“I worry about my parents living so far away in my home country…” “My mother is often unwell, and I want to bring her to Japan where medical care is more accessible, so we can live together.”
If you’re reading this article now, you may be carrying these very real and heartfelt concerns. My name is Megumi Suzuki from Megumi International Administrative Scrivener Office.
Your desire to care for your parents comes from a place of deep kindness and responsibility—and that feeling is completely understandable. That said, I’d like to be honest with you from the outset: bringing parents to live in Japan under a visa status is significantly more difficult than inviting a spouse or children. The requirements are strict, and the hurdles are high.
You may already be wondering, “Is it even possible?” The good news is: the door is not completely closed. With the right knowledge, careful preparation, and a realistic strategy, there are paths that may lead to approval.
In this article, I will explain—from a professional immigration perspective—
the two main routes currently available for bringing parents to Japan, and
the key points immigration authorities carefully examine during screening, based on official immigration guidelines and real-world practice.
For a future where you and your family can live together in Japan with peace of mind and confidence— let’s start by clearly understanding the current situation, step by step.
目次
Is There Really No “Parent Visa” in Japan? Let’s Start by Understanding the Reality
I’ll start with a hard truth, even though it may be difficult to hear. Under current Japanese immigration law, there is generally no specific visa status designed for the purpose of living together with one’s parents.
This is because Japan’s immigration system is fundamentally built around the idea of the “nuclear family”—that is, a married couple and their children. Parents and siblings are, in principle, considered separate households under the law.
As a result, reasons such as “I feel lonely being apart” or “I want to take care of my parents as an act of filial duty”, while deeply understandable, are not sufficient on their own to obtain permission to bring parents to live in Japan.
This is the current reality many families face—and the point from which any realistic strategy must begin.
Please don’t be discouraged thinking, “What… is that really the case?” While this is the general rule, there are exceptions. If “special circumstances” can be clearly demonstrated, or if certain specific conditions are met, there are limited pathways through which permission may be granted. And this is where things really start to matter. The key points you need to know begin here.
Option 1: A Special Exception for Holders of the Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa
If you—or your spouse—hold a Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa, there may be a relatively smoother path to bringing your parents to Japan.
Compared with other visa categories, the HSP system provides special exceptions that can make family-related arrangements more flexible, depending on your situation and eligibility.
For more details about the Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa, please refer to this article.
This is one of the preferential measures granted by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan to highly skilled individuals who contribute to Japan’s national interests, as determined under a points-based evaluation system.
However, this exception comes with clear and strict conditions. The purpose cannot be to have your parents move to Japan to be cared for in their later years. Instead, the stay must be solely for the purpose of supporting your child-rearing, such as helping to care for your children (their grandchildren).
Five Key Requirements for Using This Route
You must be raising a child (their grandchild) under the age of seven, or be currently pregnant.
Your household annual income must be at least ¥8,000,000.
You must live together with the parent you bring to Japan. Living separately—such as in a nearby apartment—is not permitted.
Only one side of the parents can be invited (either the husband’s parents or the wife’s parents; both cannot be invited).
The individual must maintain their Highly Skilled Professional visa.
※For point calculations and detailed requirements, please also refer to theImmigration Services Agency of Japan’spage on the Highly Skilled Professional Points System.
“The ‘Age 7 Barrier’ You Should Know About”
The most important point to be aware of with this visa is that, in principle, once your grandchild turns seven, the parent must return to their home country.
In some cases, if you obtain permanent residency or your visa status changes, you may no longer meet the requirements. While you can stay together until the child turns seven, it’s important to start planning now for what will happen afterward.
Method ②: The “Supporting Elderly Parents” Route on Humanitarian Grounds (Designated Activities Visa)
This second route is intended for those who are not Highly Skilled Professional visa holders or whose child is already over the age of seven.
It is commonly referred to as the “Elderly Parent Support Visa” (a Designated Activities visa outside the scope of official notifications).
This is not stipulated in any statutory provision; rather, it is an exceptional measure granted at the discretion of the Minister of Justice in consideration of special circumstances. As such, the screening is extremely strict, and it is often said that only a few percent of applications are approved.
