Japanese Visa

In this post, I will be discussing the different types of Japanese Visa and the people who are eligible for each type. I will also discuss the requirements for visa application and the types of visa needed to be able to legally work in Japan.

A. Short-term Stays

Short-term stays refer to temporary visits of up to 90 days for such purposes as sightseeing; sports; convalescence; visits to relatives, friends, or acquaintances; amateur participation in athletic meetings or other contests; business trips (such as market surveys, business liaison, business talks, signing contracts, and after-sale service for machinery imported into Japan); and friendship visits. These activities require either a temporary visa or transit visa. (However, this category excludes profit-making operations and paid activities.)

Acquiring a short-term visa my be helpful for anyone looking for a job here in Japan. Please note though that foreigners with short-term visa cannot legally work here. What they can do is look for prospective employers and acquire a contract. I would say that 90 days is a long enough time to look for work here in Japan. Once a foreigner has a contract, he/she can reapply for a working visa. Acquiring a contract and a COE (Certificate of Eligibility) makes the application for a working visa processed faster. COEs are applied by the employers in Japan.

B. Work and Long-term Stays

If a foreigner wishes to enter Japan for activities other than those described in section A, he or she will need a diplomatic visa, official visa, working visa, general visa, or specified visa. Naturally, foreigners who enter Japan having acquired a working visa are able to work in Japan.

Visa types for entry in Japan include:


Visa category [Status of residence]
Diplomatic Visa [Diplomat]
Official Visa [Official]
Working Visa [Professional(Engineers, Nurses, Teachers, IT,Entertainers,etc.)/Skilled Workers]
Temporary Visitor's Visa [Temporary Visitor*]
Transit Visa [Temporary Visitor*]
General Visa [Cultural Activities*College Student*Precollege Student*Trainee*Dependent*]
Specified Visa [Designated Activities+Spouse or Child of Japanese NationalSpouse or Child of Permanent Resident Long-Term Resident]

* Statuses of residence not permitting work.+ Whether work is permitted or not depends on the content of individual permits.

Source: http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/03.html

For comments and questions, please reply to this post. Thank you.