Status of residence

From temporary visitors to permanent residents, every non-Japanese citizen in Japan needs a status of residence (SoR), with just a handful of exceptions. Understanding the rules, rights, and restrictions can facilitate smooth navigation through the system, whether new to Japan or a seasoned resident.

This guide supports both practical navigation (applications, renewals, changes of circumstance) and deeper exploration (systemic quirks, edge cases, and legal nuance). Jumping between both paths is actively encouraged.

What is a Status of Residence (SoR), and how does it differ from a visa?

A status of residence determines the activities a non-Japanese citizen may conduct in Japan, including work, study, and sponsoring dependents.

Status of residence (SoR) and visa are often confused, but they serve different purposes. Their roles are usually linked via landing permission, as below:

Visa (査証, Shashō)	Issued by a Japanese embassy or consulate to those who have been assessed as potentially eligible for a status of residence. Confirms eligibility to request landing permission, but does not guarantee entry.
Landing Permission (上陸許可, Jōriku Kyoka)	Granted by Immigration at the port of entry. Allows a person to enter Japan, at which point a status of residence will be applied. Not all entrants require a visa to obtain landing permission.
Status of Residence (SoR) (在留資格, Zairyū Shikaku)	Determines what a foreign national may do while in Japan. Unlike a visa, must be maintained, extended, or changed as appropriate, for the duration of the stay in Japan. Ordinarily first granted with landing permission.

A person seeking residence in Japan typically enters the country in this sequence: visa → landing permission → status of residence.

In certain cases, a status of residence may be granted without a visa or landing permission, eg a child born in Japan to non-Japanese parents would ordinarily acquire a status of residence in-country.

Note: In many countries, the term ‘visa’ covers both entry and stay permission. Japan’s system is distinct in clearly separating the entry permit (visa/landing permission) from the legal status granted inside the country (SoR). While it is technically incorrect to call a Japanese status of residence a visa, it is common to hear. When passing through security at a Regional Immigration Bureau, you may have to declare your purpose, and one of the options to circle may be ビザ (visa).

Types of status of residence

To navigate the immigration system in Japan, it is crucial to understand the different types of status of residence, and the rights and restrictions which come with each type. Below is an overview:

Overview of Japanese Statuses of Residence

Type of status		Primary purpose / reason for grant	Key features	Examples
Activity-based	Unlimited work-based	Work which is indefinitely renewable in principle	Indefinitely renewable; direct pathway to Permanent Resident (PR); can sponsor dependents (with work restrictions); specific work permission	Instructor, Researcher, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (ESI)
	Limited work-based	Work, but restricted in time, scope, or otherwise	Ordinarily time-limited; not a direct pathway to PR; cannot ordinarily sponsor dependents; specific work permission	Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP)
	Non-work-based	Not work, though work may be permitted as a secondary activity	Ordinarily time-limited; not a direct pathway to PR; sponsorship of dependents is possible in some cases but relatively rare in practice; no automatic work permission (restricted work permission may be granted in some cases)	Student, Trainee, Cultural Activities
Personal		Status granted on the basis of family ties, long-term residency, humanitarian reasons, etc	Indefinitely renewable; direct and ordinarily fast-tracked pathway to PR (already PR in one case); in some cases, can sponsor family members without work restrictions; unrestricted work permission	Permanent Resident (PR), Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Long-Term Resident (LTR)

At the topmost level, SoRs are divided into personal (granted based on who you are) and activity-based (granted based on what you do). The two categories have almost equal numbers of holders. Activity-based SoRs can themsleves be subdivided, with the Unlimited work-based group being a key one in terms of rights.

So far, so neat and tidy.

However, there are some anomalies, exceptions, and asterisks:

Status(es)	Notes
Dependent	Has a characteristic of a Personal status (granted through family ties), but has no direct path to PR and no automatic work permission. Functionally, it behaves like a Non-work Activity-based status, with 'family residency' as the purpose.
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)	This status is subdivided into Type 1 and Type 2. The newer Type 2 is a full work-based status, with indefinite renewability, a pathway to PR, and eligibility to sponsor dependents. Type 1 is a limited work-based status, without the above privileges.
Designated Activities (DA)	A status with over 50 pathways covering specific cases such as Working Holiday, Long-term medical stay, Fourth-Generation Japanese Descendants, and much more. If this were a library, these pathways would be filed under 'Miscellaneous'.
Special Permanent Resident (SPR), Diplomat & Official	These three statuses are not governed by the same law as the main statuses. Special Permanent Resident (SPR) provides residency rights to individuals and their descendants who lost Japanese citizenship due to a 1951 treaty. Diplomat and Official statuses come with their own rules, privileges, and restrictions.
Temporary Visitor	A status of residence for non-residents! This is by far the most common status of residence, accounting for about 98% of SoR holders, yet is often excluded from statistics which tend to focus on resident foreigners.

Statuses of residence (SoRs) and work permission

Statuses of residence (SoRs) have differing levels of work permission, as below:

Work Permission by Residency Status

Type of Work Permission	Applicable Statuses and Pathways
Unrestricted Work Permission	Personal statuses and pathways; Highly Skilled Professional 2 (HSP2)
Specific Work Permission	Unlimited work-based statuses and pathways (except HSP2; see above); Limited work-based statuses and pathways
Unrestricted Work Permission provided it is incidental to the core purpose	Transitional statuses (eg Post Graduation Jobseeker, J-Find pathway for recent graduates of elite universities), Working Holiday Programme
No automatic work permission (however, possible and common to apply for work permission with restricted hours but unrestricted fields)	Students, Dependents and Dependent-like pathways (work restricted to 28 hours/week, rising to 40 hours/week during academic breaks for Students)
No Work Permitted (with narrow exceptions such as attending business meetings)	Temporary Visitors, Trainees, Long-term Sightseeing, Cultural Activities (Note: a pathway for Cultural Activities with Permission for Paid Work also exists), etc

The personal statuses have greater working freedoms than even the unlimited work-based statuses. The Dependent status aligns with the Student status in terms of work permission, demonstrating how it functions as a Non-work-based status, as suggested in the table of exceptions.

Where next?

The knowledge paths diverge a little after here:

The statuses and pathways (a comprehensive look, organised by category)

Navigating the pathways (management, maintenance, change, etc.)

Looking for the full list of work-based statuses? Wondering about the differences between Skilled Labour and Specified Skilled Worker? Curious as to why Special Permanent Residents are... special? This is your stop! We also pause to group and compare those with overlapping characteristics: Vocational work and training statuses Transitional statuses Family statuses Long-term and indefinite statuses (plus citizenship, too)

This section handles the life cycle of a status of residence or DA pathway: Applying for a status Reporting requirements (varies by status) Maintaining, renewing, or changing a status 'Status drift' — when your activities diverge Common journeys through the SoR maze Myths and common misunderstandings

Readers may find themselves switching between the practical and deeper paths; this is encouraged.

Also, it is not a clean divide between practical paths and deeper dives. For example, the topic of loss of status contains practical information and cautionary tales for common cases (divorce! job loss!). It also includes uncommon cases, perhaps more of interest to a theoretician, eg a person rendered non-Japanese in adulthood via late but legal parental acknowledgment, creating a potentially urgent need to enter the SoR maze.

The SoR landscape: an in-depth look

For those wishing to see all of the statuses categorised with all of the anomalies accounted for, the full chart looks like this:

