Home/Visa/Work visas/Journalist

Work visa · 報道

Journalist visa for Japan (報道)

For correspondents, camera operators and photographers who live in Japan and work under a contract with a foreign news organization — on assignment, hired locally or as a freelancer. How it differs from a short reporting trip, which documents you need and what happens with your family.

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

ISA categories1 and 2

Degree or experienceNot required by law

Certificate of EligibilityFree · 1–3 months

Who qualifies

News work under a contract with a foreign news organization

The Immigration Control Act defines the status as news gathering and other reporting work under a contract with a foreign news organization. ISA gives correspondents and camera operators of foreign media as examples.

Sent by a foreign outlet

A foreign news organization assigns you to Japan. It writes a letter on your duties, period, position and pay.

Hired in Japan

The Japan bureau of a foreign news organization hires you locally. You submit the notice of employment conditions.

Freelance contract

You work for a foreign news organization under a contract, not as staff. You submit the contract.

No degree or experience test. There are no landing criteria (上陸基準省令) for this status, so the law sets no requirement for a degree, years of experience or a minimum salary. Immigration looks at the contract and at the news organization itself.

Which visa

Journalist, Temporary Visitor or Engineer/Specialist visa

Journalist (報道) Temporary Visitor (短期滞在) Engineer/Specialist visa
Who Correspondent of a foreign outlet who lives in Japan Journalist on a short reporting trip Journalist hired by a Japanese media company
Contract With a foreign news organization Work for your own outlet abroad With a Japanese company
Period 5 y, 3 y, 1 y or 3 months, renewable Up to 90 days 5 y, 3 y, 1 y or 3 months, renewable
How CoE, then visa Visa-free or visa before departure CoE, then visa
Family Dependent status Own short-term stay Dependent status

A short trip needs no Journalist status. Nationals of visa-exempt countries usually need no visa for it — except US nationals, whom MOFA asks to get a temporary visitor visa for news media work. A journalist hired by a Japanese media company usually applies for the Engineer/Specialist visa if they meet its degree or experience rules. See also Temporary Visitor.

ISA categories

The Foreign Press Registration Card (外国記者登録証)

It decides how many documents you submit. If you are employed by a foreign news organization that has a card holder on staff, you are in Category 1 and only prove that. Everyone else is in Category 2: staff of outlets with no card holder, freelancers (even for an outlet with one) and others.

  • Issued by the Press Secretary of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; applications go through the Foreign Press Center Japan (FPCJ)
  • For professional journalists who live in Japan and work as staff or under a standing contract for media headquartered abroad
  • Foreign applicants need a status such as Journalist, Permanent Resident, Spouse of a Japanese National or Long-Term Resident, and a valid residence card
  • Usually valid for 1 year; it also gives access to MOFA press conferences and briefings

Forms and documents

Official forms and the documents you need

Choose the procedure and the category. In Category 2 the list depends on whether you are sent, hired in Japan or freelance. Most papers come from the news organization.

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

Category:

Category 1: You are employed by a foreign news organization that has a staff member holding a Foreign Press Registration Card (外国記者登録証) issued by the Press Secretary of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Category 2: Everyone else: news organizations without such a staff member, freelancers under contract with a foreign news organization (even if it has a card holder) and others.

Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) — you are abroad and will work as a correspondent in Japan

A staff member of the Japan bureau of the foreign news organization you have a contract with, or of the organization in Japan where you will work, files the application (or an administrative scrivener (行政書士)). With the CoE you apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy and enter Japan.

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. Proof that your news organization employs a holder of a Foreign Press Registration Card (外国記者登録証) issued by the MOFA Press Secretary 外国記者登録証を発行された社員を雇用していることを証明する文書category 1
  5. If a foreign news organization sends you: its document stating your duties, the period of assignment, your position and pay 活動の内容、派遣期間、地位及び報酬を証明する文書category 2
  6. If a foreign news organization hires you in Japan: a notice of employment conditions 労働条件を明示する文書（労働基準法第15条第１項）category 2
  7. If you are a freelancer: your contract with the foreign news organization 契約書（フリーランサー等）category 2If the contract does not state the duties, period, position or pay, add a document from the news organization that does.
  8. Description of the foreign news organization: head, history, structure, offices, number of staff, publications and reports 外国の報道機関の概要を明らかにする資料category 2

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 place of work (when the news bureau files). Not accepted by mail.
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

