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Changing from a spouse visa to 定住者: what Japanese ability is expected?

Foreigners Employment Support Organization (FESO)　／　Published 16 February 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

For a change to 「定住者」 (Long-Term Resident status after divorce) there is no formal, fixed standard of Japanese ability such as a set JLPT level or above. Everyday conversational ability is expected, however. In this case, living apart and the ability to make a living are said to be far bigger issues than Japanese ability.

What is this enquiry about?

An enquiry about the standard of Japanese ability for a change to 定住者, from a woman married for 16 years who has lived apart from her husband for 4 years.

Subject: visa (change of status of residence, from a spouse visa to Long-Term Resident)
Situation: the enquirer is in her 16 years of marriage and has 2 children. Because her husband would not help with the housework or the children, they have lived apart for 4 years. She now holds a 在留資格「日本人の配偶者等」 (Spouse or Child of Japanese National) visa, but with divorce in mind for the future she is considering an application for permanent residence, or a change to 「定住者」. Her period of stay expires in April (4月).
Question: she is thinking about a change to a 「定住者」 visa, and has heard that Japanese ability is one of the requirements. She is not very good at Japanese and holds no certificate. Is there a concrete standard?

What is the standard of Japanese ability for a 定住者 visa?

There is no formal standard such as a set JLPT level or above; everyday conversational ability is expected.

Screening for a change to 「定住者」 looks at whether you can live independently in Japanese society without help from those around you. No score is fixed by law, but in practice the guide is "enough not to have trouble in daily life", around the level of an upper-primary or junior-high school pupil. A qualification such as the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) helps, but it is not required. If you have lived in Japan for a long time and can communicate at your children's school or at work, it is said that you can make up for the lack of a certificate by explaining that record in your 理由書 (written explanation).

What matters more than Japanese ability?

The effect of living apart, and the timing of a change to 定住者.

The effect of living apart for 4 years: the 「日本人の配偶者等」 visa is premised on a real married life, meaning living together and supporting each other. Living apart for 4 years is likely to be seen as meaning that the marriage has no substance, which brings the risk of a shorter renewal or, at worst, a denial.
The timing of a change to 「定住者」: as a rule, a change to 「定住者」 is made after the divorce has gone through. An application made while the marriage continues, and you live apart, saying "I will divorce in future, so please give me Long-Term Resident status", is said to be very hard to get through under the system.

How should I proceed?

Securing the renewal of the spouse visa is said to come first.

Put the renewal of the spouse visa first: explain logically that living apart is not a step towards divorce but a deliberate arrangement to keep the relationship on good terms, and secure your period of stay. You need to show the record of supporting 2 people, your children, for 16 years, and that you will go on supporting them, with material such as records of money transfers or an agreement between the couple.
Understand how high the hurdle is for permanent residence: screening for permanent residence looks strongly for living together, so the fact of living apart for 4 years is very likely to count against you.
Strengthen your Japanese: if you are worried about applying for 「定住者」 later, attending a Japanese class, or building a record of taking part in the local community through volunteering, can prove more than a certificate does.

A marriage of 16 years is a very strong record. Even if Japanese is hard for you, the fact that you have lived in Japan for 16 years and raised children is itself proof that you are settled here. Rather than worrying too much about Japanese ability, it is best to work through two things with a specialist: how to get through the renewal while living apart, and which status of residence best fits the way you live now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Japanese-Language Proficiency Test certificate required for a change to 定住者?

It is not required. A certificate helps, but if you have everyday conversational ability and can explain that in your 理由書, it is said that you can make up for the lack of one.

Can I apply for a change to 定住者 before the divorce?

As a rule it is made after the divorce has gone through. An application made while the marriage continues is said to be very hard to get through under the system.

How does living apart affect an application for permanent residence?

Screening for permanent residence looks strongly for living together, so living apart for a long time is said to be very likely to count against you, and can be a ground for denial.

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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.