Japan
Japan visa and residence guide
- 14 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for Japan work
Japan separates the visa, issued by embassies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), from the status of residence granted on landing by the Immigration Services Agency (ISA). For any stay longer than 90 days or any paid activity you first need a Certificate of Eligibility, normally requested in Japan by your employer, school or family member; the embassy then issues a visa on that basis.
Nationals of about 70 countries and regions with visa exemption arrangements, such as the EU states, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, South Korea and Türkiye, need no visa for tourism, business meetings or family visits, usually for up to 90 days. Work, study, family reunion and every other long stay still require a visa, applied for at the Japanese embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over your place of residence; residents of some countries can also obtain a single-entry short-term visa online through JAPAN eVISA.
Japan has 29 statuses of residence, each tied to a defined activity. Important changes for 2026: the Business Manager status now requires JPY 30 million in capital, a full-time employee and Japanese-language ability (since 16 October 2025), and fees for extensions, changes of status and permanent residence rose sharply on 1 October 2026.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday, business meeting or family visit up to 90 days: no visa for nationals of visa-exempt countries (Temporary Visitor), otherwise a short-term stay visa. A job offer from a Japanese employer: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, or Highly Skilled Professional if you reach 70 points.
Transfer within your multinational group: Intra-company Transferee. Starting a company: Business Manager. University or language school: Student. Graduate of a top-ranked university looking for work: J-Find. Remote worker with JPY 10 million income: Digital Nomad. Married to a Japanese citizen: Spouse of Japanese National; family of a foreign resident: Dependent.
Visa types for Japan
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Temporary Visitor (short-term stay: tourism, business, visits)
Nationals of about 70 visa-exempt countries and regions, such as the EU states, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, South Korea and Türkiye, can visit Japan without a visa, usually for up to 90 days, for tourism, business meetings or family visits.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days per entry, as granted by the immigration officer
Business and self-employment
- Entrepreneur and start-up visa Status of Residence "Business Manager" (Keiei-Kanri) and start-up visa programmes
Foreigners who start or run a business in Japan need the Business Manager status.
Maximum stay: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, 4 months or 3 months
Study and training
- Student visa Status of Residence "Student" (Ryugaku)
The Student status covers universities, graduate schools, vocational colleges, high schools and Japanese language schools.
Maximum stay: Periods of stay up to 4 years and 3 months, matched to the course - Researcher visa Status of Residence "Researcher"
The Researcher status is for people who carry out research under a contract with a public or private organisation in Japan, such as a government research institute or a company laboratory.
Maximum stay: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months per grant, renewable
Work
- Work visa Status of Residence "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" (Gijinkoku)
Most white-collar foreign employees in Japan hold the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status, covering IT, engineering, banking, marketing, translation, design and similar jobs.
Maximum stay: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months per grant, renewable without limit - Skilled worker visa Status of Residence "Highly Skilled Professional" (points system and J-Skip)
Highly Skilled Professional (i) is granted to researchers, specialists and executives who score at least 70 points for education, experience, salary, age and bonuses, or who meet the J-Skip income tests.
Maximum stay: 5 years for HSP (i); HSP (ii) is indefinite - Intra-company transfer visa Status of Residence "Intra-company Transferee"
Employees of a company abroad who are transferred for a fixed period to its head office, branch or affiliate in Japan use the Intra-company Transferee status.
Maximum stay: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months per grant - Job seeker visa Designated Activities "Future Creation Individual" (J-Find) and post-graduation job hunting
J-Find lets graduates of highly ranked universities stay in Japan for up to two years to look for a job or prepare a start-up.
Maximum stay: Up to 2 years in total - Digital nomad visa Designated Activities (Digital Nomad, Spouse or Child of Digital Nomad)
Since 31 March 2024 Japan grants remote workers a six-month Designated Activities status.
Maximum stay: 6 months, no extension; after leaving you must wait 6 months before using the status again
Family
- Spouse and partner visa Status of Residence "Spouse or Child of Japanese National"
Husbands and wives of Japanese nationals, and children born to or specially adopted by a Japanese national, can live in Japan under this status.
Maximum stay: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 6 months per grant - Family reunification visa Status of Residence "Dependent" (Kazoku Taizai)
The Dependent status lets the spouse and children of a foreigner who lives in Japan on a work status (such as Engineer/Specialist, Business Manager or Highly Skilled Professional), Specified Skilled Worker (ii), Cultural Activities or Student join them.
Maximum stay: Period set individually, up to 5 years, usually matching the sponsor
Residence
- Retirement visa Designated Activities (Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation)
Japan has no retirement visa.
Maximum stay: 6 months, extendable once to a maximum of 1 year - Permanent residence Permission for Permanent Residence (Eijū)
Permanent residents can live and work in Japan without limits on activity or period.
Maximum stay: Indefinite (residence card renewed every 7 years)
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection Refugee recognition and complementary protection
Japan is party to the Refugee Convention and its Protocol.
Processing time: Standard processing period of 6 months
Frequently asked questions
Who needs a visa for Japan?
Nationals of the roughly 70 countries and regions with a visa exemption arrangement, such as the EU states, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, South Korea and Türkiye, can make short visits, usually up to 90 days, without a visa; everyone else needs a short-term stay visa. Paid work, study and stays over 90 days always require a visa obtained in advance.
What is a Certificate of Eligibility?
A document issued by Japan's regional immigration bureaus confirming that your planned activity fits a status of residence. Your sponsor in Japan applies for it; with it the embassy normally issues the visa in about a week. It must be used within three months.
Where do I apply for a Japanese visa?
At the Japanese embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over your place of residence, normally by appointment. Residents of the countries and regions covered by JAPAN eVISA, such as the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Australia and Brazil, can apply online for a single-entry short-term visa.
How much does a Japanese visa cost?
For applications accepted from 1 July 2026, MOFA sets about JPY 15,000 for a single-entry and about JPY 30,000 for a multiple-entry visa, paid in the local currency of the issuing mission; the amount can differ by nationality. The fee is charged only if the visa is granted.
Does Japan have a working holiday visa?
Only for nationals of partner countries and regions. As of April 2026 Japan runs working holiday programmes with 32 countries and regions under bilateral arrangements, listed by MOFA; nationals of other countries cannot use this route.
Can I change my status inside Japan?
Yes, by applying to the regional immigration bureau for a change of status, provided you qualify for the new status. Temporary visitors are generally not allowed to switch to a long-term status without a Certificate of Eligibility, except in special circumstances.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.