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Details on Status Categories(not yet complete)
Non-Working Status Categories
Temporary Visitor
- Period of Stay: 90 days or 15 days
- Extension: possible only in an exceptional case
- Change of Status: possible only in an exceptional case
- Authorized Activities: Sightseeing, recreation, sports, visiting relatives, going on inspection tours, participating in lectures or meetings, business contact or other similar activities during a short period of stay in Japan
This is the most popular status category, and sometimes called "tourist visa" or "business visa". In fact, there is no legal difference between "tourist" and "business" visas. Both are just a temporary visitor status. With this status, you CANNOT work in Japan. To work means to be engaged in an employer in Japan and receive salary or reward from the employer by offering labor work. Thus, to establish a branch or a company in Japan, to negotiate with a Japanese companies, to offer after-sales services, etc, are activities that you can do under this visa status.
Extension of period in possible only when it is indispensable. For example, when you are hospitalized, when the business negotiation is not completed due to unavoidable reasons, when you cannot get a flight reservation, etc. In these cases, you may extend the period only once. Only in case of humanitarian reasons (hospitalization, refugee, etc.), it may be possible to extend the period more than once. See the Visa Exemption for the countries whose nationals can automatically extend the period and stay in Japan for 6 months.
Change of status is possible usually only to a family-related status; spouse and child of a Japanese national, long-term resident (in case of Japanese origin foreigners), dependent). If the certificate of eligibility is issued while you are staying in Japan, you may also change your status from the temporary visitor status to the target status.
Dependent
Period of Stay: 3 years, 2 years, 1 year, 6 months or 3 months
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Authorized Activities: Non-working family activities, including school attendance. 28-hour-per-week part-time work possible
This is the family visa for working visa status holder and college student. However, it is very difficult for a college student to bring his/her family to Japan, as he/she needs to prove sufficient funds to support his/her family in Japan.
To be a dependent, legal relationship is indispensable. A common-law wifecannot obtain dependent visa status. An unadopted spouse's child cannot obtain this status either, but there is a possibility of obtaining "designated activities" status.
College Student
Period of Stay: 2 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Authorized Activities: Going to a vocational school, university, graduate school
This is the higher level of student visa. You need to complete at least 12 years of education outside Japan.
28 hours per week of part-time work is possible for full-time students, and 14 hours per week of part-time work for part-time students. During the vacation period, 8 hours per day of part-time work is possible for both part-time and full-time students.
Pre-college Student
Period of Stay: 1 year or 6 months
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible only in an exceptional case
Authorized Activities: Going to a language school, high school
This is the lower level of student visa. Most of the Japanese languages schools can sponsor only pre-college student visa status. Pre-college student visa should be applied through the school. This visa status is granted only for full-time students.
4 hours per day of part-time work is possible.
Cultural Activities
Period of Stay: 1 year or 6 months
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Authorized Activities: Learning Japanese culture under the instruction of specialists
This visa status is for those who would like to learn Japanese culture such as Karate, Tea Ceremony, Flower Arrangement.
28 hours per week of part-time work is possible. During the vacation period, 8 hours per day of part-time work is possible.
Trainee
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Authorized Activities: Learning technologies, skills and knowledge at Japanese companies
This visa is sometimes used as a roundabout of receiving simple laborers. Most of the trainees are accepted through special organizations, as the requirements are rather severe for most small and medium-sized companies to receive trainees by themselves.
Working Status Categories
Investor/Business Manager
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Authorized Activities: Investing and managing a foreign-capital business in Japan
This visa status is for those who would like to start up a business in Japan or who would manage a foreign-capital company or a branch of a foreign company in Japan. The business should be continuous and stable.
* Requirements:
1) Office: other than residence. virtual office or incubation office is OK. Home-office is also OK if office use is allowed and that office space can be separated from personal space.
2) 2 full-time Japanese/Permanent resident staff OR 5 million yen of investment per year:
Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Authorized Activities: to work as a specialist in the field of humanities such as marketing , accounting; to work by using foeign sensitivities such as language teaching, designing
Engineer
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Intra-company Transferee
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Skilled Laborer
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: 3 possible
Entertainer
Period of Stay: 1 year, 6 months or 3 months
Extension: possible for one time
Change of Status: possible only in an exceptional case
Instructor
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Researcher
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Legal/Accounting Services
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Medical Services
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Designated Activities
Period of Stay: 3 years, 1 year or 6 months
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Activities Unlimited Status Categories
Spouse or Child of Japanese National
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Long Term Resident
Period of Stay: 3 years or 1 year
Extension: possible
Change of Status: possible
Permanent Resident
Period of Stay: N/A
Extension: N/A
Change of Status: N/A
(C) Naoya Wada, 2000-2007