 WORKING IN JAPAN / LONG-TERM STAY BEYOND 90 DAYS |
A foreigner wishing to enter Japan for activities other than those permitted under the status of a Temporary Visitor, will require either a Diplomatic visa, Official visa, Working visa, General visa, or Specified visa. (See table: CATEGORIES OF VISA AND STATUS OF RESIDENCE) These are mostly long-term visas for purposes of employment, education, training and long-term residence. When applying for a visa for the above-mentioned activities, a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) must be obtained before the actual visa application process can commence. A COE is an official document issued (before visa application) by the immigration authority in Japan as evidence that a foreigner fulfills various conditions of the Immigration Control Act, including those certifying that the activity in which the foreigner wishes to engage in Japan is valid and comes under a status of residence (excluding Temporary Visitor Status). Application for long-term visa is a 2-step process:
For detailed information on the procedure and documentation required for COE application, please inquire directly with a regional immigration office in Japan. The following are useful links: |
| ORDER OF DOCUMENTS | ITEM | DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED BY VISA APPLICANT | DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD |
| Top | 1 | ||
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| Bottom | 3 |
| CATEGORIES OF VISA AND STATUS OF RESIDENCE | |||
| VISA TYPE （査証種類） | REMARKS （備考） | ||
| WORKING VISA (就労査証）： Statuses of Residence Permitting Work （就労が認められる在留資格） | |||
| Professor （教授） |
3 years or 1 year | Activities for research, research guidance, or education as professor, assistant professor, or assistant, etc. at universities, equivalent educational institutions, or technical colleges (koto senmon gakko). | 本邦の大学若しくはこれに準ずる機関又は高等専門学校において研究、研究の指導又は教育をする活動。 |
| Religious Activities （宗教） |
3 years or 1 year | Missionary and other religious activities conducted by members of foreign religious organizations. | 外国の宗教団体により本邦に派遣された宗教家の行う布教その他の宗教上の活動。 |
Journalist |
3 years or 1 year | News coverage and other journalistic activities conducted on the basis of a contract with a foreign journalistic organization, such as a foreign newspaper company, news agency, broadcasting station, documentary movie company, etc. (Specifically, activities carried out by newspaper journalists, magazine journalists, report writers, editorial chiefs, editors, media photographers, television and radio announcers, etc., including freelancers.) | 外国の報道機関との契約に基づいて行う取材その他の報道上の活動。 |
| Investor / Business Manager （投資営業） |
3 years or 1 year | Activities to commence the operation of international trade or other business, to invest in international trade or other business and to operate or manage that business, or to operate or manage international trade or other business on behalf of foreign nationals (including foreign corporations) who have begun such an operation or have invested in such a business. The business in question must meet certain conditions of scale. Applicants who wish to engage in business management must fulfill certain conditions concerning work status and personal history. | 本邦において貿易その他の事業の経営を開始し若しくは本邦におけるこれらの事業に投資してその経営を行い若しくは当該事業の管理に従事し又は本邦においてこれらの事業の経営を開始した外国人（外国法人を含む。以下この項において同じ。）若しくは本邦におけるこれらの事業に投資している外国人に代わつてその経営を行い若しくは当該事業の管理に従事する活動（この表の法律・会計業務の項の下欄に掲げる資格を有しなければ法律上行うことができないこととされている事業の経営若しくは管理に従事する活動を除く。） |
| Researcher （研究） |
3 years or 1 year | Activities to engage in examinations, surveys, research, etc. on the basis of a contract with a public or private organization in Japan. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status. | 本邦の公私の機関との契約に基づいて研究を行う業務に従事する活動（一の表の教授の項の下欄に掲げる活動を除く。） |
Instructor |
3 years or 1 year | Activities to engage in language instruction and other education at elementary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, schools for the blind, handicapped children's schools, miscellaneous schools (kakushu gakko and senshu gakko), or other educational institutions equivalent to kakushu gakko in facilities and curriculum. | 本邦の小学校、中学校、高等学校、中等教育学校、盲学校、聾学校、養護学校、専修学校又は各種学校若しくは設備及び編制に関してこれに準ずる教育機関において語学教育その他の教育をする活動。 |
| Engineer （技術） |
3 years or 1 year | Activities to engage in service that requires technological skill and/or knowledge pertinent to physical science, engineering, or other natural science fields, on the basis of a contract with a public or private organization in Japan. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status. | 本邦の公私の機関との契約に基づいて行う理学、工学その他の自然科学の分野に属する技術又は知識を要する業務に従事する活動（一の表の教授の項の下欄に掲げる活動並びにこの表の投資・経営の項、医療の項から教育の項まで、企業内転勤の項及び興行の項の下欄に掲げる活動を除く。） |
