My wife (Japanese citizen) and I (American) plan on retiring in Japan in a few years. If she were to pass away before me – highly unlikely, but just in case – what are my options for remaining in Japan long term? Our daughters hold both passports but would be adults by then. Thanks in advance.
by Able-Economist-7858
3 comments
You get PR ASAP after you move
You should be applying for PR as soon as you hit one year of residence in Japan for more or less exactly this reason.
If something unfortunate happens before you get PR you can, in theory, apply for Long Term Resident status, which explicitly covers “Spouse of a Japanese national, PERMANENT RESIDENT or LONG-TERM RESIDENT who got separated from the husband or wife by death or by divorce and wishes to keep staying in Japan”
But PR is the best option, and is something you should be doing anyways to secure your future.
> If she were to pass away before me – highly unlikely, but just in case – what are my options for remaining in Japan long term?
You have 6 months to transfer to a new visa class or leave Japan. You **might** be granted a Long Term Resident visa but without minor children to care for it is somewhat unlikely.
You can & should apply for PR 1 year after arriving. The requirements are that you have been married for at least 3 years, that you have spent the most recent year together in Japan, and that your current visa is at least 3 years in length.