Status of residence
Status of residence determines the activities foreign nationals can engage in while staying in Japan. These statuses define whether a person can work, study, conduct research, or sponsor dependents.
The terms status of residence, visa, and landing permission are often confused. A simple summary is below:
| Visa
(査証, Shashō) |
Issued by a Japanese embassy or consulate before the individual arrives in Japan. It confirms that an applicant has been assessed and deemed eligible for a particular status of residence. It does not guarantee entry. It allows a person to apply for landing permission. |
|---|---|
| Landing permission
(上陸許可, Jōriku Kyoka) |
The legal permission to enter Japan, granted by an Immigration Officer at the point of entry. A visa is ordinarily required to receive landing permission, except for Temporary Visitors from visa waiver countries, and certain other cases. Upon receiving landing permission, an individual is assigned a status of residence with a specific period of stay. |
| Status of residence
(在留資格, Zairyū Shikaku) |
This determines the activities a foreign national can engage in whilst in Japan. Unlike a visa, which is only used to seek initial entry into Japan, a status of residence must be maintained, extended or changed as necessary in order for the individual to continue living legally in Japan and carry out specific activities such as work or study. |
A status of residence can be obtained without a visa or landing permission in certain cases, such as when a baby is born in Japan without Japanese nationality.
A status of residence is either activity-based (eg Instructor, Student, Trainee) or awarded on a personal basis (eg Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Permanent Resident).
Activity-based statuses can be further divided into:
- Work-based statuses, where professional or highly skilled work is the primary purpose of the status holder
- Limited work-based statuses, covering work which is short-term or limited in scope
- Non-work-based statuses, covering purposes such as study and training
| Activity-based statuses
(活動資格) |
Personal statuses
(身分資格, Mibun Shikaku) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Work-based statuses
(就労資格, Shūrō shikaku) |
Restricted work-based statuses | Non-work-based statuses | |
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| Professionals, business owners, skilled workers, etc. | Specific Skilled Workers (Type 1) who on a non-renewable programme, Technical Intern Training Programme participants (TITP) who are paid salaries in Years 2-5, but who are on a non-renewable programme, etc | Students, Trainees, Cultural Activties | Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident, Permanent Resident, Special Permanent Resident |
| Dependent has characterists of both a Personal status (gained through family ties by definition) and a Non-work-based Activity status (its core purpose is family residency, with restricted work permission ordinarly obtainable). It is categorised by MOJ as a Personal status. | |||
While most Activity-based statuses are neatly defined (eg Professor, Medical Services), the Designated Activities (DA) status is an umbrella status consisting of more than 50 pathways for specific purposes, which can themselves be classified as Activity-based or Personal, with Activity-based pathways subcategorised as Work-based and Other than work-based:
| Designated Activities Status of Residence | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Activity-based pathways | Personal pathways | ||
| Work-based | Limited work-based | Non-work based | |
| Highly specialised professionals who do not qualify for a standard work-based status of residence, such as athletes and artists. | Ski instructors (seasonal work); Housekeepers (very specific work with heavy restrictions); Post-Graduate Employment in Japan (time-limited period of free access to the labour market outside of the usual classification restrictions), J-Find participants (a 2-year pathway for graduates of certain foreign universities, offering flexibility to work or explore entrepreneurship). | Cultural Activties with permission for paid work, Working Holiday programme (core purpose is cultural exchange); Long-term stay for sightseeing; Long-term stay for medical treatment, etc | Japanese Descendent who does not qualify for Long-Term-Resident |
| Spouse or Child of J-Find participant (functionally identical to Dependent; awarded on basis of personal relationship with sponsor; with permission, can work up to 28 hours/week) | |||
These pathways will be considered in the relevant sections of this guide (Work-based, Limited work-based, Non-work-based, Personal).
Work-based Statuses
Revised section plan:
- 'General' or 'Standard' work-based statuses: 13 cases (+ any appropriate DA pathways)
- NB 4 Business Manager is (often?) self-employment, Artist/Entertainer/Religious can be too; accompanying DA pathway: Athletes, artists or performers who do not qualify for Entertainer status
- HSP (including J-SKIP, and HSP2)
- Skilled labour / trade statuses: Skilled Labour (SL) and SSW2
- SSW2: the only 'blue-collar' working status to qualify for the official work-based category (+ mention of large numbers of de facto workers actually being on non-work statuses such as SSW1 and TITP)
General
Professor, Researcher, Instructor, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (ESI), Medical Services, Legal/Accounting Services, Intra-Company Transferee, Journalist, Nursing Care, Business Manager, Artist, Religious Activities, Entertainer.
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services acts as a catch-all for many professional jobs including engineers, IT specialists, teachers, translators, marketers, consultants, and finance professionals. It accounts for approximately 80% of all holders of work-based statuses. 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). In this guide it will sometimes be termed 'ESI (Gijinkoku)' so as to be meaningful to those already familiar with the Japanese shorthand name and those who are not.
- Entertainer - often shorter contracts so unique structure of possible durations (from 30-day stay); rarer for Dependents to be supported
- Business manager -- self-employed, so different to most regular categories.
- Artist and Religious Activities can be self-employed too; also, DA Athlete/Artist pathway exists
- DA Highly skilled professional without category pathway
HSP
Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) is special work-based status with the following privileges:
- a 5-year initial duration of stay
- a fast-track pathway to permanent residency (eligible to apply after 1 year or 3 years)
- eligible to engage in a business in addition to their designated employment
- eligibility for an indefinite period of stay and greatly relaxed working conditions (via HSP2; eligible to apply after 1 or 3 years)
- enhanced working rights for a spouse (great care needed when writing up as this point seems widely misreported)
- ability to sponsor parents/parents-in-law to support in certain circumstances (child under 7, or HSP/spouse is pregant)
- ability to hire housekeeper if conditions are met (including ability to hire parent/parent-in-law as housekeeper in certain conditions)
- priority processing of applications
In 2023, a special HSP tier called Special Highly Skilled Professional, or J-Skip (as it skips the points-based system) was introduced. It has simplified procedures and even greater privileges for people who meet the elevated J-Skip criteria.
| Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) | Special Highly Skilled Professional (J-Skip)
(特別高度人材制度, J-Skip) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Fulfil points-based criteria with minimum score of 70 (or 80 for faster track to PR); points awarded for educational background, Japanese language proficiency, salary, age, professional qualifications, publications, etc | For pathways (1) Advanced academic research and (2) and Highly Specialised/Technical Activities either (a) or (b):
a. Masters degree or higher and salary of Y20m+ b. 10+ years of work experience in the field and salary of Y20m+ For pathway (3) Advanced business management activities: 5+ years of business management experience and salary of Y40m+ | |
| Privileges | Permitted activities | Relaxed requirements (but what does this really mean?) | Super-relaxed requirements (or is this the same as HSP perk?) |
| Duration | 5 years, eligible for Indefinite (HSP2) after 1 year (80+ points) or 3 years (70+ points) | 5 years, eligible for Indefinite (HSP2) after 1 year | |
| PR pathway | Eligible to apply after 1 year (80+ points) or 3 years (70+ points) | Eligible to apply after 1 year | |
| HSP2 pathway | Eligible to apply after 1 year (80+ points) or 3 years (70+ points) | Eligible to apply after 1 year | |
| Spouse's employment | Permitted to work full-time
Researcher, Instructor, ESI, Entertainer |
As HSP but with Professor, Artist, Journalist, Religious Activities, Skilled Worker | |
| Permission for parents to reside | Permitted for childcare support of child (HSP's or HSP's spouse's) under 7 or pregnancy support (HSP or HSP's spouse); household income (ie combined income of HSP and spouse) must be Y10m+ | As HSP | |
| Housekeepers/
domestic workers |
If salary is Y10m+, can employ 1 housekeeper (some conditions exist regarding prior employment of foreign domestic worker; can employ 1 parent (of HSP or spouse) as housekeeper if there is a child under 13 or if the spouse cannot conduct household duties due to work, disability or illness | If salary is Y30m+, can employ up to 2 foreign domestic workers, with no additional conditions on family circumstances; relaxed conditions regarding prior employment of domestic worker | |
| Priority assessment | Priority assessment of status of residence application | As HSP + priority treatment at major airports | |
Skilled trade-based statuses
- Skilled Labour -- granted to foreign nationals with specialised skills in certain industries where Japan faces labor shortages. Distinct from Specified Skilled Worker as it requires higher qualifications and experience.
- SSW2 -- Type 2 of the Specified Skilled Worker status (SSW2) is classified as a work-based status and can be renewed as long as conditions are met, whereas Type 1 (SSW1) is classified as Quasi-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.
Notes
- Dependents
- PR pathways
- Etc
A pathway to PR is usually possible after 10 years of residency for those with a work-based status. Within the 10 years of residency, at least 5 years must be on work-based statuses, eg 4 years as a Student plus 6 years as an Instructor would fulfil the requirement, whereas 6 years as a Student and 4 years as an Instructor would not. HSPs have a fast track to PR and are eligible to apply after 1 year or 3 years (dependent on points).
This strict Immigration definition of what counts as a 'true' work-based status excludes some statuses and pathways which are work-based in the colloquial sense, such as Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 and the DA pathway Post-Graduation Employment in Japan. Within the Japanese Immigration framework, such examples can be deemed Quasi-work statuses, and have certain restrictions such as a maximum duration which are not present in the 'full' work-based statuses.
Summary of work-based statuses
| Status | Eligibility | Duration | Pathway to PR | Dependents | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Skilled 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, 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+) | |
| 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 | |
| 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 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 | |
HSP dependent info parked here for later use: Spouse (either as Dependent with permission required to work up to 28 hours/week, or as DA Working Spouse of HSP, with no restrictions on working hours but can only work within ESI, Instructor, Researcher and Entertainer categories); children of HSP or spouse (if 15+, can work up to 28 hrs/week with permission); 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
Work permission on other statuses
Work permission isn’t limited to work-based statuses.
Quasi-work statuses include work but don't fall within the strict Immigration definitions to qualify for the 5-year work-based status ordinarily required for PR.
Permanent Residents, Long-Term Residents, and spouses of Japanese Nationals, Permanent Residents, and HSPs can without restrictions. Other Dependents and Students can work with permission for up to 28 hours per weeks (40 hours/week for Students during academic breaks).
Working Holiday Programme participants and Cultural Exchange status holders may conduct work that is incidental to their cultural exchange. Certain Designated Activities pathways allow work, eg Supporter or refugee applicants is permitted to conduct work to support himself financially. Those on Technical Intern Training status receive remuneration, but the training is not considered work for PR-eligibility purposes.
While Temporary Visitors cannot work, exceptions exist for short-term business or academic activities.
Quasi-Work Statuses
The quasi-work statuses involve work but there are rigid restrictions either on the scope of work (ag Housekeeper to HSP) or on the time permitted to conduct that work (ag Post-Graduate Employment in Japan allows for work outside the field of specialisation and outside of the main work-based statuses, such as work in the tourism industry, but is strictly limited to 2 years), or both. 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.
Planned content:
- TITP
- Specified Skilled Worker: Type 1 (SSW1)
- DA pathways:
- Intersnhips for overseas students
- PG Employment in Japan
- Future Creation Individual (FCI) / J-Find: introduced in 2023; worthy of some commentary (and later, a comparison with Working Holiday)
- Housekeepers of HSPs
| Status | 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) | |||
Non-Work Statuses
Student status is for foreign nationals studying at universities, colleges and language schools. Permission to work can be granted for up to 28 hours/week (40 hours/week during breaks). Graduates may be able to move onto work-based statues, and there is also a Designated Activities pathway for post-graduate jobseekers to remain in Japan (in addition to the transitional DA pathway Post-Graduation Employment in Japan, covered in the Quasi-work section).
Plan for remainder of section:
- Cultural Activities allows for research or training in areas such as tea ceremony, without permission to work.
- Trainee is a non-working status
- Technical Intern Training status straddles the boundary between work and training. It allows for specific work-based training with remuneration, lasting up to 5 years in total. It has been criticised by some as being used in some cases as a route to cheap labour rather than providing trainees with valuable and specific training. Time on the programme does not count towards the 5 years of work-related residency required on the standard 10-year PR pathway, so it is classified in the non-work statuses in this guide.
