A foreigner residing in Japan who wishes to cease the activities in which he/she is currently engaged and to engage exclusively in activities belonging to a status of residence other than that which he/she presently holds must apply and receive permission for a change of status of residence. For example, a foreign national dispatched from a parent company in a foreign country to a subsidiary in Japan and currently residing in Japan on an “Intra-company Transferee” status of residence who wishes to resign from the company to which he is dispatched and to invest in and operate his own company needs to apply and receive permission for a change to […]

Temporary visitor status covers tourism, recuperation, sports, visits to relatives, field trips, participation in short courses or meetings, business liaison and similar activities undertaken staying temporarily in Japan. Holders of temporary visitor status may not engage in working activities. Some concrete examples of the type of person involved in business who would be covered by this status are as follows: 1 Persons staying in Japan for the purpose of field trips and inspections (e.g. plant tours and trade fair visits) 2 Persons participating in short courses and briefings organized by companies 3 Persons participating in conferences and other meetings 4 Persons sent to Japan for business liaison, business negotiations, contract […]

In Japan, administrative scriveners (Gyoseishoshi lawyers) are among the specialists who can provide advice on the immigration procedures described above. Administrative scriveners that have registered with the Immigration Bureau to serve as application agents are knowledgeable on immigration control procedures and can act as agents for the submission of applications to the Immigration Bureau for certificates of eligibility, extensions of period of stay, changes of status of residence, and re-entry permissions, etc. (As individual administrative scriveners work in distinct specialties within their broad-ranging profession, not all administrative scriveners are registered in this way to act as application agents). Administrative scriveners can also offer guidance on documents needed for applications, provide […]

1 Apply Certificate of Eligibility (submitted to Immigration Bureau in Japan) by his/her proxy such as administrative scriveners (gyoseishoshi lawyers) in Japan. 2 Issuance of Certificate of Eligibility (by Immigration Bureau in Japan) to above proxy in Japan 3 An applicant applies for visa accompanied by Certificate of Eligibility at Japanese diplomatic mission abroad 4 Visa issue at Japanese diplomatic mission abroad and enter Japan 5 Enter Japan with entry visa issued in above 6 Receive Resident Card at the airport after admitting status of residence by the Immigration Officer 7 Register your address in Japan at Ward Office (Kuyakusho/Shiyakusho)

Any foreign national wishing to enter Japan must have a valid passport with a visa corresponding to his/her purpose of entry into Japan. Upon landing in Japan, the foreign national must then be screened by, and receive a landing permission stamp from, an immigration officer at the port of entry, who will decide on the foreign national’s status of residence and period of stay. However, within the context of entry and residence procedures, “visa” and “status of residence” are two terms easily and often confused. “Visa” is a recommendation required for entry into Japan received in advance from a Japanese diplomatic mission abroad certifying that the passport is valid and […]