Visa After Divorce in Japan: What Happens to Your Spouse Visa?

Does divorce automatically cancel your spouse visa?

No. Your status of residence does not automatically disappear on the day you divorce.

If you currently hold the status of residence of “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” or “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident,” your residence card remains valid until the expiration date printed on the card.

However, this does not mean you can simply continue living in Japan without taking any action.

The reason is simple: once you divorce, you are no longer engaging in the activity or holding the personal status that formed the basis of your spouse status.

Therefore, if you want to continue living in Japan after divorce, you should consider changing your status of residence to another status that matches your actual situation.

Step 1: Submit the Notification of Relationship with Spouse

After divorce, the first immigration procedure is the Notification of Relationship with Spouse.

This notification is required when a foreign national who resides in Japan as a spouse divorces or is bereaved of the spouse.

How to submit the notification

You can submit the notification in one of the following ways.

Can you keep living in Japan on a spouse visa after divorce?

In principle, you should not remain on a spouse-based status for a long period after divorce without taking action.

The status of residence of “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” is based on your personal status as the spouse of a Japanese national.

After divorce, that relationship no longer exists.

Under Japan’s immigration system, if a foreign national does not continue the activities corresponding to their status of residence for a certain period without a valid reason, the status may become subject to revocation.

In official cancellation case examples published by the Immigration Services Agency, there are cases where a person with “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” or “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” continued staying in Japan for more than six months after divorce, and this was treated as a case related to revocation of status.

What status of residence can you change to after divorce?

The best option depends on your individual circumstances.

Typical possibilities include:

• Long-Term Resident
• Work-related status, such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services
• Spouse or Child of Japanese National, if you have a Japanese child
• Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, if you remarry a permanent resident
• Business Manager, if you can meet the current requirements
• Other status depending on your family situation, work, education, or humanitarian circumstances

However, you cannot choose a status simply because you want it. You must meet the requirements for that status.

Option 1: Changing to Long-Term Resident after divorce

One common option after divorce is to apply for a change of status to Long-Term Resident.

This may be considered when a foreign national has built a stable life in Japan and there are special circumstances that justify continued residence.

In divorce cases, Immigration may examine factors such as:

• The length of the actual married life in Japan
• Whether the marriage was genuine
• Whether the couple lived together
• The reason for divorce
• The foreign national’s income and ability to live independently
• Tax and social insurance payment history
• Conduct and compliance with Japanese law
• Whether there are Japanese children
• The degree of settlement in Japan

There is often discussion that an actual marital relationship of around three years may be important. However, this should not be understood as an automatic rule.

Even if the marriage lasted more than three years, approval is not guaranteed. On the other hand, even if the period is shorter, there may be other important circumstances, such as raising a Japanese child or being a victim of domestic violence.

Option 2: If you have a Japanese child

If you have a child with Japanese nationality, your situation may be different.

If you are actually raising and caring for your minor Japanese child in Japan, this may become an important reason for continued residence.

Immigration may consider factors such as:

• Whether the child has Japanese nationality
• Whether the child is a minor
• Whether you have parental authority or actual custody
• Whether you are actually caring for and raising the child
• The child’s school, living environment, and welfare
• Your income and ability to support the child
• Your conduct and compliance with Japanese law

The most important point is not simply whether you have a Japanese child on paper.

Immigration will look at whether you are actually taking care of the child and whether your continued stay in Japan is necessary for the child’s welfare.

Option 3: Changing to a work-related status of residence

If you have a stable job in Japan, you may be able to change to a work-related status of residence.

For example, some people may consider Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.

However, this status is not available for all jobs.

Immigration will examine whether your job duties match the status of residence, and whether your educational background or professional experience supports that work.

Typical points include:

• Your academic background
• Your work experience
• Your job description
• Your employment contract
• Your salary level
• The stability of the employer
• Whether the job requires specialized knowledge

For example, general restaurant work, simple factory work, cleaning, or other simple labor usually does not fit this status.

If you want to change to a work-related status, it is important to confirm whether your actual job duties match the legal requirements.

Option 4: Remarriage

If you remarry a Japanese national or a permanent resident, you may be able to apply for a spouse-based status again.

However, Immigration will carefully examine whether the new marriage is genuine.

The following points may be reviewed:

• How and when you met your new spouse
• The timeline from divorce to remarriage
• Whether you live together
• Your communication history and relationship history
• The financial and living situation of the couple
• Whether there is any suspicion of a marriage of convenience

If the remarriage happens very soon after divorce, or if the circumstances are unclear, the examination may become more careful.

It is important to prepare documents that show the reality of the relationship.

Option 5: Starting a business in Japan

Some people consider starting a business after divorce and changing to Business Manager.

However, this option has become much more difficult than before.

As of the revised rules effective October 16, 2025, the Immigration Services Agency explains that the Business Manager status generally requires, among other things, a business scale involving 30 million yen or more in capital or business assets, and a certain level of Japanese language ability by the applicant or a full-time employee.

Therefore, the old idea that “5 million yen is enough to obtain a Business Manager visa” is no longer accurate under the current rules.

Business Manager may be possible in some cases, but it should not be treated as an easy backup option after divorce.

What documents may be important after divorce?

The required documents depend on the status you apply for and your personal situation.

However, in many divorce-related cases, the following materials may become important:

• Divorce certificate or family register documents showing the divorce
• Residence card and passport
• Documents showing your residence history in Japan
• Documents showing the actual married life
• Documents explaining the reason for divorce
• Income documents, such as tax certificates and withholding tax slips
• Employment contract or certificate of employment
• Documents showing tax and social insurance payment status
• Documents related to a Japanese child, if applicable
• School or childcare documents for the child
• Documents showing custody or actual care of the child
• Explanation letter or statement of reasons

In difficult cases, a well-prepared statement of reasons can be very important.

It should explain your life in Japan, the reason for divorce, your current situation, your income, your family responsibilities, and why continued residence in Japan is necessary.

Common mistakes after divorce

After divorce, many people make mistakes because they do not know the immigration rules.

Please be especially careful about the following:

What should you do first after divorce?

If you have divorced your Japanese spouse, the first steps are:

1. Confirm the date of divorce
   This date is important for the 14-day immigration notification period.
2. Submit the Notification of Relationship with Spouse
   This should be done within 14 days.
3. Check your residence card expiration date
   Do not wait until just before expiration.
4. Review your possible next status of residence
   Long-Term Resident, work status, child-related status, remarriage-based status, or other options may be considered depending on your situation.
5. Prepare evidence
   Documents showing your life in Japan, income, child custody, tax payments, and reason for continued residence may be important.
6. Consult a specialist if your case is complex
   Divorce-related immigration cases can be highly fact-specific.

Summary

If you divorce your Japanese spouse, your spouse-based status of residence does not immediately become invalid.

However, you must notify the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days, and you should consider changing your status of residence if you want to continue living in Japan.

The best option depends on your circumstances.

If you had a genuine married life in Japan for a significant period, Long-Term Resident may be considered. If you are raising a Japanese child, the child’s welfare may become an important factor. If you have stable employment, a work-related status may be possible. If you remarry, a spouse-based status may be considered again. If you want to start a business, Business Manager may be an option, but the current requirements are much stricter than before.

Divorce is already a difficult life event. Immigration procedures can make the situation even more stressful.

For that reason, it is important to act early, understand the rules correctly, and prepare documents carefully.