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Highly Skilled Professional — working spouse

JapanFamily

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Japan Read the five questions ↓

Which family relationships qualify?

The spouse of a foreign national residing as a Highly Skilled Professional qualifies. As a preferential measure the spouse may, on meeting the requirements, do work falling under Researcher, Instructor, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services or Entertainer; for the spouse of a Special Highly Skilled Professional the list also includes Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist and Skilled Labour.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities02_00003.html
    出入国管理及び難民認定法（以下「入管法」といいます。）別表第１の２の表の高度専門職の在留資格をもって在留する外国人（以下「高度専門職外国人」といいます。）に対する優遇措置の 一つとして、高度専門職外国人の配偶者の方について、所定の要件を満たした上で、 在留資格 「研究」、「教育」、「技術・人文知識・国際業務」又は「興行」 に該当する活動を認めることとしています。
  • https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities02_00003.html
    また、令和５年からは、特別高度人材の基準を定める省令（令和５年法務省令第２５号）の基準に該当し、入管法別表第１の２の表の高度専門職の在留資格をもっ て在留する外国人（以下「特別高度人材外国人」といいます。）に対する優遇措置の一つとして、特別高度人材の配偶者の方について、所定の要件を満たした上で、 在留資格「教授」、「芸術」、「宗教」、「報道」、「研究」、「教育」、「技術・人文知識・国際業務」、「興行」又は「技能」 に該当する活動を認めることとしました。

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The sponsor is the spouse residing with Highly Skilled Professional status (including a Special Highly Skilled Professional), with whom the applicant must live. The working spouse can enter with them or be invited from the home country after the HSP has entered.

See recorded sources

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

One of the following proves the relationship with the HSP: a family register transcript (koseki), a certificate of acceptance of marriage notification, a copy of the marriage certificate, or an equivalent document; a copy of the HSP's residence card or passport is also required.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities02_00003.html
    次のいずれかで、高度専門職外国人との身分関係を証する文書 （１）戸籍謄本 （２）婚姻届受理証明書 （３）結婚証明書（写し） （４）上記（１）～（３）までに準ずる文書 高度専門職外国人の在留カード又はパスポートの写し　１通

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The spouse must receive remuneration at least equal to what a Japanese national would receive for the same work, and must live with the HSP.

See recorded sources

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

The permitted work must fall within the listed activities, and education/work-history requirements do not have to be met. Cohabitation must continue: if the spouse separates from the HSP, the permitted work is no longer allowed, and working would be unauthorised activity that may lead to penalties or deportation. The official source does not state the application process, the period of stay or a path to independent or longer-term status.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Period of stay and any route to an independent or longer-term status are not stated on this page.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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