Changing your status of residence in Japan
Once you secure employment in Japan, you will need to make plans to enter the country. One important process is to acquire a “status of residence” for staying in Japan. A status of residence is linked to the purpose of your visit or your occupational category. This page guides you through the process of entering the country, focusing on the status of residence.
What Is Status of Residence?
With a few exceptions, the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act requires all non-Japanese citizens staying in Japan to do so as holders of a “status of residence” that accords with the purpose of their stay. Please refer to the Ministry of Justice’s Immigration Bureau website for more.
Preferential Treatment for Highly-skilled Foreign Professionals
The Japanese government has established a system of preferential treatment in order to accelerate the inflow of highly-skilled foreign professionals to the country. Points are awarded based on education and work experience, with applicants having 70 or more points receiving various preferential treatments in terms of entry and residence. Professionals with 80 or more points can apply for permanent resident status after one year of residency.
For more, please refer to the dedicated area of the Ministry of Justice website.
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Expansion of the list of universities eligible for bonus points
People who graduated from a university separately specified by the Minister of Justice in a public notice can receive additional 10 points. In March 2019, the list of these universities have been expanded.
The details are as follows.
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Universities ranked in the top 300 in at least two of the three* world university rankings , or Japanese Universities ranked in at least one of the world university rankings.
* The three world university rankings are as below: -
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Universities receiving subsidies through the Top Global Universities Project implemented by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
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Universities designated as "partner schools" in the Innovative Asia Project implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Regardless of the point system, if your academic background or professional career and annual income are at a certain levels, you will be granted a “Highly-Skilled Professional ” (J-Skip). For more, click here.
If you meet all the 3 requirements in academic background, the number of years after graduation, and a certain amount of fund for living expenses, you will be granted a maximum of 2-year stay under new residence status for “Designated Activities” (J-Find). For more, click here.
Prospective Entrepreneurs
The Japanese government is engaged in a number of initiatives to promote entrepreneurial activity by foreign nationals. We support entrepreneurs and startups that launch business in Japan.
New System for Encouraging Foreign Entrepreneurs to Smoothly Start Business
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry(METI) established a new system for encouraging foreign entrepreneurs to start business in Japan.
Foreign entrepreneurs who intend to start business in approved municipalities, can receive support and will be eligible to enter and stay in Japan for their business startup activities for up to one year.
A Quick Check of Status of Residence
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Employee engaging in work leveraging specialized skills
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You will need the following status of residence:
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Please refer to “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.If you meet a certain set of criteria, you can also acquire the “Highly-skilled Professional” status.
Please refer to“Points-based system for highly-skilled foreign professionals” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) for more.
*In the case of "Software engineer or programmer"：Preferential immigration treatment of Japan is given to the passers and holders of the IT related examinations and the qualifications of each countries listed in "the Public Notice"(Immigration Services Agency of Japan) (Japanese)
. Click for information on "mutual recognition on the examinations with Asian countries".
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Engineer or developer in mechanical engineering, etc.
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You will need the following status of residence:
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Please refer to “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.If you meet a certain set of criteria, you can also acquire the “Highly-skilled Professional” status.
Please refer to“Points-based system for highly-skilled foreign professionals” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) for more.
*In the case of "Software engineer or programmer"：Preferential immigration treatment of Japan is given to the passers and holders of the IT related examinations and the qualifications of each countries listed in "the Public Notice"(Immigration Services Agency of Japan) (Japanese)
. Click for information on "mutual recognition on the examinations with Asian countries".
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Software engineer or programmer
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You will need the following status of residence:
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Please refer to “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.If you meet a certain set of criteria, you can also acquire the “Highly-skilled Professional” status.
Please refer to“Points-based system for highly-skilled foreign professionals” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) for more.
*In the case of "Software engineer or programmer"：Preferential immigration treatment of Japan is given to the passers and holders of the IT related examinations and the qualifications of each countries listed in "the Public Notice"(Immigration Services Agency of Japan) (Japanese)
. Click for information on "mutual recognition on the examinations with Asian countries".
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Interpreter or translator
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You will need the following status of residence:
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Please refer to “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.If you meet a certain set of criteria, you can also acquire the “Highly-skilled Professional” status.
Please refer to“Points-based system for highly-skilled foreign professionals” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) for more.
