Foreign workers and international students residing in Japan can bring their children to live with them under the Dependent (*kazoku taizai*) status of residence. Bringing family members requires obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) through the Regional Immigration Bureau or filing specific birth registration applications if a child is born inside Japan. Visa issuance depends on official administrative review, so applicants should always verify individual eligibility details directly with the official Kyoto University International Support Center guidelines or regional immigration offices.
Who is eligible for Dependent status in Japan?
The Dependent (*kazoku taizai*) residence status is specifically designed for the legal spouses and children of foreign residents living in Japan as workers, researchers, or international students. Parents, siblings, and other extended family members do not qualify for this status.
If family members plan to visit Japan only for a short period, they should obtain a Temporary Visitor visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in their home country. Temporary Visitor visas do not require a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE), and citizens of visa-exempt countries or regions may enter under existing short-stay exemptions. However, when family members intend to reside long-term with the main visa holder in Japan, formal Dependent status processing is mandatory.
How do you bring a child from abroad to Japan?
When inviting a child from overseas for a long-term stay, the sponsor currently living in Japan (the foreign worker or student) must act as a proxy and submit an application for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) at the local Regional Immigration Bureau. Once the CoE is issued by immigration authorities, the sponsor sends the original document to the family in their home country. The family then presents the CoE alongside their visa application to the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate to receive their entry visa.
What documents are required for the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE)?
To apply for a Dependent CoE, you must assemble a set of official documents. Any certificate issued in Japan must be dated within three months of submission. If supporting documents are in a language other than Japanese or English, a simple Japanese or English translation must be attached.
- Application Form: Official Certificate of Eligibility application form for Dependent status from the Immigration Services Agency.
- Applicant Photo: One photograph (4 x 3 cm) of the child, taken within six months prior to submission.
- Passport Copy: A clear copy of the child’s passport.
- Sponsor Identification: A copy of both sides of the sponsor’s Residence Card (*zairyu card*) or an official Certificate of Residence (*juminhyo*).
- Proof of Relationship: One copy of a official family register, marriage certificate, birth certificate, or notification of marriage acceptance (or notarized copies).
- Proof of Sponsor's Financial Capability:
- *For employed sponsors:* Certificate of employment and tax certificates showing local income.
- *For international students or sponsors without Japanese income:* Certificate of enrollment/student status accompanied by a bank balance certificate under the sponsor's name, scholarship grant certificates, or other financial documentation.
- Return Envelope: A self-addressed envelope affixed with postage stamps for simple registered mail (if requesting document delivery by post).
*Note: Immigration authorities may request additional documentation depending on individual cases.*
What steps must parents take when a child is born in Japan?
When a foreign resident gives birth in Japan, specific legal procedures must be completed across municipal offices, foreign embassies, and regional immigration within strict statutory deadlines.
What procedures take place at the local city office within 14 days?
Within 14 days of birth, parents must visit their municipal or ward office (*city hall*) to complete the following administrative requirements:
- **Birth Notification (*Shussei-todoke*):** Submit the official birth record.
- **Resident Registration (*Jumin touroku*):** Register the newborn into the local household database.
- National Health Insurance Enrollment: Add the child to the public health insurance scheme if the sponsor is enrolled.
- **Child Medical Expense Subsidy (*Kodomo Iryohi Shikyu Seido*):** Apply for municipal medical subsidies that help cover outpatient and inpatient care costs for insured children.
- **Child Allowance (*Jidou Teate*):** Parents with resident registration who raise children up to high school age (until the first March 31 after turning 18) can apply for monthly child allowance benefits.
*Required items for municipal registration:* Maternal and Child Health Handbook (*Boshi Techo*), Birth Certificate (*Shussei Shomeisho*), the submitter's Residence Card, Passport, and personal seal (*Inkan*, though a signature may be accepted in some cases).
How do you register status of residence within 30 days?
If the newborn child will remain in Japan for 60 days or longer, parents must complete two critical steps within 30 days of birth:
- Passport Application: Apply for the child’s passport and register nationality at their home country’s embassy or consulate located in Japan.
- Immigration Status Application: Apply for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence (*kazoku taizai*) at the Regional Immigration Bureau.
*Required documents for Immigration:* Application form for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence, Birth Certificate (or Certificate of Acceptance of Birth Notification), Certificate of Residence (*juminhyo*) listing all household members including the newborn, and both parents' passports and Residence Cards.
Finding a place to stay
Securing suitable housing is a priority when bringing family members to Japan or preparing for a newborn. Many newcomers stay in a furnished monthly apartment first while completing municipal procedures, settling school arrangements, or finalizing immigration requirements. OHAYO Stay offers furnished monthly apartments and rooms in Tokyo. Most homes have a minimum stay of 30 nights (shown on each listing). The monthly price includes electricity, gas, water and Wi-Fi, making budgeting clear and straightforward without needing to set up utility contracts. Booking is online with a passport or ID and a credit card, requiring no guarantor, no key money and no agency fee. Groups, longer stays and students can ask for a quote; a special price is often possible.