Statuses based on Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (ICRRA)	Activity-based statuses (活動資格)			Personal statuses (身分資格, Mibun Shikaku)
Characteristics and applicable statuses	Unlimited Work-based statuses (就労資格, Shūrō shikaku)	Limited work-based statuses	Non-work-based statuses
Primary purpose/ reason for grant	Work which is indefinitely renewable in principle	Work, but the work is limited in scope, duration or otherwise	Not work, though work may be permitted as a secondary purpose	Granted based on personal attributes, eg family ties, residency history, or humanitarian grounds
Maximum duration?	Indefinitely renewable (or, in one case, indefinite duration awarded)	Ordinarily time-limited	Ordinarily time-limited	Indefinitely renewable (or, in one case, indefinite duration awarded)
Direct pathway to Permanent Residency (PR)?	Yes	No	No	Yes, fast-track pathways (and status is already PR in one case!)
Can sponsor spouse and children?	Yes, as dependents (with work restrictions); enhanced sponsorship rights for Highly Skilled Professionals (HSPs) including enhanced permission for spouse to work	No	Permissible as dependents (with work restrictions) in some cases if duration is long-term and sponsor can prove financial stability	Permanent Residents can sponsor spouse and children without work restrictions; some other personal statuses can, too
Applicable statuses	Highly Skilled Professional (HSP), Professor, Researcher, Instructor, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (ESI), Medical Services, Legal/Accounting Services, Intra-Company Transferee, Journalist, Artist, Entertainer, Business Manager, Religious Activities, Nursing Care, Skilled Labour	Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP)	Temporary Visitor, Student, Cultural Activities, Trainee	Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident (LTR), Permanent Resident (PR)
			Dependent has characteristics of both a Personal status (awarded through family ties) and a Non-work-based Activity status (its primary purpose is family residency, with restricted work permission ordinarily obtainable, and it has no direct pathway to PR).
	Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) status is divided according to Type 1 or Type 2 as follows:
	Specified Skilled Worker: Type 2 (SSW2)	Specifiied Skilled Worker: Type 1 (SSW1)
	Designated Activities (DA) is a status with more than 50 pathways for specific circumstances. Individual pathways can be categorised as Work-based, Restricted work-based, Non-work based, and Dependent-like, as in the table below.
Special statuses not directly governed by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (ICRRA)	Diplomatic & Official statuses: The statuses of Diplomat and Official are governed by international law and bilateral agreements, most notably the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). As expected, these statuses follow their own rules, with their own unique privileges and restrictions. At the broadest sense these statuses are Activity-based, with the activity being that of fulfilling diplomatic or official services. It is perhaps meaningless to attempt to further assess whether this falls into work, limited work or non-work subcategories, as the statuses belong to an entirely different framework. It is meaningful to note that under these statuses, family members are usually supported (also via Diplomatic and Official statuses), the duration of stay is tied to the length of the diplomatic or official assignment, holders of these statuses do not receive a residence card, and there is no pathway to PR. For many purposes, holders will be considered to be extraterritorial residents of the country they represent.			Special Permanent Resident (SPR): A status governed by the Special Act on Immigration Control (1991, Act No. 71); a personal status for people who lost Japanese citizenship as a result of a 1951 treaty and their lineal descendants; mostly zainichi Koreans, and some zainichi Taiwanese.

Summary of Designated Activities (DA) pathways

Type	Activity-based pathways			Personal pathways
	Unlimited work-based pathways	Limited work-based pathways	Non-work-based pathways
Examples	Highly Specialised Professional	Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) nurses and careworkers, Ski instructors and seasonal workers, Construction workers, Shipbuilding workers, Housekeepers of Highly Skilled Professionals (HSPs), etc	Amateur athletes, Long-term medical stay, Long-term sightseeing, etc	Refugee and humanitarian cases may be assigned a temporary DA status whilst being considered for Long-Term Resident (LTR). Whilst such grants are personal in nature, the status does not automatically confer working rights, and there is no direct pathway to PR, so they could be considered to be activity-based pathways with personal elements. Fourth Generation Japanese Descendant has a personal element to the eligibility criteria, but is Non-work-based in functionality.
		Transitional statuses (where core purpose is to transition to an unlimited work-based status): Post Graduation Jobseekers, Post Graduation Employment in Japan, etc Time-limited 'soft-landing' statuses (relaxed working restrictions for eligible people, either as cultural experience or transition to other statuses): Working Holiday Programme, J-Find programme, Fourth Generation Japanese Descendants, etc
			Dependent-like pathways (which have the Personal element of being awarded based on family ties, but function as non-work-based in most other respects) J-Find spouse or child, Persons accompanying Long-term medical stay participant, Persons accompanying Long-term sightseeing participant, HSP Working Spouse (dependent-like, but with enhanced working rights)

So, the simple landscape from the introduction is actually a little more complex. This is to be expected. Statuses and pathways cannot always be neatly grouped.

Also, the original binary split into personal and activity-based statuses isn't as clear-cut as one might think. For example, a Special Highly Skilled Professional (J-Skip) candidate might be cleared for take off on the what you do criteria (in this case, have a huge salary in an acceptable field and a masters degree/industry experience), but if the candidate was a convicted mass murderer, they might fail to impress immigration based on who you are. Similarly, a candidate for Spouse or Child of Japanese National might have the qualifying relationship in place, so the who you are criteria is in order, but if the candidate had a decade's worth of delinquent pension contributions, they might fail to satisfy an inherent what you do element of the assessment. It's a personal-activity continuum rather than a binary split, which is why the dependent category appears to have a foot in both camps.

Similarly, the borders of the sub-categories are blurry. Sorting stricty by core purpose, Post Graduation Employment in Japan falls into non-work, as the stated purpose is a bridge towards employment in the candidate's field of specialism. However, the pathway allows for work in unrelated fields whilst jobseeking continues, on the condition that such work must engage in work which utilises their Japanese language skills. So in reality, a follower of this pathway may be conducting full-time work, even though when assessed by core purpose the pathway is deemed non-work. To reflect the on-the-ground reality as well as the immigration-level core purpose, transitional statuses and time-limited 'soft-landing' statuses have been identified as straddling limited work and non-work; they all have a core purpose other than work, but allow for a significant work element with significant work freedom.

Summary of statuses of residence

Having looked at the statuses simplistically and in great depth, it might be worth pausing for a summary of the key characteristics of the groups:

Summary of characteristics of Statuses of Residence

Type		Primary purpose / reason for grant	Renewability	Direct pathway to PR?	Working rights	Can sponsor family members?	Examples (non-exhaustive)
Personal		Family ties, ties to Japan, humanitarian reasons, etc.	Indefinite	Yes	Unrestricted	Yes (full working rights)	Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Long-Term Resident, Permanent Resident
Activity-based	Unlimited work-based	Professional/skilled work	Indefinite	Yes	Specific; unrestricted within designated profession	Yes (limited working rights)	Instructor, Researcher, ESI, Business Manager, Medical Services, Nursing Care
	Limited work-based	Short-term or vocational work	Ordinarily time-limited	No	Specific; limited	Ordinarily, no. Rare exceptions may be possible case-by-case	Ski Instructor, Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP)
	Non-work-based	Activities other than work	Ordinarily time-limited	No	Variable. No working permission in some cases; limited or conditional permission in others.	Some statuses (e.g. Student) allow dependents in principle, but rare in practice due to financial/stability requirements.	Student, Cultural Activities, Working Holiday, Post Graduation Jobseeker, Long-term Medical Stay
Dependent		Family co-residency	Indefinite	No	No automatic work permission; can ordinarly receive permission for restricted work	No	Dependent, J-Find spouse or child

Restrictions increase as we travel down the table from personal to non-work-based.

Dependent is presented next to Non-work-based here, and it is immediately clear how well it aligns. So much so, that in some taxonomies, that's where it would be placed. Dependent is presented separately in this guide to reflect the real world situation of it having a personal element.

But without getting pedantic about semantics, let's look at the approximate percentage of all SoR holders falling into each category:

Type		Approximate % of all SoR holders
Personal		47%
Activity-based	Unlimited work-based	15%
	Limited work-based	18%
	Non-work-based	12%
Dependent		8%

It is interesting that there is almost an even split between personal and activity-based grants.

The unlimited and limited work-based categories are approximately equal in size, though limited work has approximately 100,000 more cases than unlimited work. If the dependent category is considered to be within the non-work activity-based category, then a slight pattern emerges within the activity-based statuses: there is a slight increase in number of holders for each step down the ladder of decreasing rights and freedoms, ie unlimited < limited < non-work (incl. dependent).

Unlimited work-based statuses

Unlimited work-based statuses have the following characteristics:

Primary purpose	Skilled or highly skilled work
Renewability	Indefinite
Work permission	Specific (or unrestricted for HSP2 status)
Direct pathway to PR?	Yes
Sponsorship of family?	Yes (limited working rights)

This guide uses the term 'unlimited work-based statuses'. Elsewhere this may be shortened to 'work-based statuses' or 'work statuses'. The longer term reflects the fact that some working statuses are excluded from the unlimited work-based category. For example, DA Post-Graduation Employment in Japan allows for full-time work in any field, but has a maximum duration of 2 years in total and does not count as a work-based status for PR purposes; the Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) would undoubtedly feel like work to the participant toiling away under the sun on a farm and receiving remuneration, but is technically considered a skills transfer programme, has a maximum duration of 5 years, and has no direct pathway to PR. These limited work-based statuses will be considered separately.

