Types of VISA

In Japan, there are currently 29 types of residence statuses. It is essential for foreign individualss to thoroughly examine and confirm whether there is a residence status that corresponds to the activities they wish to engage in Japan.

1: Eligibility to work

Status of Residence	Authorized Activities		Example	period of stay
Diplomatic	This refers to activities carried out by members of foreign diplomatic missions or consular offices accepted by the Japanese government, as well as individuals who receive privileges and immunities similar to diplomatic envoys through treaties or international practices. It also includes family members residing in the same household as these individuals.		foreign government officials such as ambassadors, ministers, consuls-general, members of diplomatic delegations, and their respective family members.	The duration of diplomatic activities.
Officials	Activities as individuals engaged in official duties recognized by the Japanese government on behalf of foreign governments or international organizations, or as family members belonging to the same household as those individuals. This excludes activities listed under the diplomatic section of this table.		Individuals employed by foreign embassies or consulates, as well as those dispatched for official duties by international organizations, and their respective family members.	5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 3 months. 30 days or 15 days
Professor	Activities involving research, research guidance, or education at universities, institutions equivalent to universities, or advanced specialized schools in Japan.		University professors and similar academic positions.	5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
Artist	Activities in music, fine arts, literature, and other artistic activities that involve income generation. This excludes activities listed under the entertainment section of the second table.		Composers, painters, writers, and similar artistic professions.	5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
Religious Activities	Religious activities such as preaching and other religious activities conducted by religious figures dispatched to Japan by foreign religious organizations.		Missionaries and similar individuals dispatched by foreign religious organizations.	5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
Journalist	Journalistic activities such as coverage and other reporting conducted based on contracts with foreign media organizations.		Journalists and cameramen from foreign media organizations.	5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months

2: Eligibility to work (Landing permission criteria apply)

