Job Discussion Forums

[Trumpcard]

A friend of mine has been married to a Japanese man for a few years. She is Chinese. Apparently she has a spousal visa, but not the full visa. I'm a little unclear as to what she means, however, she has mentioned that once she has this so-called full visa, she can travel to many countries, without too much restrictions. On the other hand, she's currently restricted because she has a Chinese passport...

She is worried that once this full visa kicks in, she loses her Chinese citizenship, something she doesn't wish to give up. I've asked her whether she can hold dual citizenship and she said no.

My question is, what happens to your existing citizenship when you marry a Japanese person? Would my friend be able to hold dual Chinese and Japanese citizenship?

[japanman]

When you marry someone from Japan, nothing happens to your ciizenship at all. You just get a spouse visa which must be renewed every three years, that's it. This visa will allow you to stay in Japan and work etc but will have no effect on the travelling restrictions that your citizenship gives you.

[Glenski]

"Full" visa? I was not aware that there were "partial" visas.

Perhaps your friend is referring to the difference between a spouse visa and permanent residency. Neither means you give up citizenship, and neither has any travel restrictions, other than the need to have a reentry permit just like any other visa.

[furiousmilksheikali]

I imagine that Glenski is correct. If she has permanent residency then it may make it easier for her to travel to countries that otherwise have greater restrictions on Chinese travellers because they would know she already has a home there.

Otherwise, it is possible that she is applying for Japanese citizenship in which case she would have to give up her Chinese citizenship. Does your friend actually understand what she is doing? If she explained these things to you as vaguely as you've described them in your post then it is possible she doesn't.