The unlimited work-based statuses broadly fall into professional and vocational sub-categories, with spiritual as a small but not negligible additional category:

Unlimited work-based statuses: sub-categories

Sub-category		Description	Statuses
Professional work-based statuses	Standard professional work-based statuses	a broad category for professionals or highly skilled workers from a range of professions, disciplines and fields	Professor, Researcher, Instructor, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (ESI), Medical Services, Legal/Accounting Services, Intra-Company Transferee, Journalist, Artist, Entertainer, Business Manager
	Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Status	a privileged status for professionals meeting points-based criteria (or alternative salary and qualification/experience criteria via the ultra-VIP J-SKIP pathway)	Highly Skilled Professional (HSP), which itself has three strands: Highly Skilled Professional 1 (HSP1) Highly Skilled Professional 2 (HSP2) Special Highly Skilled Professional (J-SKIP)
Spiritual statuses		a unique category for the Religious Activities (RA) status, used by monks, priests, missionaries and others supported by a foreign religious organisation to conduct religious activities in Japan	Religious Activities
Skilled vocational or trade-based statuses		careworkers and certain types of skilled labour for which Japan has labour shortages	Nursing Care, Skilled Labour, Specified Skilled Worker: Type 2 (SSW2)

Standard professional work-based statuses

There are work-based statuses of residence for many professions, which can be grouped as follows:

Professor, Researcher, Instructor	professionals in academia and higher-level teaching, such as university professors, researchers, and some high-school teachers. Note: many other teachers will have ESI status, as detailed below.
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (ESI)	a broad category that includes engineers, IT specialists, translators, teachers, consultants, marketers, and finance professionals. This status accounts for about 80% of all work-based status holders.
Medical Services	covers healthcare professionals including doctors, medical specialists, and a small but growing number of nurses. Note: Most foreign nurses enter Japan through Designated Activities (DA) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) pathway; many hope to transition to Medical Services SoR.
Legal/Accounting Services	includes lawyers, accountants, and other experts closely associated to these fields
Intra-Company Transferee	employees transferred within the same company to a branch in Japan
Journalist, Artist, Entertainer	Journalist and Artist are relatively uncommon; Entertainer is more common, but has a unique duration structure starting from 30 days to reflect the short-term nature of some contracts in this field.
Business Manager	typically for self-employed individuals or those establishing their own business in Japan

Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (ESI) acts as a catch-all for many professional jobs including engineers, IT specialists, teachers, translators, marketers, consultants, and finance professionals. It accounts for approximately 90% of all holders of unlimited work-based statuses and 10% of all foreign residents in Japan -- it's the workhorse of the workforce! Immigration officers and lawyers generally refer to it as "技人国" (Gijinkoku) – the Japanese abbreviation from 技術 (technology), 人文知識 (humanities), and 国際業務 (international services).

Unlimitied work-based Designated Activities (DA) pathway

Most Designated Activities (DA) pathways are short-term or transitional in nature, but there is one which functions as an unlimited work-based pathway:

Highly Specialised Professionals (高度専門職に準ずる活動, Kōdo Senmonshoku ni Junzuru Katsudō)

for professionals with highly specialised skills who may not fit into the standard work categories like ESI (Gijinkoku) (above) or HSP (below). These individuals typically engage in high-level consulting or other specialised roles.

Although sponsorship of dependents on this pathway would be discretionary, if the contract and finances were demonstrably stable, permission would be granted, just as on any standard unlimited work-based SoR. Similarly, if a Highly Specialised Professional wished to apply directly for PR, the applicant would need to show clear proof that they were effectively on an unlimited work-based status. In summary, this pathway acts as a backstop for professionals whose field or role doesn't fit one of the standard unlimited work-based SoRs, and is effectively their functional equivalent.

Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) status

Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) is a privileged work-based status designed for top-tier foreign talent across academia, technology and business management. The status comes with a fast-track to PR and enhanced rights to sponsor dependents, including the rare opportunity to sponsor parents in special circumstances (for childcare support of a child under 7 or pregnancy support for the HSP or spouse). Workers within most of the 'standard' professional work-based statuses could be eligible for HSP status if they meet points-based criteria, so among the HSP population there may be professors, researchers, ESI professionals, and business managers, to name but a few. Points are awarded for qualifications and experience, age and salary, professional publications and awards, Japanese proficiency, and, in some cases, family stability, including points for up to two dependent children, and points for spouse's education and Japanese proficiency, if relevant.

A new HSP tier officially named Special Highly Skilled Professional but commonly called J-Skip (as it skips the points-based system) was introduced in 2023. It has simplified procedures and even greater privileges for people who meet the elevated J-Skip criteria.

Spiritual status

Religious Activities (RA) is a status for those engaging in religious activities such as monks, priests and missionaries. Holders of this status must be sponsored by a foreign religious organisation which must demonstrate that the candidate will be financially stable, even if they don't receive a salary in the traditional sense. Religious Activities doesn't clearly sit within a professional or vocational framework, although cases could be made for placement in either. It shares some characteristics with the Cultural Activties (CA) status, classified as a non-work-based status with special rights to sponsor dependents, yet a fundamental difference is that RA has a pathway to PR whereas CA does not. It seems fitting to classify this unique status as the only Spiritual status. It still sits within the work-based framework, as dependents can be supported, and it is technically a path to PR, though not one well trodden.

Skilled vocational or trade-based statuses

Statuses of residence exist for more vocational occupations in the fields of carework and other areas where Japan faces labour shortages.

• Nursing Care is a status for careworkers
• Skilled Labour is an umbrella status for a wide range of highly skilled trades and vocations for which Japan faces labour shortages
• Specified Skilled Worker: Type 2 (SSW2) is a status covering mid-level skilled workers from a wide range of industries facing labour shortage including construction, manufacturing and agriculture. SSW2 status can be renewed as long as conditions are met, whereas Type 1 (SSW1) is classified as Limited work and can only be renewed for a maximum duration of 5 years. Direct entry to SSW2 is possible, and individuals can also transition from SSW1 in cases where their field of work is supported in both SSW1 and SSW2.

Work permission on other statuses

Work permission isn’t limited to work-based as the earlier table demonstrates. To dig a little deeper:

Personal statuses have more working rights than Work-based status holders. Pablo the PR is able to work freely with no restrictions as to the field of work and no permission required from immigration. He can do a couple of hours a week at the konbini, then take a two-year break from work, then become CEO of Nissan whilst also doing Rakugo professionally on Saturdays, then retire forever.

By contrast, those on work-based statuses and limited work-based statuses must maintain work aligned to the status granted. Ian the Instructor cannot suddenly become a Journalist without a change of status. Furthermore, Ian would lose his status if he followed Pablo's example and took an extended break between jobs. In most cases he would not be able to take on side-jobs outside of his working status either; no weekend Rakugo for him.

The transitional statuses and the Working Holiday Programme allow for more flexible work permission than work-based statuses, but on the condition that the work is incidental to the core purpose. Sandra could work in a hostel in Osaka for a month, then travel, then put in heavy hours during the winter as a ski instructor in Nagano. She is free to choose her industries and hours, but on the condition that work remains incidental to the core purpose of cultural exchange. Sandra is in the clear, as she conducts her cultural exchange at the bar! (And during her travels between jobs. And, to an extent, during the jobs themselves.)

Students and Dependents do not have work permission by right. However, it is both straightforward and common to apply for permission to work, and if permission is granted, it will be for work up to 28 hours a week (or 40 hours per week for Students during academic breaks). Ayesha enrols in a language school. In her induction, the school assists Ayesha and her classmates to submit their one-page permission requests, leaving the employment field blank, or writing 未定" (undecided) or "アルバイト予定" (part-time job planned). A few days later Ayesha and her classmates have a jolly outing to the immigration office to get their residence cards stamped to reflect this working permission. Ayesha then secures part-time work as a supermarket cashier, to help fund her studies and practice her Japanese.

Finally, although Temporary Visitors cannot work, exceptions exist for short-term business or academic activities, such as attending conferences and business meetings.

Limited work-based statuses

Primary purpose	Short-term or vocational work
Renewability	Ordinarily time-limited
Work permission	Specific
Direct pathway to PR?	No
Sponsorship of family?	Not ordinarily possible. Rare exceptions exist.

Limited work-based statuses involve work but there are rigid restrictions either

• on the time permitted to conduct that work (eg Post-Graduation Employment in Japan and J-Find are two post-graduation pathways with work freedoms, but have a maxium duration of 2 years), or
• on the scope of work (ag Housekeeper to HSP, which ordinarily has very rigid restrictions as to eligibility), or
• both of the above

While time on these statuses counts towards the 10 years of residency ordinarily required for PR, it does not count towards the required 5 years of work-based statuses. Dependents are rarely permitted, with a notable exception being the DA J-Find pathway for recent graduates of elite global universities.

Specified Skilled Worker: Type 1 (SSW1)

The Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) status was introduced in 2019 to address labour shortages in specific industries including construction, agriculture, hospitality (hotel and accommodation), caregiving, and automobile repair and maintenance. In 2020, the status split into Type 1 and Type 2, with Type 2 designed for higher skilled or supervisory roles, and gaining full work-based status with the associated rights to sponsor dependents, renew indefinitely, and become eligible for PR. SSW2 is therefore covered in the work-based section. Type 1 remains as more hands-on or lower-skilled work, such as general labourers in the counstruction industry (their supervisors could hold the SSW2 status). Vietman, China, the Philippines, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are among the nations supply the most workers via the SSW status. Applicants need to pass a basic Japanese proficiency test (JLPT N4) and an industry-specific skills test to qualify for SSW1. Workers under this category may stay for up to 5 years and cannot sponsor depdendents. However, transitioning to SSW2 (or Nursing Care status in the case of careworkers) is possible, and this would allow for the sponsorship of dependents and eligibility for PR.

Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP)

The Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) is officially an aid development programme with the dual purpose of addressing specific labour shortages in Japan and providing skills development to people from developing countries to support their countries' economic development upon returning. The main industries covered are manufacturing, construction and agriculture, though the programme also includes food processing, care work, hospitality, and several other industries. Vietnam provides the most participants, followed by China, Indonesia and the Philippines. The maximum duration of the programme is 5 years. In the first year, a training allowance is paid, wheres in subsequent years, remuneration is termed a salary. The programme is often criticised as meeting the first of the dual purposes but failing to meet the second, ie being a labour pipeline without adequate provision of skills training, with reports of some labour violations.

DA pathways

The following DA pathways can be considered Limited work-based:

DA Pathway		Limiting factor(s)	Renewable?
Athletes, Artists, and Performers (スポーツ選手及び芸術家, Supōtsu Senshu Oyobi Geijutsuka)	for athletes, artists, or performers who are recognised for their expertise but do not qualify for the Entertainer or Artist status, eg a professional athlete competing in a competition, an artist holding an exhibition, a professional ballet dancer participating in a one-off performance in Japan.	Short duration	Not ordinarily; contract-specific
Ski instructors / seasonal work	A pathway for ski instructors or other approved seasonal workers whose activities do not qualify for other statuses	Short duration	Not ordinarily; contract-specific
Internships for overseas university students	Allows for internships with salary. Note: holders of Student status may conduct internships within the working hours restrictions without a change of status, and their remuneration is usually termed a training fee.	Ordinarily of short duration; highly specific in time and scope.	Requires authorisation
Housekeepers of HSPs	Pathway for housekeepers to be hired by Highly Skilled Professionals (HPSs), but with very strict eligibility criteria (relaxed in the case of J-Skip HSPs)	Very strict criteria as to employee's citizenship and work history (only handful of citizenships permitted; must have worked for HSP as a housekeeper for 1yr immediately prior to issuance of status). Parents are technically employable as housekeepers, but with the nationality and work restrictions in place, the route is almost unusable in the vast majority of cases. Note: restrictions waived in the case of J-Skip HSPs, who can hire any housekeeper irrespective of nationality and employment history.	Yes, provided conditions are met, but only evr in 1yr increments

Comparison of vocational and trade-based statuses and pathways

Vocational labour and/or training of varying degrees of skill is covered by these five statuses. The first two are work-based statuses for immigration purposes, the next two are limited work-based, whereas the final status is classified as non-work. This summary table helps to highlight the similariries and differences:

	Nursing Care	Skilled Labour	Specified Skilled Worker: Type 2 (SSW2)	Specified Skilled Worker: Type 1 (SSW1)	Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP)	EPA programmes	Trainee
Purpose	Careworkers	Skilled workers with expertise in areas where Japan has labour shortages			A skills transfer aid programme with dual purposes of (1) providing labour in areas where Japan faces shortages, (2) providing skills and training to workers from developing countries which can be used in their home countries after completion of the programme	Pathways formed via bilateral agreements with a selection of developing countries to train and prepare foreign healthcare professionals for caregiving and nursing roles in Japan
Examples	Careworkers	Electricians, carpenters, chefs of foreign cuisine				Careworkers, nurses
Category of status	Unlimited work-based	Unlimited work-based	Unlimited work-based	Limited work-based	Limited work-based	Transitional DA pathway. Non-work-based but allows for swift transition to a work-based status	Non-work-based
Duration	Indefinitely renewable	Indefinitely renewable	Indefinitely renewable	5 years max	5 years max	Time-limited (exact duration variable; capped at 5 years, but possible to achieve licensure in much shoter timespan)	3 years max
Can sponsor dependents?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Remuneration	Salary	Salary	Salary	Salary	Year 1: training allowance; Years 2-5: salary	Year 1: training allowance; Years 2-5: salary	Training allowance
Common transitions	Permanent Resident	Permanent Resident	Permanent Resident	SSW2 or Nursing Care (if field aligns)	SSW1 (historically, TITP had no transitional pathway, but now TITP -> SSW1 -> SSW2 -> PR is theoretically possible)	Nursing Care (for careworkers); Medical Services (for nurses)	Ordinarily, none. In rare cases, Trainee -> TITP may be possible.

Non-Work Statuses

Primary purpose	Activities other than work
Renewability	Ordinary time-limited
Work permission	No automatic work permission for SoRs; variable and conditional work permission for DA pathways
Direct pathway to PR	No
Sponsorship of family?	Possible in principle for Student, Cultural Activties and some DA pathways; rare in practice

There are several statuses where the core purpose is not work. Temporary Visitor the most common status of residence, and an outlier in that holders do not hold Japanese residency. Student is perhaps the most popular non-work status in which holders are actually residents. Cultural Activities allows for medium- to long-term cultural projects. Trainee is a training status for certain vocations. Additionally, multiple Designated Activities (DA) pathways exist including transitional statuses (where the core purpose is transitioning to a work-based status, such as pathways for jobseeking), the perenially popular Working Holiday Programme, and several less common pathways such as Long-term sighsteeing, and Long-term medical stay.

Temporary Visitor

Temporary Visitor (短期滞在, Tanki Taizai) status is by far the most common status of residence and accounted for about 98% of foreign entrants to Japan in 2024. Over 70 countries have visa waiver arrangements, allowing their citizens maximum stays of 15, 30, or 90 days depending on citizenship for the purposes of tourism, visiting family or friends, or attending conferences or meetings. In some reports of statuses of residence, this dominant one is missed from the discussion!

Student

Student status is for foreign nationals studying at universities, colleges and language schools. Work permission can be granted for up to 28 hours/week (40 hours/week during academic breaks). Dependents can be supported in principle, though in practice this is rare and ordinarily limited to long-term students such as postgraduates with proven financial means. Following completion of a course of study, graduates may be able to move onto work-based statuses, and there are also 'transitional' Designated Activities pathways available too, including:

• Post Graduation Jobseekers
• Post Graduation Employment in Japan

Cultural Activities (CA)

Cultural Activities status is granted to those undertaking unpaid study and research activities in Japanese cultural fields, such as calligraphy, tea ceremony and flower arrangement. Sch study must be under the guidance of experts. In a way, it mirrors the Student status, but whereas students study academic, language or vocational subjects, the CA particiant studies cultural subjects. It is a relatively rare status of residence, with approximately 1 CA participant for every 100 Students.

Trainee

The purpose of this status is to provide trainees with skills in industries such as maunfacturing, construction, agriculture, food production, and textiles and garment-making. Participants receive a duration of 1-year initially, which may be renewable up to a maximum stay of 3 years. A training allowance is paid, but this is not a salary.

Designated Activities (DA) pathways

DA Pathway	Description	Duration	Work permission?	Dependents allowed?
Working Holiday Programme	A popular youth mobility scheme which allows young adult citizens of certain countries with reciprocal agreements to come to Japan for a period of 1 year for cultural exchange. Work is permitted to support the primary purpose of cultural exchange.	1 year	Yes, work incidental to the cultural exchannge is permitted	No
Future Creation Individual (J-Find)	Launched in 2023, the Future Creation Indivdiual or J-Find pathway offers recent graduates from eligible universities the freedom to reside in Japan with the core purpose of jobseeking or conducting preparatory activities to establish a business. Participants have full freedom of the labout markert to support this core purpose, ie they can work in any role while jobhunting or preparing their business. Applicants must have graduated with a bachelors degree, masters degree or doctoral degree within the last 5 years.	6 months, 1 year, renewable to a maximum of 2 years	Yes, work permission to support the core purpose of jobseeking or business start-up is permitted	Yes
Post Graduation Employment in Japan	A period of jobseeking after graduation from a Japanese university, but where work permission is granted on a time-limited basis to work in industries and fields outside of the specialism and outside of the standard employment categories with statuses of residence, such as in the tourism and hospitality industry.	6 months; renewable with strong reasons for further 6 months for max duration of 1 year	Yes, work is permitted, including full-time work, in fields unrelated to the graduate's field of specialism to support the core purpose of transitioning to	No
Post Graduation Jobseekers	A period of jobseeking after graduation from a Japanese university	6 months; renewable with strong reasons for further 6 months for max duration of 1 year	With permission, can work up to 28 hours/week	No
Cultural Activities with work permission	As per the Cultural Activities status, but with work permission granted.		Yes	Yes
Parents of Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) or HSP's spouse for childcare support of child under 7 (or pregnancy support)
Long-term sightseeing and recreation
Long-term medical stay

Pause 2: Comparison of transitional statuses

Three DA pathways have been identified as traditional statuses as their core purpose is to transition to a work-based status. In contrast, the Working Holiday Programme is designed to be a self-contained programme. However, for participants wishing to stay in Japan, it can be considered a de facto transitional status, and has been included here as an additional point of comparison.

