When a Japanese National and Foreign Spouse Living Abroad Move to Japan Together

When a couple—one Japanese national and one foreign national—living together overseas decides to move to Japan, the foreign spouse will typically apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) under the "Spouse or Child of Japanese National"status of residence.
Ideally, the Japanese spouse would be the applicant (legal representative) for this process. However, when both spouses are residing outside of Japan, the Japanese spouse cannot officially act as the applicant.
One alternative is for the Japanese spouse to return to Japan first to prepare for life there and apply for the COE during that period. However, this method is not feasible if the couple wishes to return to Japan simultaneously.
In cases where the couple wishes to immigrate together, if the Japanese spouse's parents (or other close relatives) are living in Japan, they can act as the substitute applicant (legal representative), making it possible to proceed with the COE application for the "Spouse or Child of Japanese National"status of residence.
If the parents are elderly or find it difficult to handle the application themselves, they can commission us, a Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist (Gyoseishoshi), to act as the Application Submission Agent (shinsei toritsugi), handling the process on their behalf.

投稿者プロフィール

AKIRA YAMAMOTO.AKIRA

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