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Status of residence · 研修

Trainee visa for Japan (研修): unpaid training at a Japanese organization

For learning a skill at a Japanese organization when it is not Technical Intern Training. On-the-job practice is allowed only in public programs and for people sent by their government, for no more than 2/3 of the time (3/4 or 4/5 under conditions). No salary, no family visa.

Forms and documents

Technical Intern Training

Checked against the Immigration Services Agency of Japan on 6 October 2026 · All Japan visas

Period of stay1 year · 6 months · 3 months

Minimum age18

On-the-job practiceMax 2/3 of the time, public programs

Salary and familyNeither

What it is

Learning, not working

Under the Immigration Control Act, Trainee (研修) means learning skills at a Japanese public or private organization that hosts you. Technical Intern Training and study at a school or university are excluded. The landing criteria (上陸基準省令) split training into two kinds.

Any host

Training without production work

Classes and lectures, practice on equipment in a place or at a time separate from production (非実務研修). Any host organization may run this kind of training.

Public programs only

On-the-job practice

Taking part in production, sales or paid services (実務研修). On the Trainee status this is allowed only in programs of the national or local government and government agencies — for example JICA, JNTO or JOGMEC’s technical center — of international organizations and other publicly funded programs, or if you are a public employee of your country or are sent by your government with Japan’s support.

It may take no more than 2/3 of your training time in Japan: 3/4 if one of two conditions is met, 4/5 if both — the practice in Japan lasts 4 months or more; before entry you had training without production work abroad of at least 1 month and 160 hours in the last 6 months.

The status is granted for 1 year, 6 months or 3 months. Up to 2 years only for doctors and specialists who, with permission from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, train on proton and heavy-ion therapy equipment and are sent by their organization.

Conditions

What the landing criteria require

  • the skill cannot be learned by simply repeating one operation;
  • you are 18 or older, and after you return home you will work with the skill;
  • the skill is impossible or hard to learn where you live;
  • a full-time employee of the host with at least 5 years of experience in the skill supervises the training;
  • the host or an intermediary guarantees your journey home;
  • the host keeps records of the training for at least 1 year after it ends;
  • for on-the-job practice in some public programs, the host provides housing, a training room, a person who helps with daily life, insurance for illness or injury, and safety measures.

No salary. Trainee is a status without the right to earn: running a business or being paid for work without permission from immigration (資格外活動許可) is not allowed (Immigration Control Act, Article 19). The host describes your conditions in the 研修生処遇概要書 document — ISA publishes a template.

Don’t mix them up

Trainee, Technical Intern Training and student internships

Status For whom Pay Length
Trainee (研修) Learning a skill at a Japanese organization to a plan; on-the-job practice only in public programs and for people sent by their government No salary Up to 1 year
Technical Intern Training (技能実習) → Employment for Skill Development (育成就労) Work at a Japanese company under an employment contract while learning a skill; replaced by 育成就労 from 1 April 2027 Salary at least equal to a Japanese worker’s Up to 5 years
Designated Activities No. 9 Student of a university abroad: internship at a company as part of the studies Paid Up to 1 year and no more than half of the study period
Cultural Activities (文化活動) Student of a university abroad: unpaid internship longer than 90 days Unpaid 3 y, 1 y, 6 or 3 months

If a Japanese company invites you to work and learn in production for a salary, that is Technical Intern Training (from 2027 Employment for Skill Development) or Specified Skilled Worker, not Trainee. Student internships are on the Designated Activities page.

Forms and documents

Official forms and the documents you need

Certificates issued in Japan must be no older than 3 months; foreign documents need a Japanese translation. ISA warns that it may ask for other documents depending on the type of training. The CoE is free; an extension carries a fee: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500) for applications received by 30 September 2026, from ¥10,000 to ¥33,000 (1 year) depending on the period granted for applications received from 1 October 2026, and more if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued.

A staff member of the host files the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE); most documents come from the host and from the organization in your country that sends you. ISA publishes two procedures for Trainee: the CoE and extension. After the CoE — the visa at a Japanese embassy.

Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) — filed by the host organization

A staff member of the Japanese organization that hosts you files it (Ordinance for Enforcement, appended table 4). Most documents are prepared by the host and by the organization in your country that sends you. With the CoE you get the visa at a Japanese embassy and enter Japan.

