Japan Immigration overview｜Visa & Law office, Sendai

what is Status of Residence?
Types of Status of Residence
How to enter the country with Status of Residence ? -Bringing somebody from back home-
Some Status of Residence does not require visa such as a temporary visitor
Permanent Resident
Modifying residential qualifications
After entering Japan do not forget that you must register your place of residence

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■What is Status of Residence?

Foreigners must obtain a visa (Status of Residence) in order to stay in Japan legally. This permission allows foreigners to stay in Japan and it is the most vital qualification for foreign residents in the country. The purposes of applications relating to immigration and visa status are the center of acquisition, sustenance or modification of residence status.

There are twenty-seven types of Status of Residence in total such as Student, Investor, Business Manager, or Dependent. The type of Status of Residence you acquire will determine the period of time you are allowed to stay in Japan and the range of your activities, for example, employment.
Moreover, because there are subtle differences among the conditions for each type of Status of Residence, this bureaucracy can make it difficult for some people to receive any kind of Status of Residence if applied for in an inappropriate manner. Needless to say, a person entering and staying in the country without a valid Status of Residence becomes a target of order for departure or deportation due to illegal immigration or residence.

Thus, Japan administrates foreign people who are permitted to stay, their terms and their activities during their stay by examining the sort of Status of Residence and judging whether they can issue the qualification or not.

In addition, immigration inspectors examine and decide foreigners’ Status of Residence at immigration at airports or harbors except in cases when foreigners born in Japan apply for a new Status of Residence. For medium or long-term residents, a Residence Card is issued as an ID.


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　"Residence Card"

• Status of Residence is indispensable for foreigners to stay in Japan legally.
• Status of Residence has twenty-seven categories and each one differs in terms of the period of validity and the permitted range of activities.
• At landing, immigration inspectors determine the Status of Residence and issue Residence Cards for medium and long- term residents.

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■ Types of Status of Residence（classifies visa according to one’s occupation）

Types of Status of Residence without limitations of activities
(Status of Residence based on a certain status and position)

・Spouse or Child of Japanese National
・Long Term Resident
・Permanent Resident
・Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident

Types of Status of Residence which are permitted for regular employment

・Diplomat
・Official
・Professor
・Artist
・Religious Activities
・Journalist
・Business Manager
・Legal / Accounting Services
・Medical Services
・Researcher
・Instructor
・Engineer/Specialist in Humanities / International Services
・Intra-company Transferee
・Entertainer
・Skilled Labor
・Technical Intern Training
・Designated Activities

Types of Status of Residence which are not permitted for employment

・Cultural Activities
・Temporary Visitor
・Student
・Trainee
・Dependent
・Designated Activities


Judging and knowing what type of activity you hope to be engaged in Status of Residence is quite important. Please contact our office for more information.

■ How to enter the country with Status of Residence ?

　〜 Bringing somebody from back home 〜

【CASE】Sending in Elliott, an American, to Japan as a programmer

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Elliot needs to acquire a visa at an American Embassy or Consulate for the purpose of getting Status of Residence as an Engineer

A visa is something like a recommendation written by a diplomatic officer to an immigration inspector which guarantees that the person seeking entry to Japan fully meets all the conditions necessary for Status of Residence to be issued.

The immigration inspector at an airport judges Elliot based on the visa issued beforehand, merely by asking a question or two, and gives him Status of Residence as an Engineer, admitting him into the country through the entrance gate.

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In order to have this Visa issued, you also need to have acquired Certificate of Eligibility in advance. Request for Certificate of Eligibility procedures are continued at the Immigration Bureau in Japan.

In fact, this is where we would come in to help you.
This is the ordinary procedure: you will send the client a Certificate of Eligibility issued through a qualified administrative scrivener to their family member(s) or acquaintance(s) overseas, as we call them invitees.

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• 　1. Acquire Certificate of Eligibility at a Japanese Immigration Bureau.
• 　2. Send the Certificate of Eligibility to the subject.

• 　3. The subject who has received the Certificate of Eligibility has a visa issued at a Japanes 　　 Consulate in their country.
• 　4. They show their visa to an immigration inspector at an airport in Japan, and after with 　　 permission of Status of Residence they enter the country.

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You should refer to these pages to learn the flow of consultation and business procedures when inviting a foreign resident.

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■ Some Status of Residence does not require visa such as a temporary visitor

Some may think that they did not need a visa or Certificate of Eligibility when going abroad though.

This is true because that was the case when entering the country with a qualification of temporary visitor in status of residence. Temporary visitors are able to enter the country immediately if they do not have any problems after going through some questions by an immigration inspector at an airport. This system is only available between countries with visa exemption. Both countries have an agreement that exempts them from visa requirements.

However, some countries may have a limit for people and areas for visa exemption. So please note that it is not always applicable to all the countries on the list. Please ask us for further details.

Besides, issuing a visa with a purpose of a short period, the certificate of Status of Residence is not required even in countries which require a visa.

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■ Permanent Resident

〜 There is one category of Status of Residence which cannot be acquired when entering the country 〜

In Japan, since we do not issue a visa for permanent residence, it is impossible for foreigners to enter the country with this type of qualification. This clearly shows that Japan has not established a system for receiving immigrants.

Permanent Resident qualification is given only to those who satisfy certain conditions among immigrants with Status of Residence and admitted after modification of the qualification from Status of Residence to Permanent Resident. (Children born between permanent residents can get the qualification.)

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■ Modifying residential qualifications

Once entering the country with Status of Residence, it can be modified due to the request at an immigration bureau.

For example, after a foreign student with Status of Residence as Student hoped to work as an interpreter in Japan after graduation, s/he may modify his or her status as Status of Residence from Student to Specialist in Humanities or International Serveries.
On the contrary, if a person with student qualification works without going to school, the subject becomes an object of deportation order or deportation because his/her stay is not in accord with the original purpose and activities admitted within the rights of people with Status of Residence.

This shows that you should modify your Status of Residence in accordance with your activities and social status. In addition, Status of Residence may be revoked if there is 6 months of inactivity.

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■ After entering Japan do not forget that you must register your place of residence.

Do not forget to register your address if you are a medium- or long- term resident. Specifically, if you are a foreigner who has been issued a resident card, you should visit the city office in your town or village, with your certificate of eligibility. Japanese citizens must also register their addresses at the city office as well.
Registration should be done within fourteen days after determining the place of residence. Issuance of resident cards (or passports for those whose cards were to be issued at a later date) should be taken care of at municipalities in your city of residence.

When moving out of the city, the similar procedures are required at the new municipal office.

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