visa

To obtain the Dependent Status of Residence, you must file an Application for Certificate of Eligibility if calling a family member from overseas, or an Application for Change of Status of Residence if the person is already in Japan and switching from another Status of Residence. In either case, the following points are mainly checked during the review:

• The supporter must be lawfully residing in Japan with a Status of Residence that allows them to be a supporter for Dependent.
• The applicant must be the supporter’s Spouse or Child (proof of marriage or parent-child relationship).
• The supporter must have stable income and assets sufficient to support their family.
• The supporter must actually have the intention to support them.

Examples of Main Necessary Documents

Category	Example Documents
Proof of relationship	Marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc. (issued in home country + translation if necessary)
Supporter’s Status of Residence/Occupation	Copy of supporter’s Residence Card, certificate of employment, copy of business license, etc.
Supporter’s Income/Tax Payment	Certificate of taxation (or non-taxation) of resident tax, certificate of tax payment, certificate of bank balance, etc.
Application Documents	Application for Certificate of Eligibility or Application for Change of Status of Residence, photograph, etc.

*The above are representative examples. Additional documents may be requested depending on individual circumstances. Please check the official information of the Immigration Services Agency for the latest necessary documents.

Please note that for an Application for Certificate of Eligibility, there is no fee for the procedure itself. For reference, according to the Immigration review processing time published by the Immigration Services Agency (for permits granted in May 2026), the average number of days until the issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility for Dependent was 69.1 days (this is merely a national average for approved cases and does not guarantee individual processing times).

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5. Differences from Spouse Visa (Spouse or Child of Japanese National)

The Spouse or Child of Japanese National (so-called Spouse visa) is often confused with Dependent Status of Residence in terms of “calling a Spouse to Japan.” However, these are completely different Statuses of Residence, with significant differences in eligibility for employment.

Item	Dependent	Spouse or Child of Japanese National (Spouse visa)
Supporter/Spouse	Family of Foreign Nationals residing with a work-related Status of Residence, Student, etc.	Japanese National’s Spouse, Child, etc.
Employment	Generally not permitted (up to 28 hours per week with Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence)	No restrictions (can work in any type of occupation)
Prerequisite	Being supported by the supporter	Having a genuine marital relationship with a Japanese Spouse
Eligible persons	Spouse, Child	Spouse of Japanese National, special adopted child, person born as a child of a Japanese National

If the supporter is a “Foreign National,” it’s Dependent; if the supporter (Spouse) is a “Japanese National,” it’s Spouse or Child of Japanese National.

Since the scope of employment differs significantly, it is important to accurately understand which Status of Residence you hold when considering employment or changing jobs. Details on the requirements and necessary documents for Spouse visa (Spouse or Child of Japanese National) are explained in a separate article: “Necessary Documents for Spouse Visa (Spouse or Child of Japanese National)“.

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6. Wanting to Work in Japan After High School Graduation – The Path to Changing to “Long-Term Resident” or “Designated Activities”

There is an increasing number of cases where children who came to Japan on Dependent Status of Residence and grew up in Japanese schools wish to find employment in Japan after graduating from high school. However, the obstacle here is that they cannot work while on Dependent Status of Residence.

The Immigration Services Agency has indicated that for such individuals, a change of Status of Residence to “Long-Term Resident” or “Designated Activities” may be permitted if certain requirements are met.

First, as a prerequisite, children residing under Dependent Status of Residence often do not meet the academic or other requirements for work-related Statuses of Residence such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (e.g., if they have not graduated from university). Therefore, the following two routes are available:

① Change to “Long-Term Resident” (Main Requirements)

• Having completed Japan’s compulsory education.
• Having graduated from a Japanese high school, or being expected to graduate.
• Having continuously resided in Japan under the Dependent Status of Residence since entry.
• Being under 18 years old at the time of entry.
• Having secured employment (including an unofficial job offer).
• Having fulfilled public obligations such as notification of residence.

② Change to “Designated Activities” (Main Requirements)

• Graduated from a Japanese high school, or expected to graduate.
• The supporter is residing in Japan as a guarantor.
• Continuously residing in Japan under the Dependent Status of Residence since entry.
• Under 18 years old at the time of entry.
• Place of employment has been decided (including informal job offer).
• Fulfilled public obligations such as notification of residence.
• (For those who transferred to a high school, Japanese proficiency equivalent to JLPT N2 is required.)

(Reference: Immigration Services Agency, “To those residing under the Dependent Status of Residence who wish to work in Japan after high school graduation”)

The major difference between the two routes is that completion of compulsory education is included as a requirement for Long-Term Resident. It would be easy to understand if you categorize those who graduated from high school after completing Japanese elementary and junior high school as “Long-Term Resident,” and those who completed compulsory education in their home country, etc., and came to Japan for high school as “Designated Activities.” Since having a decided place of employment is a requirement for both routes, it is important to plan your job hunting activities before graduation and the schedule for Status of Residence change early.

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7. Key Points for HR Professionals at Businesses

When hiring individuals with Dependent Status of Residence, or those who have changed their Status of Residence from Dependent, HR professionals should confirm certain points.

