Types of Visas in Japan (Japanese Visas)

To work/study/live in Japan, you need to be certified for eligibility and get an appropriate visa. A person can get only one type of visa at a time. If you are eligible for more than one, you need to choose one visa type. We can give an advice on which visa is the best type for you.

Types of visas are shown below.

Status of Residence   

Permitted to work with restriction　(Working Visa)

You can work only within the field which your visa allows.

i.e. You cannot work as a business manager with your Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa.

1. Investor/Business Manager
Activities of operating international trade or some other business of a public or private organization in Japan or of managing such business (except for the activities to engage in the operation or management of business which is not allowed without the legal qualifications listed in the “Legal/Accounting Services” column of this list).
2. Highly Skilled Professionals
(i) Activities which come under any of the following (a) to (c) to be conducted by foreign nationals who meet the criteria provided for by an ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as human resources who possess advanced and specialized skills, and who are expected to contribute to the academic research and economic development of Japan.

(a) Activities of engaging in research, research guidance or education based on a contract entered into with a public or private organization in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice, or in conjunction with such activities, activities of personally operating a business which is related to such activities or activities of engaging in research, research guidance or education based on a contract entered into with a public or private organization in Japan other than the applicable organization.

(b) Activities of engaging in work requiring specialized knowledge or skills in the field of natural sciences or humanities based on a contract entered into with a public or private organization in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice, or in conjunction with such activities, activities of personally operating a business which is related to the applicable activities.

(c) Activities of operating international trade or some other business of a public or private organization in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice or of managing such business, or in conjunction with such activities, activities of personally operating a business which is related to the applicable activities.

(ii) The following activities to be conducted by foreign nationals who engaged in the activities given in (i) and who meet the criteria provided for by an ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as persons whose residence will contribute to the interests of Japan.

(a) Activities of engaging in research, research guidance or education based on a contract entered into with a public or private organization in Japan.

(b) Activities of engaging in work requiring specialized knowledge or skills in the field of natural sciences or humanities based on a contract entered into with a public or private organization in Japan.

(c) Activities of operating trade or some other business of a public or private organization in Japan, or of managing such business.

(d) In conjunction with any of the activities listed in (ii) (a) to (c), the activities given in the column for Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist, Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Instructor, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/ International Services, Entertainer or Skilled Labor (except for the activities coming under any of (ii) (a) to (c)).

3. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Activities to engage in services, which require skills or knowledge pertinent to physical science, engineering or other natural science fields, or to engage in services, which require knowledge pertinent to jurisprudence, economics, sociology or other human science fields, or to engage in services which require specific ways of thought or sensitivity based on experience with foreign culture, based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan (except for the activities listed in the “Professor”, “Artist”, “Journalist”, “Business Manager”, “Legal/Accounting Services”, “Medical Services”, “Researcher”, “Instructor”, “Intra-company Transferee” and “Entertainer” columns of this list).
4. Diplomat
Activities on the part of constituent members of diplomatic missions or consular offices of foreign governments hosted by the Japanese Government; activities on the part of those who are provided with similar privileges and/or immunities as are granted to diplomatic missions pursuant to treaties or international customary practices; and activities on the part of their family members belonging to the same household.　
5. Official
Activities on the part of those who engage in the official business of foreign governments or international organizations recognized by the Japanese Government; and activities on the part of their family members belonging to the same household (except for the activities listed in the “Diplomat” column of this list).　　
6. Professor
　Activities for research, guidance of research or education at a university, equivalent educational institutions or colleges of technology.　
7. Artist
　Activities for the arts that provide income, including music, the fine arts, literature, etc.(except for the activities listed in the “Entertainer” column of this list).　
8. Religious Activity
　Missionary and other religious activities conducted by foreign religious workers dispatched by foreign religious organizations.　
9. Journalist
News coverage and other journalistic activities conducted based on a contract with foreign journalistic organizations.　　
10. Legal Services/Accounting Services
　Activities to engage in legal or accounting business, which is required to be carried out by registered foreign lawyers , or certified public accountants or those with other legal qualifications.　
11. Medical Services
　Activities to engage in medical treatment services, which are required to be undertaken by physicians, dentists, nurse or those with other legal qualifications.　
12. Researcher
　Activities to engage in research based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan (except for the activities listed in the “Professor” column of this list).　
13. Instructor
　Activities to engage in language instruction and other education at an elementary school, junior high school, compulsory education school, senior high school, secondary educational school, school for special needs education, vocational school, miscellaneous educational institution, or the other educational institutions equivalent to vocational schools in facilities and curriculum.　　
14. Intra-company Transferee
　Activities of a staff member transferred to a business office in Japan for a limited period of time from a business office established in a foreign country by a public or private organization which has its head office, branch office or other business office in Japan, which are to be conducted at such business office in Japan and which are listed in the “Engineering/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” column of this list.　
15. Entertainer
　Activities to engage in theatrical performances, dramatic performances, musical performances, sports or any other performing art activities (except for the activities listed in the “Business Manager” column of this list).　
16. Skilled Labor
　Activities to engage in services, which require industrial techniques or skills belonging to special fields based on a contract with public or private organizations in Japan.　
17. Technical Intern Training
　(ⅰ) Activities to acquire knowledge through group training courses and activities to acquire skills through employment agreements. 　(a) Activities performed by an individual enterprise accepting employees of companies with whom the individual enterprise has business relations such as joint ventures overseas (Individual enterprise-based training). (b) Activities performed under the supervision and responsibility of a non-profit organization such as a trade association (Association managed training). (ⅱ) Activities for a person who has acquired knowledge and skills to engage in business that requires such knowledge and skills through an employment agreement.　
18. Nursing care
　Activities to engage in nursing care or teaching of nursing care based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan.
19. Specified Skilled Worker (introduced in April 2019)
(i)Activities to engage in jobs that require considerable knowledge of or experience in Specified Industry Field.
(ii)Activities to engage in jobs that require proficient skills in Specified Industry Field. 　

