Dependent Visa Japan: Can Your Spouse Work? 28-Hour Rule (2026)
A spouse on Japan's Dependent (kazoku taizai) status cannot work at all without permission, but with "permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence" they can usually work up to 28 hours a week. For full-time work, the spouse normally needs to change to their own work status, such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.
This question comes up in almost every family move. One partner gets a job or a research post in Japan. The other partner is also an engineer, a researcher or a professional, and does not want to stop working. The rules are clear once you see them in order.
This guide explains who can hold Dependent status, how the 28-hour permission works, what is not allowed, how to change to a full-time work visa, and the special route for spouses of Highly Skilled Professionals. All rules are as of October 2026.
Key takeaways
Dependent status is for the daily life of a spouse or child supported by a foreign resident. Paid work is not included by default.
With a "comprehensive permission", a Dependent holder can work up to 28 hours a week. The application is free.
Work in adult entertainment businesses is not allowed under this permission.
For full-time engineering work, the spouse usually needs a change of status, for example to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.
Spouses of Highly Skilled Professionals have a special full-time route without the usual degree or experience requirements.
Who can hold Dependent status in Japan?
Dependent status is for the spouse or child who is supported by a foreign national living in Japan on certain statuses. Under the Immigration Control Act, the activity is "daily activities as a spouse or child who is supported by" the main status holder.
ISA lists these main statuses, among others, as eligible to bring dependents:
Professor, Highly Skilled Professional, Researcher, Education
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Intra-company Transferee, Skilled Labor
Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
Cultural Activities and Student
The period of stay is decided case by case, up to 5 years. Note that a postdoc on Cultural Activities and a student can also have dependents. This matters later, because the main holder's status affects the family.
Can a Dependent visa holder work in Japan?
Not without permission. Dependent status belongs to the group of statuses where any income-earning work or paid activity needs prior permission from ISA. This is set in Article 19 of the Immigration Control Act.
The permission is called "permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence" (shikakugai katsudō kyoka). For Dependent holders, there are two types.
Type | What it allows | Main conditions (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
Comprehensive permission | Paid work up to 28 hours a week, at any employer that is allowed | Application form only; adult entertainment excluded |
Individual permission | Work outside the comprehensive permission, for a named organization and job | Hours or pay are hard to measure (for example, freelance or contract work); the work period must not exceed more than half of your period of stay |
Change of status | Full-time work in your own work status | You meet the requirements of the new status (for example, Engineer/Specialist) |
The 28-hour rule
ISA says that for Dependent holders, "comprehensive permission is required to engage in an activity to operate a business involving income or an activity to receive remuneration within 28 hours per week". The 28 hours is the total across all jobs you do under this permission, not per employer.
What is excluded
The general rules exclude work at places that run adult entertainment businesses (fūzoku eigyō and similar). This applies even if the job itself is cleaning or reception.
How do I apply for permission to work 28 hours a week?
Apply at the regional immigration bureau that covers your place of residence. ISA's pages say:
Item | Comprehensive permission (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
Fee | None |
Standard processing period | About 2 weeks to 2 months |
Documents | Application form; show your residence card and passport |
Online application | Only together with a change of status, an extension of stay, or an acquisition of status |
Where to apply | Regional immigration bureau for your place of residence |
Practical tips
Apply for the permission at the same time as your Dependent status application or extension, if you can. It saves a trip.
Your residence card will show the permission. Employers check it.
If you are self-employed or doing contract work where hours cannot be checked objectively, ISA says you need an individual permission instead. Prepare a document that explains the work, hours and pay.
Read ISA's details on the Dependent permission for activity outside status page.
How can my spouse work full-time in Japan?
Your spouse usually needs to change from Dependent to a work status of their own. For engineers and specialists, the common choice is Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. This is a change of status application, and your spouse can only start full-time work after it is granted.
Requirements for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities
ISA's published standards include, in summary:
A university degree (or certain Japanese vocational qualifications) in a field related to the job, or enough relevant work experience (for natural science and humanities work, ISA's standard refers to 10 years or more, which can include time studying related subjects)
A contract with an organization in Japan for work that needs specialist knowledge
Pay equal to or more than what a Japanese person would receive for the same work
If your spouse has an engineering degree and a job offer for engineering work, this route is often realistic. It is still a review, not an automatic approval.
Timing and cost
ISA publishes monthly processing statistics. For approvals in July 2026, applications in the Engineer/Specialist category for a change of status took 72.9 days on average from application to notice of permission. From 1 October 2026, change of status fees depend on the period granted. For example, a 1-year permit costs ¥33,000 at the counter or ¥27,000 online, and a 3-year permit (3 years or more but less than 5) costs ¥64,000 or ¥56,000 online.
Benefits of an own status
Your spouse's stay no longer depends on your status.
Your spouse can change jobs later with a 14-day notification, like any Engineer/Specialist holder.
Your spouse joins the employer's social insurance as an employee.
What is the special route for spouses of Highly Skilled Professionals?
If the main visa holder has Highly Skilled Professional status, the spouse can apply for a Designated Activities status that allows full-time work. ISA lists this as one of the Highly Skilled Professional benefits.
ISA's conditions include:
The work is in fields such as research, education, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, or entertainment.
The usual degree and work-history requirements do not apply.
The spouse must live together with the Highly Skilled Professional. If you separate, this permitted work is no longer allowed.
The spouse must receive pay equal to or more than a Japanese person doing the same work.
This route can help a spouse whose degree does not match the job, or who changed careers. See the ISA page on working spouses of Highly Skilled Professionals.