| Specialist in Humanities / International Services （人文知識/国際業務） |
3 years or 1 year | Activities to engage in service that requires knowledge
pertinent to jurisprudence, economics, sociology, or other human science
fields. Activities to engage in service that requires specific ways of
thought or sensitivity based on experience with foreign culture, such
as interpreting, translation, copywriting, fashion design, interior design,
sales, overseas business, information processing, international finance,
design, or public relations and advertising based on a contract with a
public or private organization in Japan. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status. |
本邦の公私の機関との契約に基づいて行う法律学、経済学、社会学その他の人文科学の分野に属する知識を必要とする業務又は外国の文化に基盤を有する思考若しくは感受性を必要とする業務に従事する活動（一の表の教授の項、芸術の項及び報道の項の下欄に掲げる活動並びにこの表の投資・経営の項から教育の項まで、企業内転勤の項及び興行の項の下欄に掲げる活動を除く。） |
| Intra-company Transferee （企業内転勤） |
3 years or 1 year | Activities on the part of personnel who are transferred to business offices in Japan for a limited period of time from business offices that are established in foreign countries by public or private organizations with head offices, branch offices, or other business offices in Japan and who engage at these business offices in the activities described in the "Engineer" or "Specialist in Humanities/International Services" sections of this table. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status. | 本邦に本店、支店その他の事業所のある公私の機関の外国にある事業所の職員が本邦にある事業所に期間を定めて転勤して当該事業所において行うこの表の技術の項又は人文知識・国際業務の項の下欄に掲げる活動。 |
| Entertainer （興行） |
1 year, 6 months, or 3 months | Activities to engage in theatrical performances, arts,
song, dance, musical performances, sports, or any other show business.
Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history,
work status, and form of entertainment. Activities such as the production of television programs or movies, the photographing of models, etc. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning work status. |
演劇、演芸、演奏、スポ―ツ等の興行に係る活動又はその他の芸能活動（この表の投資・経営の項の下欄に掲げる活動を除く。） |
| Skilled Labour （技能） |
3 years or 1 year | Activities to engage in service that requires industrial techniques or skills belonging to special fields on the basis of a contract with a public or private organization in Japan. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status. | 本邦の公私の機関との契約に基づいて行う産業上の特殊な分野に属する熟練した技能を要する業務に従事する活動。 |
| Artist （芸術） |
3 years or 1 year | Activities for the arts that provide income, including those carried out by composers, songwriters, artists, sculptors, craftspeople, photographers, etc. | 収入を伴う音楽、美術、文学その他の芸術上の活動（二の表の興行の項の下欄に掲げる活動を除く。） |
| Legal Accounting Services （法律・会計業務） |
3 years or 1 year | Activities to engage in legal or accounting business. Applicants must be attorneys or public accountants certified to perform their duties in Japan, or those with other legal qualifications recognized by Japan. | 外国法事務弁護士、外国公認会計士その他法律上資格を有する者が行うこととされている法律又は会計に係る業務に従事する活動。 |
| Medical Services （医療） |
3 years or 1 year | Activities to engage in medical treatment service. Applicants must be physicians, dentists, or those with other medical qualifications, and must be qualified under Japanese law and fulfill certain conditions concerning work status, etc. | 医師、歯科医師その他法律上資格を有する者が行うこととされている医療に係る業務に従事する活動。 |
| GENERAL VISA (一般査証）： Status of Residence Not Permitting Work （就労が認められない在留資格） | |||
| Cultural Activities （文化活動） |
1 year or 6 months |
Academic or artistic activities that provide no income, activities for the purpose of pursuing specific studies on Japanese culture or arts, or activities for the purpose of learning and acquiring skills in Japanese culture or arts under the guidance of experts (for example, ikebana, tea ceremony, judo, etc.). | 収入を伴わない学術上若しくは芸術上の活動又は我が国特有の文化若しくは技芸について専門的な研究を行い若しくは専門家の指導を受けてこれを修得する活動（四の表の留学の項から研修の項までの下欄に掲げる活動を除く。） |
| College Student （留学） |
2 years or 1 year |
Activities to receive education at colleges or equivalent educational institutions, specialized courses of study at miscellaneous schools (senshu gakko), educational institutions designated for preparing persons who have completed 12 years of education at schools in foreign countries to enter college, or technical colleges (koto senmon gakko). Applicants must fulfill certain conditions regarding ability to pay living expenses, etc. | 本邦の大学若しくはこれに準ずる機関、専修学校の専門課程、外国において十二年の学校教育を修了した者に対して本邦の大学に入学するための教育を行う機関又は高等専門学校において教育を受ける活動。 |
| Pre-college Student （就学） |
