Visa status can be divided mainly into 2 categories according to the activity.
(A) Activity Based Visa Status (including the status allowed to work)
(B) Family-Related Visa Status and Permanent Resident
The Immigration Office grants you a specific period of stay for the visa status considering all the aspects for your eligibility.
In addtion to the visa requirement, you should know about the basic criteria to obtain visa status.
>> VISA STATUS: Basic Criteria
（Amended on April 15th, 2020）
Status in this category is for those who come to Japan for work, business, study, tour, or accompanying as a dependent spouse or child.
| Types of status | Activity and Example of Occupation | Period of Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Diplomat （外交） |
Diplomat and officer of foreign Embassy, Consulate, Government, and their family.
* The application must be filed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. |
During mission |
| Official （公用） |
5years 3years 1year 3months 30days 15days |
|
| Professor （教授） |
Those who engage in research or/and education at university or other related organization equivalent to university. e.g. Professor | 5years 3years 1year 3months |
| Artist （芸術） |
Professional in the field of art, music and other artistic activities; painter, musician, composer, photographer, writer, songwriter. | |
| Religious Activities （宗教） |
Missionnary of foreign religious organization | |
| Journalist （報道） |
Journalists, cameramen, or photographers who belong to media overseas including freelancer. | |
| Highly Skilled Professional1 (HSP1) （高度専門職1号） |
Those who are qualified as Highly Skilled Professional | 5 years |
| Highly Skilled Professional2 (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 (BM) （経営・管理） |
Business manager who engage in the management. | 5years 3years 1year 4months 3months |
| Legal / Accounting Services （法律・会計業務） |
Attorneys, certified accountants or other legal specialists. | 5years 3years 1year 3months |
| Medical Services （医療） |
Doctors, dentists or nurses those who engage in the field of medical services. | |
| Researcher （研究） |
Researchers who belong to public or private organizations. | |
| Instructor （教育） |
Teacher of elementary school, junior high school, high school and technical/special school. (Language school teacher falls under "Specialist in Humanities / International Services ", not "Instructor".) | |
| Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / Int'l Services （技術・人文知識・国際業務） |
Those who engage in the activity in the field of science, engineering, IT, architecture; engineer, programmer and project manager, law, economics, sociology, humanities or/and international and intercultural profession; foreign language teachers, interpreter/translator, consultant/supervisor in the field of international trade, designer/planner in the field of interior/exterior and fashion. | |
| Intra-Company Transferee （企業内転勤） |
Expats of foreign organizations and companies who are going to be sent to their subsidiary, branch, or representative office in Japan for specific period.
* The applicant's activity should be applicable to "Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services". |
|
| Care Worker （介護） |
Those who are qualified "certified care worker" and work as a care worker or engage in the instruction for care workers. | 5years 3years 1year 3months |
| Entertainer （興行） |
Actors/Actresses, Performers, singers, dancers, professional athletes etc. | 3years 1year 6months 3months 15days |
| Skilled Worker （技能） |
Those who engage in skilled profession such as cook of foreign cuisine, carpenter of foreign architecture, chaser of jewelry, sommelier, athletic/sports trainer, pilot. | 5years 3years 1year 3months |
| Designated Labor 1 （特定技能1号） |
Those who engage in working a specific job designated by the law. | 1year 6months 4months |
| Designated Labor 2 （特定技能2号） |
Those who engage in working a specific job designated by the law. | 3years 1year 6months |
| Technical Intern Training1 （技能実習1号） |
Technical intern trainee | Designated period by the Minister of Justice (up to 1 year) |
| Technical Intern Training2 and 3 （技能実習2号・3号） |
Technical intern trainee | Designated period by the Minister of Justice (up to 2 years) |
| Types of status | Activity and Example of Occupation | Period of Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural Activities （文化活動） |
Researchers of Japanese Culture, trainees of traditional Japanese martial arts or sports. | 3year, 1year, 6months, 3months |
| Dependent （家族滞在） |
Spouse and children of people who already reside in Japan under certain Status of Residence. | 5years, 4years and 3months, 4years, 3years and 3months, 3years, 2years and 3months, 2years, 1year and 3months, 1year, 6months, 3months |
| 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. | 4years and 3months, 4years, 3years and 3months, 3years, 2years and 3months, 2year, 1year, 1year and 3months, 6months, 3months |
| Trainee （研修） |
Technical trainees who belong to public or private organization in Japan. | 1year, 6months, 3months |
| Temporary Visitor （短期滞在） |
Temporary visitors visiting families and relatives in Japan or participating in a business meeting or a conference. | 90days, 30day, 15days |
| Types of status | Activity and Example of Occupation | Period of Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Designated Activities （特定活動） |
KOKUJI (告示): Specific activities designated by the Ministry of Justice.
KOKUJIGAI (告示外): Any other activities designated by the Ministry of Justice considering each case.
|
5years, 3years, 1year, 6months, 3months or designated period granted by the Minister of Justice (up to 5 years). |
Status in this category is for those who are eligible for living permanently in Japan or who have relatives of Japanese or Permanent Resident or applicable to other family-related status. You are allowed to engage in all types of work under these types of status.
| Types of status | Activity and Example of Occupation | Period of Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent Resident (PR) （永住者） |
Those who are allowed by the Minister of Justice. | Indefinite |
| Spouse or Child of a Japanese National （日本人の配偶者等） |
Spouse of Japanese, or those who was born as a child of Japanese or adopted by Japanese under the provision of Article 807-2 of the Civil Code. | 5years, 3years, 1year, 6months |
| Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident （永住者の配偶者等） |
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. | |
| Long-term Resident （定住者） |
Those who are allowed to reside in Japan for a certain period of stay by the Minister of Justice because of considering specific reason. (e.g. Second and third generation of Japanese. Those who devoced with or were separated by death of Japanese, Permanent Residence, or Special Permanent Residence. ) | 5years, 3years, 1year, 6months or designated period granted by the Minister of Justice (up to 5 years). |
Tani-yon Square Bldg. 6F,
1-2-15 Uchihommachi,
Chuo-ku, Osaka 5400026
Inquiry must be sent via webform.
business Hours：9:00-17:00
Holidays: Sat, Sun, National Holidays
