List of Japanese visa statuses
Now, there are 29 types of visa status in Japan. The government created new status “Specified Skilled Worker” by amendment of immigration law in 2019, to respond the increasing demand of labor power because of domestic populatio decline.
Work visa statuses |
|
| Visa status | Typical case or note |
|---|---|
| Diplomat | Diplomat, consul of foreign countries or their family |
| Official | Officer of embassy of foreign countries |
| Professor | Professor or researcher of university |
| Artist | Composer, painter, photographer, teacher of dance |
| Journalist | Correspondent, news photographer |
| Business Manager | CEO of company, or division head of certain sized company |
| Legal/Accounting Services | Licensed lawyer or CPA |
| Medical Services | Medical doctor, nurse |
| Researcher | Researcher hired by private company |
| Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/ International Services | IT engineer, marketer, translator, designer, English teacher of private company |
| Intra-company Transferee | Foreign company’s employee transferred to Japanese subsidiary or branch |
| Nursing Care | Licensed care worker |
| Entertainer | Actor, actress, dancer, singer, professional sport player |
| Skilled Labor | Chef of foreign cuisine, instructor of sport, pilot |
| Specified Skilled Worker | Workers who have completed 3 years course as Technical Intern Trainee, or have passed examination about certain industries, such as construction, agriculture, restaurant, and hotel business |
| Technical Intern Training | Trainee of certain business industries |
Statuses not for work |
|
| Visa status | Typical case or note |
|---|---|
| Cultural Activities | Researcher of Japanese culture |
| Temporary Visitor | Tourist, conference participant |
| Student | Students of university, high school, junior high school, primary school, vocational school, and language school |
| Trainee | Trainees at private companies |
| Dependent | Spouse or child of foreigner having work visa or student visa |
| Designated Activities | Household employees, visitor with working holiday visa, nurse trainee based on EPA. etc. |
Statuses without limitation of work |
|
| Visa status | Typical case or note |
|---|---|
| Permanent Resident | Basic requirement is having stayed in Japan for 10 years without bad behavior. |
| Spouse or Child of Japanese National | Spouse or Child of Japanese people, including adopted kids at age younger than 6 years old with approval of court of domestic relations |
| Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident | Spouse or child of Permanent Resident status holder. If it’s child, if he has been born in foreign country or has lived overseas, he can’t get this status. |
| Long Term Resident | Refugee, grand child of Japanese, foreigner who got divorced from Japanese. There is specific rule about requirement about Long Term Resident. This status is granted in many cases. |