Scene	Points to Note
Hiring a Dependent Status of Residence holder for a part-time job	Check for the Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence on the back of the Residence Card, etc. Manage work shifts to ensure they do not exceed 28 hours per week (including combined hours from other companies).
Want to hire a Dependent Status of Residence holder as a full-time employee	Full-time employment is not possible with Dependent Status of Residence. Change of Status of Residence to a work-related Status of Residence, Long-Term Resident, Designated Activities, etc. is a prerequisite.
Hiring a high school graduate (expected)	Change to “Long-Term Resident” or “Designated Activities” requires a decided place of employment (informal job offer). Prepare early to cooperate with necessary documents such as informal job offer letters.
Post-hiring management	Confirm Status of Residence, Period of Stay, and eligibility for employment at the time of hiring and renewal. Violation of Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence poses a risk to both the individual and the company.

In particular, if a Dependent Status of Residence holder is inadvertently allowed to work full-time, it constitutes a violation of Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence by the individual, and at the same time, the company also bears the risk of aiding illegal employment. Please always confirm the basic principle of “Dependent = generally not permitted to work” and “even if permitted to work, up to 28 hours per week” at the point of hiring.

Furthermore, Extension of Period of Stay and Change of Status of Residence for Dependent Status holders are also subject to the fee revision. From October 1, 2026, the fees were revised (Cabinet Order No. 268 of 2026, promulgated on August 28, 2026). The fee is 10,000–75,000 yen depending on the period of stay granted (10,000–65,000 yen for online applications; Revenue Stamps cannot be used and a separate payment handling fee applies), and 200,000 yen for Permanent Residence. For applications accepted by September 30, 2026, the pre-revision fee applies (6,000 yen at the counter / 5,500 yen online for change and extension) even if permission is granted on or after October 1. For details, please see the separate article “Immigration Services Fee Revised on October 1st | Old Fees Apply Until September 30th“.

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8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Can I work part-time with a Dependent Status of Residence as is?
No. Dependent Status of Residence generally does not permit employment. To work, including part-time jobs, it is necessary to obtain Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence in advance. Even if permission is granted, employment is limited to a maximum of 28 hours per week.

Q2. Is the 28-hour per week limit for each workplace?
No. If you work at multiple workplaces, the determination of whether it is within 28 hours is based on the total of all working hours. It is not 28 hours per workplace.

Q3. Can I invite my parents to Japan under Dependent Status of Residence?
Dependent Status of Residence is limited to the supporter’s “Spouse” and “Child,” and parents or siblings are not eligible. Inviting parents requires consideration of other frameworks such as “Designated Activities” with strict requirements, and may be difficult depending on the situation.

Q4. Can a child who came to Japan under Dependent Status of Residence get a job in Japan after high school graduation?
If certain requirements are met, there is a provision that allows for a Change of Status of Residence to “Long-Term Resident” or “Designated Activities.” Completion of compulsory education in Japan, high school graduation (or expected graduation), being under 18 years old at the time of entry, and a decided place of employment are the main requirements. We recommend planning job hunting and Status of Residence change early.

Q5. What is the difference between Dependent Status of Residence and Spouse or Child of Japanese National (Spouse visa)?
If the supporter (spouse) is a foreign national, it’s Dependent Status of Residence; if Japanese, it’s Spouse or Child of Japanese National. While Spouse or Child of Japanese National has no restrictions on the type of employment, Dependent Status of Residence generally does not permit employment (up to 28 hours per week with Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence), which is a major difference.

Q6. Can I consult about Dependent Status of Residence in Miyazaki?
Yes. Our office, based in Miyazaki City, accepts consultations regarding Certificate of Eligibility, Change, and Extension of Dependent Status of Residence, as well as Status of Residence change after high school graduation. We respond to consultations from foreign nationals themselves, their families, and accepting businesses.

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9. Summary: Correctly Understanding “Work Restriction” for Dependent Status of Residence is the First Step

Regarding Dependent Status of Residence, the key points to note are the following three:

1. Only the supporter’s “Spouse” and “Child” are eligible. Parents and siblings cannot be invited, and it is a prerequisite that the supporter has sufficient income to support them.
2. Generally not permitted to work. Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence is required to work, and the maximum is 28 hours per week (combined hours for multiple jobs, no relaxation for long holidays). Exceeding this limit will affect future residence.
3. If you wish to work in Japan after high school graduation, there is a path to change to “Long-Term Resident” or “Designated Activities”. Completion of compulsory education, high school graduation, being under 18 years old at the time of entry, and a decided place of employment are the main requirements.

Dependent is an important Status of Residence for families to live securely in Japan, but misunderstanding the rules regarding work restriction can create risks for both the individual and the accepting company. If you are unsure about identifying the appropriate procedures for your or your child’s situation, please consult an expert promptly.

This article is written based on public information as of July 2026. Details of the system and enforcement dates may change in the future. For actual applications, please confirm with the official information from the Immigration Services Agency or our firm.

Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Satoshi Nakayama
Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office
Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture