Japan visas: all statuses of residence

Graduates of a Japanese university or vocational college can get a job-hunting status for up to 1 year. Language-school graduates qualify only in narrow cases, so in practice they apply for the next status before graduating.

Spouses and children of workers and of university or vocational-college students can come on the Dependent visa. Language-school students cannot bring family on it.

Study, visits, training without paid work and the first year after graduation.

• Student (留学)
  留学 — language school, vocational college, university
• Temporary Visitor (短期滞在)
  短期滞在 — tourism, visiting, business trips of up to 90 days
• Job hunting after graduation
  特定活動 — up to 1 year to find a job after a Japanese university or vocational college
• Cultural Activities (文化活動)
  文化活動 — studying Japanese culture or research without income
• Trainee (研修)
  研修 — training at a Japanese organization without paid work
• Diplomat and Official (外交・公用)
  外交・公用 — diplomats and government officials

Spouses and children of Japanese nationals, permanent residents, workers and students.

• Dependent (家族滞在)
  家族滞在 — spouse and children of a worker or student
• Spouse or Child of Japanese National
  日本人の配偶者等 — married to a Japanese national, or their child
• Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident
  永住者の配偶者等 — married to a permanent resident, or their child born in Japan
• Long-Term Resident (定住者)
  定住者 — descendants of Japanese emigrants, children of spouses and other special cases

Every job in Japan needs a status of residence that allows it.

• Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services
  技術・人文知識・国際業務 — office jobs, IT, engineers, translators
• Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能)
  特定技能 — skilled trades; a skills test and a Japanese test
• Highly Skilled Professional (HSP)
  高度専門職 — points-based (70+); permanent residence after 1–3 years
• Business Manager (経営・管理)
  経営・管理 — your own company in Japan, capital from ¥30 million
• Skilled Labor (技能)
  技能 — chefs of foreign cuisine and other experienced trades
• Nursing Care (介護)
  介護 — care work with the 介護福祉士 qualification
• Intra-company Transferee (企業内転勤)
  企業内転勤 — transfer to your company’s office in Japan
• Technical Intern Training (技能実習)
  技能実習 — on-the-job training; replaced by Employment for Skill Development (育成就労) from 1 April 2027
• Professor (教授)
  教授 — teaching and research at a university
• Researcher (研究)
  研究 — research under a contract with a Japanese organization
• Instructor (教育)
  教育 — teacher at a Japanese school (not a university)
• Medical Services (医療)
  医療 — doctors, nurses and other medical staff with a Japanese license
• Legal / Accounting Services (法律・会計業務)
  法律・会計業務 — lawyers and accountants with Japanese qualifications
• Artist (芸術)
  芸術 — music, art or writing as your source of income
• Entertainer (興行)
  興行 — concerts, shows, sport, filming
• Journalist (報道)
  報道 — correspondents of foreign media
• Religious Activities (宗教)
  宗教 — missionaries sent by a religious organization
• Designated Activities (特定活動)
  特定活動 — job hunting, graduates, digital nomads and other cases
  Job hunting · No. 46 graduates · J-Find · Digital nomad · Working Holiday

The status without a time limit, and naturalization — the last stops of the route.

• Permanent Resident (永住者)
  永住者 — no time limit, usually after 10 years in Japan
• Japanese citizenship (naturalization)
  帰化 — not a status of residence: who can apply, when and how

• Certificate of Eligibility (CoE)
  在留資格認定証明書 — the first step for study, work and family; your host in Japan applies
• Entry visa after the CoE
  At the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country, with the CoE
• Extension of period of stay
  在留期間更新 — apply in time, from 3 months before your status expires
• Change of status of residence
  在留資格変更 — from student to work and other changes
• Part-time work permission
  資格外活動許可 — up to 28 hours a week for students and dependents

• Re-entry permit
  Trips of up to 1 year without an application, or a permit for up to 5 years
• Notifications to immigration
  Within 14 days: new address, employer or school, lost card
• Online applications
  在留申請オンラインシステム — who can apply online and how to pay
• Immigration fees
  New table for applications received from 1 October 2026