	Post Graduation Employment in Japan	Post Graduation Jobseeking	Future Creation Individual / J-Find	Working Holiday Programme
Official core purpose	Jobseeking for specific work	Jobseeking for specific work	Jobseeking or preparing to set up a business	Cultural exchange
Eligibility	Graduates from Japanese universities	Graduates from Japanese universities	Recent graduates (bachelors, masters, doctoral degree awared in last 5 years) from eligible global universities	Citizens aged 18-30 (18-35 in some instances) of countries with reciprocal agreements with Japan
Categorisation	Non-work	Non-work	Non-work	Non-work
Maximum duration	1 year	1 year	2 years	1 year (or 2 years for citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea)
Work permission	Work in unrelated fields is permitted, including full-time, provided the status holder actively pursues their core purpose	Permission required for work of up to 28 hours/week; status holder still needs to pursue core purpose	Work in any field is permitted, including full-time, provided the status holder actively pursues their core purpose	Work in any field is permitted, including full-time, provided this is incidental to the core purpose
Dependents allowed?	No	No	Yes	No

Personal Statuses

Reason for grant	Family ties, ties to Japan, humanitarian reasons
Renewability	Indefinitely renewable (or already indefinite)
Direct pathway to PR?	Yes, fast-track path (or already PR)
Sponsorship of family?	Yes (full working rights)

Personal statuses are granted based on personal relationships, long-term residency, and humanitarian reasons or other special cases. They can be subcategorised as follows:

Statuses dependent on a sponsor	Statuses independent of a sponsor
	Indefinitely renewable	Indefinitely granted
Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident	Long-Term Resident	Permanent Resident

The statuses dependent on a sponsor have a double conditional:

1. the sponsor must maintain their status
2. the sponsor and applicant must maintain their qualifying relationship

Example: Steve, an American citizen, is married to Saori, a Japanese citizen. Steve is granted the status of Spouse or Child of Japanese National. His status is conditional on (1) Saori retaining her Japanese citizenship, and (2) the marriage remaining valid.

Note that it is much less common for the sponsor to lose their qualifying status (Japanese citizenship or permanent residency) than in the case of dependents, who ordinarily rely on their sponsor retaining a work-based status (eg Instructor).

Long-Term Resident status is independent of a sponsor but is dependent on the applicant or holder maintaining their eligibility.

Permanent residency is granted indefinitely and so has no further conditions attached and no need to renew.

Spouse or Child of Japanese National

This status allows unrestricted work rights and a fast-track to PR. It applies to opposite-sex spouses and biological or adopted children of the sponsor. Status holders are eligible to apply for PR after only 1 year (spouses must have been married for 3+ years, but this could predate Japanese residency).

Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident

This status has unrestricted work rights and the same pathway to PR as Spouse or Child of a Japanese National: holders are eligible to apply for PR after only 1 year (spouses must have been married for 3+ years, but this could predate Japanese residency).

Long-Term Resident (LTR)

This status is granted to people with demonstrable long-term ties to Japan who do not qualify under other personal routes. Although the government has discretionary powers to apply the status, there are several core routes identified for qualification:

• Nikkei (people of Japanese descent, ie grandchildren of Japanese citizens, mainly living in Brazil and Peru)
• Refugees recognised under special provisions

• Those with strong humanitarian ties, eg:
  • eg adult children of work-based status holders who 'age out' of the Dependent status
  • former spouses with long-term residency in Japan who lose their qualifying relationship through death (ie widow/widower) or divorce (ie divorcee) who intend to remain to raise children with Japanese nationality or residency
• Spouses or children of Long-Term Residents

Additionally, children born in Japan to parents with PR are often given the LTR status by convention rather than Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident.

In summary, LTR can be thought of as a catch-all for people who ought to qualify for residency but who don't meet the criteria for other personal statuses.

Permanent Resident

Possibly the most sought-after status, and also the most common with about 900,000 holders, permanent residents have unrestricted working rights, an indefinite period of stay, and are able to sponsor spouses and children via the Spouse or Child of Permanent Residency status which comes with full working rights.

Pause 4: Comparison of LTR, PR, HSP2 and Japanese citizenship

	Long-Term Resident (LTR)	Permanent Resident (PR)	Highly Skilled Professional 2 (HSP2)	Japanese Citizen
Eligibility	Granted on a case-by-case basis to those with: (1) strong ties to Japan (eg descendents of Japanese citizens who do not qualify for other statuses; foreign nationals who lost spousal status due to divorce or death, refugees, etc, (2) financial stability, (3) good conduct	Fulfil criteria related to residency (standard pathway is 10 years, but fast-tracks available from as little as 1 year for HSPs and spouses and children of Japanese nationals/permanent residents), stability, character, etc	Hold HSP1 status for 3yr+ irrespective of initial or current points total (NB HSP2 is not available for people on the J-Skip pathway)	Through birth, acknowledgement, naturalisation or reacquisition (in the case of minors who failed to reserve Japanese nationality when born abroad)
Duration	Renewable durations of 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years	Indefinite	Indefinite	Lifetime
Work Restrictions	No restrictions (free to conduct any or no work)	No restrictions (free to conduct any or no work)	Unrestricted work in terms of field of work and hours; however, still bound by Immigration Control Act which requires activity-based status holders to (a) maintain engagement in activties suitable for the granted status; and (b) report any changes in employment	No restrictions (free to conduct any or no work)
Family Sponsorship	Can sponsor spouse and children (Dependent status: permission required for work of up to 28 hours/week, unless spouse qualifies for LTR independently)	Can sponsor spouse and children (Dependent status: permission required for work of up to 28 hours/week)	Can sponsor spouse (who can work freely), children (including stepchildren), and one set of parents (HSP's or spouse) for childcare of a child under 7. Also allowed one domestic worker if earning ¥10M+.	Can sponsor spouse (who can work freely) and children (under Spouse or Child of Japanese National route); can sponsor parents, siblings, and extended family under Long-Term Resident (LTR) route
Eligibility for PR	Typically 5+ years residency, stability, and good conduct	N/A (Already PR)	Eligible after 1 year (80+ points) or 3 years (70+ points)	N/A
Eligibility for Citizenship	Eligible under standard naturalisation criteria	Eligible under standard naturalisation criteria	Eligible under standard naturalisation criteria; some sources recommend changing to PR prior to application	N/A (Already citizen)
Grounds for Losing Status	If absent beyond the validity of re-entry permission, or revoked for serious crimes, fraud in application, etc.	If absent beyond the validity of re-entry permission, or revoked for serious crimes, fraud in application, etc.	If criteria are not met (eg ceasing permitted activities, violating immigration laws), or if absent beyond the validity of re-entry permission	Can lose citizenship if voluntarily acquiring another nationality or through revocation under special circumstances. Minors born abroad who fail to reserve citizenship must apply to reacquire it.
Administrative burden	Periodic renewal of status required; need to comply with re-entry procedures	No renewal of status required; need to renew residence card every 7 years; need to comply with re-entry procedures	No renewal of status required; need to renew residence card every 7 years; need to comply with re-entry procedures; need to report any changes in employment within 14 days; may be required to demonstrate evidence of continued engagement with HSP-based activities	None
Under scope of the exit tax?	Yes	Yes	No	Yes

Dependent Status and pathways

Reason for grant	Family co-residency
Renewability	Indefinitely renewable
Work permission	No automatic work permission (restricted work permission possible upon application and acceptance)
Direct pathway to PR?	No (indirect paths are common)
Sponsorship of family?	No

The Dependent status is granted on the basis of family ties and is indefinitely renewable in principle, which may suggest it is a personal status. However, its legal and practical characteristics mean it functions like a non-work activity-based status, where the activity is family co-residency. In particular:

• there is no direct pathway to PR (though Dependents often follow indirect pathways)
• there is no automatic work permisson (upon application, work of up to 28 hours per week may be permitted)
• depdendents themselves cannot sponsor dependents

All of the unlimited work-based statuses can sponsor dependent spouses and children. Some sources mistakenly suggest that Entertainers cannot; according to the law, they can, but it might prove difficult in cases where their employment contracts are short or unstable. Additionally, Students and Cultural Activities participants are legally allowed to support dependents, but in practice this is ordinarily limited to long-term students with proven financial means, such as graduate students. Furthermore, a handful of DA pathways can support dependents, either via the Dependent status directly, or via a DA pathway which mirrors the Dependent status in function. For example J-Find participants can sponsor dependents via the DA J-Find Dependent pathway.

