ARTIST (芸術; hereinafter referred to as “ARTIST”) is a VISA STATUS to engage in the artistic activity such as music, fine arts, literature etc. with pay during your stay in Japan.
In order to obtain ARTIST visa status, it is required that you have made considerable achievements and results in the field of artistic activities in which you intend to engage in Japan, and you need to prove that you are capable of making a stable living by the artistic activity in Japan.
You need ARTIST visa status to do the following activities and earn income from the activity in Japan;
- Composer, songwriter, painter, carver/sculptor, craftsman, author/writer, photographer, scriptwriter/playwriter etc.
- Those who instruct the artistic activity such as music, fine arts, literature, photograph, play, terpsichorean arts/dance, movie etc.
- In case you earn income by performing music, dance and play etc. in public as an entertainment >> ENTERTAINER
- In case you earn income by instructing and teaching studies in the field of music, fine arts, play and photograph etc. at the University etc. >> INSTUCTOR
- In case you engage in working as a graphic designer, most cases would be applicable to ENGINEER/HUMANITIES.
- In case you engage in the artistic activity applicable to Artist visa but you do not receive any income >> CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH VISA PROCEDURES IN JAPAN, JUMP TO INTRODUCTORY PAGES BELOW FIRST:
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
Immigration Office judges your eligibility for ARTIST visa status comprehensively – In order to be eligible for this visa status, you need to have specific career, work experience and/or educational background in the related field you wish to engage in and to satisfy other basic requirements.
Here’s the list of basic requirements for ARTIST;
Regardless of which visa status you apply for, you need to satisfy basic criteria first;
>> WHAT IS VISA STATUS?
You need to satisfy the following items:
- TYPE of ACTIVITY: Your intended activity in Japan must fall under one of the following,
- Composer, songwriter, painter, carver/sculptor, craftsman, author/writer, photographer, scriptwriter/playwriter etc.
- Those who instruct the artistic activity such as music, fine arts, literature, photograph, play, terpsichorean arts/dance, movie etc.
- CAREER, EXPERIENCE and ACHIEVEMENTS: You have enough career in the field of artistic activities in which you intend to engage in Japan as well as had made considerable achievements and results (experience of winning awards and/or prizes).
- FINANCIAL ABILITY: You are capable of making a stable living by the artistic activity in Japan (approximately JPY 300,000 monthly on average).
POINTS TO NOTE
Important Point
Artist visa will not be granted if you cannot prove that you have enough career in the field of artistic activity in which you intend to engage in Japan. Also, you need to provide specific/detailed explanation of what activity you do in Japan and the reason why you need to do the activity in Japan and how you make income from the activity stably in Japan.
In Case of obtaining ARTIST as a Freelance
NEED TO COME TO JAPAN FOR COE APPLICATION
If your contracting organization/company will not be a visa sponsor/proxy, you need to come to Japan for COE APPLICATION;
>> COE APPLICATION
TAXES, HEALTH INSURANCE and PENSION
If you obtain ARTIST visa status as a freelance, you are responsible to pay taxes, national health insurance premium and pension premium in Japan during your stay in Japan. You will need to do annual tax return for your income derived from activity in Japan. Regarding tax matters, you should consult tax specialists or tax offices directly to know more about the detail of taxes in advance.
HOW to PROCESS
In case you are currently residing outside Japan yet or you are staying in Japan as a TEMPORARY VISITOR:
>> COE APPLICATION
In case you have been living in Japan under specific status and holding RESIDENCE CARD already:
>> CHANGE of VISA STATUS
PERIOD of STAY
Each visa status has the expiration date – you can stay in Japan under the visa status during the specific period stated on Residence Card issued by Immigration Office.
Period of stay shall be decided by Immigration Office depends on the applicant’s circumstance, and it shall be either of 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. The period of stay is granted by the Immigration Office based on each case and situation.
In case you wish to extend the period of stay granted, you may apply for EXTENSION of PERIOD of STAY before the expiry date.
>> EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF STAY (VISA RENEWAL)
In case you would like to travel outside Japan temporarily under the visa status.
>> RE-ENTRY PERMIT
BASIC REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
The immigration office considers your eligibility for the visa status by your situation/career and by documents you provide. You are required to prepare documents which certify that the contents of the application are true and correct. The Immigration Office will request at any time if they have any questions or would like to confirm the information you provided case by case.
Specific documents are varied depending on the situation of each applicant and the host organization/company, however, the basic documents for this visa status are as follows;
In case of COE APPLICATION and CHANGE of VISA STATUS
- Application form
- Photo
- [In case of CHANGE of VISA STATUS] Residence Card and Passport
- Either one of the following items which prove the applicant’s activity in Japan;
- In case you engage in the activity based on contract(s) with the organization in Japan: Documents to prove your artistic activity in Japan, the period of contract, your position and salary
- In case you engage in the activity not based on contract with organization in Japan: Documents to prove your artistic activity in Japan, period of activity, and prospect of your income you can earn from the activity in Japan
- Documents to prove your career in the field of artistic activity.
- CV or Resume which shows your history of career in details.
- Either one of the following items which can prove your artistic career;
a．Letter of Recommendation signed by the related organizations.
b．News and coverage related to the activity in the past.
c．Documents to prove prizes and awards.
d．Catalogs and portfolio to prove your career and achievement.
e．Any documents relating to a – e the above.
In case of EXTENTION of PERIOD of STAY
- Application form
- Photo
- Residence Card and Passport
- Either one of the following items which prove the applicant’s activity in Japan;
- In case you engage in the activity based on contract(s) with the organization in Japan: Documents to prove your artistic activity in Japan, the period of contract, your position and salary
- In case you engage in the activity not based on contract with organization in Japan: Documents to prove your artistic activity in Japan, period of activity, and prospect of your income you can earn from the activity in Japan
- Tax/Income Certificate and Tax Payment Certificate for the latest year’s Resident Tax (直近の住民税の課税・所得証明書および納税証明書)
- IN CASE YOU CHANGE THE CONTRACTING ENTITY (VISA SPONSOR) DURING CURRENT PERIOD OF STAY: need the almost same documents as “In case of COE APPLICATION and CHANGE of VISA STATUS” above.
NOTE / REMARK
- All the documents written in foreign languages need to attach the Japanese translation.
- Additional documents may be requested by the Immigration Office during the screening.
- Some documents may be exempted in case your visa sponsor is classified under specific categories as follows: 1) listed corporation, government related organization, Independent administrative institution and other organization specified in this category 2) the total amount of annual withholding tax on the latest “Records for Salary Payment and Withholding Tax (給与所得の源泉徴収票等の法定調書合計表)” counts 10 million JPY or more, 3) your visa sponsor can submit a copy of the latest “Records for Salary Payment and Withholding Tax”.
- Any certificate issued by the Japanese authorities (Tax/Income Certificate, Certificate of Residence, Certificate of Company Register etc.) has to be the one issued within 3 months before the date of application.