*In the case of "Software engineer or programmer"：Preferential immigration treatment of Japan is given to the passers and holders of the IT related examinations and the qualifications of each countries listed in "the Public Notice"(Immigration Services Agency of Japan) (Japanese)
. Click for information on "mutual recognition on the examinations with Asian countries".
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Designer
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You will need the following status of residence:
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Please refer to “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.If you meet a certain set of criteria, you can also acquire the “Highly-skilled Professional” status.
Please refer to“Points-based system for highly-skilled foreign professionals” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) for more.
*In the case of "Software engineer or programmer"：Preferential immigration treatment of Japan is given to the passers and holders of the IT related examinations and the qualifications of each countries listed in "the Public Notice"(Immigration Services Agency of Japan) (Japanese)
. Click for information on "mutual recognition on the examinations with Asian countries".
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Language instructor in corporations, etc.
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You will need the following status of residence:
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Please refer to “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.If you meet a certain set of criteria, you can also acquire the “Highly-skilled Professional” status.
Please refer to“Points-based system for highly-skilled foreign professionals” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) for more.
*In the case of "Software engineer or programmer"：Preferential immigration treatment of Japan is given to the passers and holders of the IT related examinations and the qualifications of each countries listed in "the Public Notice"(Immigration Services Agency of Japan) (Japanese)
. Click for information on "mutual recognition on the examinations with Asian countries".
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Marketing specialist
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You will need the following status of residence:
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Please refer to “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.If you meet a certain set of criteria, you can also acquire the “Highly-skilled Professional” status.
Please refer to“Points-based system for highly-skilled foreign professionals” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) for more.
*In the case of "Software engineer or programmer"：Preferential immigration treatment of Japan is given to the passers and holders of the IT related examinations and the qualifications of each countries listed in "the Public Notice"(Immigration Services Agency of Japan) (Japanese)
. Click for information on "mutual recognition on the examinations with Asian countries".
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University professor
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You will need the following status of residence:
Professor
Please refer to “Professor” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.If you meet a certain set of criteria, you can also acquire the “Highly-skilled Professional” status.
Please refer to“Points-based system for highly-skilled foreign professionals” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) for more.
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Researcher
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You will need the following status of residence:
Researcher
Please refer to “Researcher” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
>for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.If you meet a certain set of criteria, you can also acquire the “Highly-skilled Professional” status.
Please refer to“Points-based system for highly-skilled foreign professionals” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) for more.
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Manager (senior & otherwise)
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You will need the following status of residence:
Business Manager
Please refer to “Business Manager” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.If you meet a certain set of criteria, you can also acquire the “Highly-skilled Professional” status.
Please refer to“Points-based system for highly-skilled foreign professionals” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) for more.
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Lawyer
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You will need the following status of residence:
Legal/Accounting Services
Please refer to “Legal/Accounting Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.
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Certified public accountant
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You will need the following status of residence:
Legal/Accounting Services
Please refer to “Legal/Accounting Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.
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Medical doctor
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You will need the following status of residence:
Medical Services
Please refer to “Medical Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.
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Dentist
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You will need the following status of residence:
Medical Services
Please refer to “Medical Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.
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Nurse
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You will need the following status of residence:
Medical Services
Please refer to “Medical Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.
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Language instructor in middle & high schools, etc.
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You will need the following status of residence:
Instructor
Please refer to “Instructor” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.
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Transferred employee of non-Japanese company
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You will need the following status of residence:
Intra-company Transferee
Please refer to “Intra-company Transferee” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.
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Nursing Care
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You will need the following status of residence:
Nursing Care
Please refer to “Nursing Care” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
for more.
You will find information on what you can do in Japan, the list of required documents, and more.
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Other
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Other types of status of residence include “Artist,” Religious Activities,” “Journalist,” and “Skilled Labor.” Please refer to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website.
In most instances of highly-skilled foreign professionals working as corporate employees, the status of residence will be“Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
. If you cannot find the status of residence that seems to apply to you, check to see whether this status is the correct one for you.
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Entry Procedures
Once you have obtained your visa, you are ready to travel. When entering Japan, you will need to go through immigration. You must present your passport and visa at the airport and receive landing permission.
Procedure After Entering the Country
Once you are in Japan and have a place of residence, you must register this address within 14 days at the offices of the municipality (city, ward, town, or village) that your residence is located in. Please be sure to bring your residence card.
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