Can You Get a Japan Spouse Visa If Your Partner Is Overseas?/配偶者が海外にいる場合、日本人配偶者ビザは取得できる？
office-babaakira夫婦のどちらかが海外にいる場合のビザ審査｜帰国予定・生活実態・証拠の考え方を解説
最終更新日：2025年11月14日
配偶者ビザ（日本人配偶者・永住者配偶者）や家族滞在ビザでは、 基本的には夫婦が同居して日本で生活することが前提です。 しかし現実には、 ・仕事の都合で海外に滞在 ・留学中 ・国際遠距離婚 ・先に日本で準備を進めており、配偶者がまだ海外 というケースは多くあります。 入管はこれをどう審査するのでしょうか？
1. 基本の考え方：海外にいても「婚姻の実態」があれば許可可能
どちらかが海外にいる場合でも、 婚姻関係の実態が継続していると判断できれば許可は十分可能です。 重要なのは：
- 海外滞在の理由が合理的か
- 夫婦関係の継続性が証拠で示せるか
- 来日後に同居する明確な計画があるか
2. 入管が確認するポイント
- 現在の夫婦間の連絡状況（チャット・電話など）
- 面会の頻度（訪問記録）
- 海外滞在の理由（仕事・留学・家庭事情など）
- 来日後の住居や生活計画
- 生活費の送金・家計の共有
3. 入管が特に気にする「リスク要素」
- 結婚したばかりで同居歴がない
- 交際期間が極端に短い
- チャット履歴がほとんどない
- 面会回数が少ない・数年会っていない
- 海外滞在の理由があいまい
※このようなケースは理由書と証拠の提出が必須です。
4. 許可されやすいケース（典型例）
- 海外勤務・留学など理由が明確で期間が決まっている
- 月に数回のビデオ通話・チャットがある
- 年数回の面会（訪問）がある
- 送金記録や家計の共有がある
- 来日後の住居や同居計画が用意されている
5. 提出すべき追加資料（海外滞在中の配偶者がいる場合）
- 海外滞在の理由書（仕事・留学・家庭の事情）
- チャット・通話履歴（スクリーンショット）
- 訪問記録（航空券・入国スタンプなど）
- 生活費送金の証明
- 来日後の住居契約書（予定でも可）
- 家族・親族との写真
6. 一時的な別居か？長期か？で審査が変わる
短期の海外滞在（数ヶ月〜1年以内）
→ 比較的許可されやすい。計画と証拠が明確であれば問題なし。
長期の海外生活（1年以上）
→ 婚姻の実態をより強く証明する必要あり。 面会記録や連絡頻度が重要。
数年以上の完全な遠距離婚
→ リスクが高い。 ただし証拠が十分あれば許可例もある。
7. 結論：海外にいても「継続した関係＋来日計画」があれば許可は可能
別居や海外滞在は珍しいケースではありません。 入管が見るのは、 ①婚姻の実態 ②継続性 ③来日後の生活が成り立つか の3点です。 適切に証拠を揃えれば十分に許可されます。
For spouse visas (Japanese spouse / permanent resident spouse) and dependent visas, Japanese Immigration basically expects the couple to live together in Japan. In reality, though, many couples are temporarily separated because of work assignments, study abroad, long-distance marriage, or one spouse moving to Japan first. This section explains how Immigration reviews such cases when one spouse is still overseas.
1. Core Principle: Approval Is Possible Even If One Spouse Is Overseas
The fact that one spouse is overseas does not automatically lead to refusal. As long as Immigration can see that the marriage is genuine and ongoing, approval is possible. The main points are:
- Whether the reason for staying overseas is reasonable
- Whether the marital relationship is clearly maintained (communication, contact, etc.)
- Whether there is a concrete plan to live together in Japan
2. What Immigration Checks
- How often the couple communicate (chat, phone calls, video calls)
- How frequently they meet in person (visits, length of stay together)
- The reason for staying overseas (work, study, family situation, etc.)
- Where and how they plan to live together in Japan
- How they share living expenses or support each other financially
3. Risk Factors That Need Careful Explanation
- Recently married with no cohabitation history
- Very short dating period before marriage
- Very few chat or communication records
- Few or no visits for several years
- An unclear or vague reason for living apart
In these situations, a detailed explanation letter and strong supporting evidence are essential.
4. Typical Cases That Are Easier to Get Approved
- The overseas stay is clearly explained (work, study, family reasons) and has a rough time frame
- The couple have regular video calls and daily or frequent messages
- They meet several times a year, with clear travel records
- There are money transfers or shared expenses as proof of financial support
- A housing plan for living together in Japan is already prepared or in progress
5. Useful Additional Documents When One Spouse Is Overseas
- An explanation letter describing why the spouse is overseas and how long it is expected to continue
- Screenshots of chat, call logs, or video call histories
- Evidence of visits (flight tickets, boarding passes, passport entry/exit stamps)
- Proof of financial support (bank transfer records, remittance receipts, etc.)
- A lease agreement or concrete housing plan in Japan
- Photos with family members or relatives on both sides
6. How the Length of Separation Affects Screening
Short-term separation (a few months to within about 1 year)
→ Generally easier to explain, as long as the plan and evidence are clear and consistent.
Long-term separation (more than 1 year)
→ Stronger evidence is required. In particular, Immigration will look closely at the frequency of visits and communication.
Several years of long-distance marriage
→ Considered higher risk, but it can still be approved if there is sufficient objective evidence showing a genuine and continuing marriage.
7. Conclusion: Separation Is Acceptable If the Relationship and Future Plan Are Clear
Living apart or staying overseas for a period is not unusual。 What Immigration focuses on is:
(1) whether the marriage is genuine,
(2) whether the relationship is being maintained over time,
(3) whether the couple can realistically live together in Japan after approval.
If you prepare your explanation and supporting documents carefully around these three points, approval is entirely possible even when one spouse is overseas。
Need support with a spouse visa when one spouse is overseas?
I can help you draft explanation letters, organize evidence, and guide you through the application process。
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