Documents

Document catalogue

Every document the Immigration Services Agency publishes for this status, and what each is for.

Official forms

Document Ref Routes Prepared by Purpose

在留資格認定証明書交付申請書
Application for Certificate of Eligibility 930004054
930004055 Certificate of Eligibility Prepared here The main application when the foreign spouse is still abroad. Filed in Japan by the Japanese spouse; the granted certificate is sent abroad and exchanged for a visa.

在留資格変更許可申請書
Application for Change of Status of Residence 930004084
930004085 Change of status Prepared here Used when the applicant is already in Japan on another status (Student, Engineer, Dependent) and is switching to the spouse status.

在留期間更新許可申請書
Application for Extension of Period of Stay 930004114
930004115 Renewal Prepared here Extends an existing spouse status before the residence card expires.

在留資格取得許可申請書
Application for Acquisition of Status of Residence 930004120
930004121 Acquisition Prepared here For a child born in Japan, or a person who has lost Japanese nationality, who now needs a status. Must be filed within 30 days of the event.

身元保証書
Letter of Guarantee (Japanese) 001373949 Certificate of Eligibility, Change of status, Renewal, Acquisition Prepared here The Japanese spouse's undertaking covering living costs, the fare home, and compliance with Japanese law. Moral rather than legally enforceable.

身元保証書（英語版）
Letter of Guarantee (English) 001373950 Certificate of Eligibility, Change of status, Renewal, Acquisition Prepared here An English rendering of the guarantee, published so a non-Japanese-reading guarantor can understand what they are signing.

質問書
Questionnaire (Japanese) 930003288 Certificate of Eligibility, Change of status Prepared here Eight pages on how the couple met, how they communicate, the marriage process and the wedding. This is where the genuineness of the marriage is actually assessed.

質問書（英語版）
Questionnaire (English) 930003535 Certificate of Eligibility, Change of status Reference English edition of the questionnaire. The ISA also publishes Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian editions.

提出書類のチェックシート（認定）
Document checklist (Certificate of Eligibility) 001426538 Certificate of Eligibility Reference The ISA's own checklist of supporting documents for a COE application.

提出書類のチェックシート（変更）
Document checklist (Change of Status) 001426540 Change of status Reference Supporting-document checklist for a change of status application.

提出書類のチェックシート（更新）
Document checklist (Renewal) 001426542 Renewal Reference Supporting-document checklist for a renewal application.

提出書類のチェックシート（取得）
Document checklist (Acquisition) 001426543 Acquisition Reference Supporting-document checklist for an acquisition application.

記載例（認定）
Worked example (Certificate of Eligibility) 001459547 Certificate of Eligibility Reference The ISA's own filled-in specimen. It is the authority for house style -- ticked boxes are filled solid (■) and 男 (male) / 有 (yes) are ringed in red.

記載例（変更）
Worked example (Change of Status) 001459548 Change of status Reference Filled-in specimen for the change of status form.

記載例（更新）
Worked example (Renewal) 001459549 Renewal Reference Filled-in specimen for the renewal form.

記載例（取得）
Worked example (Acquisition) 001459550 Acquisition Reference Filled-in specimen for the acquisition form.

質問書（別記第３号様式・申請出生子用）
Questionnaire (for a child born in Japan) 001350118 Acquisition Reference A separate, one-page questionnaire used where the applicant is a child rather than a spouse. Published in Japanese only.

提出書類のチェックシート（実子・特別養子／認定）
Document checklist — child / special adoptee (認定) 001426545 Certificate of Eligibility Reference Supporting-document checklist for the child limb of this status.

提出書類のチェックシート（実子・特別養子／変更）
Document checklist — child / special adoptee (変更) 001426547 Change of status Reference Supporting-document checklist for the child limb of this status.

提出書類のチェックシート（実子・特別養子／更新）
Document checklist — child / special adoptee (更新) 001426549 Renewal Reference Supporting-document checklist for the child limb of this status.

提出書類のチェックシート（実子・特別養子／取得）
Document checklist — child / special adoptee (取得) 001426551 Acquisition Reference Supporting-document checklist for the child limb of this status.

記載例（実子・特別養子／認定）
Worked example — child / special adoptee (認定) 001459552 Certificate of Eligibility Reference The Agency's filled specimen for the child limb of this status.

記載例（実子・特別養子／変更）
Worked example — child / special adoptee (変更) 001459553 Change of status Reference The Agency's filled specimen for the child limb of this status.

記載例（実子・特別養子／更新）
Worked example — child / special adoptee (更新) 001459554 Renewal Reference The Agency's filled specimen for the child limb of this status.

記載例（実子・特別養子／取得）
Worked example — child / special adoptee (取得) 001459555 Acquisition Reference The Agency's filled specimen for the child limb of this status.

婚姻要件具備証明書に代わる書簡（在日米国大使館）
Letter in Lieu of Marriage Affidavit (U.S. Embassy Tokyo) — All routes Reference What a U.S. citizen presents to a Japanese municipal office in place of a 婚姻要件具備証明書 (certificate of legal capacity to marry). Effective 1 September 2025 the U.S. Embassy and the consulates general in Sapporo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Naha stopped notarising the 'Affidavit of Competency to Marry'; this letter explains that the U.S. federal government holds no record of a citizen's marital status and issues no civil-status certificates.

