Types of residence status and application procedures
Types of residence status
There are a total of 29 types of residence status as shown below.
| Type of residence status | Applicable example |
|---|---|
| Diplomat | Ambassadors, ministers, consuls general, members of delegations, etc. of foreign governments and their families |
| Official | Employees of foreign government embassies and consulates, persons dispatched by international organizations, etc. on official business, and their families |
| Professor | university professor, etc. |
| Artist | Composers, painters, writers, etc. |
| Religious Activities | Missionaries, etc. dispatched from foreign religious organizations |
| Highly Skilled Professional | Persons eligible for the highly skilled professional point system |
| Journalist | Reporters and photographers from foreign news organizations |
| Business Manager | Corporate managers/managers |
| Legal/Accounting Services | Lawyers, certified public accountants, etc. |
| Medical Services | Doctors, dentists, nurses |
| Researcher | Researchers from government-related organizations or private companies |
| Instructor | Language teachers at junior high schools, high schools, etc. |
| Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services | Mechanical engineers, interpreters, designers, language teachers at private companies, etc. |
| Intra-company Transferee | Person transferred from a foreign office |
| Entertainer | Actors, singers, dancers, professional athletes, etc. |
| Skilled Labor | Cooks of foreign cuisine, sports instructors, pilots of aircraft, etc., craftsmen who process precious metals, etc. |
| Technical Intern Training | Technical Intern Trainee |
| Specified Skilled Worker | Persons with specific skills recognized in 12 industrial fields |
| Nursing Care | Certified care worker |
| Cultural Activities | Japanese culture researchers, etc. |
| Temporary Visitor | Tourists, conference participants, etc. |
| Student | Students at universities, junior colleges, technical colleges, high schools, etc. |
| Trainee | Trainee |
| Dependent | Spouse and children supported by a foreign resident |
| Designated Activities | Advanced researchers, domestic servants for diplomats, working holidays, foreign nurses based on economic partnership agreements, etc. |
| Permanent Resident | A person who has received permission for permanent residence from the Minister of Justice (excluding “special permanent residents” under the Immigration Control Special Provisions Act). |
| Spouse or Child of Japanese National | Spouse, biological child, special adopted child of Japanese national, |
| Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident | Spouse of a permanent resident/special permanent resident and biological child born in Japan and continuing to reside in Japan |
| Long Term Resident | Indochinese refugees, third-generation Japanese, Japanese left behind in China, etc. |
The classification based on the purpose of stay is as follows:
1. Residence status where the purpose of stay is to work
Diplomat, Official, Professor, art, Religious activities, Highly-skilled professionals, journalist, Business manager, Legal/Accounting services, Medical care, Researcher, Instructor, Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, Intra-company transferee, Entertainer, Skilled labor, Technical intern training, Specified skilled worker, Nursing care
2. Residence status that does not allow work
Cultural activities, Temporary Visitor, Student, Trainee, Dependent
3. Status of residence granted based on status
Permanent resident, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, Long Term Resident
4. Residence status that allows individual foreigners to stay based on permission granted by the Minister of Justice
Designated activities
Procedures for residence status
1. Application for Certificate of Eligibility
This is the procedure when inviting foreigners from overseas. After receiving a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Bureau, applicant will obtain a visa at an overseas diplomatic mission (Japanese embassy or consulate) and come to Japan. In most cases, the applicant is overseas, so it is common for the person in charge of the accepting company to submit application substitute to the applicant.
2. Application for change of status residence
This is a procedure for foreigners staying in Japan to change their status residence. For example, when a foreign student studying at a university in Japan is offered a job, he or she must complete the necessary procedures before starting work. (“Student” → “Engineer / Specialist in humanities / International services” “Highly skilled professional 1b”, etc.)
3. Application for extension of period of stay
The period of stay permitted for each status residence is determined through examination of Immigration Bureau (e.g. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services → 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years). If the applicant wish to continue staying in Japan, this is an application procedure to be completed before the expiration date.
4. Application for permission to acquire status residence
This is a procedure for foreigners staying in Japan to obtain a status of residence. This is the procedure when a child with foreign nationality is born or when a person with dual nationality, including Japanese nationality, renounces Japanese nationality and becomes a foreign national.
5. Application for re-entry permit
This is a necessary procedure for foreign nationals staying in Japan to temporarily leave the country. With the introduction of the special re-entry permit system in 2012, mid- to long-term residents who leave Japan within one year no longer need to go through advance procedures at the Immigration Bureau. This is necessary in cases where the foreigner will be working overseas for a long period of time or when a foreigner who does not have a residence card leaves the country temporarily.
6. Application for permanent residence
This is a procedure that is approved for foreign nationals who wish to permanently reside in Japan and meet certain requirements, including the period of continuous stay. Previously, foreigners working in Japan were required to stay for 10 years, but from April 2017, highly skilled human resources (highly skilled professionals) can apply for a 3-year or 1-year stay depending on the points they earn.
7. Application for permission to engage in activities other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted
This permission is required for those with a residence status that does not allow them to work, such as Student or Dependent, to work part-time. They are allowed to work 28 hours a week (for students with the residence status “Student”, up to 8 hours a day during the long-term leave period stipulated by the university regulations).
In addition to the above applications, the Immigration Control Act stipulates various notifications. For example, if a foreigner changes jobs, he or she must notify the organization to which he or she belongs within 14 days from the day the reason for changing jobs occurs. Additionally, companies are also required to make notifications regarding the acceptance of medium- to long-term residents (obligation to make efforts). However, companies that are required to report the employment status of foreigners based on the Employment Measures Act do not need to notify the immigration bureau if they report the employment status of foreigners to Hello Work