Introduction

It is not uncommon for foreign nationals who have changed to a Long-Term Resident visa after divorcing their Japanese spouse to remarry another Japanese national or permanent resident. However, visa applications after remarriage face more careful scrutiny due to the divorce history, increasing the risk of denial. This article explains how Long-Term Resident visa applications are handled after remarriage and discusses cases that are prone to denial.

Visa Application Options After Remarriage

When a foreign national with a Long-Term Resident visa remarries, and the new spouse is a Japanese national or permanent resident, they can apply to change their status to a spouse visa (Spouse or Child of Japanese National or Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident). Since the Long-Term Resident visa has no employment restrictions, they can continue residing as a Long-Term Resident. However, if they wish to change to a spouse visa, the same examination standards as regular spouse visa applications apply.

The authenticity of the marriage with the new spouse, economic foundation, and cohabitation status are strictly examined, and past divorce history is also taken into consideration.

Cases Prone to Denial

Remarriage Within a Short Period

When remarriage occurs shortly after divorce from a previous spouse, the credibility of the marriage is easily questioned. Particularly in cases where the applicant claimed “domestic violence (DV) victimization” when obtaining the divorce-based Long-Term Resident visa but remarried within a short period, the truthfulness of the previous application is questioned, increasing the likelihood of denial.

Extremely Short Marriage Duration

If the previous marriage duration was extremely short, it works against the applicant in post-remarriage applications. For example, in cases where divorce occurred after less than 3 months of marriage followed by immediate remarriage, doubts about the authenticity of the marriage arise easily.

Multiple Divorce Histories

When applying for a Long-Term Resident or spouse visa again after a second divorce for the same reason (such as DV victimization), the examination becomes even stricter. A pattern of repeated marriages and divorces raises suspicion of fraudulent marriage aimed at obtaining visa status.

Unstable Economic Foundation

If the new spouse has unstable income or has unpaid taxes or pension contributions, doubts arise about their ability to maintain livelihood, becoming a reason for denial. In spouse visa applications, the prospect of stable life in Japan is an important examination point.

Insufficient Explanation of Dating History

If the circumstances of meeting and dating the new spouse are unclear, the authenticity of the marriage cannot be proven, potentially resulting in denial. Cases where people met on SNS and married after meeting only once or twice are not recognized as genuine marriages.

Document Inconsistencies or False Declarations

When there are inconsistencies between past application content and current application content, it is considered false application and results in denial. Even if a previous application was false, denial will result if this fact is discovered.

Points to Note When Applying

When applying for a visa after remarriage, it is important to adequately prepare evidence to prove the authenticity of the marriage, such as LINE or SNS communication history during the dating period, evidence of multiple meetings (photos, flight tickets, hotel reservations, etc.), and photos including family members. Additionally, you need to be prepared to provide a reasonable explanation regarding the circumstances leading to the divorce.

In terms of finances, it is necessary to gather documents proving the new spouse’s stable income (tax certificate, tax payment certificate, employment certificate, etc.) and demonstrate proper fulfillment of public obligations (taxes, pension, health insurance).

Summary

In visa applications after remarriage, past divorce history affects the examination, making it necessary to more carefully substantiate the authenticity of the marriage and economic foundation. Short periods between marriages, multiple divorce histories, short marriage duration, economic instability, insufficient explanation of dating history, and document inconsistencies are factors leading to denial. By making adequate preparations before applying and consulting with specialists when necessary, you can increase the likelihood of approval.