To stay in Japan, regardless of the length of stay, for activities not permitted under a Temporary Visitor visa, you must obtain a proper visa status that corresponds to your intended activities or purpose of stay.
There are approximately 30 types of visa status, categorized according to the specific activities you will engage in while in Japan or civil status (for example, a blood/marital relationship to a Japanese national). Each person may apply for only one visa status, and the Immigration Office will grant it if you meet the requirements and are eligible.
IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH VISA PROCEDURES IN JAPAN, JUMP TO THE INTRODUCTORY PAGES BELOW FIRST:
Visa statuses can generally be divided into two categories based on the purpose of stay:
You must identify the specific visa status that matches your purpose and activities in Japan, and determine whether you and your circumstances meet its requirements.
The Immigration Office grants you a visa status with a specific period of stay based on your application, taking into account your activities in Japan as well as all aspects of your background and circumstances.
ACTIVITY-BASED STATUS
Activity-based visa statuses are classified into 3 types: Work, Non-work, and Designated.
WORK
Visa statuses classified as “Work” are allowed to engage in working with income/earnings.
| CATEGORY | ACTIVITY | PERIOD OF STAY |
|---|---|---|
| DIPLOMAT （外交） | Diplomat and officer of foreign Embassy, Consulate, Government, and their family. NOTE: Application for this category must be filed through the Japan Embassy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) outside Japan. | During mission |
| OFFICIAL （公用） | Same as above | 5 years 3 years 1 year 3 months 30 days 15 days |
| PROFESSOR （教授） | Those who engage in research or/and education at university or other related organization equivalent to university. Example occupation: Professor, Researcher working at a university | 5 years 3 years 1 year 3 months |
| ARTIST （芸術） | Professional activities in the field of music, art, literature and other artistic activities with income/earnings except for the activities listed on Entertainer (興行) . Example occupation: Musician, Composer, Painter, Photographer, Writer, Songwriter etc. | Same as above |
| RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES （宗教） | Mission work and other religious activities of religious figure or person sent from foreign religious organization. Example occupation: Missionary, Priest, etc. | Same as above |
| JOURNALIST （報道） | Media and Journalistic activities conducted based on a contract with a foreign media or journalistic organization. Example occupation: Journalist, cameraman, photographer etc. who belongs to media or press overseas or freelancers related to | Same as above |
| HIGHLY SKILLED PROFESSIONAL 1 (HSP1) （高度専門職1号） | Those who are qualified as Highly Skilled Professional based on HSP point scheme. Those who are qualified as a special Highly Skilled Professional based on your career and income among HSP1 >> J-Skip HSP | 5 years |
| HIGHLY SKILLED PROFESSIONAL 2 (HSP2) （高度専門職2号） | Those who keep HSP1 visa status for at least 3 years and are still qualified as HSP. | Indefinite |
| BUSINESS MANAGER （経営・管理） | Activities to execute and manage business for import/export etc. in Japan and/or conduct/supervise/control the management except for the activities listed on Legal / Accounting Services (法律・会計業務). Example occupation: Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Representative Director, President of the company etc | 5 years 3 years 1 year 4 months 3 months |
| LEGAL / ACCOUNTING SERVICES （法律・会計業務） | Legal and accounting activities to be conducted by specific legal qualification. Example occupation: Lawyer, Attorney, Chartered Accountant, Certified Accountants or other legal specialists | 5 years 3 years 1 year 3 months |
| MEDICAL SERVICES （医療） | Medical activities to be conducted by qualified doctors, dentists or nurses etc. Example occupation: Doctor, Dentist and Nurse | Same as above |
| RESEARCHER （研究） | Researching activities conducted based on a contract with a Japanese public/private organization except for activities listed on Professor (教授). Example occupation: Corporate Researcher, Government-related Researcher | Same as above |
| INSTRUCTOR （教育） | Teaching and instructing activities at elementary/junior high/high schools and technical/special schools prescribed by the School Educational Law, or international schools. Example occupation: Language teacher at an elementary/junior high/high school | Same as above |
| ENGINEER / SPECIALIST IN HUMANITIES / INTERNATIONAL SERVICES （技術・人文知識・国際業務） | 1. Activities engage in working in the field of science, engineering, IT, architecture or other natural science conducted based on a contract with an entity in Japan. Example occupation: IT Engineer/Programmer, Software/web Developer, Automobile Engineer, Architect etc. 2. Activities in working in the field of law, economics, sociology, humanities or other liberal arts conducted based on a contract with an entity in Japan. Example occupation: Accounting, Economic Analyst, HR and Personnel management, business/financial consultant, Marketing etc. 3. Activities to engage in working for international services conducted based on a contract with an entity in Japan, which require thoughts and sensitivity of foreign culture Example occupation: Language Teacher/Instructor, Interpreter/Translator, International Public Relations, International product development, Overseas transactions/trading etc. | Same as above |
| INTRA-COMPANY TRANSFEREE （企業内転勤） | Expats sent from foreign company/organization to Japan to engage in activities applicable to ENGINEER / SPECIALIST IN HUMANITIES / INTERNATIONAL SERVICES. | Same as above |
| CARE WORKER （介護） | Those who are qualified Certified Care Worker (介護福祉士) and work as a care worker or who engage in the instruction for care workers. | Same as above |
| ENTERTAINER （興行） | Actors/Actresses, Performers, Singers, Dancers, Professional athletes etc. who engage in performance/entertainment activities with income/earnings. | 3 years 1 year 6 months 3 months 15 days |
| SKILLED WORKER （技能） | Those who engage in skilled profession of distinctive industrial field conducted based on a contract with an entity in Japan. Example occupation: Chef and Cook of foreign cuisine, Carpenter of foreign architecture, Chaser of jewelry, Sommelier, Athletic/sports Trainer, Pilot etc. | 5 years 3 years 1 year 3 months |
| SPECIFIED SKILLED WORKER 1 （特定技能1号） | Those who engage in working a specific job designated by the law. | 1 year 6 months 4 months |
| SPECIFIED SKILLED WORKER 2 （特定技能2号） | Those who engage in working a specific job designated by the law. | 3 years 1 year 6 months |
| TECHNICAL INTERN TRAINING 1 （技能実習1号） | Technical intern trainee | Designated period by the Minister of Justice (up to 1 year) |
| TECHNICAL INTERN TRAINING 2 and 3 （技能実習2号・3号） | Technical intern trainee | Designated period by the Minister of Justice (up to 2 years) |
NON-WORK
Visa statuses classified as “Non-work” are NOT allowed to engage in paid work or earn income without obtaining a permission called PERMISSION to ENGAGE in OTHER ACTIVITY / 資格外活動許可.
