Hi. This is Ami Ito of Amie Immigration Law office.

We are often asked by foreigners who have lived in Japan for a long time or who have become naturalized citizens, if they can invite them to live with them in Japan. We understand that they are worried about their parents living in their home country.

 

In this article, I would like to explain whether it is actually possible to invite them to Japan.

 

In Japanese  親を日本に呼びたい

 

Can I invite my parents with a “Dependent” visa?

 

 

If you are thinking of inviting your parents to live with you in Japan, you might consider a dependent visa. However, only the spouse and children who receive support can be invited with a dependent visa. Parents cannot apply for a dependent visa.

 

 

Status of Residence “Specially Designated Activities” (Visa)

 

In general, foreign nationals with working visa, permanent residents, and naturalized cannot invite their parents to live in Japan. However, although there are very strict conditions and it is a difficult application, there is a possibility that you can invite your parent with the status of residence “Specially Designated Activities” (visa). In this case, you can invite only one parent.

 

The main conditions are as follows.

 

Conditions

• Your parent must be 65 years or older
• Your parent must not have a spouse or family member living with them in their home country.
• There must be no one to take care of the parent in their home country.
• The child currently in Japan has sufficient financial resources and stable income to support the parent and have been fulfilling tax obligations.
• Your parent is not planning to work in Japan.

 

Even if your parent does not meet these requirements, he/she may still be granted permission if the humanitarian considerations are necessary. For example, if the parent is suffering from a serious illness that is difficult to treat in the home country, or if he/she needs nursing care.

Please note it does not mean that he/she will be granted permission even if he/she meets these conditions as they are only as a humanitarian measure.

 

Please also note that it is not possible to apply for a “Specially Designated Activities” visa while your parent is overseas. (i.e. It is not possible to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility.) Therefore, you should invite your parent to Japan once with a “Temporary Visitor Visa” and then apply for a change of status to “Specially Designated Activities” visa. If your parent has lived in Japan for a certain number of years on a “Specially Designated Activities” visa, and if your parent has become established in Japan, he/she may be able to apply for a change of status to “Long Term Resident”.

 

 

If you have a Highly Skilled Professional Visa.

 

 

What we have seen so far are cases where a foreigner in Japan has a working visa such as “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”, or is a naturalized foreigner. Meanwhile, though there are conditions, as one of the preferential measures for foreigners with Highly Skilled Professional or their spouse, you can invite your parents to Japan with a “Notification of Specified Activities No. 34” visa. This is a different type of visa from the Specially Designated Activities Visa mentioned above. It is possible to apply for this visa while your parent is overseas. (You can apply for a Certificate of Eligibility.)

 

Conditions (All conditions must be met.)

 

• You or your spouse must care for a child under the age of 7 for at least 3 months. (including adopted children)
• Your pregnant spouse or you need support for more than 3 months.
• The annual household income must be 8,000,000 yen or more.
• Your parents live together with you.
• Only parents (father only, mother only, or both parents) from one side is applicable.
  i.e. Your parents or your spouse’s parents can be invited.

 

 

Please note that the renewal of the status of residence is not permitted when your child becomes 7 years old or older. Annual household income of 8,000,000 yen is the total annual income of you (the foreign national with Highly Skilled Professional) and your spouse. It does not include the remuneration of anyone other than the spouse.

 

 

Conclusion

 

We deeply understand you worry about their parents who live far away from them. If your parents are old, you will worry even more.

As you can see, there are two ways to invite your parents to Japan, depending on the status of residence of you have. If you are a foreigner with a general working visa, the application to bring your parent to Japan is more difficult.

At Amie Immigration Las Office, we are happy to help you with those types of application, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

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