What is needed to bring family over on a Dependent status, and for the family member to work?

In short: the Dependent status of residence is for a spouse or child supported by a person who resides in Japan on a work or similar status, to carry on daily activities (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (出入国管理及び難民認定法), Appended Table I(4)). To bring them over, the premise is that the supporting person (the supporter) has the means to support them and holds a work or study status of residence. A Dependent holder cannot, in principle, work; but with permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted (Immigration Control Act Article 19(2); the permitting authority is the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency), within the comprehensive permission they may work up to 28 hours a week. However, activities excluded from comprehensive permission, including work at adult-entertainment premises and involvement in specified non-premises-based sex-related businesses, are excluded. If they work beyond 28 hours, the person may become subject to revocation of status or deportation, and the employer may be charged with the offence of facilitating unlawful work (Immigration Control Act Article 73-2). The current penalty for this offence is imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to 3 million yen, or both. The increase to imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 5 million yen, or both, under the 2024 amendment (Act No. 60 of 2024) takes effect on 1 April 2027. Labour management on the employer's side, such as working hours and social insurance, is handled by a certified social insurance labour consultant; criminal matters and disputes by an attorney; and the tax treatment of support by a tax accountant, each as an independent business under a separate contract. 四葉行政書士事務所 and 四葉不動産株式会社 are separate businesses, and our office receives no referral fee. This article is general information; a qualified professional checks the individual circumstances and application materials, while the Immigration Services Agency decides whether to grant permission.

Who, and what kind of family, can be brought over on a Dependent status?

The Dependent status of residence is for a "spouse" or "child" supported by a foreign national residing in Japan on a work or similar status, to lead a daily life in Japan. The basis is Appended Table I(4) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, which sets out the "Dependent" status and the corresponding activity (daily activities carried on as a spouse or child supported by a person residing under a certain status of residence). Those who can be brought over are, in principle, a spouse and children; the person's parents or siblings do not qualify for Dependent status.

Here, "supported by" means a relationship of economic dependence on the supporter. For a spouse, the marital relationship and the reality of financial support are examined. For a child, it is judged by the reality of support whether the child is a minor or an adult; but where the child has reached adulthood and makes an independent living, it may be judged not to fit Dependent status. The framework of this Appended Table is the same when bringing a spouse or child over from mainland China, Taiwan and so on. The "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" status, used to bring over a Japanese person's spouse, is a different status of residence with different requirements (Renewal and change of the Spouse of Japanese National visa).

Does the person bringing them over (the supporter) have income or status conditions?

Yes. Because Dependent status is the status of a family member "being supported," the supporter's status of residence and means are at the centre of the examination. The supporter must hold a status of residence that can be the basis of a Dependent status — a work status (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Highly Skilled Professional, Specified Skilled Worker (ii), etc.) or study. On top of that, whether they have the means — income and savings — to support the family is examined.

Item	Yardstick
Family who can be brought over	A supported spouse and children (parents and siblings excluded)
Supporter's status of residence	A work status (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Highly Skilled Professional, Specified Skilled Worker (ii), etc.) or study — a status that can be the basis of a Dependent status
Supporter's means	Income and savings sufficient to support the spouse and children
Work on Dependent status	Not allowed in principle; up to 28 hours a week is possible with activity-outside-status permission

Where the supporter is a student, whether the family can be supported on the person's part-time income alone is examined strictly. How to make out the reality of support and the means is built up with materials such as income certificates, certificates of employment and remittance records. Because how far which materials suffice depends on the individual circumstances, it is important to arrange them before applying. The basic requirements of other work statuses are covered in Point calculation for Highly Skilled Professional (i), and the move from Specified Skilled Worker in Requirements for changing to Specified Skilled Worker (i) and (ii).

Specified Skilled Worker (i) is not a status that can support a Dependent application. The reference above is to Specified Skilled Worker (ii).

Can a Dependent holder work, and what is the 28-hour activity-outside-status?

Because Dependent status is a status for "being supported," in principle they cannot engage in work with income. To work, they must obtain permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted. This permission is granted under Immigration Control Act Article 19(2) by the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency, when the Commissioner finds it reasonable within a range that does not hinder the carrying out of the activity corresponding to the status of residence. What Dependent and study holders can generally obtain is "comprehensive permission," which allows activity with income of up to 28 hours a week.

