Migration Statistics Japan · Visa Guide
Visa Types

Understanding Japan’s Visa Types

To live in Japan as a foreign national, you need a status of residence. Each one defines what work you can do, how long you can stay, and whether you can bring family. Here’s a friendly guide to the main ones.

Permanent Resident

永住者

Foreign residents granted the right to live in Japan indefinitely, with no work restrictions. Usually earned after about 10 years of residence (less via the points system or marriage).

Example roles: Any occupation — no restrictions
Period of stayIndefinite — no renewal
How to qualify~10 yrs continuous residence (less via HSP points or marriage)
Bring family?Spouse & children can get their own status
Path to PRThis is permanent residence

Special Permanent Resident

特別永住者

Mainly Zainichi Koreans and Taiwanese, and their descendants, who lost Japanese nationality after WWII. A permanent, heritable status.

Example roles: Any occupation
Period of stayIndefinite, inherited by descendants
How to qualifyBy post-war lineage (Zainichi); not newly issued
Bring family?Status passes to descendants
Path to PRPermanent by nature

Engineer / Humanities / Int'l Services

技術・人文知識・国際業務

The main white-collar work visa, covering technical, humanities and international fields — the backbone of skilled migration.

Example roles: Software engineer · marketer · translator · accountant · designer
Period of stay1, 3, or 5 years — renewable
How to qualifyJob offer matching a degree or experience; employer sponsors
Bring family?Yes — spouse & children on Dependent
Path to PREligible after ~10 yrs

Student

留学

For people enrolled at universities, language schools or vocational colleges. Part-time work is allowed up to 28 hours a week.

Example roles: Study + part-time café / konbini work
Period of stayUp to 4 yrs 3 mo by course
How to qualifySchool acceptance + Certificate of Eligibility
Bring family?Long courses: Dependent possible
Path to PRSwitch to a work visa first

Technical Intern Trainee

技能実習

A programme to transfer skills to developing countries — in practice a major labour route in manufacturing, farming and care.

Example roles: Factory worker · farmhand · food processing · caregiver
Period of stayUp to 5 yrs total (stages 1–3)
How to qualifyVia accredited sending & supervising bodies
Bring family?Not permitted
Path to PRNo — but can move to SSW

Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)

特定技能

Created in 2019 to fill labour shortages across 12+ designated sectors. SSW-2 allows long-term stay and bringing family.

Example roles: Caregiver · construction · food service · agriculture · hospitality
Period of staySSW-1: up to 5 yrs · SSW-2: renewable
How to qualifySkills + Japanese test, or via Technical Intern
Bring family?SSW-2 only
Path to PRVia SSW-2

Spouse of Japanese

日本人の配偶者等

For the spouses, and certain children, of Japanese nationals. Comes with no work restrictions.

Example roles: Any occupation
Period of stay6 mo, 1, 3, or 5 years
How to qualifyMarriage to (or child of) a Japanese national
Bring family?—
Path to PREligible after ~3 yrs

Long-term Resident

定住者

A status for people with special circumstances — Nikkei (Japanese-descended) migrants, refugees, or divorced spouses with custody of children.

Example roles: Any occupation
Period of stay6 mo, 1, 3, or 5 years
How to qualifyGranted at discretion (Nikkei, refugees, custody)
Bring family?Yes
Path to PREligible after ~5 yrs

Family Stay / Dependent

家族滞在

For the spouse and children of foreign workers and students living in Japan. Limited part-time work is permitted.

Example roles: Homemaking · limited part-time work
Period of stayMatches the sponsor (3 mo – 5 yrs)
How to qualifyDependent of a worker or student in Japan
Bring family?—
Path to PRThrough own status later

Designated Activities

特定活動

A flexible catch-all status for activities not covered by other categories — working holidays, job-hunting graduates, and more.

Example roles: Working holiday · internships · job-seeking
Period of stayVaries — up to 5 years
How to qualifyCase-by-case designation by the Minister
Bring family?Depends on the activity
Path to PRDepends on the activity

Business Manager

経営・管理

For people who start or run a business in Japan, as a founder, executive or manager.

Example roles: Company founder · executive · restaurant owner
Period of stay4 mo, 1, 3, or 5 years
How to qualifyRun a business — ≥¥5M capital or 2 staff
Bring family?Yes
Path to PREligible after ~10 yrs

High-Skilled Professional

高度専門職

A points-based status for highly-skilled researchers, specialists and managers, with a fast track to permanent residence.

Example roles: Senior researcher · lead engineer · executive
Period of stayHSP-1: 5 yrs · HSP-2: indefinite
How to qualify70+ points (degree, salary, experience)
Bring family?Yes + perks (parents, helper)
Path to PRFast track — 1 to 3 years

Instructor

教育

For language teachers at elementary, junior-high and high schools — the classic route for assistant language teachers (ALTs).

Example roles: ALT / English teacher at public schools
Period of stay3 mo, 1, 3, or 5 years
How to qualifyTeaching post at a school + relevant degree
Bring family?Yes
Path to PREligible after ~10 yrs

Professor

教授

For teaching or conducting research at universities and colleges.

Example roles: University professor · lecturer · academic researcher
Period of stay3 mo, 1, 3, or 5 years
How to qualifyTeaching or research post at a university
Bring family?Yes
Path to PREligible after ~10 yrs
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