Employment or Working Visa

General Information

Certificate of Eligibility

General Visas

Spouse/Child for Japanese Resident

Temporary Visa

| Professor | Artist | Investor/Business Manager |
| Legal/Accounting Services | Medical Services | Researcher |Instructor |
| Engineer | Specialist in Humanities/International Services |
| Intra-Company Transferee | Entertainer |

Professor

• Activities authorized to engage in: Activities for research, direction of research or education at colleges, equivalent educational institutions or Kotovsenmongakko.
• Period of stay: 3 years or 1 Year.
• Must obtain Certificate of Eligibility to apply for this visa

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Artist

• Activities authorized to engage in: Activities for the arts that provide income, including music, the fine arts, literature, etc. (excluding the activities described under Entertainer Visas).
• Period of stay: 3 years or 1 year.
• Must obtain Certificate of Eligibility to apply for this visa.

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Investor/Business Manager

• Activities authorized to engage in: Activities to commence the operation of international trade or other business, to invest in international trade or other business and to operate or manage that business, or to operate or manage international trade or other business on behalf of the foreign nationals (including the foreign corporations; hereinafter in this section foreign corporation) who have begun such an operation or have invested in such a business (excluding the activities to engage in the operation or management in the business which are not allowed without the legal qualifications described in Legal/Accounting Services)
• Period of stay: 3 years or 1 year.
• Must either obtain a Certificate of Eligibility or read the next section (Documents for the Investor/Business Manager Visa and the Intra-company Transfer Visa) for an alternative procedure.

  Documents for the Investor/Business Manager Visa and the Intra-company Transfer Visa

  Applicant employed by company for minimum of one year. Visa for a person who is transferring to a branch office, representative office or joint venture company in Japan, and who has been employed by the present company for more than one year.

  Requirements

  • Valid passport;
  • Visa application form completed and signed;
  • One photograph – 45mm x 45mm photograph size;
  • Letter from present employer, stating:
    • reasons for sending the applicant to Japan;
    • applicant's present position and proposed new position in Japan;
    • terms of the applicant's assignment, such as duties, length of assignment, salary and any other allowances;
    • any other pertinent information regarding the applicant, such as details of accompanying dependents.
  • Brochure of employer's company showing relationship with the Japanese company to which applicant is being transferred;
  • Annual Report;
  • Complete listing of all non-Japanese personnel employed by the Japanese company, giving the following details for each:
    • name;
    • nationality;
    • position within the company;
    • visa status in Japan.
  • Applicant's curriculum vitae;
  • Copy of any graduation certificate the applicant may have.

  Please note that documents should be in duplicate and that all visa applications must be submitted by the applicant in person at this office. Please contact the consular section for the processing time.

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Legal/Accounting Services

• Activities authorized to engage in: Activities to engage in legal or accounting business, which is required to be carried out by attorneys recognized as a foreign law specialist under foreign lawyers law (Gaikokuho-Jimubengoshi), (Gaikokukoninkaikeishi) certified public accountant practising foreign accounting under the accountant Law or those with other legal qualifications.
• Period of stay: 3 years or 1 year.
• Must obtain Certificate of Eligibility to apply for this visa.

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Medical Services

• Activities authorized to engage in: Activities to engage in medical treatment service which is required to be undertaken by physicians, dentists or those with other legal qualifications
• Period of stay: 3 years or 1 year.
• Must obtain Certificate of Eligibility to apply for this visa

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Researcher

• Activities authorized to engage in: Activities to engage in research on the basis of a contract with public or private organisations in Japan (excluding the activities described in the Professor).
• Period of stay: 3 years or 1 year.
• Must either obtain a Certificate of Eligibility or read on for alternative procedure.

  Researcher Visa

  Anyone wishing to enter Japan to undertake research in a company or organisation must apply for a visa, regardless of nationality.

