Assignment Family Visa Basics: Official Guidance for Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, China and the UAE

This article is for assignment families preparing a posting in Asia who are thinking about spouse and child status and school start dates at the same time. It summarises official guidance as of 29 October 2026. Visa rules change often, and document lists can differ by the embassy or office you apply through. This article does not judge whether your family qualifies or what you should apply for.

First, a note on coverage

The notes we checked cover five countries: Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, China and the UAE. We have no official guidance on Vietnam or the Philippines, so we do not cover them here. If you are posted to either, check the latest guidance from that country's immigration authority or embassy directly.

All five countries share one feature. A family member's stay is generally linked to the main applicant's (the worker's) stay. Family visa timelines therefore follow the worker's.

Thailand: Non-O for dependants

A Royal Thai Embassy guide says spouses and children of a Non-Immigrant B (business/work) holder apply for a Non-Immigrant O visa as dependants.

• Proof of relationship (marriage or birth certificate) is required.
• A copy of the main applicant's work permit and an employer letter are required.
• Entry gives up to 90 days, which can be extended up to one year at the Immigration Bureau.

Document lists vary slightly between embassies, so follow the mission where you apply.

Indonesia: family-reunification stay permits

Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration lists family-reunification categories for relatives of ITAS/KITAS holders.

• E31B is for the spouse of an ITAS/ITAP holder.
• E31E is for an unmarried biological child under 18.
• A separate category (E30A) covers primary and secondary education. Ask the local immigration office which one applies to a child attending school.
• Permits of one year or less can be extended from 30 days before expiry.

Japan: Dependent status and public schools

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists 'Dependent (family stay)' status for the spouse and children of foreign nationals with work visas and similar (updated January 2026).

MEXT guidance says foreign children can attend public elementary and junior high schools. Tuition and textbooks are free, while parents pay for lunches and supplementary materials. Enrolment goes through the municipal board of education after resident registration. This is useful to know when comparing international and public schools.

China: residence permits come in types

China's National Immigration Administration guide (2021) lists work, study, journalist, reunion and private-affairs residence permits.

• Family members visiting on an S1 visa (spouse, parents, spouse's parents and children under 18) apply for a private-affairs permit and attach the residence permit of the person they are visiting.
• That permit's validity matches the permit of the person visited.
• Work residence permits run 1 to 5 years depending on the applicant's experience and status.

This guide alone cannot tell you which type fits a given family. Confirm with the sending employer and the competent authority.

UAE: the sponsorship structure

The UAE government portal says a resident worker earning at least AED 4,000 a month (or AED 3,000 plus accommodation) can sponsor family (updated September 2026). Those who can be sponsored are a spouse, unmarried daughters, sons under 25 and children with special needs.

Family permits are tied to the sponsor's. If the sponsor's visa is cancelled, the dependants' visas are cancelled too, with a six-month grace period from expiry or cancellation. It helps to look at the worker's contract end date and your child's school calendar together.

Checklist

• Have you identified whether your destination is one of the five countries covered here, or one (such as Vietnam or the Philippines) that you must check separately?
• Have you confirmed the main applicant's visa or permit timeline first?
• Have you prepared relationship documents such as marriage and birth certificates?
• Have you checked the latest document list from the embassy or immigration office you will use?
• Have you checked against official guidance whether your child's age falls within the national limits (under 18, under 25 and so on)?
• Have you noted permit expiry dates and extension windows in your calendar?
• Have you looked into what happens to family visas if the sponsor's visa changes or ends?
• The guidance here is as of 29 October 2026. Have you re-checked for newer rules?

Ask the school

• When and in what form does admission require your child's immigration status or visa documents?
• Can enrolment be confirmed or a place held before the visa is issued?
• Does the school issue an enrolment letter or other documents for visa applications, and how long does that take?
• Must the school be told if a permit's validity changes or the sponsor's visa changes?
• If public school is an option in the same country, what are the enrolment steps and the cost structure?

Visa requirements differ by country and change often. If school guidance and the official body's guidance differ, follow the official body's latest guidance.

Always confirm your own situation with the official authority or an immigration professional.