Highly Skilled Professionals (HSPs) have enhanced rights to sponsor dependents, including:

• eligbility for their spouse to either be a regular Dependent (permission required to work up to 28 hours per week) or follow the DA Working Spouse of HPS pathway in which the spouse is permitted to work full-time in certain highly skilled professions, with the usual immigration-based requirements of qualifications in those industries waived
• eligibility to sponsor not only their own children but also their spouse's children
• eligibility to sponsor parents for the purposes of childcare of a child under 7 or pregnancy care for the HSP or spouse
• eligibility to sponsor a Housekeeper under certain conditions

J-Skip participants have even greater enhancements to the above rights, covered in more detail on the HSP page.

There is no direct pathway to PR from the Dependent status. However, common indirect pathways include:

Pathway	Example or explanation
Dependent → Work-based status → PR	The dependent leverages their part-time work experiences into a full-time job offer and gains a work-based status independently
Dependent → Spouse or Child of Japanese National/Permanent Resident → PR	The dependent's sponsor naturalises or gains PR, and then the dependent is eligible for an unrestricted Personal status, giving full working rights, from which there is a fast-track to PR

Time as a Dependent counts towards the overall period of residency for PR purposes. Therefore, in the following scenario, both John and Jane would be eligible for PR at the same time:

John and Jane are married. They move to Japan. Jane works as as a teacher on the ESI (Gijinkoku) status. John is sponsored as a Dependent, and over time starts working part-time at the same school/institution. After 5 years, John gets a job offer at Jane's school to work full-time. He accepts, and is employed under the ESI (Gijinkoku) status. After 5 more years, both Jane and John are eligible to apply for PR. Jane amassed 10 years of residency, all in a work-based status. John also amassed 10 years of residency, including the required 5 years in a work-based status.

DA Dependent pathways

Some DA pathways are functionally equivalent to Dependent status, including:

DA pathway	Sponsor: SoR or DA	Notes
Spouse or Child of J-Find participant	DA	The most clean and clear cut example of a DA pathway which functions as the equivalent of a Dependent without any notes or nuances. This highlights the extemely flexible status of the J-Find pathway.
Spouse or Child of Student	SoR	Students can legally support Dependents, so this DA may exist as a fallback in cases where paperwork/timing is non-standard
Spouse or Child of Specified Skilled Worker Type 2 (SSW2)	SoR + sub-status	SSW2 participants can legally support Dependents, so this DA may exist as a fallback in cases where paperwork/timing is non-standard
Working Spouse of Highly Skilled Professional (WSHSP); this includes HSP1, HSP2 and J-SKIP sponsors	SoR	This can be considered a Dependent-like pathway with enhanced rights. Note that the normal working restrictions of Dependents are relaxed; WSHSPs can work for unrestricted hours, but must work in fields approved by immigration, though the standard entry criteria (qualifications, experience) are waived. Furthermore, the WSHSP status can be retained after divorce if cohabitation with the HSP continues (a nuance that seems unlikely to be useful or used by many). Note: HSPs (including those on the J-SKIP pathway) also have the option of sponsoring a spouse (and children) on the regular Dependent status, with the regular working restrictions.
Humanitarian/bridge cases	Various	Discretionary awards are made on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian cases and for special cases whereby a bridging status is required before a standard path becomes available

Family statuses of residence

[Repetitive from before; needs streamlining]

Spouses

Children

Parents

Others

Special statuses

Diplomatic & Official statuses

The statuses of Diplomat (外交, Gaimu) and Official (公用, Kōyō) are governed by international law and bilateral agreements, most notably the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). Since they have a different legal foundation, these statuses follow different rules than the others, with their own unique privileges and restrictions. For many purposes, holders will be considered to be extraterritorial residents of the country they represent.

They can be consideres special cases of Activity-based statuses, with the activity being that of fulfilling diplomatic or official services. It is perhaps meaningless to assess whether this falls into work, limited work or non-work subcategories, as the statuses belong to an entirely different framework.

However, it is meaningful to note that under these statuses:

• family members are usually supported (also via Diplomatic and Official statuses)
• the duration of stay is tied to the length of the diplomatic or official assignment
• holders of these statuses do not receive a residence card
• there is no pathway to permannt residency (PR)

Special Permanent Resident (SPR)

This is a special category for those who lost Japanese nationality following the Treaty of San Francisco (1951) and their descendants. Prior to the treaty, Japan had annexed Korea (1910) and Taiwan (1895). Legally, these territories were integral parts of the Empire of Japan and residents were Japanese subjects who had Japanese citizenship. During the period of annexation, many Koreans and Taiwanese moved to the Japanese mainland and lived there, with many babies born and raised in Japan proper. At the end of World War II in 1945, Japan lost these territories. In 1951 the Treaty of San Francisco dealt with the question of Japanese citizenship. Former Japanese subjects in Korea and Taiwan lost their Japanese citizenship, as did Koreans and Taiwanese who resided in Japan. It is often said of this latter group that they went to sleep Japanese, and worke up foreign. In 1991, the status of Special Permanent Resident was created to grant affected people and their descendents a special residency status.

Exceptions: when foreigners can legally be in Japan without a Status of Residence (SoR)

In principle, all non-Japanese citizens require a status of residence to be legally present in Japan. However, some limited exceptions exist:

SOFA status

Individuals under the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), including dependents, are not granted a status of residence and are handled under separate protocols by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). 'Dependents' are defined in the agreement and the definition is wider than the corresponding SoR definition. A significant proportion of those with SOFA status are based in Okinawa. Whether on the mainland or Okinawa, many SOFA status individuals live on US bases, but also a significant number live off these bases.

Non-Japanese newborns in Japan

A child born in Japan to non-Japanese parents (and not acquiring Japanese nationality) does not automatically receive a status of residence at birth. A formal application must be made within 30 days (60 in some cases). Thus, an interim period exists when the newborn is legally in Japan without an SoR.

Recently 'rendered foreign' within Japan

This includes those who have renounced or lost Japanese nationality while remaining in Japan (eg through naturalisation in another country or through the 'choice of nationality' process; or in rarer cases, a person was registered as Japanese on the basis of a Japanese father who was entrered on the family register (koseki), but then at a later date a non-Japanese father acknowledged the child, which would have the effect of Japanese citizenship being retroactively disapplied. Affected indivisuals must apply for a status of residence to remain legally resident or present.↵↵

Stateless individuals or refugee applicants

Some may be present on provisional release or under legal proceedings, without an assigned SoR.

While these cases are rare, they serve to remind us that even in a system built on categories, the boundaries are not always as clear as the pages of the law might suggest.

Appendix 1: Summary of all statuses of residence

The table below presents all official Japanese statuses of residence with information about eligibility, restrictions, duration, path to permanent residency, and whether or not dependents can be sponsored.