That said, not any job will do. Even with comprehensive permission, activities excluded from comprehensive permission, including work at adult-entertainment premises and involvement in specified non-premises-based sex-related businesses, are not allowed. Also, 28 hours is an upper limit "per week," and where several part-time jobs are held, it is judged on the total. Obtaining the permission before starting work, and not exceeding the scope of the permission (hours and type of business), matters for both the person and the employer. Note that the operation of activity-outside-status is subject to review, so check the latest treatment in the Immigration Services Agency's guidance.

Excluded activities include work at premises conducting regulated adult-entertainment businesses, premises-based sex-related businesses or specified entertainment restaurant businesses, including cleaning, as well as involvement in non-premises-based sex-related businesses, video-transmission sex-related businesses, and premises-based or non-premises-based telephone dating businesses. Check the permission conditions and official guidance for the exact scope.

If they work beyond 28 hours, what happens to the person and the employer?

Exceeding the limit carries risk for both the person and the employer. On the person's side, work beyond the scope of the permission becomes an activity in violation of Immigration Control Act Article 19(1), and can lead to revocation of the status of residence, deportation, and subsequent refusal of renewal or change. Habitually exceeding on the thought that "just a little is fine" endangers the person's own residence.

On the employer's side, they may be charged, as a person who had someone engage in unlawful work, with the offence of facilitating unlawful work (Immigration Control Act Article 73-2). What matters is that Article 73-2(2) provides that, even where the employer did not know the other party was engaged in unlawful work, they cannot escape punishment unless there was no negligence. In other words, if they did not check — through the residence card and the like — whether there was activity-outside-status permission and its hour limit, "I didn't know" will not readily excuse them. The current penalty for this offence is imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to 3 million yen, or both. The increase to imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 5 million yen, or both, under the 2024 amendment (Act No. 60 of 2024) takes effect on 1 April 2027. A corporation may also be fined under the dual-liability provision. Checking the residence card and activity-outside-status permission at hiring and during employment is itself the employer's risk management.

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When a child advances in school or reaches adulthood, how is the status of residence switched?

It is possible to advance to a Japanese high school or university while on Dependent status. What tends to become an issue is when the child grows up and takes a job, or reaches adulthood and becomes independent. Because Dependent status is premised on "being supported," to take a full-time job in Japan the child needs a work status matching the content of the work (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, etc.), or a change of status to "Designated Activities," "Long-Term Resident" or another appropriate status, subject to the applicable requirements. Once they leave support and become independent, remaining on Dependent status is not originally envisaged.

That said, which status can be changed to is a part with high individuality, where the conclusion divides according to circumstances such as the child's academic record, the content of the work and the time of arrival in Japan. For a child who came to Japan young and grew up here, there is a treatment under which, under certain requirements, a change to a status with no work restriction is recognised; but whether it applies is a judgement case by case. We recommend charting the prospects of the status of residence early, once the course is decided. A qualified professional checks the individual circumstances and application materials; the Immigration Services Agency decides whether to permit the change.

Changes to Long-Term Resident or Designated Activities for a child's employment depend on requirements such as age at arrival and schooling in Japan. See the Ministry of Education guidance.

Who should you consult for the status procedure, labour, and tax?

Consultation around Dependent status divides by role among the status procedure, labour, and criminal/tax matters.

• Application for a certificate of eligibility, change and renewal of the Dependent status, and support (information) for the activity-outside-status application → 四葉行政書士事務所 (administrative scrivener)
• Labour management on the employer's side, including working hours (management of the 28 hours) and the application of social insurance and employment insurance → a certified social insurance labour consultant
• Individual legal judgement extending to criminal matters and disputes, such as the offence of facilitating unlawful work from work beyond 28 hours → an attorney
• The tax treatment relating to family support, such as the dependent deduction → a tax accountant

四葉行政書士事務所 (administrative scrivener) handles, as an independent business, the information and drafting support for the Dependent-status and activity-outside-status applications. Labour management on the employer's side is by a certified social insurance labour consultant, criminal matters and disputes by an attorney, tax by a tax accountant, and consultation on housing and real estate by 四葉不動産株式会社 (a separate business), each under a separate contract. 四葉行政書士事務所 and 四葉不動産株式会社 are separate businesses. Our office receives no referral fee. For the scope of services see Services; for the flow of engagement, Engagement Flow; and for fees, Fee Schedule. A qualified professional checks the individual circumstances and application materials; the Immigration Services Agency decides whether to grant permission.

