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Types of Japanese Visas 
A Guide for Professionals & Skilled Workers

1. Why Understanding Visa Types Matters

Moving to Japan involves more than just getting a job — you need the right visa status. The visa (or more precisely the status of residence) determines what activities you can legally do in Japan: work, study, or live with family. Choosing incorrectly can lead to application delays, legal issues, or restrictions on what you can do once in Japan.

2. The Three Main Visa Categories

Japan broadly groups visa/status categories into three major types:
  • Working Visas (for paid employment and professional work)
  • Non-Working Visas / Visitor Visas (for tourism, short-term stays, cultural exchange)
  • Family-Related Visas / Residence Visas (for spouse/child of a Japanese national, long-term residence) 
    Each of these contains many subtypes tailored to specific purposes.

3. Key Visa Types for Skilled Professionals in Japan​

Here are some commonly relevant visa/status types for your BTA clients (engineers, application specialists, admin staff, overseas cadres) in Japan:
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Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services
  • For individuals with a university degree or equivalent professional experience applying for paid roles in Japan (e.g., engineering, IT, consulting)
  • Allows paid employment in the scope of the certificate of eligibility
  • Focused on professional work settings
​
Highly Skilled Professional Visa
  • A points-based visa for highly qualified professionals
  • Fast-track routes to longer stays and permanent residency
  • Targets global talent, research, and management roles
​
Business / Manager / Start-Up Visa
  • For entrepreneurs, business managers, and foreign nationals setting up or managing a company in Japan
  • Permits business activity and longer-term residence
​
Student Visa
  • For full-time enrolled students at colleges, universities, or language schools in Japan
  • Allows a limited amount of part-time work under certain conditions.
​​
Short-Term Visitor / Tourist Visa
  • For stays of up to 90 days for tourism, business meetings, and family visits. Work is not allowed under this status.
 
Spouse / Child of Japanese National / Long-Term Resident
  • For family-based residence, often longer validity, and may allow employment depending on status
  • Ideal when your life in Japan includes family relocation​​​

4. How to Choose the Right Visa

Here are the steps to decide the best option:
  • Identify your primary purpose in Japan: work, study, family, business
  • Check eligibility criteria for the visa status (degree, experience, job offer, business plan)
  • Confirm whether the visa allows paid employment, family accompaniment, or long-term residence
  • Understand the period of stay, renewal conditions, and route to permanent residence
  • Secure the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) precedes many long-term status applications
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