HELP! Changing status of residency from ‘Tourist’ to ‘Spouse of Japanese national’

Good evening everyone,

I am desperately in search of advice with regards to entering Japan as a tourist, getting married to my Japanese partner, and then applying for a change of status of residency to ‘Spouse of Japanese national’ whilst in Japan.

Here is the background information regarding my issues, and my relationship with my partner.

I am a British national, and me and my Japanese national partner wish to get married in Japan. We would like to live together in Japan after marriage.

However, I have concerns about whether or not the change of status of residence from temporary visitor to spouse will be approved. We started dating in August 2021, however we met online through a language exchange app. We were in a long distance relationship for 13 months, and I came to Japan on a work visa on 12th September 2022. Due to personal reasons, I had to leave Japan and go back to the UK on 13th November 2022. I do not have a residence card anymore. We spent a lot of time together during my time in Japan, and we have been in frequent contact (almost daily) since we met online in September 2020. We had many video calls whilst we were in a long distance relationship, and we exchanged letters/cards and gifts throughout our long distance dating period. We took photos of us together whilst I was in Japan (but not any with his family, and the amount of photos we have is rather small).

Our relationship is genuine, but I am worried about what immigration will think of our relationship. I am also concerned about whether the fact that I left japan once before will negatively affect our application for spousal residency.

I would enter Japan as a temporary visitor, then me and my partner would register our marriage at the local immigration office, and then we would apply for a ‘change in status of residence’.

Is this change of residence likely to be accepted by Japanese immigration? I cannot find a definite answer, and I have searched many different websites for an answer. I have tried to find answers on the immigration websites, but could only find the following information;

‘those whose status of residence is ‘temporary visitor’ must have unavoidable extenuating circumstances for changing their status of residence’. I have read conflicting information as to whether applications for spousal residency are ‘extenuating circumstances’. My partner has read online that registering marriage whilst in Japan in one such extenuating circumstance. I am also concerned that Japanese immigration will doubt our relationship, as we were in a long distance relationship for one year and the time we have spent together in person is small in comparison.

I have also read information that suggests that long distance relationships are not viewed favourably by immigration, and it will negatively affect applications for spousal residency.

Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone and best wishes.