FAQ

Q. Can I bring my parents or siblings over on a Dependent status?
A. No. Those who can be brought over on a Dependent status are, in principle, limited to a supported spouse and children (Immigration Control Act, Appended Table I(4)). Parents and siblings do not qualify for Dependent status. Bringing over an elderly parent and the like means examining, case by case, whether another status of residence (such as Designated Activities) is possible.

Q. Can a Dependent family member work without permission?
A. No. A Dependent holder cannot, in principle, work; to work they need permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted (Immigration Control Act Article 19(2)). With comprehensive permission they may work up to 28 hours a week, but activities excluded from comprehensive permission, including work at adult-entertainment premises and involvement in specified non-premises-based sex-related businesses, are not allowed.

Q. What happens if they work a little beyond 28 hours?
A. The person is in violation beyond the scope of the permission, which can lead to revocation of status, deportation, and refusal of renewal or change. The employer may be charged with the offence of facilitating unlawful work (Immigration Control Act Article 73-2) and cannot escape punishment even if they did not know the other party was working unlawfully, unless there was no negligence (Article 73-2(2)).

Q. What is needed for a Dependent child to take a job in Japan?
A. Taking a full-time job while on Dependent status is in principle not possible; a work status matching the content of the work (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, etc.), or a change to "Designated Activities," "Long-Term Resident" or another appropriate status, subject to the applicable requirements, is needed. Which status applies is an individual judgement based on circumstances such as academic record, the content of the work and the time of arrival in Japan.

Sources (Primary Information)

Additional primary sources (accessed 2026-11-08)：

• Immigration Services Agency: Specified Skilled Worker guidebook (family accompaniment under categories i and ii)

• ISA material hosted by MEXT (January 2023: statutory provisions and activities excluded from permission)

• Tokyo Metropolitan Police: proper employment of foreign nationals (current penalties and negligence)

• e-Gov Law Search, "Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act" (Cabinet Order No. 319 of 1951), Appended Table I(4) (Dependent — daily activities of a spouse or child supported by a person residing under a certain status of residence), Article 19(1) and (2) (restriction on activity by status of residence and permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted; the permitting authority is the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency), Article 73-2 (the offence of facilitating unlawful work, liability despite lack of knowledge, and the exception where there is no negligence) (accessed 2026-11-07)

• Immigration Services Agency guidance on "Dependent" and "permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted" (up to 28 hours a week by comprehensive permission; exclusion of work at adult-entertainment and similar businesses; moj.go.jp/isa) (accessed 2026-11-07)

• Act Partially Amending the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and the Act on Proper Technical Intern Training and Protection of Technical Intern Trainees (出入国管理及び難民認定法及び外国人の技能実習の適正な実施及び技能実習生の保護に関する法律の一部を改正する法律; Act No. 60 of 2024), Article 1: the current penalty under Immigration Control Act Article 73-2(1), imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to 3 million yen, increases to imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 5 million yen. Both penalties may be imposed together under either version. This amendment takes effect on 1 April 2027 (Article 1 of the Supplementary Provisions and Cabinet Order No. 340 of 2025). Amendment (House of Representatives): https://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_housei.nsf/html/housei/21320240621060.htm / Commencement order (JILPT): https://www.jil.go.jp/kokunai/mm/hourei/seirei/20251001a.html (accessed 2026-11-08)

This article is general information and does not guarantee, for a particular person, the Dependent status, the possibility of activity-outside-status permission, or the hours or type of business they may work. Whether the reality and means of support are met, whether it stays within the 28-hour range, and whether the status can be changed on a child's school advancement or employment are individual judgements based on the facts, and the Immigration Services Agency decides whether a permit issues. Application support for the status procedure is by 四葉行政書士事務所 (administrative scrivener); labour management on the employer's side, such as working hours and social insurance, by a certified social insurance labour consultant; individual legal judgement extending to criminal matters and disputes, such as the offence of facilitating unlawful work, by an attorney; the tax treatment of support by a tax accountant; and consultation on housing and real estate by 四葉不動産株式会社, each as an independent business under a separate contract. 四葉行政書士事務所 and 四葉不動産株式会社 are separate businesses. Our office receives no referral fee. Individual judgements are made by a qualified professional after a meeting. Written by Joji Uramatsu, administrative scrivener and licensed real estate broker.