How many types of visa in Japan? Is it difficult to apply for a Japan visa? These common questions are the concern of many people when looking into and having the desire to visit Japan for experiences as well as for living, studying, and working.
Japan is a beautiful country with wonderful natural scenery, people, and a culture that is diverse and unique compared to all over the world. However, you must have a great attention to detail about preparing one indispensable item – a Visa – in your luggage if you want to set foot in the “Land of the Rising Sun.”
From now on, jvisa will provide you with comprehensive information on the types of Japan visas so that everyone can be proactive and ready when applying for a visa to Japan!
What is a Visa?
A Visa (entry and exit visa): A visa is an official document that allows the bearer to legally enter a foreign country. The visa is usually stamped or glued into the bearer’s passport. There are several different types of visas, each of which afford the bearer different rights in the host country.
Types of Japanese Visas
Japan issues various types of visas depending on the purpose of entry. Here jvisa will classify according to the following two criteria:
Number of Entries
Single-entry and double-entry visas: For citizens who want to go to Japan for tourism, visiting relatives, transit, educational exchanges… With this type, you will only be allowed to enter once and twice respectively. If you want to enter again, you will have to apply for a new visa.
Multiple-entry visa: you can return to Japan multiple times during its validity. This visa is for those going to Japan for business purposes, intellectuals, etc.
Validity of visa
| Type of visa | Number of valid entries | Validity period (from the day after issuance) | Stay period (from the day after entering Japan) |
| Single-entry | Once | Within 3 months | From 15 days onwards (Each short-term stay is 90 day limit) |
| Double-entry | Twice | Within 6 months (for transit visas – transit is 4 months) | From 15 days onwards (Each short-term stay is 90 day limit) |
| Multiple-entry | Multiple Times | From 1 year onwards (based on the purpose of visit to Japan) | From 15 days onwards (Each short-term stay is 90 day limit) |
Note: In the case of a “short-term stay” visa, the total time in Japan must not exceed six months (for the purpose of visiting relatives, friends, or for tourism, business, etc.). If you want to learn more information, you can visit the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan here.
Purpose of Entry
Tourist Visa
Self-guided tourist visa: for people wanting to travel individually.
Tourist visa for package tours: For people participating in tours through the travel agencies accredited by the Japanese overseas establishment.
The designated travel companies will be responsible for receiving and returning the visa results.
Student Visa
Those going to Japan to study at Japanese language schools, cultural exchange, or universities and colleges need to apply for a student visa. Depending on the purpose of studying abroad, the visa will have different validity and renewal times.
Note: To apply for a student visa, you must have Proof of admission from an educational institution in Japan. At the same time, you must also prove financial capability, the ability to cover tuition and living expenses during the study period.
Work Visa
The Japanese work visa is a visa for foreigners to work legally in Japan.
There are main types of work in Japan below:
– Professor (university professor, assistant professor, assistant,…)
– Artist (composers, songwriters, artists, sculptors, photographers,…)
– Religious activities (religious people such as monks, bishops,…)
– Journalist (newspaper journalists, magazine journalists, editors,…)
– Business manager (company presidents, directors,…)
– Legal/Accounting services (public accountants, tax accountants,… certified in Japan)
– Medical services (physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses,… certified in Japan)
– Researcher (researchers, investigators,… at research institutes,…)
– Instructor (teachers,… at elementary schools, intermediate schools and high schools)
– Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services (scientific engineers, IT engineers, foreign language teachers, interpreters, copywriters, designers,…)
– Intra-company transferee (people transferred to the Japanese branch (head office of the same company,..))
– Nursing care (certified care worker)
– Entertainer (musicians, actors, singers, dancers, sportspeople, models,…)
– Skilled labor (chefs specializing in the food of a foreign country, animal trainers, pilots, sports trainers, sommeliers,…)
– Specified skilled worker (Work-ready foreign nationals who possess certain expertise and skills in certain industrial fields.)
– Technical intern training (Technical intern)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has posted a detailed procedures for these specified types of work visas in Japan, which you can refer to here.
Medical Visa
This visa is used for medical activities in Japan such as examination, treatment, recuperation, etc. Foreign patients wanting to apply for this visa first need to obtain a guarantee certificate from a designated guarantee institution (Medical coordination company, travel company, etc.) along with other necessary documents for the application.
The medical visa has a maximum validity of 3 years. Depending on the patient’s condition, the stay period will be within the ranges: 15 days / 30 days / 90 days / 6 months / 1 year.
Visa for Spouses and Children of Japanese Nationals
This visa is for foreign nationals who are spouses or children (including adopted children) of Japanese nationals, satisfying the following conditions:
| Conditions for Eligible Individuals | |
| In the case of a foreign national married to a Japanese national | – Must be a foreign national, not a Japanese citizen. – Must have a legally recognized marriage with a Japanese national who is living long-term legally in a country (except those without a visa or with a residency status of less than 6 months). – In principle, should be living with the Japanese national. |
| In the case of children of a Japanese national, including specially adopted children | – Must be a child of a Japanese national living long-term legally in a country or a specially adopted child of the Japanese national. – In principle, should be living with the Japanese national. |
The validity period: For single and double-entry visas, the validity will be 3 months (single) and 6 months (double). For multiple-entry visas, the validity can extend to 1 or 3 years with a stay period of up to 90 days.
Business Visa
The Japanese business visa, as a commercial visa, is intended for individuals entering Japan for business activities. This includes attending meetings, conferences, negotiating business, establishing partnerships, visiting factories or companies, and other business activities that do not involve directly providing services or engaging in income-generating employment in Japan.
The purpose of the business visa is to facilitate trade and business cooperation between Japan and other countries while ensuring that these activities do not violate labor and residency regulations in Japan.
Family Visit Visa
The family visit visa is for individuals wishing to visit their relatives in Japan, whether they are Japanese citizens or foreign nationals with legal residency status in Japan.
Applicants must provide details about their relationship with the relative in Japan and prove their financial capability to cover their stay in Japan. Required documents include an invitation letter, bank statements, income certification issued by a government agency, and other documents proving the visit’s purpose is family visitation and not for work or long-term settlement.
If you want to get more information about procedures, necessary documents to get specified visa, please refer details provided by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan here.