Visa & Residency

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Short-Term Stay Visa

  • Purpose: Tourism, visiting friends or family, short-term business (within 90 days)

  • Details: You receive a “Temporary Visitor” status. No work allowed. Can’t be extended.

  • Who It’s For: Tourists, family visitors, business travelers

Work Visas

For being officially employed in Japan under a company or institution

  • Common Types:

    • Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (e.g., English teacher, office worker, translator)

    • Highly Skilled Professional (e.g., researchers, IT professionals)

    • Business Manager (for those starting or running a business)

    • Intra-company transferee, Skilled Labor (e.g., chefs), Specified Skilled Worker

  • Details: Your employer sponsors the visa. You must notify immigration when you change jobs.

Family-Related Visas

Based on family connection to a Japanese national or permanent resident

  • Types:

    • Spouse or child of a Japanese national

    • Spouse or child of a permanent resident

    • Long-term resident (e.g., Nikkei descendants, divorced spouses raising children in Japan)

  • Details: Generally allows flexible work. Can be renewed and leads to permanent residency.

Student, Trainee, Cultural Activities

    • Student Visa (university, language school, vocational school)

    • Trainee Visa (technical training)

    • Cultural Activities (e.g., unpaid cultural research or art)

  • Details: No work allowed unless you apply for special permission to do part-time work. Many students later switch to work visas after graduation.

Designated Activities

Covers special cases not covered by other visa types

  • Examples:

    • Working holiday visa

    • Internship for foreign students

    • Dependents of certain work visa holders

  • Details: Conditions and rights vary depending on the activity.

Permanent Residency

  • Requirements:

    • 10 years of residence (shorter for spouses or highly skilled workers)

    • Good behavior, stable income, full tax compliance

  • Details: No restrictions on work. No need to renew. Allows you to stay indefinitely.

Naturalization

  • Requirements:

    • Usually 5+ years in Japan

    • Stable income, no criminal record, good Japanese language ability

  • Details: You gain full rights as a Japanese national. Dual citizenship not allowed in most cases.