2.4 Types of Working Statuses

Section Two: Visas and Status of Residence

 

This section provides an overview of the various entry procedures required to work and live in Japan. This section also includes a description of the types of work visas available to foreign companies, foreign staff, and the family of foreign nationals.

 

2.1   Entry Procedures

2.2   Relation Between Visa and Status of Residence

2.3   Process from Acquisition of Certificate of Eligibility to Acquisition of Visa

2.4   Types of Working Statuses

2.5   Temporary Visitor Visa and Status

2.6   Reciprocal Visa Exemptions for Temporary Visitor

2.7   Resident Card

2.8   Re-Entry Permission

2.9   Family Members Accompanying Working Foreign Nationals

2.10 Extension of Period of Stay and Change of Status of Residence

2.11 Points-Based Preferential Immigration Treatment for Highly-Skilled Foreign Professionals

2.4 Types of Working Statuses

Below are shown the principal statuses of residence related to investment in Japan and the activities authorized in Japan for each status.

 

For more information: Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice “Immigration control IMMIGRATION 2014”   

 

Table 2-1

Business Manager

Activities to manage trades and other business in Japan or get engaged in administration of the relevant business.

Engineer/

Specialist in Humanities/

International Services

Activities to engage in services that require skills or knowledge pertinent to physical science, engineering or other natural science fields, or jurisprudence, economics, sociology or other human science fields or activities to engage in services that require specific ways of thought or sensitivity based on experience with foreign culture, on the basis of a contract with a public or private organization in Japan.

Intra-company Transferee

Activities on the part of personnel who are transferred to business offices in Japan for a limited period of time from business offices that are established in foreign countries by public or private organizations which have head offices, branch offices or other business offices in Japan and who engage at the business offices in the activities described under "Engineer" or "Specialist in Humanities/International Services."

Legal/Accounting Services

Activities to engage in the legal or accounting business. An applicant must be a foreign attorney, a foreign certified public accountant or those with some other legal qualifications.

Skilled Labor

Activities to engage in services that require industrial techniques or skills belonging to special fields, on the basis of a contract with a public or private organization in Japan.

2.4.2 Documentation Needed When Applying for a Certificate of Eligibility

The following documentation is generally needed when applying for a Certificate of Eligibility for all working statuses:

  1. Application for Certificate of Eligibility
  2. One full-face photograph (4 cm in height x 3 cm in width)
  3. Return-mail envelope (with 392 yen postage affixed)
  4. Document certifying academic qualifications (may not be necessary in some cases)
  5. Curriculum vitae (may not be necessary in some cases)
  6. Certified copy of the company register of an inviter in Japan
  7. Company brochure of an inviter in Japan
  8. Copy of financial statements or business plan of an inviter in Japan
  9. Copy of information returns for total table or copy of notification on on the establishment of an inviter in Japan such as salary-paying office

 

In addition to the above, submission of a copy of an employment agreement, certificate of employment, foreign company's business brochure, business license, and similar documents will be required depending on the type of status of residence.

 

2.4.3 Documentation Needed When Applying for a Working Visa

The following documentation is generally needed when applying for a working visa at a Japanese diplomatic mission abroad after a Certificate of Eligibility has been issued:

  1. Application for visa
  2. Passport
  3. Certificate of eligibility and copy therof
  4. Full-face photograph (1-2 photos, 4.5 cm in height x 4.5 cm in width)

 

2.4.4. Relation Between Type of Operation in Japan and Status of Residence

A foreign company can establish a business presence in Japan in one of three ways, as described in 1.1 "Types of operation in Japan". Typically, however, companies do so by establishing a representative office, branch, or subsidiary company. The relationship between each of these types of operation and the status of residence of their representatives is determined by the conditions and criteria for each status, but the following is generally likely to be applicable:

  1. Representative of representative office: "Intra-company Transferee"
  2. Representative of branch: "Intra-company Transferee" or "Business Manager"
  3. Representative of subsidiary company: "Business Manager"

 

The status of residence of foreigners (except persons falling under the category of "Business Manager") employed by a representative office, branch or subsidiary company will be "Intra-company Transferee" or other statuses matching each employee's academic/work record and the nature of his/her work in Japan ("Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services", etc.).

 

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