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）
A change from 短期滞在 to 「日本人の配偶者等」 is an exceptional procedure that is said, under 入管法第20条第3項ただし書き, to be limited to cases where there are unavoidable special circumstances (やむを得ない特別の事情). Please take it that the barrier is high. If you want to proceed without leaving Japan, a 理由書 explaining why the change has to be made without returning home is the key.
An enquiry from a person who registered a marriage with a Japanese national while on 短期滞在, and wants to switch to a spouse visa without returning home.
It is an exceptional procedure, not granted unless there are "unavoidable special circumstances".
Under 入管法第20条第3項ただし書き, an 在留資格変更許可申請 from 短期滞在 (tourism) is not to be granted unless it is based on unavoidable special circumstances (やむを得ない特別の事情). Even where you are married to a Japanese national, this framework does not fall away. Please take it that this is a procedure where the barrier is high from the point of having the change application accepted at all.
On top of that, in your case Jordan is not a country covered by visa exemption with Japan, so whether you can explain the following 2 points at the counter is what makes the difference.
What answers these 2 points is the 理由書 (written explanation). In a change from 短期滞在, the 理由書 is the most important document.
Together with the Japanese 戸籍謄本, it helps screening to also carry out the marriage procedure in your home country.
As you completed the marriage registration in Japan in January 2026 (2026年1月), the fact of your marriage should be recorded in the Japanese 戸籍謄本 (certified copy of the family register). This is the central document proving the marriage.
In addition, if you also proceed with the marriage procedure on the Jordanian side (reporting it to the Embassy of Jordan in Japan), screening will go more smoothly.
Without these, the application will not be accepted. It can take time to obtain them, so please start early.
There are 2 ways: applying for the change directly, and proceeding together with an application for a Certificate of Eligibility.
Taking the time to gather material showing that it is not a sham marriage is the shortest road to permission.
In an international marriage between Jordan and Japan, how much material you have showing that the marriage is genuine affects the result.
Preparing this material proving that it is not a sham marriage properly is the shortest road to permission.
The 短期滞在 period passes very quickly. As soon as you can, organise the 戸籍謄本 obtained from the Japanese city office together with the documents from the Jordanian side, and start work on the 理由書 explaining "why I must stay in Japan and carry out the procedure now".
It is an exceptional procedure, which under 入管法第20条第3項ただし書き is said not to be granted unless it is based on unavoidable special circumstances (やむを得ない特別の事情). Please take it that the barrier is high from the point of having the application accepted at all. Even where you are married to a Japanese national, this framework does not fall away.
The 理由書. Whether you can explain the 2 points of "why you did not come to Japan on a spouse visa in the first place" and "why you want to make the change without returning home even once" is what makes the difference.
If it looks as though having the change application accepted at the counter will be difficult, there is a way of first making the application for the certificate and then asking about your wish to apply for a change. Even where the change application is not accepted, the next step is to take the certificate that has been issued and ask whether a change application is possible.
Prepare material showing that it is not a sham marriage, such as an account of how you met, photographs from your time together before the marriage, and exchanges on social media. Together with the Japanese 戸籍謄本, it helps screening to also carry out the marriage procedure in your home country.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.