Dependent Visa for Parents? Support Barrier.
1. In Principle, Parents Cannot Be Invited on a Dependent Visa
Many foreign nationals working in Japan wish to invite their parents to live with them in Japan and take care of them in their old age. Unfortunately, however, inviting parents to Japan is, in principle, extremely difficult under Japan's status of residence system.
This is because the purpose of the "Dependent" (Kazoku Taizai) status of residence is strictly limited to supporting the spouse and children of the foreign national working in Japan (the main status holder). In other words, parents are explicitly defined as ineligible for the "Dependent" visa.
Since the "Dependent" status is not intended for the support of parents, long-term stays are not permitted through the standard application route, no matter how much you wish to spend time with them.
2. Realistic Options: "Temporary Visitor" and the "Extremely High Barrier"
While the path for parents to stay long-term in Japan is largely closed, there are two realistic options to consider.
Option 1: Temporary Visitor Visa (Most Common)
The most realistic way to invite parents is through the "Temporary Visitor (Visiting Relatives/Sightseeing)" visa. This is intended for temporary stays of up to 90 days and is relatively easy to apply for. However, long-term stays are impossible, and the purpose is strictly for tourism or temporary family visits. It does not allow for long-term caregiving or the use of public care services. Regular entry and exit from Japan will be required, which places a significant burden on elderly parents.
Option 2: "Designated Activities" Status of Residence (An Exceptional Exception)
In very rare and exceptional cases, the invitation of elderly parents may be permitted under the framework of the "Designated Activities" (Tokutei Katsudou) status of residence. However, this is an exception to an exception, and the requirements are extremely strict.
Main Requirements for "Designated Activities" Status (Extremely Difficult) To be granted this special exception, two major barriers must be overcome:
To be granted this special exception, two major barriers must be overcome:
| 1. Stable High Income of the Applicant (The Child Working in Japan) |
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| You are required to cover all of your parents' living expenses, medical expenses, and caregiving costs solely through your financial means, without any public burden. Generally, a sufficient, continuous, and stable high income (in many cases, an extremely high annual income is the benchmark) is mandatory to support your parents. |
| 2. The Barrier of Difficulty in Support in the Home Country |
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| This is the most stringent requirement. You must officially prove, with public documents, that there are absolutely no other relatives (such as siblings) in the home country who can support the parent, or that there are special circumstances that make support by those relatives humanely impossible. |
In other words, you must demonstrate to the Immigration Bureau, with objective evidence, that there is no one else in the world to care for your parent besides you, who lives in Japan. The possibility of approval is consequently minimal.
The Reality of "Inviting Parents" as Seen by Experts
The difficulty in inviting parents stems from the Japanese visa system's primary focus on supporting foreign nationals working within Japan, and the government's stance of wanting to avoid an increase in the burden on Japan's social security system (long-term care and medical services) resulting from inviting parents.
Even if an invitation were possible, parents face a language barrier in Japanese, and it takes time before they can utilize public Long-Term Care Insurance services. It must be understood that life in Japan presents other significant challenges besides the financial burden, such as the parents' isolation and the realistic burden of caregiving.
Consult an Expert Because the Path is Difficult
The reality is that inviting parents is very difficult under Japan's current status of residence system. In particular, the application for "Designated Activities" is incomparably more difficult than a standard visa application, requiring meticulous preparation and document creation from a specialist's perspective.
If you are considering applying for "Designated Activities" in light of your family's situation and financial resources, or if you want to know how to wisely utilize the "Temporary Visitor" status, we strongly recommend consulting an expert before risking a denial of your application.
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