Status of Residence	Authorized Activities		Example	period of stay
Highly Skilled Professional	１:　Activities falling under any of the following categories, carried out by individuals who meet the criteria set forth by the Ministry of Justice as possessing advanced specialized knowledge or skills, are expected to contribute to the advancement of academic research or the economy in our country: i. Research, development, guidance, education, or other related activities in the field of science and technology. ii. Research, guidance, education, or other related activities in the field of humanities and social sciences. iii. Engaging in business activities in the field of economics or conducting research, guidance, education, or other related activities related to management activities.	i)　Activities involving research, research guidance, or education conducted based on contracts with public or private institutions in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice, or engaging in business related to such activities in conjunction with, or activities involving research, research guidance, or education conducted based on contracts with public or private institutions in Japan other than the said institution.	the points-based system	5 years
		ii)　Activities involving engaging in work requiring knowledge or skills in the fields of natural sciences or humanities based on contracts with public or private institutions in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice, or engaging in business related to such activities in conjunction with or independently of said activities.
		iii)　Activities involving managing trade or other business operations, or engaging in the management of such operations, at public or private institutions in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice, or engaging in business related to such activities in conjunction with or independently of said activities.
	2:　Activities carried out by individuals who have engaged in the activities listed in item 1 and whose residence contributes to the interests of Japan as specified by the criteria set forth by the Ministry of Justice:	i) Activities involving research, research guidance, or education conducted based on contracts with public or private institutions in Japan.		No-fixed term
		ii) Activity involving engagement in tasks requiring knowledge or skills in the fields of natural sciences or humanities based on contracts with public or private institutions in Japan.
		iii) Activity involving the management of trade or other business operations, or engaging in the management of such operations, at public or private institutions in Japan.
		iiii) 　Activities listed under items (i) to (iii) of specific skill no. 2, to be conducted in conjunction with any of the activities listed under the sections of the first table, which include teaching, arts, religion, journalism, legal/accounting services, medical services, education, technical/humanities knowledge/international business, caregiving, entertainment, skilled labor, and activities listed under specific skill no. 2, excluding those falling under items (ii) to (iii) of specific skill no. 2.
Business Manager	Engaging in the management of trade or other business operations in Japan, or managing such operations, excluding activities involving the management or operation of businesses that legally require qualifications listed under the section of legal/accounting services in this table.		Business owner/manager	5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, 4 months or 3 months
Legal/Accounting Services	Activities involving engaging in legal or accounting tasks that are legally designated for foreign legal affairs attorneys, foreign certified public accountants, or other individuals holding legal qualifications, as specified by international law.		Lawyer/Accountant	5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
Medical Services	Activities involving engaging in medical tasks designated for physicians, dentists, or other individuals holding legal qualifications, as specified by law, in the field of healthcare.		Doctor Dentist Nurse	5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
Researcher	Engaging in activities involving research conducted based on contracts with public or private institutions in Japan, excluding activities listed under the section of teaching in the first table.		Researchers employed by government agencies or private companies	5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
Instructor	Activities involving language education and other forms of education at elementary schools, junior high schools, compulsory education schools, high schools, secondary education schools, special needs schools, vocational schools, or other educational institutions similar in terms of facilities and organization.		Language teachers or similar personnel at junior high schools, high schools	5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
Engineer/ Specialist in Humanities/ International Services	Engaging in activities requiring expertise or knowledge in the fields of natural sciences such as physics and engineering, or humanities such as law, economics, and sociology, based on contracts with public or private institutions in Japan. Also, activities requiring thinking or sensitivity based on foreign cultures. These activities exclude those listed under teaching, arts, journalism, management/administration, legal/accounting services, medical services, research, education, corporate transfers, caregiving, and entertainment.		Mechanical engineers and other technical professionals, interpreters, designers, language teachers in private companies, marketing professionals, etc.	5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
Inra-company Transferee	Employees of public or private institutions with headquarters, branches, or other offices in Japan who are transferred for a specified period from their overseas offices to the offices in Japan to engage in activities listed under the technical/humanities knowledge/international business section of the table.		Employees transferred from foreign offices.	5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
Nursing Care	Activities involving providing care or instructing in nursing care based on contracts with public or private institutions in Japan by individuals holding qualifications as certified care workers.		Certified Care Worker	5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
Entertainer	Activities related to theatrical performances, entertainment, concerts, sports events, or other performing arts activities, excluding activities listed under the management/administration section of the table.		Actors, singers, dancers, professional athletes, etc.	3 years，1 year，6 months，3 months or 15 days
Skilled Labor	Activities involving engaging in work requiring skilled expertise in specialized fields of industry, based on contracts with public or private institutions in Japan.		Foreign cuisine chefs, sports coaches, aircraft pilots, precious metal artisans, etc.	5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
Specified Skilled Worker	1	Activities involving engaging in work that requires a certain level of knowledge or experience in specialized skills as designated by the Minister of Justice under contracts related to employment with public or private institutions in Japan, limited to those conforming to the provisions of Article 2-5, paragraphs 1 to 4, of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. This includes work in specific industries (defined as sectors where securing domestic labor is difficult and thus require the recruitment of foreign workers to fill labor shortages, as specified by ministerial ordinance), falling under categories designated by the Minister of Justice.	Foreign nationals engaged in work requiring a significant level of knowledge or experience in specialized skills belonging to specific industrial sectors.	1 year, 6 months or 4 months
	2	Activities involving engaging in work requiring skilled expertise in specific industrial sectors, based on contracts related to employment with public or private institutions in Japan, as designated by the Minister of Justice under the ministerial ordinance.	Foreign nationals engaged in work requiring skilled expertise in specific industrial sectors.	3 years，1 year or 6 months
Technical Intern Training	1	i) Activity involving receiving training based on the certified Technical Intern Training Program (limited to those under the First type; Individual enterprise Technical Intern Training) and engaging in tasks related to skills and other duties.	Technical Intern Training	Periods individually designated by the Minister of Justice (within a range not exceeding 2 years).
		ii) Activity involving receiving training and engaging in tasks related to skills, based on the certified Technical Intern Training Program (limited to those under the First type; Group Supervised Technical Intern Training).
	2	i) Activity engaging in tasks requiring skills based on the certified Technical Intern Training Program (limited to those under the Second type; Individual enterprise Technical Intern Training).		Periods individually designated by the Minister of Justice (within a range not exceeding 2 years).
		ii) Activity engaging in tasks requiring skills based on the certified Technical Intern Training Program (limited to those under the Second type; Group Supervised Technical Intern Training)
	3	i) Activity engaging in tasks requiring skills based on the certified Technical Intern Training Program (limited to those under the Third type; Individual enterprise Technical Intern Training).		Periods individually designated by the Minister of Justice (within a range not exceeding 2 years).
		ii) Activity engaging in tasks requiring skills based on the certified Technical Intern Training Program (limited to those under the Third type; Group Supervised Technical Intern Training)

