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Work visa · 宗教

Religious Activities visa for Japan (宗教)

For clergy and missionaries whom a religious organization abroad sends to serve in Japan. Who qualifies, which letters and certificates you need, and how your family can come with you.

Forms and documents

Work visas in Japan

Checked against the Immigration Services Agency of Japan on 28 September 2026

Period of stay5 y · 3 y · 1 y · 3 months

Key documentLetter of dispatch

Degree or experienceNot required by law

Certificate of EligibilityFree · 1–3 months

Who qualifies

Clergy sent by a religious organization abroad

The law sets one condition: you are a member of the clergy sent to Japan by a foreign religious organization for missionary and other religious work. ISA gives missionaries as the example. The documents show how you prove it.

Sent from abroad

A religious organization outside Japan sends you. Its letter of dispatch states the period, your position and your remuneration.

You are clergy

The status is for a religious professional (宗教家), not for any believer. A certificate from the sending organization shows your standing and service.

Both organizations described

Not a legal condition but a document ISA asks for: denomination, history, leader, buildings and number of members of the sending and the receiving organization.

There are no landing criteria (上陸基準省令) for this status: the law requires no degree, no set years of experience and no minimum salary. The letter of dispatch and proof of your standing decide.

When another status fits. A believer without clergy standing, or a volunteer going to a short unpaid meeting — Temporary Visitor. Studying at a religious university in Japan — Student visa.

Forms and documents

Official forms and the documents you need

Besides the form and photo: the letter of dispatch, a description of the organizations and proof of your standing. Foreign documents need a Japanese translation; certificates issued in Japan must be no older than 3 months.

Two ways to get the status. From abroad, the organization in Japan applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) and you then get the visa at a Japanese embassy. Already in Japan on another status — apply for a change of status.

Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) — you are being sent to Japan

A staff member of your organization’s branch in Japan or of a related religious organization in Japan files the application, or an administrative scrivener (行政書士). With the CoE you apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy.

Application formPDF · moj.go.jpApplication formExcel · moj.go.jpFilled-in examplePDF · moj.go.jpDocument checklistPDF · moj.go.jp

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Documents

  1. Application for a Certificate of Eligibility 在留資格認定証明書交付申請書
  2. Photo 4 × 3 cm 写真
  3. Return envelope with your address and stamps for registered mail 返信用封筒For paper applications.
  4. Letter of dispatch from the foreign religious organization stating the period, your position and your remuneration 外国の宗教団体からの派遣状等の写し（派遣期間、地位及び報酬を証明する文書）
  5. Description of the sending organization and the organization in Japan: denomination, history, leader, structure, places of worship and buildings, number of members 派遣機関及び受入機関の概要を明らかにする資料
  6. Proof of your religious standing and record of service 宗教家としての地位及び職歴を証明する文書A certificate from the sending organization. Not needed if the letter of dispatch already states your standing and service.

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply
The regional immigration services bureau for the address of the receiving organization in Japan. Not accepted by mail.
Fee
Free
Standard processing period
1–3 months
Online
Yes, if there is a receiving organization in Japan
Documents for my caseYour list for your category and family — with checkboxes and a PDF

Change of status — you already live in Japan under another status

You file yourself before your current status expires — or an approved staff member of an organization (申請等取次者) or an administrative scrivener (行政書士) files for you. Your religious work under this status starts once the change is approved.

Application formPDF · moj.go.jpApplication formExcel · moj.go.jpFilled-in examplePDF · moj.go.jpDocument checklistPDF · moj.go.jp

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Documents

  1. Application for change of status of residence 在留資格変更許可申請書
  2. Photo 4 × 3 cm 写真
  3. Passport and residence card — to show パスポート及び在留カード（提示）
  4. Letter of dispatch from the foreign religious organization stating the period, your position and your remuneration 外国の宗教団体からの派遣状等の写し（派遣期間、地位及び報酬を証明する文書）
  5. Description of the sending organization and the organization in Japan: denomination, history, leader, structure, places of worship and buildings, number of members 派遣機関及び受入機関の概要を明らかにする資料
  6. Proof of your religious standing and record of service 宗教家としての地位及び職歴を証明する文書A certificate from the sending organization. Not needed if the letter of dispatch already states your standing and service.

