Visiting Japan
2023/3/17
Visa Information
2. Visa Procedures
Visas for work and long-term stay
Types and Categories of Visa
Applicants wishing to work, study, or live in Japan, should in principle first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. The Certificate of Eligibility is issued by the Ministry of Justice in Japan. To obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, the applicant must ask a sponsor in Japan (an employer, spouse, school, etc.) to contact the Regional Immigration Bureau and make an application on their behalf. The application must be made by a sponsor in Japan.
Once a Certificate of Eligibility has been obtained, the applicant should bring in:
It normally takes 5 working days to issue a visa.
Note: Certificates of Eligibility expire 3 months after the date of issue. If an applicant has not travelled to Japan before the expiry date, then a new Certificate of Eligibility must be obtained before applying for the visa and travelling to Japan.
*Within 14 days of moving into an address in Japan, the work and long-term stay visa holder (with the exception of 15 days and 3 months visa holders) must apply for Resident Registration at the local government office near to where he/she is living.
Types and Categories of Visa
Applicants wishing to work, study, or live in Japan, should in principle first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. The Certificate of Eligibility is issued by the Ministry of Justice in Japan. To obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, the applicant must ask a sponsor in Japan (an employer, spouse, school, etc.) to contact the Regional Immigration Bureau and make an application on their behalf. The application must be made by a sponsor in Japan.
Once a Certificate of Eligibility has been obtained, the applicant should bring in:
- Valid passport
- One visa application form (sample), completed and signed
- One standard passport size photograph, no more than six months old
- Original Certificate of Eligibility
It normally takes 5 working days to issue a visa.
Note: Certificates of Eligibility expire 3 months after the date of issue. If an applicant has not travelled to Japan before the expiry date, then a new Certificate of Eligibility must be obtained before applying for the visa and travelling to Japan.
*Within 14 days of moving into an address in Japan, the work and long-term stay visa holder (with the exception of 15 days and 3 months visa holders) must apply for Resident Registration at the local government office near to where he/she is living.