3:Non-employment eligibility

Status of Residence	Authorized Activities		Example	Period of stay
Cultural Activities	Engagement in academic or artistic activities without income, or specialized research in Japan's unique culture or arts, including learning under professional guidance (excluding activities listed under the study and training section of the Fourth Table).		Researchers of Japanese culture　 etc.	3 years, 1 year, 6 months or 3 months
Short-term Stay	Activities such as tourism, recreation, sports, visiting relatives, sightseeing, attending seminars, business meetings, or similar activities conducted during short stays in Japan.		Tourists, conference participants, etc.	Within 90, 30 or 15 days

4:Non-employment eligibility (landing permission criteria apply)

Status of Residence	Authorized Activities		Example	Period of stay
Student	Activities involving education at universities, colleges of technology, high schools (including the latter stage of secondary education schools), special needs schools' high school sections, junior high schools (including the latter stage of compulsory education schools and the former stage of secondary education schools), special needs schools' junior high school sections, elementary schools (including the former stage of compulsory education schools), special needs schools' elementary school sections, specialized training colleges, various schools, or institutions equivalent to these in terms of facilities and organization.		Students of universities, junior colleges, technical colleges, high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools, among others.	Periods designated individually by the Minister of Justice (within the range of not exceeding 4 years and 3 months).
Researcher	Activities aimed at acquiring skills under the acceptance of public or private institutions in Japan (excluding activities listed under Technical Intern Training Program Type 1 in the second table and activities listed under Study Abroad in this table).		Trainees	1 year, 6 months, or 3 months.
Dependent	a spouse or child receiving support from a resident with a residency status from the First Table (Professors, Arts, Religion, Journalism), Second Table (Highly Skilled Professional, Management, Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Research, Education, Technical/Humanities/International Services, Intra-Company Transferee, Caregiving, Entertainment, Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker Type 2), or Third Table (Cultural Activities, Study) residency status in Japan.		The spouse and children supported by the foreign resident.	Periods designated by the Minister of Justice individually (not exceeding 5 years).

5: Employment permissible or not permissible

Status of Residence	Authorized Activities		Example	Period of stay
Designated Activities	Activities specifically designated by the Minister of Justice for individuals		Domestic workers for diplomats, working holiday participants, candidates for foreign nurses and care workers under economic partnership agreements.	5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, 3 months, or a period specified by the Minister of Justice (not exceeding 5 years).

6: Eligibility to reside

Status of Residence	Authorized Activities	Example	Period of stay
Permanent Resident	The person recognized by the Minister of Justice for permanent residency.	A person granted permanent residency by the Minister of Justice (excluding "Special Permanent Residents" under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act).	No-fixed term
Spouse or Child of Japanese National	Spouse of a Japanese national, adopted child of a Japanese national, or a child born to a Japanese national.	Spouses, children, and special adopted children of Japanese nationals.	5 years, 3years, 1 year or 6 months
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident	A person born in Japan as the spouse of a permanent resident or the child of a permanent resident, who continues to reside in Japan.	Spouses of permanent residents and special permanent residents, as well as children born in Japan who continue to reside	5 years, 3years, 1 year or 6 months
Long Term Resident	A person for whom the Minister of Justice specifies a certain period of residence considering special reasons.	Third-country settled refugees, third-generation Japanese descendants, Chinese nationals who remained in Japan after the war, etc.	5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 6 months, or a period specified by the Minister of Justice (not exceeding 5 years).