Category	Applicable Statuses of Residence	Eligibility	Restrictions	Duration	Path to PR	Dependents
Short-Term Stay	Temporary Visitor (短期滞在, Tanki Taizai)	Tourists and other short-term visitors	No work permitted	15 days, 30 days, 90 days	None	No
Highly Skilled & Professional Work	Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) (高度専門職, Kōdo Senmonshoku)	Individuals who qualify via a points-based system		HSP1: 1 year, 3 years, 5 years; HSP2: Indefinite	1-year or 3-year pathways available	Yes, can sponsor spouses (who can work without restriction), children (including children of HSP's spouse), HSP's parents or HSP's spouse's parents (if have a child under 7), 1 domestic worker (if salary is at least ¥10m)
	Professor (教授, Kyōju)			3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years		Yes. Spouse and children.
	Researcher (研究, Kenkyū)					Yes. Spouse and children.
	Instructor (教育, Kyōiku)	Teacher, etc		3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years		Yes. Spouse and children.
	Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (技術・人文知識・国際業務, Gijutsu Jinbun Chishiki Kokusai Gyōmu)			3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years		Yes. Spouse and children.
	Medical Services (医療, Iryō)	Doctors, dentists, nurses, etc		3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years		Yes. Spouse and children.
	Legal/Accounting Services (法律・会計業務, Hōritsu Kaikei Gyōmu)	Lawyers, accountants, etc		3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years		Yes. Spouse and children.
	Business Manager (経営・管理, Keiei Kanri)					Yes. Spouse and children.
	Intra-Company Transferee (企業内転勤, Kigyōnai Tenkīn)					Yes. Spouse and children.
	Journalist (報道, Hōdō)	Journalists, cameramen, etc holding contracts with foreign media organisations		3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years		Yes. Spouse and children.
	Artist (芸術, Geijutsu)	Painters, composers, writers, etc.		3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years		Yes. Spouse and children.
	Religious Activities (宗教, Shūkyō)	Missionaries, priests, monks, etc, sent by foreign religious organisations		3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years		Yes. Spouse and children.
	Nursing Care (介護, Kaigo)	Care workers		3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years		Yes. Spouse and children.
	Entertainer (興行, Kōgyō)	Actors, singers, dancers, professional athletes, etc		30 days, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years		No.
	Skilled Labour (技能, Ginō)			3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years		Yes. Spouse and children.
Specified & Technical Work and Internships	Technical Intern Training (技能実習, Ginō Jisshū)	Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) participants	Must work under TITP regulations	Determined by MOJ; duration of TITP could be (i) 1yr + (ii) 2yrs + (iii) 2yrs = 5yrs, but status would be valid for each stage		No.
	Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能, Tokutei Ginō)			6 months, 1 year, 3 years; or determined by MOJ (not to exceed 1 year)		SSW Type 1: no SSW Type 2: yes
Non-Working Training	Trainee (研修, Kenshū)			3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years		No.
Education & Cultural Activities	Student (留学, Ryūgaku)	University, college or language school students	Permission required to work up to 28 hours per week (up to 40 hours per week during academic breaks)	15 months (1yr3mo), 27 months (2yr3mo)		Yes, in principle, spouse and children. In practice, rare, and limited to long-term students with proven financial means.
	Cultural Activities (文化活動, Bunka Katsudō)			3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years		Yes, in principle, spouse and children. In practice, rare, and limited to long-term participants with proven financial means.
Designated Activities	Designated Activities (特定活動, Tokutei Katsudō)	Those falling under one of many subcategoeries including post-graduation jobseekers, long-term stay for sightseeing or medical care, working holiday programme participants, housekeepers of diplomats or officials, etc	Restricted to the designated activities	6 months - 5 years	Depends on case	Depends on subcategory. Dependents potentially allowed in the following cases: post-graduation job-seekers athletes and artists interns for overseas universities supporters of refugee applicants Japanese descendants (who do not qualify for Long-Term Residency) Medical stay: long-term Long-term Sightseeing
Diplomatic & Official	Diplomat (外交, Gaimu)	Foreign diplomats, consular officials, and their families	No commercial work allowed	Duration of assignment	None	Yes (family members also apply for Diplomat status, not Dependent)
	Official (公用, Kōyō)	Foreign government employees and international organisation workers and their families	No commercial work allowed	Duration of assignment	None	Yes (family members also apply for Official status, not Dependent)
Family & Long-Term Residency	Dependent (家族滞在, Kazoku Taizai)	Spouses and children of holders of certain residency statuses	Permission required to work up to 28 hours per week	3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years		No
	Spouse or Child of Japanese National (日本人の配偶者等, Nihonjin no Haigūsha-tō)	Spouses and children of Japanese citizens	None	6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	1+ year of residence, 3+ years of marriage (for spouses)	No
	Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident (永住者の配偶者等, Eijūsha no Haigūsha-tō)	Spouses and children of permanent residents	None	6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	1+ year of residence, 3+ years of marriage (for spouses)	No
	Long-Term Resident (定住者, Teijūsha)			6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	5+ years of residency	Yes
Permanent Residency	Permanent Resident (永住者, Eijūsha)	Those who fulfil requirements including residency and stability	None	Indefinite	N/A

Appendix 2: Summary of work-based statuses

Status		Eligibility	Duration	Pathway to PR	Dependents
Standard Professional Work-Based Statuses	Standard Professional Work-Based Statuses except Entertainer (see next row): Professor, Researcher, Instructor, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (ESI), Medical Services, Legal/Accounting Services, Business Manager, Intra-Company Transferee, Journalist, Artist, Religious Activities	Fulfil criteria relating to professional status and work contract	3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	Standard 10-year pathway	Spouse and child (Dependent status; permission required for work up to 28 hours/week for spouses and children aged 15+)
	Entertainer (special case of skilled work-based status in which contracts are often short-term, so duration of stay is different to other skilled work-based statuses)	Fulfil criteria relating to professional status and work contract	30 days, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years	Standard 10-year pathway	Spouse and child eligible for Dependent route, but rare due to prevalance of short-term contracts and unstable/unpredictable work in this field. A Designated Activities status may be granted to dependents of an Entertainer if earnings are high and contract is stable.
Highly Skilled Professional (HSP)	Points-based qualification	Qualify via points-based system	5 years, Indefinite (HS2, available after 1 or 3 years of HSP)	1 year (80+ points); or 3 years (70+ points)	Spouse and child (NB options for spouse to be a standard Dependent or on a DA Working Spouse of HSP pathway if working in eligible jobs); parents of HSP or spouse (for childcare of a child under 7, or to support the HSP or spouse during pregnancy; household income must be ¥8m+); one domestic worker allowed if salary is ¥10m+; one parent (of HSP or spouse) can be supported as a housekeeper if a child is under 13 or if the spouse cannot perform household duties due to work, disability, or illness
	J-SKIP qualification	Fulfil J-SKIP eligibility criteria	5 years, Indefinite (HS2, available after 1 year of HSP)	1 year	As above, but Working Spouse of HSP has additional fields of eligible work; parental conditions are relaxed; two domestic workers are permitted
Skilled Vocational or Trade-Based Statuses	Nursing Care, Skilled Labour	Fulfil criteria relating to professional status and work contract	3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	Standard 10-year pathway	Spouse and child (Dependent status; permission required for work up to 28 hours/week for spouses and children aged 15+)
	Specified Skilled Worker (SSW): Type 2 (SSW2)	Fulfil criteria relating to skilled worker status and work contract (qualification can be via SSW1 experience or direct entry)	6 months, 1 year, 3 years; renewable indefinitely	Standard 10-year pathway	Spouse and child (Dependent status; permission required for work up to 28 hours/week for spouses and children aged 15+)
Designated Activities -- work-based subcategories (including special cases):	Highly specialised professionals without a work-specific status (高度専門職に準ずる活動, Kōdo Senmonshoku ni Junzuru Katsudō)	Case-by-case eligibility	3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	Standard 10-year pathway	Spouse and child usually permitted
	Athletes, artists or performers who do not qualify for Entertainer or Artist status (スポーツ選手及び芸術家, 'Supōtsu Senshu Oyobi Geijutsuka')	Case-by-case eligibility based on contracts and professional recognition	3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	Standard 10-year pathway	Case-by-case basis

Appendix 3: Summary of limited work-based statuses

<���� colspan="2" id="mwBPU">Status <�̦� id="mwBPY">Eligibility

Duration	Dependents
Technical Intern Training (技能実習, Ginō Jisshū)		Must adhere to TITP regulations	Determined by MOJ; duration of TITP could be (i) 1yr + (ii) 2yrs + (iii) 2yrs = 5yrs, but status would be valid for each stage	In limited long-term cases, spouse and children can be sponsored.
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)	Type 1 (SSW1)	Qualify via skills test and Japanese language proficiency (in most fields)	6 months, 1 year, 3 years; renewable up to 5 years max	Not permitted
Designated Activities -- quasi-work subcategories	Future Creation Individual (FCI) / "J-Find" (未来創造個人, Mirai Sōzō Kojin）	18+, received a bachelor's degree, master's degree or PhD from an eligible university within the last 5 years, have proof of requisite savings, and wish to live in Japan to engage in work, entreupreneurship or other activities for up to 2 years	6 months, 1 year, renewable up to 2 years max	Spouse and child (via a DA Pathway for FCI dependents)
	Post-Graduation Employment in Japan (本邦大学卒業者の就職, Honpō Daigaku Sotsugyōsha no Shūshoku)	Graduated from a Japanese university (bachelor’s degree or higher) or a vocational school, fluent in Japanese (JLPT N1 or equivalent), and secured employment in Japan. Critically, the field of work does not need to be directly related to their studies. Covers jobs in tourism, sales, service industries, and other fields typically restricted under work-based statuses.	1 year, renewable up to 2 years max	Not permitted
	Internships for overseas university students (海外大学生のインターンシップ, Kaigai Daigakusei no Intānshippu)	Must be an enrolled student at an overseas university	Up to 1 year (usually non-renewable)	Spouse and child may be permitted
	Housekeepers of Highly Skilled Professionals (HSPs) (高度専門職の家事使用人, Kōdo Senmonshoku no Kaji Shiyōnin)	Employed by an HSP who has a salary of at least Y10m	Usually 1 year, renewable	Not permitted
	Parents as Housekeepers of Highly Skilled Professionals (HSPs) (高度専門職の親の家事使用人, Kōdo Senmonshoku no Oya no Kaji) Shiyōnin’	One parent of the HSP or HSP's spouse is eligible to be employed as Housekeeper by an HSP if there is a child under 13 or if the spouse is unable to conduct household duties due to work, disability or illness (no provision made for HSP without spouse to hire a parent as a Housekeeper in a household without children under 13 under this pathway); no salary requirement for the HSP on this pathway (unlike the above pathway)