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 the organization (申請等取次者) or an administrative scrivener (行政書士) files for you. You may start working as a correspondent 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. Proof that your news organization employs a holder of a Foreign Press Registration Card (外国記者登録証) 外国記者登録証を発行された社員を雇用していることを証明する文書category 1
  5. If a foreign news organization sends you: its document stating your duties, period, position and pay 活動の内容、派遣期間、地位及び報酬を証明する文書category 2
  6. If a foreign news organization hires you in Japan: a notice of employment conditions 労働条件を明示する文書（労働基準法第15条第１項）category 2
  7. If you are a freelancer: your contract with the foreign news organization 契約書（フリーランサー等）category 2If the contract does not state the duties, period, position or pay, add a document from the news organization that does.
  8. Description of the foreign news organization: head, history, structure, offices, staff, publications 外国の報道機関の概要を明らかにする資料category 2

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

Extension of the Journalist status

You file yourself — or an approved staff member of the organization (申請等取次者) or an administrative scrivener (行政書士) files for you. With a period of stay of 6 months or more, apply no earlier than 3 months before it ends; with a shorter one, any time before it ends. If you moved to another news organization, ISA asks for documents about the new work at the first extension after the move.

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. Copy of the Foreign Press Registration Card 外務省報道官が発行した外国記者登録証の写しcategory 1
  5. First extension after a job change: proof that the new news organization employs a holder of a Foreign Press Registration Card (外国記者登録証) 外国記者登録証を発行された社員を雇用していることを証明する文書category 1
  6. Letter from the foreign news organization confirming that you still work for it (assignment, employment or contract) 外国の報道機関の作成した在職証明書等category 2The letter shows the organization’s name, address and phone number.
  7. Resident tax certificates for the year: tax assessment and tax payment 住民税の課税（又は非課税）証明書及び納税証明書category 2From the city office where you lived on 1 January. One certificate that shows both income and tax paid is enough.
  8. First extension after a job change: documents about the new work and a description of the news organization 活動の内容等を明らかにする資料・外国の報道機関の概要category 2The same as for the CoE: the assignment letter, the employment conditions or the freelance contract, plus a description of the organization.

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

What comes next

Family, job changes 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.

Changing outlets

The law does not require Journalist holders to notify ISA of a new employer, but the new work must also be for a foreign news organization, and ISA asks for papers about it at the next extension. More than 3 months without such work, without a good reason, is grounds to cancel the status.

Travel, extension, PR

Trips of up to 1 year need no permit (special re-entry). You can extend without a set limit. Journalist 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

Journalist visa questions

Can’t find your question? Write to us — a real person replies.

Ask us a question

Who can get a Journalist visa for Japan?

Someone who gathers news and reports under a contract with a foreign news organization: correspondents, camera operators, photographers. ISA lists three cases — a foreign news organization sends you, it hires you in Japan, or you are a freelancer under contract with it.

There are no landing criteria (上陸基準省令) for the Journalist status, so the law sets no requirement for a degree, experience or a minimum salary. What matters is the contract with a foreign news organization and the documents about it.

Yes, if you have a contract with a foreign news organization. ISA asks for the contract and, if it does not state the duties, period, position or pay, a document from the organization that does — plus a description of the organization.

Not this status: Journalist is only for work under contract with a foreign news organization. A journalist hired by a Japanese media company usually needs the Engineer/Specialist visa (技術・人文知識・国際業務), if they meet its degree or experience requirements.

No. A short reporting or filming trip falls under Temporary Visitor (短期滞在). Nationals of visa-exempt countries and regions usually need no visa for it, but MOFA notes one exception: US nationals coming to Japan temporarily for news media work need a temporary visitor visa despite the visa waiver. Others who need a visa get it at a Japanese embassy before departure. The Journalist status is for people who will live in Japan and work as correspondents.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues it, through the Foreign Press Center Japan (FPCJ), to professional journalists who live in Japan and work for media headquartered abroad. It is usually valid for 1 year. It matters to ISA: if you are employed by a foreign news organization with a card holder on staff, you are in Category 1 and need fewer documents. Everyone else is in Category 2 — including staff of outlets with no card holder, and freelancers even if the outlet has one.

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.

The period of stay is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months, and the law does not limit the number of extensions. Journalist is a work status, so its years count toward permanent residency: usually 10 years in Japan, at least 5 of them on a work status.

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.

Want to work in Japan long term? Start with the language.

Japanese opens doors in any newsroom. We help you choose a language school and get your student visa — free.

Apply free
Students in yukata at a Japanese language school

Free for students