The status of residence to stay as a family member (5)

(5) Dependent

This status of residence will be given to the spouse or child who receives support from the person with the status of residence as follows;

“Professor”, ” Artist”, “Religious Activities”, “Journalist”, “Highly skilled professional “, “Business/Management”, “Legal/Accounting Services”, “Medical Services”, “Researcher”, “Instructor”, “Engineer”, “Specialist in Humanities/International Services”, “Intra-company Transferee”, “Entertainer”, “Skilled Labor”, “Cultural Activities”, and “College Student”

This status of residence will not be given to the family of “Technical Intern Training “and “Temporary Visitor”.

Also, this will not be given to the spouse or the child who receives support from the following person.

Some part of the person with the status of “College Student”
The person with the status of “Trainee”

As to “Spouse”, both patterns will be acceptable.

・A husband supports his wife.

・A wife supports her husband.

As to “child”, it contains not only real child but also adopted child and his/her age doesn’t matter.

However, as to the child of the wife by former marriage, which is not adopted by the current husband, even if the husband supports him/her, he/she is not eligible to this status of residence. The converse case is also true.

Anyway, to get this status of residence, the spouse or the child should receive support and stay as dependent family member. These two conditions are required.

If they get the “Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted”, they will be allowed to work even having this “Dependent” status.

However, when they work and earn well enough amount of money, they will not be recognized as “Dependent”, so they will lose this status of residence.

The family member with this “Dependent” status is allowed to stay as long as the supporter spouse or parent can stay in Japan.

In principle, the stay period of the family member is the same as the supporter spouse or parent has.

If the family member can’t receive support from the supporter spouse or parent due to (1) death of the supporter, (2) departure from Japan, and (3) divorce the supporter, etc., they will lose the eligibility for this status of residence.

Thank you.
Solicitor & Immigration Lawyer Hitoshi Oishi