- There are multiple non-work Designated Activities (DA) pathways. Expand on a couple, including Working Holiday Programme (one of the most popular of the pathways not yet covered)
| 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) | ||||||
| Short-Term Business/Academic Activities That Do Not Qualify for a Work Visa | ||||||
| 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) |
||||||
- Here pause to compare FCI and Working Holiday
| Working Holiday Programme | Future Creation Individual | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Cultural exchange, with incidental work permitted | Opportunity for recent graduates from a limited selection of worldwide universities to create their future in Japan via a 2-year pathway of unrestricted work access; designed for entrepreneurs or others |
| Age restrictions | 18-30 (18-35 for citizens of some countries) | None |
| Citizenship restrictions | None | |
| Duration of stay | ||
| ... | ||
| ... | ||
| ... |
Personal Statuses
Plan to tackle this section:
1. All personal statuses
- Spouse or Child x 2: cover off the easy cases first which come with no restrictions and fast-track to PR
- Depdendent: relatively straightforward to explain; just fiddly to tackle all of the qualifying sponsors (be sure to separate out HSPs due to their enhanced privileges); side note on DA dependent pathways
- Long-Term Residents: go for simple phrasing at first and try to specify examples likely to be relevant
- PR
2. Which statuses can sponsor family members?
1 ties in with the intro (covering off statuses of residence by category); 2 is also something potentially very useful for the readership. Some info may be repeated by this approach, but I think it is worthwhile approaching this from both angles, whilst minimising redundancy.
---
Spouse or Child of Japanese National and Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident are statuses allowing work without restriction. Both allow for PR with only 1 year of residency (spouses have the additional requirement of 3 years of marriage, but this may be satisfied with time prior to residency in Japan).
Dependent status allows a spouse or child of certain status holders to reside in Japan, and permission must be sought for work of up to 28 hours per week.
If the qualifying relationship with the sponsor ends (eg through death, divorce, child reaching adulthood, parental responsibility relinquished), the holder will need to apply for a new status of residence or make arrangements to leave Japan. In such cases, the Long-Term Resident (LTR) status could be appropriate; it is assessed on a case-by-case basis and is designed for individuals with ties to Japan, such as those formerly qualifying for residency as spouses or children of Japanese nationals.
| 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 except Entertainer: and of SSW2 | Spouses and children | 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+） | |||||
| of Cultural Activities, Students or TITP participants | 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+） | |||||
| Long-Term Resident
(定住者, Teijūsha) |
Common cases include:
|
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):
|
||||||
Family statuses of residence
[Repetitive from before; needs streamlining]
Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, and HSP's Dependents allow the spouse to work without restrictions and children aged 15+ may work for up to 28 hours per week with permission.
Most work-based statuses allow sponsorship of spouse and children via the Dependent status. Dependents aged 15 and over require permission to work up to 28 hours/week (except for the special case of depdent spouses of HSPs who can work without restriction, as noted above).
Some Designated Activites (DA) pathways allow for sponsorship of dependents via the Dependent status; other have separate DA pathways for dependents, eg the DA Future Creation Individual (FCI) pathway has its own DA Dependent of Future Creation Individual (FCI) pathway.
There are very limited cases in which parents can be sponsored:
- Highly Skilled Professionals (HSPs) who are allowed to sponsor one set of parents (either HSP's or HSP's spouse's) if the parents' purpose is to support childcare for a child or children under 7, and the parents are financially depdendent on the HSP.
- Japanese citizens and permanent residents are able to support elderly parents who require financial or caregiving support via the Designated Activties: Elderly Parents of Japanese Nationals or Permanent Residents pathway
Additionally, an HSP is allowed to employ a parent as Housekeeper if there is a child under 13 or if the spouse is unable to complete household duties due to disability, illness or work. In such cases, the normal condition of a minimum income of Y10m to sponsor a housekeeper is waived.
Parents could potential sponsor themselves via the following DA pathways:
- Long-term sightseeing and recreation (ordinarily limited to seniors)
- Medical Stay (Long-Term Medical Treatment): only available if the parent requires ongoing treatment in Japan.