Document	Ref	Routes	Prepared by	Purpose
在留資格認定証明書交付申請書 Application for Certificate of Eligibility	`930004054` `930004055`	Certificate of Eligibility	Prepared here	The main application when the foreign spouse is still abroad. Filed in Japan by the Japanese spouse; the granted certificate is sent abroad and exchanged for a visa.
在留資格変更許可申請書 Application for Change of Status of Residence	`930004084` `930004085`	Change of status	Prepared here	Used when the applicant is already in Japan on another status (Student, Engineer, Dependent) and is switching to the spouse status.
在留期間更新許可申請書 Application for Extension of Period of Stay	`930004114` `930004115`	Renewal	Prepared here	Extends an existing spouse status before the residence card expires.
在留資格取得許可申請書 Application for Acquisition of Status of Residence	`930004120` `930004121`	Acquisition	Prepared here	For a child born in Japan, or a person who has lost Japanese nationality, who now needs a status. Must be filed within 30 days of the event.
身元保証書 Letter of Guarantee (Japanese)	`001373949`	Certificate of Eligibility, Change of status, Renewal, Acquisition	Prepared here	The Japanese spouse's undertaking covering living costs, the fare home, and compliance with Japanese law. Moral rather than legally enforceable.
身元保証書（英語版） Letter of Guarantee (English)	`001373950`	Certificate of Eligibility, Change of status, Renewal, Acquisition	Prepared here	An English rendering of the guarantee, published so a non-Japanese-reading guarantor can understand what they are signing.
質問書 Questionnaire (Japanese)	`930003288`	Certificate of Eligibility, Change of status	Prepared here	Eight pages on how the couple met, how they communicate, the marriage process and the wedding. This is where the genuineness of the marriage is actually assessed.
質問書（英語版） Questionnaire (English)	`930003535`	Certificate of Eligibility, Change of status	Reference	English edition of the questionnaire. The ISA also publishes Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian editions.
提出書類のチェックシート（認定） Document checklist (Certificate of Eligibility)	`001426538`	Certificate of Eligibility	Reference	The ISA's own checklist of supporting documents for a COE application.
提出書類のチェックシート（変更） Document checklist (Change of Status)	`001426540`	Change of status	Reference	Supporting-document checklist for a change of status application.
提出書類のチェックシート（更新） Document checklist (Renewal)	`001426542`	Renewal	Reference	Supporting-document checklist for a renewal application.
提出書類のチェックシート（取得） Document checklist (Acquisition)	`001426543`	Acquisition	Reference	Supporting-document checklist for an acquisition application.
記載例（認定） Worked example (Certificate of Eligibility)	`001459547`	Certificate of Eligibility	Reference	The ISA's own filled-in specimen. It is the authority for house style -- ticked boxes are filled solid (■) and 男 (male) / 有 (yes) are ringed in red.
記載例（変更） Worked example (Change of Status)	`001459548`	Change of status	Reference	Filled-in specimen for the change of status form.
記載例（更新） Worked example (Renewal)	`001459549`	Renewal	Reference	Filled-in specimen for the renewal form.
記載例（取得） Worked example (Acquisition)	`001459550`	Acquisition	Reference	Filled-in specimen for the acquisition form.
質問書（別記第３号様式・申請出生子用） Questionnaire (for a child born in Japan)	`001350118`	Acquisition	Reference	A separate, one-page questionnaire used where the applicant is a child rather than a spouse. Published in Japanese only.
提出書類のチェックシート（実子・特別養子／認定） Document checklist — child / special adoptee (認定)	`001426545`	Certificate of Eligibility	Reference	Supporting-document checklist for the child limb of this status.
提出書類のチェックシート（実子・特別養子／変更） Document checklist — child / special adoptee (変更)	`001426547`	Change of status	Reference	Supporting-document checklist for the child limb of this status.
提出書類のチェックシート（実子・特別養子／更新） Document checklist — child / special adoptee (更新)	`001426549`	Renewal	Reference	Supporting-document checklist for the child limb of this status.
提出書類のチェックシート（実子・特別養子／取得） Document checklist — child / special adoptee (取得)	`001426551`	Acquisition	Reference	Supporting-document checklist for the child limb of this status.
記載例（実子・特別養子／認定） Worked example — child / special adoptee (認定)	`001459552`	Certificate of Eligibility	Reference	The Agency's filled specimen for the child limb of this status.
記載例（実子・特別養子／変更） Worked example — child / special adoptee (変更)	`001459553`	Change of status	Reference	The Agency's filled specimen for the child limb of this status.
記載例（実子・特別養子／更新） Worked example — child / special adoptee (更新)	`001459554`	Renewal	Reference	The Agency's filled specimen for the child limb of this status.
記載例（実子・特別養子／取得） Worked example — child / special adoptee (取得)	`001459555`	Acquisition	Reference	The Agency's filled specimen for the child limb of this status.
婚姻要件具備証明書に代わる書簡（在日米国大使館） Letter in Lieu of Marriage Affidavit (U.S. Embassy Tokyo)	`—`	All routes	Reference	What a U.S. citizen presents to a Japanese municipal office in place of a 婚姻要件具備証明書 (certificate of legal capacity to marry). Effective 1 September 2025 the U.S. Embassy and the consulates general in Sapporo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Naha stopped notarising the 'Affidavit of Competency to Marry'; this letter explains that the U.S. federal government holds no record of a citizen's marital status and issues no civil-status certificates.