The Permission to Engage in Other Activity / 資格外活動許可 allows you to work for a limited period of time and only within the scope approved by the Immigration Office. For details of this permission , refer to the following page: PERMISSION to ENGAGE in OTHER ACTIVITY / 資格外活動許可
* Note that Temporary Visitor status is not eligible for the Permission to Engage in Other Activity.
| CATEgORY | ACTIVITY | PERIOD of STAY |
|---|---|---|
| CULTURAL ACTIVITIES （文化活動） | Researchers of Japanese Culture, trainees of traditional Japanese martial arts or sports. | 3 year 1 year 6 months 3 months |
| TEMPORARY VISITOR （短期滞在） | Temporary visitors visiting families and relatives in Japan or participating in a business meeting or a conference. * Generally, application for TEMPORARY VISITOR visa is to be made at the Japan Embassy / Consulate-General in your residence country (outside Japan) and you should contact them directly. | 90 days 30 day 15 days |
| STUDENT （留学） | University students, High School students, Junior High School students, Elementary School students, students at Japanese language school and students at other educational institute. | Designated period by the Minister of Justice (up to 4 years and 3 months) |
| TRAINEE （研修） | Technical trainees who belong to public or private organization in Japan. | 1 year 6 months 3 months |
| DEPENDENT （家族滞在） | Spouse and children of people who already reside in Japan under certain Status of Residence. | Designated period by the Minister of Justice (up to 5 years) |
DESIGNATED
Designated Activities is a visa status that may allow you to work, depending on the specific category and conditions granted by the Immigration Office.
| CATEGORY | ACTIVITY | PERIOD of stay |
|---|---|---|
| DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES （特定活動） | Specific activities designated by the Ministry of Justice, such as: ・Housekeepers of person who holds other visa status ・Working Holiday ・Paid Internship ・Amateurs at sports ・Trainees ・4th generation Japanese ・Digital Nomad ・Long-stay for sightseeing/recreation ・Medical stay ・Graduates of Japanese university ・J-Find Unspecified DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES (告示外特定活動): Other activities designated by the Ministry of Justice on a case-by-case basis. For example: ・Preparation for departure ・Job hunting after graduation in Japan ・Stepchild (child of spouse staying under Dependent visa status). ・Spouse of legitimately married same-sex couple ・Foreign parent who needs to be cared in Japan | 5 years 3 years 1 year 6 months 3 months or designated period granted by the Minister of Justice (up to 5 years) |
RESIDENTIAL STATUS and PERMANENT RESIDENT
Visa statuses classified as “Residential Status and Permanent Resident” are based on your civil status, marital status or family relationship to a Japanese nationals or a Permanent Resident.
These are not activity-based statuses, so you are allowed to engage in any type of work.
| CATEgORY | ACTIVITY | PERIOD OF STay |
|---|---|---|
| PERMANENT RESIDENT (PR) （永住者） | Those who have been granted this status by the Minister of Justice. | Indefinite |
| SPOUSE / CHILD of JAPANESE （日本人の配偶者等） | Those who have been granted this status based on one of the following civil statuses: ・Spouse of Japanese ・Those who was born as a child of Japanese or adopted by Japanese under the provision of Article 807-2 of the Civil Code, etc. | 5 years 3 years 1 year 6 months |
| SPOUSE/CHILD of PERMANENT RESIDENT （永住者の配偶者等） | Those who have been granted this status based on one of the following civil statuses: ・Spouse of Permanent Residence or Special Permanent Residence ・Child of Permanent Residence who was born in Japan and continues to live in Japan after that, etc. | Same as above |
| LONG-TERM RESIDENT （定住者） | Those who have been granted this status based on the Minister of Justice’s decision due to specific reasons such as: ・Second and third generation Japanese ・Spouse of a second/third generation Japanese ・Adopted child under 6 years of age Unspecified Long-term Resident (告示外定住者): Other statuses designated by the Ministry of Justice on a case-by-case basis. For example: ・Those who divorced with or were separated by death of Japanese, Permanent Residence, or Special Permanent Residence while staying in Japan, etc. ・Those who support or care for their own child who has a blood relationship with a Japanese national. | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months or designated period granted by the Minister of Justice (up to 5 years). |