1 year or 6 months | Activities to receive education at high schools, high school courses of schools for the blind or of handicapped children's schools, higher or general courses of miscellaneous schools (kakushu gakko and senshu gakko), or of other educational institutions that are equivalent to kakushu gakko schools in facilities and curriculum. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions regarding ability to pay living expenses, etc. | 本邦の高等学校（中等教育学校の後期課程を含む。）若しくは盲学校、聾学校若しくは養護学校の高等部、専修学校の高等課程若しくは一般課程又は各種学校（この表の留学の項の下欄に規定する機関を除く。）若しくは設備及び編制に関してこれに準ずる教育機関において教育を受ける活動。 |
| Trainee （研修） |
1 year or 6 months | Activities to learn and acquire technology, skills, or knowledge at public or private organizations in Japan (including not only training in industrial techniques and skills but also administrative training in local governments and other public bodies and clerical training to acquire knowledge). | 本邦の公私の機関により受け入れられて行う技術、技能又は知識の修得をする活動（この表の留学の項及び就学の項の下欄に掲げる活動を除く。） |
| Dependent （家族滞在） |
3 years, 2 years, 1 year, 6 months or 3 months | Daily living activities on the part of the spouse or unmarried minor child of those who stay in Japan with a status of residence mentioned in Table (a) (excluding Diplomat and Official) or with a Cultural Activities or College Student status of residence. | 上記の在留資格のうち「留学」、「就学」若しくは「研修」の在留資格をもつて在留する者の扶養を受ける配偶者又は子として行う日常的な活動。 |
| SPECIFIED VISA (特定査証）： Statuses of Residence Without Restrictions* on Activities （我が国での活動に制限のない在留資格） | |||
| Designated Activities （特定活動） |
3 years, 1 year, 6 months, or a designated period of less than 1 year | Activities that are specifically designated by the Minister
of Justice for foreign individuals. (For example, activities on the part
of foreigners who wish to enter Japan as personal help privately employed
by diplomats, consular representatives, etc.; foreigners who wish to enter
Japan under bilateral working holiday agreements**; foreigners who are
employed by companies, etc. and are active as athletes in amateur sports
and their dependent spouses and children; foreign lawyers engaged in international
arbitration affairs, etc. university students engaged in internship activities.) *NOTE: Whether work is permitted or not depends on the contents of individual permits. ** Working Holiday Agreements: Based on bilateral agreements, working holiday programmes permit young people (between 18 and 30 years of age) from the countries concerned who are visiting a partner country on vacation to engage in work there so as to supplement their funds to travel and stay in that country, thereby providing them with an opportunity to get to know that country's culture and general lifestyle. At present Japan has such working holiday agreements with five countries: Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea. |
法務大臣が外国人について次のイからニまでのいずれかに該当するものとして特に指定する活動。
イ. 本邦の公私の機関（法務省令で定める要件に該当する事業活動を行う機関であつて、法務大臣が指定するもの。）との契約に基づいて当該機関の施設において特定の分野に関する研究、研究の指導若しくは教育をする活動又は当該活動と併せて当該特定の分野に関する研究、研究の指導若しくは教育と関連する事業を自ら経営する活動。 ロ. 本邦の公私の機関（情報処理に関する産業の発展に資するものとして法務省令で定める要件に該当する事業活動を行う機関であつて、法務大臣が指定するもの。）との契約に基づいて当該機関の事業所（当該機関から労働者派遣事業の適正な運営の確保及び派遣労働者の就業条件の整備等に関する法律に規定する派遣労働者として他の機関に派遣される場合にあつては、当該他の機関の事業所）において自然科学又は人文科学の分野に属する技術又は知識を要する情報処理に係る業務に従事する活動 ハ. イ又はロに掲げる活動を行う外国人の扶養を受ける配偶者又は子として行う日常的な活動 ニ. イからハまでに掲げる活動以外の活動 |
| Permanent Resident （永住者） |
indefinite | Those who are granted permanent residence by tbe Minister of Justice. Application for Permanent Resident status is not possible at overseas Japanese diplomatic establishments. | 法務大臣が永住を認める者。 |
| Spouse or Child of Japanese National （日本人の配偶者等） |
3 years or 1 year | Spouses of Japanese nationals, children adopted by Japanese nationals in accordance with the provisions of Article 817-2 of the Civil Code (Law No. 89 of 1896), or those born as children of Japanese nationals. | 日本人の配偶者若しくは民法（明治二十九年法律第八十九号）第八百十七条の二の規定による特別養子又は日本人の子として出生した者。 |
| Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident （永住者の配偶者等） |
3 years or 1 year | Spouses of those who stay with Permanent Resident status or those who are Special Permanent Residents as described in the Special Law on Immigration Control, which covers those who have lost Japanese nationality through a peace treaty between Japan and another nation, or those born as children of Permanent or Special Permanent Residents. | 永住者の在留資格をもつて在留する者若しくは特別永住者（以下「永住者等」と総称する。）の配偶者又は永住者等の子として本邦で出生しその後引き続き本邦に在留している者。 |
| Long-term Resident （定住者） |
3 years, 1 year, 6 months, or a designated period of less than 3 years | Refugees as stipulated by the convention relating to the Status of Refugees, Indochinese refugee settlers, second- and third-generation Japanese settlers, etc. | 法務大臣が特別な理由を考慮し一定の在留期間を指定して居住を認める者。 |