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When each thing happens, and how long it takes

Five routes, and what each costs in time

Nearly every difficulty in a spouse case is a timing problem rather than an eligibility one. Which route applies is decided by where the applicant is now, and each route has its own durations and its own deadlines. The table below links to the full timeline for each.

These are averages, not promises

Every figure here is an average of cases already decided, published by the Agency for a month that has ended. It describes what happened to other people. It is not a estimate for your case, not a commitment by anybody, and an individual case may take considerably longer — a request for extra documents alone can add weeks. Plan with room, and never book anything that cannot be moved.

Measured processing time, to the same scale

Certificate of eligibility
111.5 days (3.7 months)
Change of status of residence
55.7 days (1.8 months)
Extension of period of stay
49.8 days (1.6 months)
Acquisition of a status of residence
no measured figure published (Decided within 60 days of the event)
Permanent residence
289.1 days (9.5 months)

The Agency's measured averages, permissions granted June 2026: receipt to notification, including any wait for documents the office asked for, and excluding refusals and withdrawals. The populations differ. The first four are 日本人の配偶者等 (spouse or child of a Japanese national); permanent residence comes from the 永住者 (permanent resident) row, which covers every general permanent-residence applicant whatever status they hold.

The routes compared

Route When it applies Published Measured Fee Who files Problems listed
Certificate of eligibility The applicant is outside Japan 1 to 3 months 111.5 days Free The Japanese spouse files as the applicant's representative 11 (4 costly if missed)
Change of status of residence The applicant is already in Japan on another status 1 to 2 months 55.7 days 6,000 yen on grant, 5,500 online The applicant attends in person; there is no representative 7 (4 costly if missed)
Extension of period of stay Already a spouse; the period of stay is running out 2 weeks to 1 month 49.8 days 6,000 yen on grant, 5,500 online The applicant, or an accredited representative who has notified the bureau 7 (3 costly if missed)
Acquisition of a status of residence A child born in Japan who is not a Japanese national Decided within 60 days of the event — Free The applicant in person, a legal representative for a child, or a notified agent 6 (2 costly if missed)
Permanent residence Later on, once the marriage has three years behind it 4 to 6 months 289.1 days 10,000 yen on grant The applicant, or an accredited representative who has notified the bureau 6 (2 costly if missed)
The same pattern wherever both figures exist. Every measured average sits at or beyond the top of its published range. In proportion the widest gaps are the renewal — two weeks to one month published, 49.8 days measured — and permanent residence, 289.1 days against a published six months at the outside. Plan against the measured figure.

The timelines

The applicant is outside Japan
Laid out against a scale of days, with day zero at the day of filing. 11 problems are marked at the point each arises, in order, each with what to do about it.
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The applicant is already in Japan on another status
Laid out against a scale of days, with day zero at the day of filing. 7 problems are marked at the point each arises, in order, each with what to do about it.
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Already a spouse; the period of stay is running out
Laid out against a scale of days, with day zero at the expiry of the current period of stay. 7 problems are marked at the point each arises, in order, each with what to do about it.
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A child born in Japan who is not a Japanese national
Laid out against a scale of days, with day zero at the birth. 6 problems are marked at the point each arises, in order, each with what to do about it.
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Later on, once the marriage has three years behind it
Laid out against a scale of days, with day zero at the day of filing. 6 problems are marked at the point each arises, in order, each with what to do about it.
Open the timeline
The figures were checked against their published sources on 2026-08-20. The standard period and the measured average are different numbers, and both change. Confirm anything you are planning around against the source.