Route | Full-time work? | Degree or experience needed? | Depends on partner? |
|---|---|---|---|
Dependent + comprehensive permission | No (up to 28 hours a week) | No | Yes |
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities (own status) | Yes | Yes | No |
Designated Activities as spouse of a Highly Skilled Professional | Yes | No (fields are limited) | Yes, must live together |
What happens if the main visa holder changes jobs or status?
The Dependent spouse's status is based on the main holder's status. If the main holder keeps a status that can support dependents, the family usually continues. If the main holder changes status, check whether the new status is on ISA's list. For example, if a postdoc moves from Cultural Activities to Engineer/Specialist, both statuses can support dependents, but the family should check the dependents' next extension with ISA.
Notifications for spouses
Under the Immigration Control Act, a Dependent holder who stays as a spouse must notify ISA within 14 days of a divorce or the death of the spouse. Address changes must be reported at the city office within 14 days, as for every mid- to long-term resident.
Tax and insurance
If the Dependent spouse starts earning, this can affect the main holder's tax deductions and whether the spouse stays on the main holder's health insurance as a dependent. The rules depend on income levels and the insurer. Ask the employer's HR or payroll team before you decide how many hours to work.
Common mistakes to avoid
Working more than 28 hours a week. This includes all jobs combined. Work beyond your permission is work outside your status, which the Immigration Control Act prohibits.
Starting full-time work before the change of status is granted. Wait for the permission.
Freelance work under the comprehensive permission when hours cannot be checked. ISA says this needs an individual permission.
Not checking your residence card. The permission is shown on the card. If it is not there, ask ISA before you start work.
Assuming the spouse route for Highly Skilled Professionals applies after separation. It requires living together.
How AGG can help
AGG (Awaji Global Gateway, a division of Fukuyoshi Inc.) supports engineers who join us with visa paperwork for their new job. If your spouse is also an engineer, we can look at open roles for both of you and explain realistically which status route fits.
Many AGG jobs are dispatch (haken) roles. You are employed by Fukuyoshi Inc. and work at a client site, with social insurance. Dispatch contracts are often renewed every few months, and renewal depends on the client project. For families, this is an important point, so we explain it clearly at the first interview.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can my wife or husband work in Japan on a Dependent visa?
Yes, but only with permission. Dependent status does not include paid work by default. Your spouse can apply to ISA for permission to engage in activity outside their status. With the comprehensive permission, they can work up to 28 hours a week in total. The application is free and usually takes about 2 weeks to 2 months. Work in adult entertainment businesses is not allowed. For full-time work, your spouse usually needs to change to their own work status.
Q. Is the 28-hour limit per job or in total on a Dependent visa?
It is the total. The comprehensive permission allows paid work up to 28 hours a week, counting all jobs together. If your spouse has two part-time jobs, the hours are added. ISA's pages also state that when someone holds several permissions, the 28-hour weekly limit applies to the total of all activities outside their status. Keep a simple record of your weekly hours.
Q. How can a Dependent visa holder get a full-time job in Japan?
The usual way is to apply for a change of status to a work status, such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. Your spouse needs a job offer for specialist work, a related degree or enough experience, and pay at least equal to a Japanese employee. In ISA's July 2026 statistics, the average was 72.9 days for applications in that category. Your spouse can start full-time work only after the permission is granted.
Q. Can the spouse of a Highly Skilled Professional work full-time in Japan?
Yes. The spouse can apply for a Designated Activities status that allows full-time work in fields such as education, research, or Engineer/Specialist work. The usual degree and work-history requirements do not apply. But the spouse must live together with the Highly Skilled Professional and receive pay equal to or more than a Japanese person doing the same work. If they separate, this permitted work is no longer allowed.
Q. How long does permission to work on a Dependent visa take?
ISA's standard processing period for permission to engage in activity outside status is about 2 weeks to 2 months. There is no fee. For Dependent holders, the comprehensive permission needs only the application form, plus your residence card and passport to show. You can apply online only if you apply at the same time as a change of status, an extension or an acquisition of status.
Q. Can I do freelance work on a Dependent visa in Japan?
Possibly, but often not under the comprehensive permission. ISA says that if you work as a sole proprietor or under service contracts where your working hours cannot be checked objectively, you need an individual permission. You submit a document that explains the work, hours and pay. Setting up a company or hiring staff is different again and needs a change to Business Manager status.
Q. What happens to my Dependent visa if I get divorced in Japan?
A Dependent holder who stays as a spouse must notify ISA within 14 days of a divorce or the death of the spouse. The Dependent status is based on being a supported spouse, so after a divorce you will usually need a different status to stay. Get advice early from ISA or a licensed immigration lawyer about which status could fit your situation.
Summary
Dependent status does not include paid work unless ISA gives permission.
The comprehensive permission allows up to 28 hours a week in total; it is free and takes about 2 weeks to 2 months.
Full-time work usually needs a change of status, such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities.
Spouses of Highly Skilled Professionals can work full-time on a Designated Activities status, but must live together.
File required notifications on time, and check tax and insurance effects before increasing hours.
If you or your spouse are engineers looking for work in Japan, see our Open engineering jobs and apply (CV optional). AGG charges no agency fees to job seekers. Related guides: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa guide, Changing jobs on a Highly Skilled Professional visa, and Moving to Japan from India as an engineer.
Reviewed by
Naoya Mitani — Head of Business Operations, Awaji Global Gateway (Fukuyoshi Inc.). Supports foreign engineers moving into jobs in Japan, including visa changes and onboarding.
