Visa & Residency

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.

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.