At least 93 foreign nationals residing in Japan were granted permission to bring their same-sex spouses into the country under a special visa between 2013 and 2020, a government survey showed Friday.
Foreign residents from countries where same-sex marriage is recognized have been permitted to bring their spouses to Japan under a "designated activities" status of residence. The status is granted in consideration of individual circumstances, according to the Immigration Services Agency.
With the institutionalization of same-sex marriage accelerating overseas since the 2000s, the government began allowing spouses to receive the special visa based on "humanitarian reasons."