Foreign people need to have a visa to live ad work in Japan. There are 27 kinds of visa established by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. However, there are two kinds of visa that the act did not establish. One is a “special permanent resident” visa for foreigners living in Japan from before 1945 by special provisions within the Immigration Act. The other one is for American military men, civilian employees in the American military, and their families who can stay in Japan without a visa under the terms of the treaty of Japan-U.S. Status-of-Forces Agreement.

The 27 categories of visa are as follows: Diplomat, Official, Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist, Investor/Business Manager, Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Researcher, Instructor, Engineer, Specialist in Humanities/International Service, Intra-company Transferee, Entertainer, Skilled Labor, Cultural Activities, Tourist, College Student, Precollege Student, Trainee, Dependent, Designated Activities, Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, and Long-Term Resident.

Leaving aside the Diplomat and Official categories, let’s look at the other 25 categories.

1. Professor

“Professor” visa is for foreigners who are professors, assistant professors, lecturers in Japanese universities and so on. It encompasses teaching students and research activities as part of educational activities.

2. Artist

“Artist” visa is for foreigners active in music, art, literature and so on. However, a specific level is required. For example, foreigners need to be able to earn a living from their artistic activities to be eligible for this visa.

3. Religious Activities

This visa is for foreigners engaged in religious activities, who are sent to Japan by religious groups in other countries. But foreigners staying in Japan to study zen do not get this visas. Instead, they get a “Cultural Activities” visa.

4. Journalist

This is for foreigners who are employees of  newspaper publishing companies, news agencies, broadcasting stations, news and movie companies, and so on, and who are reporting.  Specifically this visa is for journalists, press photographers, announcers, and so on.

5. Investor/Business Manager

This is for foreigners who establish a company. They need an office and more than 2 full-time employees to get this visa.

6. Legal/Accounting Services

Eligible for this visas are lawyers, licensed tax accountants and notary publics.

7. Medical Services

For licensed doctors and nurses.

8. Researcher

The “Researcher” visa is for those  foreigners who carry out research activities based on a contract with a Japanese public or private organization.

9. Instructor

“Instructor” visa is for foreigners who teach language in educational institutions such as high schools, junior high schools, and elementary schools in Japan.

10. Engineer

This is for foreigners with a degree in science or technology from a university both in Japan or abroad.

11. Specialist in Humanities/International Services

“Specialist in Humanities/International Service” visa is for foreigners with a degree in humanities from university. This applies to those persons working as translators, interpreters, oversea transactors, and so on (International Services). Even if you don’t graduate from university but you have work experience for more than 3 years, you can get an  “International Service” visa.

12. Intra-company Transferee

“Intra-company Transferee” refers to foreigners transferred to the head office or to a branch in Japan for temporary period. This visa also includes foreigners transferred to a representative office in Japan too. Activity content of “Intra-company Transferee” visa is the same as “Engineer” and “Specialist in Humanities/International Service” visas.

13. Entertainer

“Entertainer” visa is for foreigners who are entertainers or engaged in professional sports.

14. Skilled Labor

“Skilled Labor” visa is for foreigners who are chefs, builders, technical experts for polishing jewelries, and so on. More than 10 years’ work experience are required to get this visa.

15. Cultural Activities

“Cultural Activities” visa is for foreigners learning such activities as zen, ikebana, the tea ceremony, karate, and other aspects of Japanese traditional culture, arts and crafts.

16. Tourist

For anyone visiting Japan as tourists.The “Tourist” visa applies not only to foreigners visiting Japan as tourists but also to foreigners visiting their relatives in Japan and for short business trip. This visa’s period of stay is from 15 days to 90 days.

17. College Student

“College Student” visa is anyone studying at Japanese universities, technical colleges and so on.

18. Precollege Student

The biggest group of these visa holders are foreigners studying Japanese at Japanese language schools or high schools. The curriculum of Japanese language schools is usually between 18 months and two years.

19. Trainee

 “Trainee” visa is for anyone who joins a company to acquire skills and knowledge that they can take back to their home countries. Holders of this visa cannot earn money.

20. Dependent

“Dependent” visa is for people who have a spouse or child. It used to be almost impossible to work with a “Dependent” visa before. However, now,  you can work for up to 28 hours a week.

21. Designated Activities

 “Designated Activities” visa is a special category for people engaged in activities not covered by any of the above. The justice minister decides each application. The visa includes technical interns too.

22. Permanent Resident

When you live in Japan for a long term, you need to go to the Immigration Bureau every 6 months, a year, or 3 years to update or change your visa. However, you usually have to go back to your home country if you cannot upgrade and change your visa. So if you get a “Permanent Resident” visa, you don’t need to go to the Immigration Bureau except application to get a of re-entry permit. There is also no limit to what activities you can do.

23. Spouse or Child of Japanese National

“Spouse or Child of Japanese National” visa is usually for people who got married with Japanese person. This visa is also called “Spouse” visa and “Marriage” visa. Period of stay of “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” visa has 1 year and 3 year. When people get married and used to live in Japan, many of them apply to change their “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” visa to “Permanent Resident” visa. Their children are included in this visa.

24. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident

“Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” is for people who have spouse having “Permanent Resident” visa and children born in Japan.

25. Long-Term Resident

“Long-Term Resident” visa is decided by the Ministry of Justice. They are usually granted to Indo-Chinese refugees, Japanese grandchildren or stepchildren of foreign spouse.

Source: Hiragana Times