You obtain this

Document	Where to get it	Purpose
戸籍謄本（全部事項証明書） Family register, full copy Issued within 3 months	The Japanese spouse's 本籍 (registered domicile) city office	Proves the marriage exists in Japanese law. Must be issued after the marriage was registered, so the foreign spouse appears in the remarks column.
本国の結婚証明書 Marriage certificate from the applicant's country With a Japanese translation, translator named	The applicant's home-country authority	Proves the marriage is also recognised in the applicant's own country.
住民票（世帯全員） Certificate of residence, whole household Issued within 3 months	City office where the couple is registered	Evidences the couple's shared address and who else lives there.
課税証明書 Taxable income certificate	City office where the Japanese spouse pays residence tax	Shows the household's income so the office can judge ability to support.
納税証明書 Tax payment certificate	Same city office	Shows the tax was actually paid. Clear any arrears before filing.
収入を証する資料（在職証明書・預金残高証明書等） Evidence of income or savings	Employer or bank	Employment certificate, job offer, or bank balance. Particularly important when income is modest, irregular, or the spouse has recently changed jobs.
スナップ写真 Snapshot photographs	—	Photographs showing the couple together, ideally with family or at the wedding. No filters, and print them rather than submitting a phone.
写真（縦4cm×横3cm） ID photograph, 4cm x 3cm Taken within 3 months	—	Affixed to the box at the top right of part 1. Taken within 3 months, plain background, full face, no hat.
通信記録（SNS・通話履歴等） Records of communication	—	Printouts of messages or call logs supporting what the questionnaire says about how you kept in touch. Volume is less useful than a spread of dates.
返信用封筒 Self-addressed return envelope	—	For the certificate to be posted back. Attach the correct postage.
旅券及び在留カード Passport and residence card	—	Presented for inspection at the counter, not surrendered.
婚姻要件具備証明書（又はこれに代わる書面） Certificate of legal capacity to marry, or a document in place of one	The applicant's own embassy or consulate in Japan	Required by the municipal office to register the marriage — which is what puts the marriage on the family register, which is in turn what proves it to immigration. Needs a Japanese translation naming the translator. U.S. citizens no longer obtain a notarised affidavit: since 1 September 2025 they present the Embassy's published Letter in Lieu instead.

Document

Where to get it

Purpose

戸籍謄本（全部事項証明書）
Family register, full copy
Issued within 3 months

The Japanese spouse's 本籍 (registered domicile) city office

Proves the marriage exists in Japanese law. Must be issued after the marriage was registered, so the foreign spouse appears in the remarks column.

本国の結婚証明書
Marriage certificate from the applicant's country
With a Japanese translation, translator named

The applicant's home-country authority

Proves the marriage is also recognised in the applicant's own country.

住民票（世帯全員）
Certificate of residence, whole household
Issued within 3 months

City office where the couple is registered

Evidences the couple's shared address and who else lives there.

課税証明書
Taxable income certificate

City office where the Japanese spouse pays residence tax

Shows the household's income so the office can judge ability to support.

納税証明書
Tax payment certificate

Same city office

Shows the tax was actually paid. Clear any arrears before filing.

収入を証する資料（在職証明書・預金残高証明書等）
Evidence of income or savings

Employer or bank

Employment certificate, job offer, or bank balance. Particularly important when income is modest, irregular, or the spouse has recently changed jobs.

スナップ写真
Snapshot photographs

—

Photographs showing the couple together, ideally with family or at the wedding. No filters, and print them rather than submitting a phone.

写真（縦4cm×横3cm）
ID photograph, 4cm x 3cm
Taken within 3 months

—

Affixed to the box at the top right of part 1. Taken within 3 months, plain background, full face, no hat.

通信記録（SNS・通話履歴等）
Records of communication

—

Printouts of messages or call logs supporting what the questionnaire says about how you kept in touch. Volume is less useful than a spread of dates.

返信用封筒
Self-addressed return envelope

—

For the certificate to be posted back. Attach the correct postage.

旅券及び在留カード
Passport and residence card

—

Presented for inspection at the counter, not surrendered.

婚姻要件具備証明書（又はこれに代わる書面）
Certificate of legal capacity to marry, or a document in place of one

The applicant's own embassy or consulate in Japan

Required by the municipal office to register the marriage — which is what puts the marriage on the family register, which is in turn what proves it to immigration. Needs a Japanese translation naming the translator. U.S. citizens no longer obtain a notarised affidavit: since 1 September 2025 they present the Embassy's published Letter in Lieu instead.