Help, I got accepted on JET and my spouse or partner didn’t!

This pops up as a comment on JET forums and facebook posts several times a year.  I will try to put down as many comments as I have seen, and keep it updated when I hear some more useful advice.

Firstly, for the married couples, the visa is easy, the spouse just gets a dependant visa. On the dependant visa they can work part time.  AND MOST IMPORTANT: They are covered under your insurance. If they get sponsored for a job, they go on a weekend trip out of the country and then come back in on the visa the new job sponsors them on.

For unmarried couples, there are a few options. If you are from one of the lucky countries, you can apply for a “working holiday visa“.  Otherwise, it gets tricky, but do-able! DON’T FORGET ABOUT GETTING YOURSELF COVERED WITH HEALTH INSURANCE!

Comments gleaned from other sites:

“My partner got accepted on JET, I didn’t… what can I do?”

• You will most likely have to find something after you arrive. My partner found work after we arrived.
• Let your partner’s BOE know that you are looking for work and they might know something. Good luck!
• This is something you should post on the JET Facebook page of your new prefecture. Depending on how close you are to other prefectures you should post on their too. 
• As far as teaching, if it’s not April, it’s not hiring season. If you find a foreigner-owned bar/restaurant, they might take you. Beyond that, keep looking – you may have better luck in July/August or February/March.
• Depending on the area, finding work can be really tricky. My partner got into JET, I didn’t, and in the rural area we’re in, I’ve had a hard time finding work.  Pick a big city area to go to!
• From my searches, if you’re in a more metropolitan area, such as near Kobe or Tokyo or Kyoto etc, finding work should be much easier.
• I wouldn’t worry too much. My partner got direct hire after months of trying in a rural rural area. Just be persistent.
• We were placed in small-ish city (my partner got in and i didn’t) and I didn’t have any luck finding a job before we left. Once here I got recommendations and found one in less than a month.
• You can just come and find the job without the visa, but then you have to take a trip to Guam or Korea or something and then come back on a weekend on the new visa. However, if you don’t find a job in 90 days you have to keep leaving then come back on a new visitor visa. And if you get caught working on a visitor visa, you are in giant trouble.  And you can only stay for 180 days in 365 days on a visitor visa. It resets 180 days after they have spent 180 days… let’s say you come on August 1… that is the beginning of your 365 day count. In the next 365 days from Aug1 to July 31, you can only spend 180 days.
• Once you are hired your company will sponsor your visa then you will have to apply for the work visa. I came on a dependent visa and switched to a work visa.
• Also hunting in a prefecture with no idea where the actual placement is would be a bit futile. Wait until you’re there – a couple can survive on the JET salary relatively well.
• I bought a one way ticket without a problem. My partner took the 3 months to find a job then flew to Korea for the visa change. Citizens of certain countries can apply for the working holiday visa: The Working Holiday Programmes in Japan.
• Based on what everyone has been saying and most of our experiences getting married is the best option for long term couples moving to Japan. It is possible but there are hurdles that your might not be considering like BOEs not allowing unmarried couples to live together, health insurance, etc.
• YES! Don’t forget health insurance.
• … I will add more when I see more good comments.