Spouse visa (spouse of Japanese/permanent resident, etc.)
What are some cases where a marriage is likely to be suspected as a sham when applying for a spouse visa?
Updated: July 2025, 9
A spouse visa is applied for after you have married internationally and completed the marriage procedures with your foreign partner. However, in order to prevent sham marriages, spouse visa screening is very strict. Even if your marriage is legitimate, your visa may be denied if immigration officials suspect something is wrong. For this reason, if your application is rejected, it will be difficult to bring your partner living overseas to Japan.
In this article, we will introduce some cases that are likely to be sham marriages.
If couples meet through a dating site or an international marriage agency, they are often suspected of being in a sham marriage. In such cases, you will be asked to provide detailed information about how you met (website, matchmaking agency, matching app, etc.). For example, you can increase your credibility by providing details such as the size of the website or consultation agency, information about its operators, and the contents of the registration screening process, and explaining why you chose that website or consultation agency and the specific process from introduction/matching to marriage. It may also be useful to submit a history of messages and emails exchanged during the dating process.
② The number of visits during the dating period or before marriage is low
If the relationship was extremely short or the couple only met a few times before marriage, it may be considered a sham marriage for the purpose of obtaining a visa. Therefore, it is important to provide a detailed explanation of why and how you ended up getting married in such a short period of time.
For example, if you are unable to meet frequently due to work or family circumstances, explain the circumstances in as much detail as possible. It would also be a good idea to add some details about why you decided to get married in such a short period of time and the methods of communication you have used up until then (phone, email, video calls, etc.). One option is to provide call history or chat logs as concrete evidence.
3) Many people have been divorced
If you have only been divorced once, it is unlikely to be considered a problem, but if you have been divorced multiple times, you may be suspected of having a sham marriage. If the Japanese spouse has had many divorces, they may be suspected of accepting money from foreigners seeking visas and not actually living a married life. Even if the foreign spouse has had many divorces, they are often considered to have come for work purposes rather than for marriage.
If you have been divorced before, it is effective to clearly explain the reason for your divorce along with concrete evidence, such as photographic evidence if it was due to infidelity, or relevant documents if it was due to financial troubles, in order to show that your past divorce was for a legitimate reason. If you have documents from previous divorce mediations or court records, submitting them will increase your credibility.
④There is a large age difference
If the age difference between a couple is 15 years or more, they are more likely to suspect that their marriage is a sham. In couples with a large age difference, the main questions asked are where they met and why they decided to get married despite what appear to be different assumptions and values.
It would be a good idea to explain in detail what you have in common to make up for the age difference, how you came to get married, and how you interact with each other on a daily basis. You can also provide supporting documents such as testimonials from family and friends and photographs to prove that your marriage is not a sham.
⑤ The Japanese spouse has a low income
If the Japanese spouse has a low income, it may be difficult to maintain a stable marriage. As a result, foreign spouses are sometimes perceived as being at greater risk of breaking the law. Other issues include unpaid taxes, criminal records, and the difficult living conditions of their new homes, such as small apartments. If you have just started working or are currently looking for work, your temporary income instability will also be taken into consideration.
If your income is low, we will explain not only your current income but also your future income prospects and asset status. For example, you should include details about your job search, your prospects for employment, and your assets such as savings and real estate. By attaching proof of income, a letter of employment offer, and proof of assets, you can demonstrate that you are able to live a financially stable life. If you receive support from family members, it is a good idea to provide details and evidence of this support as well.
We will support you in smoothly applying for a spouse visa!
Our visa specialist consultants will support those who are considering applying for a Japanese spouse visa (spouse of a Japanese national, spouse of a permanent resident, etc.). The first consultation is free.