Appendix 4: Summary of non-work statuses

Status		Eligibility	Restrictions	Duration	Path to PR	Dependents
Student (留学, Ryūgaku)		University, college or language school students	Permission required to work up to 28 hours per week (up to 40 hours per week during academic breaks)	15 months (1yr3mo), 27 months (2yr3mo)	Standard 10-year path; must swith to a work-based status (or Family status)	In limited cases, spouse and children can be sponsored.
Cultural Activities (文化活動, Bunka Katsudō)				3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years	Standard 10-year path; must swith to a work-based status (or Family status)	No
Designated Activities (特定活動, Tokutei Katsudō): non-work pathways:	Working Holiday Programme participants (ワーキング・ホリデー, Wākingu Horidē)		(work incidental to cultural exchange)
	Cultural Activities with Paid Work Permission (報酬を受ける文化活動, Hōshū o Ukeru Bunka Katsudō)	e.g., traditional artists receiving income from performances/workshops		6 months - 5 years
	Volunteer and NGO Workers on Case-by-Case Basis (depends on sponsorship by recognised organisations)
	Post-Graduation Jobseeking (本邦大学卒業者の就職活動, Honpō Daigaku Sotsugyōsha no Shūshoku Katsudō)		(1 year max, can apply for work-based status upon securing a job)
	Long-term medical treatment in Japan					Yes, accompanying persons have their own DA pathway. This is not restricted to spouse and child, but any family member or other caregiver (whether professional or otherwise) who will accompany the individual receiving treatment
	Personal Caregivers for Long-Term Medical Treatment DA Holders					No
	Long-term stay for sightseeing and recreation
	Supporters of refugee applicants (難民申請者の支援者, Nanmin Shinseisha no Shiensha)

Appendix 5: Summary of family statuses of residence

Status		Eligibility	Sponsor	Restrictions	Duration	Path to PR	Dependents
Spouse or Child of Japanese National (日本人の配偶者等, Nihonjin no Haigūsha-tō)		Spouses and children of Japanese citizens	Spouse/parent with Japanese nationality	Spouse: no work restrictions; child aged 15+: with permission, can work up to 28 hours/week	6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	1+ year of residence, 3+ years of marriage (for spouses)	No
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident (永住者の配偶者等, Eijūsha no Haigūsha-tō)		Spouses and children of permanent residents	Spouse/parent with PR	Spouse: no work restrictions; child aged 15+: with permission, can work up to 28 hours/week	6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	1+ year of residence, 3+ years of marriage (for spouses)	No
Dependent (家族滞在, Kazoku Taizai)	of HSP	Spouses and children (including children of spouse)	HSP	Spouse: no work restrictions; child aged 15+: with permission, can work up to 28 hours/week			No
	of Work-Based status holders (including SSW2)	Spouses and children		Permission required to work up to 28 hours/week (children must be aged 15+）
	Student	Granted in limited circumstances to spouse and children, eg postdoctoral student on long-term research project with significant financial means		Permission required to work up to 28 hours/week (children must be aged 15+）
	of DA subcategories (1) Highly Specialized Professionals without a specific work status; (2) Athletes, Artists, Performers	Granted on a case by case basis to spouses and children		Permission required to work up to 28 hours/week (children must be aged 15+）
Long-Term Resident (定住者, Teijūsha)		Common cases include: Nikkei (people of Japanese descent, mainly 2nd or 3rd generation from South America). Refugees recognized under special provisions. Those with strong humanitarian ties (eg, former Dependent status holders who cannot continue under that category, eg adult children of work-based status holders, or widowers/divorcees with long-term residency in Japan who intend to remain to raise children with Japanese nationality or residency). Dependents (spouses or children of Long-Term Residents)			6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	5+ years of residency	Yes
Designated Activities (特定活動, Tokutei Katsudō)	Spouse or Child of a Future Creation Individual			Restricted to the designated activities	6 months - 5 years	Depends on case
	Spouse or Child of an Internship DA Holder
	Spouse, Child or other family members of a Long-Term Medical Treatment DA Holder
	Spouse or Child of Certain Other DA Holders (case-by-case)	Spouse or Child of below DA pathway holders, on case-by-case basis (financial stability and long-term stay of sponsor would be beneficial to application): Highly Specialized Professionals without a Specific Work Status Athletes, Artists, or Performers on DA Postdoctoral Researchers or Special Research Fellows on DA Specially Approved Volunteers or NGO Workers on DA Cultural Activities DA Holders with Paid Work Permission

Appendix 6: Summary of which status holders can sponsor family members

Status of sponsor		Status of family member	Applicability	Duration of Stay	Work restrictions	Path to Permanent Residency
[Japanese national]		Spouse or Child of Japanese National (日本人の配偶者等, Nihonjin no Haigūsha-tō)	Spouse of Japanese National Child of Japanese national	6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	Spouse: no work restrictions. Child aged 15+: with permission, can work up to 28 hours/week.	After 1+ year of residence (spouses must also have been married for 3+ years)
�3��		Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident (永住��a��Eijūsha no Haigūsha-tō)	Spouse of Permanent Resident Child of Permanent Resident
Highly Skilled Professional (HSP)		Dependent (家族滞在, Kazoku Taizai)	Spouse of Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Child of HSP or of HSP's spouse		Spouse: no work restrictions. Child aged 15+: with permission, can work up to 28 hours/week.	Spouse of HSP can apply for PR once HSP has gained PR which could happen on 1-year or 3-year pathways
		Designated Activities (特定活動, Tokutei Katsudō)	Parents of Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) or HSP's spouse (1 set of parents eligible at any one time) if HSP/HSP's spouse has a child under 7, and Parents' purpose is to support childcare, and Parents are financially dependent on HSP	6 months, 1 year	No work permitted	HSP Dependent status ordinarily has no direct path to PR. However, HSPs have a fast-track to PR (eligible to apply after 1 or 3 years). If the HSP gains PR status, then the HSP's spouse and children are eligible for Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, after which there is a 1-year pathway to PR. NB such pathways are only available to spouses and biological or adopted children; not stepchildren.
Highly Skilled & Professional Work status holders other than HSPs and Entertainer (ie Professor, Researcher, Instructor, ESI, Medical Services, Legal/Accounting Services, Business Manager, Intra-Company Transferee, Journalist, Artist, Religious Activities, Nursing Care, Skilled Labour)		Dependent (家族滞在, Kazoku Taizai)	Spouse Child	3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	Spouse or child aged 15+: work permission required (limited to 28 hours/week)	Not a direct path to PR, but may switch to eligible status; time as dependent counts towards the general 10-year eligibility criterion for PR
Specified Skilled Worker Type 2 (Type 1 workers are not eligible to sponsor dependents)		Dependent (家族滞在, Kazoku Taizai)	Spouse Child	3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years
Designated Activities (特定活動, Tokutei Katsudō): pathways where sponsorship of dependents is possible under Dependent status. NB Working Holiday Programme partipants and Housekeepers of HSPs, Diplomats and Officials cannot sponsor dependents	Post-graduation job-seekers	Dependent (家族滞在, Kazoku Taizai)	Spouse Child	3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	Spouse or child aged 15+: work permission required (limited to 28 hours/week)	Not a direct path to PR, but may switch to eligible status; time as dependent counts towards the general 10-year eligibility criterion for PR
	Athletes and artists
	Interns for overseas universities
	Supporters of refugee applicants
	Japanese descendants (who do not qualify for Long-Term Residency)
Designated Activities (特定活動, Tokutei Katsudō): pathways where sponsorship of dependents is possible under a DA pathway:	Future Creation Individual (FCI)	Designated Activities: FCI Dependent	Spouse and child		Spouse or child aged 15+: work permission required (limited to 28 hours/week)
	Medical stay: long term	Designated Activities: Accompanying persons for long-term medical stay	Spouse, child, other family and non-family caregivers		Spouse and child: no explicit work permission, but work may be permitted under standard conditions (<28hrs/week); professional caregivers and others: work permission outside of the caregiving role extremely unlikely
	Long-term sightseeing and recreation	Designated Activities: Accompanying persons for long-term sightseeing and recreation	Spouse, child, other family members (assessed on case-by-case basis), caregivers (in the case where the primary holder needs assistance; assessed on case-by-case basis)		No work permission under any circumstances (must be financially dependent on the sponsor); professional caregiver may be permitted to receive remuneration for role
[Japanese national] or Permanent Resident		Designated Activities: Elderly Parents of Japanese Nationals or Permanent Residents	Parents who require financial or cargeving support	6 months, 1 year, extendable provided conditions are met	No work permitted	No
Diplomat or Official (外交・公用の配偶者等, Gaimu / Kōyō)		Spouse or Child of Diplomat or Official (外交・公用の配偶者等, Gaimu / Kōyō no Haigūsha-tō)	Spouse Child	Duration of diplomat or official’s stay	None
Long-Term Resident (定住者, Teijūsha)				6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years	None	Varies based on individual circumstances

See Also

• Explanation of the difference between visa and landing permission / status of residence by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Permanent residency