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Can I renew my spouse visa if my income is low but I have assets?

Foreigners Employment Support Organization (FESO)　／　Published 20 April 2026　／　Last updated 21 August 2026

This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）

Answer

Japanese ability, work history and age are not in themselves grounds for denial.What screening looks at is whether you can make a stable living in Japan from now on. Even if your income is low, if you can show savings, real estate and the household's ability to make a living with objective documents, renewal may be granted.

What is this enquiry about?

An enquiry from a person living in Japan as the biological child of a Japanese national, who is worried that his income is low.

Subject: whether the status of residence can be renewed
Application type: 在留期間更新許可申請 (Application for Extension of Period of Stay) for 「日本人の配偶者等」
Situation: Chinese national, 50 years old. Born to a Japanese father and a Chinese mother, he came to Japan 3 years ago on 「日本人の配偶者等」 (period of stay 3 years) as the biological child of a Japanese national. His Japanese was not good enough to find work, and for the first 2 years he concentrated on renovating his home himself. Living costs were covered by his common-law wife, a Japanese national and his partner of 20 years. He started a part-time job last year. His income last year was about 300,000 yen (約30万円), and this year it is expected to be around 1 million yen (100万円). He has about 10 million yen (約1,000万円) in savings worldwide. The home was bought with his common-law wife, each paying half, and is jointly owned (his share is about 5 million yen, 約500万円). He has no unpaid pension contributions or similar.
Question: Are age, Japanese ability that is still low, and work history used as criteria in screening? I am worried that my income is low. In future I am also thinking about permanent residence.

Do age, Japanese ability and work history affect screening?

None of them is in itself a ground for denial.

Japanese ability

「日本人の配偶者等」 is a status of residence based on personal status. Unlike work statuses such as 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services), it does not ask for high Japanese ability or a particular degree. The fact that you are studying is, if anything, received positively as a sign that you want to settle in Japan.

Age and career

Being 50 years old, and the fact that your career so far has not been put to use in Japan, are not in themselves reasons for denial. However, as to how the plan to find work that you had when you came to Japan did not work out, you need to explain honestly in the 理由書 (written explanation) why you could not find work, and what you were doing during that time.

Can assets make up for a low income?

Savings, real estate and the household's ability to make a living may make up for it.

What is given the most weight in renewal screening is the stability of your livelihood. An income of 300,000 yen (30万円), or of 1 million yen (100万円), is said not to be enough for an independent living, as a practical rule of thumb. That said, you have the following strengths.

Savings (about 10 million yen, 約1,000万円): even if your annual income is low, if you have enough money at hand you are judged not to be in difficulty in daily life for the time being
A jointly owned share of real estate (worth about 5 million yen, 約500万円): having a place to live secured, and holding assets, are positive points
Support from your common-law wife: where the relationship has lasted 20 years and there is a stable income, the ability of the household as a whole to make a living is recognised

What should I write in the 理由書?

4 points: the gap from your original plan, what you are doing now, proof of your assets, and fulfilment of public obligations.

The gap from your original plan
Explain why you could not find work soon after arriving in Japan, and that you did not spend that time idly but used it to build the foundations of your life by preparing your home (renovation).
What you are doing now
Show that you have started a part-time job and that your income is rising step by step (from 300,000 yen to 1 million yen; 30万円→100万円).
Proof of your assets
Attach copies of your bank books in China and in Japan, and a certificate of registered matters (登記事項証明書) for the property, to show objectively that you are financially independent.
Fulfilment of public obligations
Having no unpaid pension contributions or taxes is important proof of honesty in living in Japan (good conduct). It is also given weight when you make an 永住許可申請.

What should I keep in mind for a future 永住許可申請?

Keeping a period of stay of 3 years, and continuing to pay your pension and health insurance.

Keeping your period of stay: the requirements for permanent residence include residing with the longest period of stay available for the status of residence you currently hold. If, at this renewal, your period of stay is shortened to 1 year because your income is unstable, the road to permanent residence becomes longer. It is important to show the background of your assets properly and to obtain a period of stay of 3 years again.

Continuing health insurance and pension: in screening for permanent residence, fulfilment of public obligations is given weight. Please keep up your current position of having nothing unpaid.

A situation of "I have assets, but not much work yet" can, depending on how the 理由書 is written, be turned into an explanation of "an applicant whose foundation for living is already in place". Let us start by organising the documents that prove your assets in Japan and abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my spouse visa renewal be denied if I cannot speak Japanese?

No. 「日本人の配偶者等」 is a status of residence based on personal status, and unlike work statuses it does not ask for high Japanese ability or a particular degree. The fact that you are studying is received positively as a sign that you want to settle in Japan.

Can I renew if my annual income is around 1 million yen (100万円)?

As a practical rule of thumb, that level is said not to be enough for an independent living. However, it may be made up for by showing savings, real estate and the household's ability to make a living with objective documents.

If my period of stay becomes 1 year, does that affect permanent residence?

Yes. The requirements for permanent residence include residing with the longest period of stay available for the status of residence you currently hold, so it becomes important to obtain a period of stay of 3 years again at this renewal.

Does having no unpaid pension contributions or taxes help?

Yes, it helps. Fulfilling your public obligations is proof of honesty in living in Japan, and it is also given weight in screening for an 永住許可申請.

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This article provides general information. Immigration rules change, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Please check the Immigration Services Agency website or consult a qualified specialist.
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.