Spouse Visa to Permanent Resident?

I spent 6 years in Tokyo with my long-term resident girlfriend (**she’s not Japanese, but stepchild of a Japanese national**) and I had to leave back to the US because I finished university, and she wasn’t ready for marriage at the time. We kept in touch and I visited Tokyo every year. We’re both ready to settle now, and coincidentally she is going to naturalize as a Japanese citizen next year after having worked.

Once she naturalizes as a Japanese citizen, can we can get married and I can move over to Japan on a Spouse visa? I’d like for us to be together and she plans the same.

And if I remember correctly, I must reside in Japan on a Spouse Visa for 3 years before applying for permanent residency, correct?

Money/job isn’t really an issue because I’m retired military / getting a monthly pension. I can prove to immigration I have living expenses provided until my death. I’m just trying to make sure I have all my bases covered before I move.

**Is there a rule that says a non-Japanese blood naturalized citizen cannot accommodate another foreigner on a spouse visa? Or for that spouse to eventually become a permanent resident?**

Thank you in advance!

2 comments
  1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

    **Spouse Visa to Permanent Resident?**

    I spent 6 years in Tokyo with my long-term resident girlfriend (**she’s not Japanese, but stepchild of a Japanese national**) and I had to leave back to the US because I finished university, and she wasn’t ready for marriage at the time. We kept in touch and I visited Tokyo every year. We’re both ready to settle now, and coincidentally she is going to naturalize as a Japanese citizen next year after having worked.

    Once she naturalizes as a Japanese citizen, can we can get married and I can move over to Japan on a Spouse visa? I’d like for us to be together and she plans the same.

    And if I remember correctly, I must reside in Japan on a Spouse Visa for 3 years before applying for permanent residency, correct?

    Money/job isn’t really an issue because I’m retired military / getting a monthly pension. I can prove to immigration I have living expenses provided until my death. I’m just trying to make sure I have all my bases covered before I move.

    **Is there a rule that says a non-Japanese blood naturalized citizen cannot accommodate another foreigner on a spouse visa? Or for that spouse to eventually become a permanent resident?**

    Thank you in advance!

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  2. >Once she naturalizes as a Japanese citizen, can we can get married and I can move over to Japan on a Spouse visa?

    Yes

    >if I remember correctly, I must reside in Japan on a Spouse Visa for 3 years before applying for permanent residency, correct?

    No. You must be married for 3 years, but you only have to reside in Japan for 1 year.

    >Is there a rule that says a non-Japanese blood naturalized citizen cannot accommodate another foreigner on a spouse visa? Or for that spouse to eventually become a permanent resident?

    I mean, I as a non-citizen permanent resident can sponsor a spouse visa and be a guarantor for my spouse to become a permanent resident. So you’ll be fine.

    Congratulations!

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