  Requirements

  • Valid passport;
  • Visa application form completed and signed;
  • One photograph – 45mm x 45mm photograph size;
  • Contract or agreement with full details of the terms and conditions of employment;
  • Letter of invitation from Japan;
  • Documents regarding the business operation of the employer in Japan:
    • transcript of corporate registration;
    • certificate of payment of corporate tax;
    • balance sheet and profit & loss statement;
    • annual report.
  • Financial proof of adequate funds to meet all necessary expenses, including living and travelling expenses;
  • Statement from the applicant explaining the nature of the research to be undertaken in Japan;
  • Applicant's curriculum vitae;
  • Copy of any graduation certificate the applicant may have.

  Please note that documents must be in duplicate and that all visa applications must be submitted by the applicant in person at this office.

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Instructor

• Activities authorized to engage in: Activities to engage in language instruction and other education at elementary schools, junior high schools, schools for blind, handicapped children's schools, advanced vocational schools (Senshugakko), vocational schools (Kakushugakko) or the other educational institutions equivalent to vocational schools in facilities and curriculum.
• Period of stay: 3 years or 1 year.
• Must obtain Certificate of Eligibility to apply for this visa.

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Engineer

• Activities authorized to engage in: Activities to engage in service, which requires technology and/or knowledge pertinent to physical science, engineering or other natural science fields, on the basis of a contract with public or private organisations in Japan (excluding the activities in the Professor, Investor/Business Manager, Medical Services, Researcher, Instructor, Intra-Company Transferee and Entertainer).
• Period of stay: 3 years or 1 year.
• Must obtain Certificate of Eligibility to apply for this visa

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Specialist in Humanities/International Services

• Activities authorized to engage in: Activities to engage in service, which requires knowledge pertinent to jurisprudence, economics, sociology or other human science fields or to engage in service which requires specific ways of thought or sensitivity based on the experience with foreign culture, based on a contract with public or private organisations in Japan (excluding the activities described in the Professor, Artist, Journalist, Investor/Business Manager, Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Researcher, Instructor, Intra-Company Transferee and Entertainer).
• Period of stay: 3 years or 1 year.
• Must obtain Certificate of Eligibility to apply for this visa

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Intra-CompanyTransferee

• Activities authorized to engage in: Activities on the part of personnel who are transferred to business offices in Japan for a limited period of time from business offices which are established in foreign countries by public or private organisations which have head offices, branch offices in Japan and who engages at these business offices in the activities described in the Engineer or Specialist in Humanities/ International Services. Applicant must have worked for his/her company a minimum of one year.
• Period of stay: 3 years or 1 year.
• Applicants must either obtain a Certificate of Eligibility or read the Investor/Business Manager section for an alternative procedure.

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Entertainer

• Activities authorized to engage in: activities to engage in theatrical performances, musical performances, sports, or any other show business (excluding the activities described in the Investor/Business Manager).
• Period of stay: 1 year, 6 months or 3 months.
• Must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility or read on for alternative procedure.

  Performance / Entertainer Visa

  Members of rock bands or similar groups, including non-performing members accompanying the group (e.g. tour managers, sound technicians, etc.), must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility to apply for a visa.

  Entertainers who are travelling to Japan to dance must also obtain a Certificate of Eligibility to apply for a visa.

  Classical musicians, members of symphony orchestras, theatre groups, opera singers, or professional sportsmen or women who have been invited to Japan either to perform publicly for remuneration or to participate in a competition must also obtain visas. These applicants, however, may, in the place of a Certificate of Eligibility, present the following documents to apply for a visa. Please note that if an applicant is unsure as to what category he/she falls under, the applicant should contact the consular section directly to save time and avoid confusion.

  Application without Certificate of Eligibility

  Anyone wishing to enter Japan as a performing artiste, model or professional athlete must apply for a visa, regardless of nationality.

  Requirements

  • Valid passport;
  • Visa application form completed and signed;
  • One photograph – 45mm x 45mm photograph size;
  • Contract of employment;
  • Letter of invitation from Japan;
  • Letter of guarantee from the promoter or agent in Japan;
  • Documents regarding the business operation of the promoter or agent in Japan:
    • transcript of corporate registration;
    • certificate of payment of corporate tax;
    • balance sheet and profit & loss statement;
    • Schedule of performances in Japan;
  • A list of all visa applicants

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