Japan Visa FAQ

The process has two stages. First, a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) must be submitted to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan — typically by your employer or a licensed representative. COE processing currently takes 1 to 3 months, though some categories and locations are experiencing longer processing times in 2026. Once the COE is issued, you apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country, which generally takes a few business days to 2 weeks.

Plan for a total of 2 to 4 months from the start of the process to entry into Japan. We recommend beginning at least 3 to 4 months before your intended start date.

For most employment-based visa categories — including the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa and the Highly Skilled Professional visa — yes, a sponsoring employer in Japan is required. The employer submits the COE application on your behalf.

Exceptions include the Business Manager Visa (where you are the one establishing and managing a company) and the Digital Nomad Visa (where you work for an overseas employer). Each of these has its own requirements.

Yes, under specific conditions. Japan introduced the Digital Nomad Visa in 2024, which permits remote work for overseas employers for up to 6 months. Key requirements include an annual income of at least ¥10,000,000 from overseas sources, eligible nationality, and private international health insurance.

Working remotely in Japan on a tourist or short-term visitor visa is not legally permitted, regardless of whether the income comes from overseas.

For stays beyond 6 months, a different visa category is required. There is currently no long-term digital nomad visa in Japan.

→ Digital Nomad Visa guide

Yes, in most cases. You can apply for a Change of Status of Residence without leaving Japan. Common examples include:

• Student visa → Engineer / Humanities work visa

• Dependent visa → Engineer / Humanities work visa

• Work visa → Business Manager Visa

• Work visa → Permanent Residence

You must meet the full eligibility requirements for the new status. A change of status application does not guarantee approval — if the application is rejected, your existing status remains in effect until it expires.

In most cases, yes. Spouses and unmarried children under 18 may apply for a Dependent visa. Dependent visa holders may live in Japan alongside the primary visa holder.

Spouses on a Dependent visa may apply for permission to engage in activities outside the scope of their status — including part-time work — but this requires a separate application and approval. Working without this permission is a visa violation.

Yes. For employment-based visas, the COE application is submitted in Japan by your employer or a licensed representative. You do not need to be in Japan during this stage. Once the COE is issued, you apply for the visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country.

Our office accepts clients worldwide. All initial consultation and case assessment can be conducted remotely by email. Stripe credit card payment is available for international clients.

Both are employment-based visas for professionals working for Japanese companies, but they differ significantly in benefits and requirements.

The Engineer / Humanities visa is the standard work visa. It covers a broad range of professional roles and requires a relevant degree or professional experience. The initial period of stay is typically 1 to 3 years.

The Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa is a points-based category for exceptionally qualified professionals. It requires reaching a threshold of 70 points (calculated based on education, salary, age, experience, and other factors). In exchange, HSP holders receive a 5-year period of stay, access to permanent residence in as little as 1 to 3 years, and other preferential treatment.

If you might qualify for HSP, it is worth calculating your points before applying for the standard visa.

→ HSP Visa guide 

Not automatically, but it is a significant factor that immigration authorities examine closely. The general rule is that your academic or professional background must be relevant to the role. If the connection between your degree and the job is indirect or unclear, a detailed explanation from the employer — and sometimes professional support in structuring the application — can make a substantial difference to the outcome. Please contact us to assess your specific situation. 

Technically yes — the COE application can be prepared and submitted by the employer without a licensed representative. However, errors in document preparation, insufficient explanation of the role or company, or a mismatch between the application and the actual job activities are common reasons for rejection or delays. Using a licensed Administrative Scrivener adds a layer of review that catches these issues before submission. 

The requirements were significantly tightened effective October 16, 2025. The key changes:

• Capital requirement: increased from ¥5,000,000 to ¥30,000,000

• At least one qualifying full-time employee is now required in addition to the capital (not as an alternative)

• Japanese language proficiency (JLPT N2 / CEFR B2 equivalent) is now required — either from the applicant or the qualifying employee

• A bachelor's degree or 3+ years of management experience is required

• The business plan must be verified by a licensed CPA, tax accountant, or SME consultant

The visa remains renewable and allows long-term residence, but the upfront financial and structural requirements are now substantially higher than before.

→ Business Manager Visa guide 

Yes. A transitional period applies from October 16, 2025 to October 16, 2028. During this period, renewals are assessed individually. In practice, applicants are expected to demonstrate a credible plan for meeting the new requirements within the transitional window. Renewals that cannot show a realistic path toward the new standards are at risk of denial even before October 2028.

If your renewal falls within this period, we recommend consulting a specialist at least 6 months before your current visa expires. Note: specialist legal advice is strongly recommended. The above is general information only.

The general requirement is 10 years of continuous residence, with at least 5 of those years under a qualifying work or residence status (student visa periods do not count toward the 5-year requirement).

Exceptions:

• Highly Skilled Professional visa holders: eligible after 3 years (70+ points) or 1 year (80+ points)

• Spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents: eligible after 3 years of marriage and 1 year of residence, or 1 year of residence as a spouse

As of 2026, you must also hold a 5-year visa period at the time of application (a 3-year visa is accepted under a transitional grace period until March 31, 2027).

→ Permanent Residence guide 

As of 2026, yes — potentially significantly. Immigration authorities now apply a strict standard: even a single late payment may be flagged during the review of permanent residence applications. This is a change from prior practice. If you have any gaps or late payments in your tax or pension record for the past 3 to 5 years, we strongly recommend addressing this before applying and consulting a tax specialist. Applying with unresolved compliance issues substantially reduces the likelihood of approval. 

Permanent residence grants the right to live and work in Japan indefinitely without immigration restrictions, while retaining your original nationality. It does not grant a Japanese passport or voting rights.

Naturalization grants full Japanese citizenship — including a Japanese passport and voting rights — but requires renouncing your original nationality. Japan does not formally recognize dual nationality for naturalized citizens.

As of April 2026, both permanent residence and naturalization generally require 10 years of continuous residence under the standard tracks. For applicants unsure which to pursue, the most common approach is to obtain permanent residence first — since it carries no obligation to renounce your original nationality — and then consider naturalization later if desired.

→ Naturalization guide 

For permanent residence: there is no formal Japanese language requirement. However, maintaining a stable life in Japan — including filing taxes, managing social insurance, and communicating with local authorities — practically requires at least basic Japanese ability.

For naturalization: there is no formal language exam, but applicants are expected to demonstrate basic conversational Japanese during an informal interview at the Legal Affairs Bureau. Roughly elementary school level reading and writing ability is generally expected for completing the application documents.

No. We work with clients worldwide. Initial consultation, case assessment, and document preparation can all be handled remotely by email. For clients overseas, Stripe credit card payment is accepted. We do not require in-person meetings at any stage of the process. 

Contact us by email with a brief description of your situation — your nationality, current status, what you are trying to do in Japan, and any specific concerns. We will review the outline and respond with an honest assessment of whether we can assist, the most appropriate visa category for your situation, and an overview of the likely scope, fees, and timeline. There is no charge and no commitment at this stage. 

JPY 22,000 per session. This covers a detailed eligibility assessment, visa strategy recommendation, document checklist, and Q&A. Payment is by credit card via Stripe or bank transfer.

→ Consultation details