Which non-member-country family members can accompany or join, and what broad rights do they receive?
The United States may bring qualifying dependants of its armed-forces members or civilian component into Japan under Article IX. Article I defines them as a spouse and children under 21, plus parents and children over 21 who depend on the member or civilian for more than half their support. They must hold appropriate US-authority documentation allowing Japan to verify their status on entry, departure or during their stay. Article IX exempts these dependants from Japanese alien-registration and control rules, while expressly conferring no right to permanent residence or domicile. Its separate passport/visa exemption is stated for armed-forces members and is not extended to dependants by this answer.
See recorded sources
Limits of the record- Broader rights to work or study are not established by the cited admission provisions; no unrestricted work or study permission is inferred.
- Article I distinguishes children under 21 and over 21; treatment at exactly age21 is not clarified in this English text.
- https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/q%26a/ref/2.html
3. "dependents" means
(1) Spouse, and children under 21;
(2) Parents, and children over 21, if dependent for over half their support
upon a member of the United States armed forces or civilian component.
- Japan–US SOFA Article IX(1)
1. The United States may bring into Japan persons who are members of
the United States armed forces, the civilian component, and their dependents,
subject to the provisions of this Article.
- Japan–US SOFA Article IX(2)
2. Members of the United States armed forces shall be exempt from Japanese
passport and visa laws and regulations. Members of the United States armed
forces, the civilian component, and their dependents shall be exempt from
Japanese laws and regulations on the registration and control of aliens,
but shall not be considered as acquiring any right to permanent residence
or domicile in the territories of Japan.
- Japan–US SOFA Article IX(4)
4. Members of the civilian component, their dependents, and the dependents
of members of the United States armed forces shall be in possession of appropriate
documentation issued by the United States authorities so that their status
may be verified by Japanese authorities upon their entry into or departure
from Japan, or while in Japan.
