Legal / Accounting Services

（published in Feb, 2020）

Visa Status called “Legal/Accounting Services (法律・会計業務 Houritsu Kaikei Gyoumu)” (hereafter referred to as “Legal/Accounting“) is applied to those who engage in working in Japan as a qualified/licensed professionals during their period of stay in Japan.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Regardless of which visa status you will apply for, you need to satisfy the criteria first.
>>　BASIC CRITERIA of visa status

Basically, this visa status is granted to engage in working as a professional which requires a specific license or qualification prescribed by Japanese law such as; lawyer/attorney, judicial scrivener, land and house investigator, registered foreign lawyer, chartered/public accountant, tax accountant, labor and social security attorney, patent attorney, maritime procedure agent, administrative scrivener（弁護士、司法書士、土地家屋調査士、外国法事務弁護士、公認会計士、外国公認会計士、税理士、社会保険労務士、弁理士、海事代理士、行政書士）.

Also, you must compelete a relevant registration for the organization to engage in the job in Japan;e.g. lawyer/attorney→ Nichi-Ben-Ren (Japan Federation of Bar Associations)

Since these professional job are exclusive and they are generally considered they receive relevant fees as the same as Japanese professional, there are no fee requirement for fees to be paid in Japan. However, it would be better to prove that you are capable of making stable income in Japan if you would like longer or maximum period of stay for Legal/Accounting visa.

PROCEDURES

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 in Japan under specific status and holding Residence Card already:
>> Change of Visa Status

BASIC REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

You are required to prepare documents which certify that the contents of the application are true and correct. Necessary documents are varied depending on the situation of each applicant and the host organization/company, however, it shall be as follows:

（１）Application form

（２）Portrait photo（height 4cm × width 3cm）

（３）For COE application only: return envelope with 404yen stamp (for Kan-i Kakitome, registered mail)

（４）For application for Change: the original of passport and Residence Card (to be presented at the time of submission).

（５）Documents to prove the qualification or license (e.g. certificate, license etc.)

（６）In case you will engage in the job based on the contract: a copy of contract(s).
　　　In case you will engage in the job without the contract: detailed explanation of your activity in Japan.

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