To obtain this visa, it is not enough to simply express a desire to live in Japan; you must demonstrate a humanitarian urgency—namely, that your parent would not be able to survive without being brought to Japan.
“Four High Hurdles to Overcome for Approval”
During the screening process, it is strictly assessed whether all of the following four conditions are met.
Being elderly (in principle, 70 years of age or older)
If they are still in their 60s and in good health, they are likely to be considered capable of living independently.
Having no relatives whatsoever in the home country
This is the most challenging requirement. If there are other siblings in the home country, the authorities may question why those siblings cannot take care of the parent instead.
Having a serious illness and requiring caregiving
Conditions such as high blood pressure or back pain are not sufficient. A medical certificate is required to demonstrate conditions such as dementia or severe disabilities—showing that the person cannot live independently without someone’s assistance.
Having sufficient financial capacity in Japan
The parent must not rely on public assistance in Japan under any circumstances. You are expected to have sufficient income (as a general guideline, an annual household income of around JPY 6–8 million or more) and adequate savings.
This screening process is becoming increasingly stringent. It is not based on sympathy or emotional arguments such as “it’s unfortunate”; rather, what matters most is building a solid case with objective evidence.
“The Key to Success: The Statement of Reasons and the Role of Experts”
The most critical document for overcoming this strict screening process is the “Statement of Reasons.”
This is not just a simple letter. It is a legal document designed to logically explain “why the home country is not a viable option” and “why Japan is necessary,” in order to persuade the immigration officer.
Proof that the required medical treatment is not available in the home country
Proof that care facilities in the home country are full and unavailable for admission
Proof that other family members are unable to provide care
All of these pieces of evidence must be gathered one by one and explained consistently, without any contradictions. Many applications are denied because applicants prepare the documents themselves and allow emotions to take precedence over objective reasoning. Once an application is rejected, the hurdle for reapplying becomes even higher.
Benefits of Hiring a Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist (Gyoseishoshi)
This is exactly the kind of high-difficulty application where we, Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialists (Gyoseishoshi), can provide valuable support.
Strategic preparation of the Statement of Reasons: A professional with a deep understanding of the examiner’s perspective will craft a persuasive and well-structured document.
Proactive risk management: Potential points of concern are anticipated in advance, and appropriate measures are taken beforehand.
Representation in procedures: We handle complex communications and procedures with immigration authorities on your behalf.
While there are costs involved, we encourage you to consider this as a necessary investment in your future with your parents and to make use of professional support.
This should be your top priority. Be sure to check that there are no unpaid or overdue taxes—not only for yourself but also for your dependents. The tax filing season (from mid-February) is approaching soon. If you have any concerns, we recommend confirming your status with your local government office or tax office as early as possible, and promptly resolving any outstanding payments if necessary.
Summary
Here are the key points from this article:
As a general rule, Japan does not have a visa specifically for parents, making the hurdle quite high.
If you hold a Highly Skilled Professional visa, you may be able to bring your parents to Japan until your grandchild turns seven.
The “Elderly Parent Support” route (a Designated Activities visa) requires strict conditions, such as being over 70, living alone, having a serious illness, and demonstrating financial support capability.
The key to success lies in solid evidence and a well-structured, logical Statement of Reasons.
Strategies for bringing your parents to Japan vary greatly depending on each family’s circumstances.
If you are unsure—“Do we meet the requirements?” or “Where should we start?”—please don’t hesitate to reach out rather than facing it alone.
Our office can provide support in English and Chinese as well. I am fully committed to helping you and your parents achieve a secure and comfortable life in Japan. To begin, please feel free to share your situation with us in detail.
Profile Megumi Suzuki is a certified administrative scrivener (Gyoseishoshi). After graduating from universities in Japan and Shanghai, she worked as an international flight attendant for approximately 12 years.
Through her encounters with passengers from many different countries, she came to understand the dreams and aspirations of people who hope to study, work, and build their lives in Japan. Today, as an administrative scrivener, she focuses on supporting foreign nationals with immigration matters, including visa and residence status applications.
With the motto, “Supporting you even after you step off the plane,” she provides careful, personalized support while valuing each client’s past, present, and future.
Please feel free to reach out, even if it’s something small that makes you wonder, “Is this something I can really ask about?”