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply
The regional immigration services bureau for your address
Fee
Paid only after approval. Applications received by 30 September 2026: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500), even if the decision comes later. Received from 1 October 2026: the fee depends on the period granted — from ¥10,000 (up to 3 months) to ¥75,000 (5 years or more); online is cheaper except for periods up to 3 months. It can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued with the permission. Full fee table
Standard processing period
1–2 months
Online
Yes: yourself with a My Number card (from age 15), or through an approved staff member of an organization or an administrative scrivener (行政書士)
Documents for my caseYour list for your category and family — with checkboxes and a PDF

Extension of the Religious Activities status

You file yourself — or an approved staff member of an organization (申請等取次者) or an administrative scrivener (行政書士) files for you. Apply before your period of stay ends; with a period of 6 months or more, from 3 months before it ends. You show that your dispatch continues.

Application formPDF · moj.go.jpApplication formExcel · moj.go.jpFilled-in examplePDF · moj.go.jpDocument checklistPDF · moj.go.jp

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Documents

  1. Application for extension of period of stay 在留期間更新許可申請書
  2. Photo 4 × 3 cm 写真Not needed when the extension is for 3 months or less.
  3. Passport and residence card — to show パスポート及び在留カード（提示）
  4. Proof that your dispatch continues — for example, a copy of a new letter of dispatch 外国の宗教団体からの派遣状等の写し等派遣機関からの派遣の継続を証明する文書
  5. Resident tax certificates for the year: tax assessment and tax payment 住民税の課税（又は非課税）証明書・納税証明書From the city office where you lived on 1 January. One certificate that shows both the year’s income and tax paid is enough.

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply
The regional immigration services bureau for your address
Fee
Paid only after approval. Applications received by 30 September 2026: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500), even if the decision comes later. Received from 1 October 2026: the fee depends on the period granted — from ¥10,000 (up to 3 months) to ¥75,000 (5 years or more); online is cheaper except for periods up to 3 months. It can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued with the permission. Full fee table
Standard processing period
2 weeks – 1 month
Online
Yes: yourself with a My Number card (from age 15), or through an approved staff member of an organization or an administrative scrivener (行政書士)
Documents for my caseYour list for your category and family — with checkboxes and a PDF

What comes next

Family, side jobs and permanent residency

Family

Your spouse and children whom you support can join you on the Dependent visa (家族滞在) and work up to 28 hours a week with permission.

Side jobs and notices

Paid work outside your religious activities, such as paid language lessons, needs part-time work permission (資格外活動許可). The law requires no notice to ISA about your organization — only your new address at the city office within 14 days.

Extension and PR

You can extend while the dispatch continues. Trips of up to 1 year need no permit (special re-entry). This is a work status: its years count toward permanent residency (usually 10 years in Japan, 5 on a work status). A revised PR guideline applies to applications from 1 April 2027: Japanese at CEFR B1 is a factor taken into account (not a strict requirement); Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) holders and their families and people with 6+ years of schooling in Japan are exempt.

FAQ

Religious Activities visa questions

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Who can get a Religious Activities visa for Japan?

A member of the clergy whom a foreign religious organization sends to Japan for missionary and other religious work. ISA gives missionaries as the example.

Yes, that is the main condition. You need a letter of dispatch stating the period, position and remuneration, and a description of both organizations — abroad and in Japan.

No. By law the status is for clergy (宗教家), and ISA asks for proof of your standing and service. A short unpaid trip to a religious meeting falls under Temporary Visitor (短期滞在).

Paid work outside your religious activities needs permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted (資格外活動許可), and it must not get in the way of your religious work.

There are no landing criteria for this status, and the law requires no Japanese test. Your organization decides which language your work needs.

5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. You can extend it as long as your organization keeps you on dispatch.

Yes. Your spouse and children whom you support can get the Dependent status (家族滞在). With part-time work permission they can work up to 28 hours a week.

On the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA), on the page for this status. The buttons on this page open the ISA files directly: the form, the filled-in example and the checklist.

Sources

Where this information comes from

Facts and document lists were checked against the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) on 28 September 2026. Form links come from a register of ISA files that our server refreshes every week: when ISA publishes a new version of a form, the button opens the new file.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration decides each application and may ask for more documents. Where a rule is known only from practice, we say so.

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