What happens to 家族滞在 when a child turns 18 years old?

Foreigners Employment Support Organization (FESO)　／　Published 16 May 2025　／　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

家族滞在 is a status of residence that assumes the holder is being supported. Once your child reaches adulthood, or starts work and becomes financially independent, they may no longer be able to keep 家族滞在 as it is. Once a job or a place of study is decided, please consider a change to a status of residence that permits work, or to 「留学」 (Student), at an early stage.

What is this enquiry about?

We explain when to change a child's status of residence as they grow up while living in Japan on 家族滞在.

Subject: status of residence (visa)
Application type: 在留資格変更許可申請 (Application for Change of Status of Residence)
Situation: A child is living in Japan on 「家族滞在」, supported by a person who holds a status of residence for work, study or similar
Question: How does the child growing up affect their status of residence? When should the change to a suitable status of residence be made?

Who counts as a child for 家族滞在?

A biological or adopted child supported by the person supporting the family. Being supported is the premise.

家族滞在 is given mainly to the spouse or child of a person holding one of the following statuses of residence, who is supported by that person.

教授 (Professor)
高度専門職 (Highly Skilled Professional), 経営・管理 (Business Manager)
研究 (Researcher)
技術・人文知識・国際業務 (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services)
企業内転勤 (Intra-company Transferee)
技能 (Skilled Labor)
特定技能2号 (Specified Skilled Worker (ii))
留学 (Student)
And others

A child here means a biological or adopted child who is supported by the person supporting the family. The point that being supported is the premise is what matters most when you think about the status of residence as your child grows up.

Can 家族滞在 continue once a child is 18 years old?

Under the Japanese Civil Code a person becomes an adult at 18 years old, so you need to think about the next status of residence before that point.

Under the Japanese Civil Code, a person becomes an adult at 18 years old. 家族滞在 is a status of residence that assumes the holder is being supported, so the time when your child reaches adulthood is the time to consider what status of residence should come next.

Whatever their age, if your child starts work and earns a stable income, so that they have become financially independent, or are judged to be able to become so, it can no longer be said that they are being supported, and they may no longer meet the requirements for 家族滞在.

Note that 家族滞在 does not, as a rule, permit work (apart from part-time work within the scope of a 資格外活動許可 (Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted)). If your child starts work, the status of residence must be changed before they join the company.

When should the status of residence be changed?

Before your child turns 18 years old, or once a job offer is confirmed, with the change made before they join the company.

Before turning 18 years old
Think about the next status of residence before your child reaches adulthood. If a job offer is already confirmed, consider a change to a status of residence that permits work, such as 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」. It is desirable to do this before your child turns 18 years old.
If a job offer is confirmed
If your child receives a confirmed job offer from a company in Japan, the status of residence must be changed to one that permits work, such as 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 or 「特定技能」, before they join the company.
If your child becomes financially independent
Even under 18 years old, if your child becomes financially independent through work and is judged no longer to need a parent's support, they may no longer meet the requirements for 家族滞在. Here too, you need to consider a change to a status of residence that matches what they actually do.

What documents does the change need?

The application form and documents on family relationships and the person supporting the family, plus documents showing the new activity.

A change from 家族滞在 to another status of residence is made, as a rule, at the 地方出入国在留管理局 (Regional Immigration Services Bureau). The documents you need differ depending on the status of residence you change to and on your own circumstances, but the following are usual.

在留資格変更許可申請書 (application form for Change of Status of Residence)
A photograph of the applicant (meeting the specified format)
Passport and 在留カード (Residence Card) (to be presented)
Documents proving the family relationship with the person supporting the family (family register, marriage certificate and so on)
Documents proving the status of residence of the person supporting the family (在留カード and so on)
Documents proving the income of the person supporting the family (certificate of employment, withholding tax slip, tax payment certificate and so on)
Documents showing the activity after the change (for 「留学」, a letter of admission, a certificate of enrolment, documents showing the ability to pay tuition, and so on; for work, a written notice of the job offer, an employment contract, documents about the company, and so on)
Any other documents the 地方出入国在留管理局 asks for in your particular case

Gather and prepare the documents and submit them to the 地方出入国在留管理局. Screening then takes place, and you are notified of the result, either permission or denial. Screening takes a certain amount of time, so it is important to apply with time to spare.

If a change of status of residence is needed and the procedure is neglected, this may lead to 不法滞在 (illegal residence) or 不法就労 (illegal work). If anything is unclear, please consult the 地方出入国在留管理局 or a specialist such as a gyoseishoshi at an early stage.

What are some concrete examples?

The typical ones are a confirmed job offer, and parents returning to their home country while the child stays in Japan.

Case 1: 21 years old, graduated from a Japanese university, with a confirmed job offer from a Japanese company

Now: living in Japan on 「留学」 (previously 家族滞在)
Next: starting work at a Japanese company
What is needed: before joining the company, an application to change to a status of residence that permits work, such as 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」, depending on the employer's industry and the duties of the job

Case 2: 17 years old, in high school, parents returning to their home country, but the child wants to stay in Japan and continue studying

Now: living in Japan on 家族滞在
Next: the parents return to their home country; the child wishes to stay in Japan until graduating from high school
What is needed: as the child can no longer be supported by the parents, a change to 「留学」 needs to be considered. This requires proof of the ability to pay tuition and living costs

Frequently Asked Questions

If a child living in Japan on 家族滞在 starts work, does the status of residence have to be changed?

Yes. 家族滞在 does not, as a rule, permit work (apart from part-time work within the scope of a 資格外活動許可). Before joining the company, the status of residence must be changed to one that permits work, such as 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 or 「特定技能」.

When is the best time to apply for the change of status of residence?

If a job offer is confirmed, it is said to be desirable to do this before the child turns 18 years old. Screening takes a certain amount of time, so please apply with time to spare.

What if the parents return to their home country and only the child wants to stay at a Japanese high school?

As the child can no longer be supported by the parents, a change to 「留学」 needs to be considered. This requires proof of the ability to pay tuition and living costs.

What happens if the change procedure is neglected?

If a change of status of residence is needed and the procedure is neglected, this may lead to 不法滞在 or 不法就労. If anything is unclear, please consult the 地方出入国在留管理局 or a specialist at an early stage.

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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.