There are multiple statuses of residence potentially applicable to family members as detailed below:
| 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) |
|
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) | |
| Permanent resident | Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident
(永住者の配偶者等, Eijūsha no Haigūsha-tō) |
| ||||
| Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) | Dependent
(家族滞在, Kazoku Taizai) |
|
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) |
|
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) |
|
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) |
|
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) |
|
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) |
|
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 | |||
Spouses and children can be sponsored by:
- a Japanese national
- a Permanent Resident
- a holder of a Highly Skilled & Professional Work residency status (HSPs are the only cases where their spouse's children can be sponsored, eg step-children)
- a holder of Specified Skilled Worker Type 2 status (Type 1 SSWs cannot sponsor spouses and children)
- in limited cases, a holder of a Student status or Technical Intern status
- a holder of certain subcategories within the Designated Activities status (post-graduation jobseekers, athletes and artists, housekeepers for diplomats and HSPs, internships for overseas university students, supporters of refugee applicants, Japanese descendants who do not qualify for Long-Term Resident status)
- a holder of a Diplomat or Official status
- a Long-Term Resident, in some cases
Long-Term and Indefinite Statuses
- Long-Term Resident
- Permanent Resident
- Special Permanent Resident
- HSP2 Status
Comparison of HSP2, PR, LTR and Japanese citizenship
| Highly Skilled Professional 2 (HSP2) | Permanent Resident (PR) | Long-Term Resident (LTR) | Japanese Citizen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Hold HSP1 status for 1yr+ (80+ points or J-Skip pathway) or 3yr+ (70+ points) | 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 | 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 |
Through birth, acknowledgement, naturalisation or reacquisition (in the case of minors who failed to reserve Japanese nationality when born abroad) |
| Duration | Indefinite | Indefinite | Renewable durations of 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years | Lifetime |
| Work Restrictions | [Need to write a watertight summary, here]
Unlike HSP1, work is permitted in any field (not just specialised professions listed for HSP1); unlike HSP1 there is no requirement to maintain a points total. |
No restrictions (free to conduct any or no work) | No restrictions (free to conduct any or no work) | No restrictions (free to conduct any or no work) |
| Family Sponsorship | 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 and children (Dependent status: permission required for work of up to 28 hours/week) | 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 (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 | Eligible after 1 year (80+ points) or 3 years (70+ points) | N/A (Already PR) | Typically 5+ years residency, stability, and good conduct | N/A |
| Eligibility for Citizenship | Eligible under standard naturalisation criteria; some sources recommend changing to PR prior to application | Eligible under standard naturalisation criteria | Eligible under standard naturalisation criteria | N/A (Already citizen) |
| Grounds for Losing Status | If criteria are not met (eg ceasing permitted activities, violating immigration laws), or if absent beyond the validity of re-entry permission | 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. | 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 | 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 | Periodic renewal of status required; need to comply with re-entry procedures | None |
| Under scope of the exit tax? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Highly Skilled Professional: a closer look
Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) status is a work-based status with multiple privileges. Successful navigation of the rules can enable individuals to swifly secure an indefinite status of residence: either HSP2 or permanent residency.
First, let's examine the eligibility criteria for HSP.
Other statuses of residence
- Temporary Visitor (短期滞在, Tanki Taizai)
- Diplomatic & Official:
- Diplomat (外交, Gaimu)
- Official (公用, Kōyō)
- DA Digital Nomad (a weird one; no zairyu card, no tax residency, yet stay of up to 6-months; non-renewable; cannot transition to other statuses; must have high salary, and seemingly narrow definitions of what work is acceptable, as well as citizenship requirements; much, much narrower scope than digital nomad schemes in many other countries)
Designated Activities Status
This status is granted for various purposes not covered by other residence statuses. It includes a wide range of both work and non-work activities, officially recognized by the Immigration Services Agency (ISA). Some of the most common sub-categories include:
Work-Related Designated Activities
- Post-graduation employment in Japan
- Highly specialised professionals without a work-specific status
- Housekeepers for diplomats or highly skilled professionals
- Internships for overseas university students
Non-Work Designated Activities
- Long-term stay for sightseeing and recreation
- Long-term medical treatment in Japan
- Supporters of refugee applicants
- Japanese descendants who do not qualify for the Long-Term Resident status
Special Cases
- Working Holiday Programme participants
- Dependent family members of Designated Activities holders
- Athletes, artists, or performers outside of "Entertainer" status
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, 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 | In limited long-term cases, spouse and children can be sponsored. | |
| 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 | ||||
| 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) |
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 | No | ||||
| 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:
|
| 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 |