Application formPDF · moj.go.jpApplication formExcel · 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 invitation: which skills you will learn, how the invitation came about and why the training is needed 招へい理由書Free format, from the host organization.
  5. Training plan 研修実施予定表On ISA’s form: content, place and schedule of the training.ISA form · PDF
  6. Trainee conditions 研修生処遇概要書ISA’s template can be used as a base.ISA template · PDF
  7. If part of the training took place abroad: its link to the program in Japan, about the organization and the training content 本邦外で実施した研修に関する資料Only training without production work (非実務研修) in the 6 months before entry counts: at least 1 month and 160 hours.
  8. Proof that you will work with the new skill after you return 研修生派遣状 又は 復職予定証明書One of two, from your organization at home, free format: a letter sending you to the training that states your position after return, or a certificate of your current position confirming that you will return to it.
  9. Your CV with work experience 履歴書（職務経歴を含む）
  10. CV of the training supervisor 研修指導員履歴書The supervisor is a full-time employee of the host organization with at least 5 years of experience in the skill.
  11. About the sending organization: organization questionnaire + brochure or registration document 準備機関概要書・送出し機関の案内書又は登記を証する資料The sending (preparing) organization is your organization at home or another body abroad that prepares the trip. Registration data must be the latest.ISA form · PDF
  12. About the host organization: profile and training record, registration certificate or brochure, profit and loss statement, balance sheet 受入れ機関概要書・登記事項証明書・損益計算書・貸借対照表The registration certificate can be ordered online from the Legal Affairs Bureau.ISA template · PDF
  13. If there is an intermediary (あっせん機関): its profile, registration certificate or brochure, financial statements あっせん機関概要書・登記事項証明書・損益計算書ISA template · PDF
  14. Doctors and specialists in proton and heavy-ion therapy: proof that your organization sends you 所属機関の業務の一環として派遣されるものであることを証する文書Only for training on proton and heavy-ion therapy equipment with permission from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (臨床修練).

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 host organization’s address or your future address
Fee
Free
Standard processing period
1–3 months
Online
Possible
Documents for my caseYour list for your category and family — with checkboxes and a PDF

Extension of period of stay — Trainee

You file yourself before your period of stay ends, or a staff member of the host organization approved by immigration (申請等取次者) files for you. With a period of 6 months or more, from about 3 months before it ends.

Application formPDF · moj.go.jpApplication formExcel · 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 for an extension of up to 3 months.
  3. Passport and residence card — to show パスポート及び在留カード（提示）
  4. Copy of the training plan submitted with the CoE application 研修実施予定表（写し）If the plan has changed, mark the changes in red.ISA form · PDF
  5. Report on the progress of the training and the trainee’s living conditions 研修・生活状況等報告書ISA form · PDF

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
Possible
Documents for my caseYour list for your category and family — with checkboxes and a PDF

Life on the status

What trainees should know

Family

No family visa

The law gives the Dependent visa (家族滞在) only to families of other statuses — Trainee is not on the list. A spouse can come only on a status of their own.

14 days

Residence card and notifications

With a stay of more than 3 months you get a residence card; register your address at the city office within 14 days. If the organization where you train changes, notify immigration within 14 days (所属機関に関する届出). All notifications.

Trips abroad

Leaving and coming back

With your passport and residence card you can leave for up to 1 year, within your period of stay, without a separate permit (みなし再入国). With a 3-month status there is no residence card and this does not apply — you need a re-entry permit.

What next

Extension and going home

Extensions follow the training plan, with a copy of the plan and a progress report. The status assumes you go home and work with the skill. A move to another status is possible only on the general terms, through a change of status.

FAQ

Trainee visa questions

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Ask us a question

How is the Trainee status (研修) different from Technical Intern Training (技能実習)?

Technical Intern Training is paid work at a Japanese company under an employment contract, for up to 5 years; from 1 April 2027 it is replaced by Employment for Skill Development (育成就労). The Trainee status (研修) is unpaid learning for up to 1 year (up to 2 years for doctors in proton and heavy-ion therapy). On-the-job practice on the Trainee status is possible only in programs of the national or local government, government agencies and international organizations, other publicly funded programs, or if you are a public employee of your country or are sent by your government with Japan’s support. It may take no more than 2/3 of the time — up to 3/4 or 4/5 under extra conditions.

No. The Trainee status gives no right to earn: running a business or being paid for work without permission from immigration (資格外活動許可) is not allowed. The host organization describes the trainee’s conditions in the 研修生処遇概要書 document.

Under the landing criteria: you are 18 or older; the skill cannot be learned by simply repeating one operation; it is impossible or hard to learn where you live; after you return you will work with that skill. The training is supervised by a full-time employee of the host with at least 5 years of experience.

1 year, 6 months or 3 months. The exception is doctors and specialists who, with permission from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, train on proton and heavy-ion therapy equipment and are sent by their organization: up to 2 years.

No. The law gives the Dependent visa (家族滞在) only to families of holders of other statuses; Trainee is not on that list. A spouse can come only on a status of their own.

Usually not. For students of a university abroad ISA names other statuses: a paid internship as part of your studies is Designated Activities No. 9 (up to 1 year and no more than half of your study period), an unpaid one longer than 90 days is Cultural Activities, up to 90 days a temporary visit.

You can extend it in line with the training plan, with a copy of the plan and a progress report. The status assumes you go home and work with the new skill, so the training is planned as temporary. Moving to another status is possible only on the general terms, through a change of status, if you meet its requirements.

Sources

Where this information comes from

Facts and document lists were checked against the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) on 6 October 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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