Basically not permitted to work (Non-working Visas)

1. Cultural Activity
　1.Academic or artistic activities that provide no income, or activities for the purpose of pursuing specific studies on Japanese culture or arts, or activities for the purpose of learning and acquiring Japanese culture or arts under the guidance of experts (except for the activities listed in the “Student” and “Trainee” columns of this list).
2. Temporary Visitor
　Sightseeing, recreation, sports, visiting relatives, inspection tours, participating in lectures or meetings, business contact or other similar activities during a short period of stay (up to 90 days) in Japan.　
3. College Student
　Activities to receive education at a university, college of technology, senior high school (including the second half of a course of study at a school for secondary education) or senior high school course of a school for special needs education, junior high school (including the second half of a course of study at a school for compulsory education (and the first half of a course of study at a school for secondary education) or junior high school course of a school for special needs education, elementary school (including the first half of a course of study at a school for compulsory education) or elementary school course of a school for special needs education, special training school or miscellaneous school or equivalent educational institution in terms of facility and organization in Japan.
4. *Trainee
　Activities to acquire skills, etc. at a public or a private organization in Japan (except for the activities listed in the “Technical Intern Training (ⅰ) ” and “Student” columns of this list).
5. *Dependent
　Daily activities on the part of the spouse or unmarried minor supported by the foreign national staying in Japan with the status of residence of “Professor”, “Artist”, “Religious Activities”, “Journalist”, “Business Manager”, to “Cultural Activities”, “Legal Services/Accounting Services”, “Medical Services”, “Researchers”, “Instructor”, “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”,” Intra-company Transferee”, “Entertainer”, “Skilled Labor”,” Cultural Activity” or “College Student”.　

＊Working for maximum of 28 hours/week is permitted.

Permitted to work without restrictions (Family Related Visas)

1. Permanent Resident
　Those who are permitted permanent residence by the Minister of Justice.
2. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident
　The spouses of those who stay with the status of residence of “Permanent Resident” or Special Permanent Resident (hereinafter referred to as “permanent resident etc.”), those born as children of a permanent resident etc. in Japan and having been residing in Japan.　
3. Spouse or Child of Japanese Nationals
The spouses of Japanese nationals, the children adopted by Japanese nationals pursuant to the provisions of Article 817-2 of the Civil Code (Law No.89 of 1896) or those born as the children of Japanese nationals.
4. Long Term Resident
　Those who are authorized to reside in Japan with designation of period of stay by the Minister of Justice in consideration of special circumstances.

Permitted Individually

Designated Activities

Activities which are specifically designated by the Minister of Justice for foreign individuals.

The scope of the Designated Activities Visa is broad.

Representative examples are:

  1. Personal helpers (usually housekeepers and personal assistants) who are privately employed by foreigners holding one of the following visa types:
    Diplomat, Investor/Business Manager, Legal/Accounting Services
  2. Individuals who are preparing to return to their home countries and lack any other visa status that would allow them to remain temporarily in Japan.
  3. Nurse and Certified Care worker under EPA, Nurse and Certified Care worker candidates under EPA, Certified Care worker Candidates (student) under EPA