Last verified June 12, 2026 against official ISA/MOFA sources
Japan spouse visa:
United States
Country-specific steps
Country guides cover the parts that depend on your nationality: the documents, legalisations, and consular steps. For some countries this work begins before the COE. For the overall process and the COE itself, start with the main guide.
Processing time at the consulate
About 5 business days after submission (no expedited service).
Main mission
Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C. (plus Consulates-General across the U.S.)
- Apply only at the mission with jurisdiction over your residential address.
- COE must be used within 3 months of issue; visa must be used within its validity window.
- Marrying in Japan? Since September 1, 2025, US Embassies/Consulates no longer notarize the Affidavit of Competency to Marry. Use the embassy's downloadable sworn-statement PDF, or US remote online notarization, instead.
Where to apply
Apply at the mission with jurisdiction over your residential address — official embassy site .
- Washington, D.C. (Embassy)
- Anchorage (Consular Office)
- Atlanta (Consulate-General)
- Boston (Consulate-General)
- Chicago (Consulate-General)
- Denver (Consulate-General)
- Detroit (Consulate-General)
- Guam (Consulate-General)
- Honolulu (Consulate-General)
- Houston (Consulate-General)
- Los Angeles (Consulate-General)
- Miami (Consulate-General)
- Nashville (Consulate-General)
- New York (Consulate-General)
- Portland (Consular Office)
- Saipan (Consular Office)
- San Francisco (Consulate-General)
- Seattle (Consulate-General)
General documents
- Valid passport (original; at least 1–2 blank visa pages).
- Completed and hand-signed Japan Visa Application Form (fill all fields; write "N/A" where not applicable).
- One recent passport photo (2x2in or as specified by your consulate), plain background, glued to form (no staples).
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE): original or printed digital copy.
United States-specific documents
- Proof of residence in the consulate's jurisdiction (e.g., driver's license, state ID, or utility bill).
- If not a U.S. citizen: proof of legal status in the U.S. (e.g., Green Card; valid U.S. visa + I-20/DS-2019 if applicable).
- Visa fee: generally waived for U.S. citizens; some nationalities must pay at issuance.
- Certain nationalities (e.g., Russia/CIS/Ukraine/Georgia) must submit two application forms and two photos.
Document authentication
- No apostille/notarization required for standard COE cases.
- Embassy/consulate may request extra documents case-by-case.
Submitting your application
- Apply in person (often by appointment) or by mail where allowed by your consulate.
- Include a prepaid, trackable return envelope if mailing (for passport return).
- Standard processing ~5 business days; mail adds transit time.
- Pick up in person or receive by return mail per local rules.
Expert tips
- Confirm jurisdiction before you apply; wrong office = delays.
- Hand-sign the form; do not leave blanks (use "N/A").
- Do not staple the photo; glue it in the designated area.
- Apply 4–6 weeks before travel to avoid holiday/volume delays.
- Keep the COE safe; you must present it at entry.
Common mistakes
- Submitting to the wrong consulate/jurisdiction.
- Wrong photo size/quality or stapled photo.
- Missing proof of U.S. status for non-citizens.
- Applying more than 3 months before intended entry or too close to departure.
- Expecting expedited or same-day service.
Translations: Translations are rarely needed for COE-based applications. Provide English or Japanese if a non-English document is requested.