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Overview: the Japanese Immigration System
1. Non-immigrant or Immigrant
Japan does not issue an immigrant visa outside Japan, even to the spouse or the child of a Japanese national. If you want to be an immigrant to Japan, you need to change your status to the permanent resident in Japan. How can you do that? The spouse or the child of a Japanese national may apply for the permanent resident status when he/she has a 3-year spouse/child status. A non-Japanese without any special familial connection to a Japanese national needs to have lived in Japan for at least 10 years with an appropriate working-type status in order to be qualified to apply for the permanent resident.
2. Visa and Status
The term "visa" is used in two ways. Strictly speaking, the visa is the document (actually a stamp or sticker) issued at the consulate outside Japan to prove the validity of passport and the right to apply for admission to Japan under the status specified in the visa. On the other hand, the term visa is also used to mention "status". The status is the document (actually a stamp or sticker) issued by the Immigration Office to prove the right to stay in Japan under the conditions stipulated by the immigration laws and regulations. Thus, the visa does not guarantee entry to Japan.
There are 7 visa categories and 27 status categories. As for details, click each status in the table below. (Not all are available.)
|
V I S A |
S T A T U S |
| Diplomatic | Diploma |
| Official | Official |
| Working | Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist, Investor/Business Manager, Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Researcher, Instructor, Engineer, Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Intra-company Transferee, Entertainer, Skilled Labor |
| General | Cultural Activities, College Student, Pre-college Student, Trainee, Dependent |
| Temporary Visitor | Temporary Visitor |
| Transit | Temporary Visitor |
| Specified | Designated Activities, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, Long Term Resident |
| ---------- | Permanent Resident |
3. Visa Exemption
If you come from the following countries, temporary visitor visa or transit visa is not required. However, if you want to work or attend full-time school course in Japan, you need to get an appropriate visa.
| Asia 3 months or less Singapore 14 days or less Brunei Visa recommended Malaysia North America Latin America and Caribbean |
Europe 6 months or less Austria Germany Ireland Liechtenstein Switzerland United Kingdom 3 months or less Belgium Croatia Cyprus Denmark Finland France Greece Iceland Italy Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Netherlands Norway Portugal San Marino Slovenia Spain Sweden 90 days or less Andorra Czech Rep. Hungary Poland Oceania Middle East Africa |
4. Entry to Japan
A foreigner who
wants to enter Japan need to;
To be continued
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