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Japan
Immigration
Documents to Be Submitted with Visa Applications
The following documents must be submitted whatever the purpose of the visit:
- passport
- two 45mm x 45mm passport-type photos taken within the previous six months
(stateless persons must submit three photos)
- two official visa application forms, available at the embassy or consulate
- documents certifying the purpose of the visit (see the accompanying table)
Please make your application at an embassy or consulate after preparing these
documents.
Documents Certifying the Purpose of the Visit
Please remember that the documents listed in the accompanying table are for
general cases. In specific cases, applicants may be able to omit some documents,
or they may be requested to submit additional documents depending on the
content of the application. In particular, applicants for Temporary Visitor
Status may be requested to submit such documents as a letter giving the reason
for the invitation or a letter of guarantee from the person in Japan inviting
them, in addition to the documents shown in the accompanying table.
In principle, foreigners who possess a Certificate of Eligibility can submit
two copies (the original and a photocopy) of the certificate, instead of
documents certifying the purpose of the visit. However, they may be requested to
submit additional documents. As all documents are to be submitted directly
by the applicant, any documents prepared in Japan must be sent to the applicant.
For further details, please inquire at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at the
embassy or consulate where the application will be made. (See Appendix
4 for locations.)
Please note the following when submitting the required documents:
- One copy each of the documents should be submitted. (If you are requested
to submit two or more copies of a document, please submit the original and one
or more photocopies.)
- If it is impossible to submit the original of a document, please submit a
photocopy.
- The letter of guarantee should be similar to the example shown after the
accompanying table. As long as the necessary items are all included, you can
produce your own.
- For all other documents besides the letter of guarantee, there is no official
format, so please produce your own in an appropriate manner.
(a) For the Purpose of Short-Term Stay
|
Status of
residence |
Supporting documents |
|
Temporary Visitor |
1. A ticket for boarding an airplane or a
vessel to leave Japan, or a written guarantee issued by a transport
company.
2. A valid passport which enables the foreign national concerned to
enter foreign countries out of Japan.
3. Documents certifying that the person concerned can defray all
expenses incurred during the stay in Japan. |
(b) For the Purpose of Work or Long-Term Stay
|
Status of
residence |
Supporting documents |
|
Diplomat |
Note verbale and/or documents issued by the foreign government or
international organization, certifying the identity of the person
concerned and his or her purposes while visiting Japan. |
|
Official |
Note verbale and/or documents issued by
the foreign government or international organization, certifying the
identity of the person concerned and his or her purposes while visiting
Japan. |
|
Professor |
Documents certifying the activity, its
duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned. |
|
Artist |
1. Documents certifying the activity, its
duration, and the position of the person concerned.
2. Material showing the achievements of the artistic activity of the
person concerned. |
|
Religious Activities |
1. Documents from the foreign religious
organization, certifying the duration of stay, position, and
remuneration of the person concerned.
2. Material showing the outline of the foreign religious organization
which is sending the person concerned, and the recipient Japanese
religious organization.
3. Documents certifying the position and career of the person concerned
as a religionist. |
|
Journalist |
Documents certifying the activity, its
duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned. |
|
Investor/Business Manager |
1. In cases where the person concerned
intends to commence the operation of international trade or other
business, or to invest in the business, the following materials are
required.
- A business plan, copies of the company registration, and a
statement of profit and loss.
- Material showing the number of full-time staff except the foreign
national concerned, and in the case where the number of the
full-time staff is two, copies of resident cards or certificates of
alien registration and documents regarding wage payments of the
staff concerned.
- Material showing the outline of the business office.
2. In cases where the person concerned intends to engage in management
of international trade or other business on behalf of the foreign
national who began or invested the business concerned, the following
materials are required.
- A business plan, copies of the company registration, and a
statement of profit and loss.
- Material showing the number of full-time staff except the foreign
national concerned, and in the case where the number of the
full-time staff is two, copies of resident cards or certificates of
alien registration and documents regarding wage payments of the
staff concerned.
- Material showing the outline of the business office.
- Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and
the remuneration of the person concerned.
3. In cases where the person concerned intends to engage in management
of international trade or other business on behalf of the foreign
national who began or invested in the business concerned or is engaged
in management of the business concerned which was begun or invested in
Japan, the following materials are required.
- A business plan, copies of the company registration, and a
statement of profit and loss.
- Material showing the number of full-time staff except the foreign
national concerned, and in the case where the number of the
full-time staff is two, copies of resident cards or certificates of
alien registration and documents regarding wage payments of the
staff concerned.
- Material showing the outline of the business office.
- Documents certifying the career of the person concerned and his or
her certificate of graduation with a major in management or
administration.
- Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and
the remuneration of the person concerned.
|
|
|
Legal/Accounting Services |
1. Documents certifying that the person
concerned is qualified to do the activities under the status of
residence of "Legal/Accounting Services" provided for in
Annexed Table 1 (2) of the Immigration Control Act.
2. Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and
the remuneration of the person concerned. |
|
Medical Services |
1. Material showing the outline of the
recipient organization.
2. Documents certifying that the person concerned is qualified to do
the activities under the status of residence of "Medical
Services" provided for in Annexed Table 1 (2) of the Immigration
Control Act.
3. Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and
the remuneration of the person concerned. |
|
Researcher |
1. Material showing the outline of the
recipient organization.
2. A diploma, a personal history, and other documents certifying the
career of the person concerned.
3. Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and
the remuneration of the person concerned. |
|
Instructor |
1. Material showing the outline of the
recipient organization.
2. Documents certifying the academic career or a copy of an
educational license of the person concerned.
3. Documents certifying the professional career of the person
concerned.
4. Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and
the remuneration of the person concerned. |
|
Engineer |
1. Copies of the company registration
and a statement of profit and loss of the recipient organization.
2. Materials describing the business undertaken by the recipient
organization.
3. A diploma or a certificate of graduation with a major in the
subject regarding the activity of the person concerned, and documents
certifying his or her professional career.
4. Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and
the remuneration of the person concerned. |
|
Specialist in
Humanities/
International
Services |
1. Copies of the company registration
and a statement of profit and loss of the recipient organization.
2. Materials describing the business undertaken by the recipient
organization.
3. A diploma or a certificate of graduation with a major in a subject
relating to the activity of the person concerned, and documents
certifying his or her professional career.
4. Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and
the remuneration of the person concerned. |
|
Intra-
company
Transferee |
1. Documents certifying the relationship
between the business office in a foreign country and the business
office in Japan.
2. Copies of the company registration and a statement of profit and
loss of the business office in Japan, and material describing the
business activities.
3. Documents certifying the details of his or her duty and its
duration at the business office in a foreign country.
4. Copies of the company registration of the business office in a
foreign country, and material showing its outline.
5. Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and
the remuneration of the person concerned.
6. A diploma and documentation certifying the career of the person
concerned. |
|
Entertainer |
1. In cases where the person concerned
intends to engage in theatrical or musical performances, or sports or
other public entertainment, the following materials are required.
- A personal history and documents issued by the official
organization which is certifying the career and the qualification
regarding the activity of the person concerned.
- Copies of the company registration, a statement of profit and
loss, and the list of staff of the organization inviting the
person concerned.
- Materials showing the outline of the entertainment site
- In the case where the organization inviting the person concerned
undertakes the entertainment, a copy of the contract is required.
- Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position,
and the remuneration of the person concerned.
2. In cases where the person concerned intends to engage in show
business, the following materials are required.
- Materials showing the achievements in show business of the
person concerned.
- Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position,
and the remuneration of the person concerned.
|
|
Skilled
Labor |
1. Copies of the company registration
and a statement of profit and loss of the recipient organization.
2. Materials describing the business undertaken by the recipient
organization.
3. A personal history and documents issued by the official
organization which is certifying the career and the qualification
regarding the activity of the person concerned.
4. Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and
the remuneration of the person concerned. |
|
Cultural Activities |
1. In cases where the person concerned
intends to engage in academic or artistic activities, or to engage in
specific studies of Japanese culture or arts, the following materials
are required.
- Documents certifying the activity and its duration of the person
concerned, and the outline of the organization where he or she
intends to engage in the activity concerned.
- Documents certifying the academic career, professional career,
and other career regarding the activity of the person concerned.
- Documents certifying that the person concerned can defray all
expenses incurred during the stay in Japan.
2. In cases where the person concerned intends to learn Japanese
culture or arts under the guidance of an expert, additional materials
showing the career and the achievements of the expert, besides the
documents mentioned above, are required. |
|
College
Student |
1. A copy of a certificate of admission
from the educational institution where the person concerned intends to
study. In the case where he or she intends to study as a research
student or an auditor, documents certifying the substance of the
research or the subjects and the number of lessons from the
educational institution concerned.
2. Documents certifying that the person concerned can defray all
expenses incurred during the stay in Japan. In cases where the
expenses incurred during the stay in Japan are defrayed by another
person, documents certifying the income of the person who intends to
defray all expenses and documents showing why he or she intends to
defray all expenses for the person concerned are required. |
|
Precollege
Student |
1. A copy of the certificate of
admission from the educational institution where the person concerned
intends to study.
2. A diploma and documentation certifying the career of the person
concerned.
3. Documents certifying that the person concerned can defray all
expenses incurred during the stay in Japan. In cases where the
expenses incurred during the stay in Japan are defrayed by another
person, documents certifying the income of the person who intends to
defray all expenses and documents showing why he or she intends to
defray all expenses for the person concerned are required. |
|
Trainee |
1. A training plan showing the substance
of the training, its necessity, location, duration, and the conditions
of stay.
2. Documents certifying that the person concerned intends to engage in
a duty that requires the technique, skill, and knowledge learned
during the stay in Japan after returning home.
3. A diploma and documentation certifying the professional career of
the person concerned.
4. Documents certifying the professional career of the trainer
regarding the training concerned.
5. Material showing the outline of the foreign organization which is
sending the person concerned.
6. Copies of the company registration, a statement of profit and loss,
a list of full-time staff of the organization inviting the person
concerned, and a list of trainees. |
|
Dependent |
1. Documents certifying the personal
relationship between the person concerned and the person who is to
support him or her.
2. Copies of the certificate of alien registration or the passport of
the person who is to support the person concerned.
3. Documents certifying the profession and the income of the person
who is to support the person concerned. |
|
Designated
Activities |
1. In cases where the person concerned
intends to engage in management of a gainful business or to engage in
an activity to be paid, documents certifying the activity, its
duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned
are required.
2. In other cases, the following materials are required.
- Documents certifying the activity during the stay of the person
concerned in Japan.
- Documents certifying that the person concerned can defray all
expenses incurred during the stay in Japan.
|
|
|
Spouse or
Child of
Japanese
National |
1. In cases where the person concerned
is a spouse of a Japanese national, the following materials are
required.
- Documents certifying that the person concerned is a spouse of
the Japanese national and his or her resident card.
- Documents certifying the profession and the income of the
person concerned or his or her spouse.
- A letter of guarantee by a person living in Japan.
2. In cases where the person concerned is a child or an adopted
child of Japanese national, the following materials are required.
- A copy of the family registration of the Japanese national
concerned, the birth certificate of the foreign national
concerned, and other documents certifying the personal
relationship between the parent and the child.
- Documents certifying the profession and the income of the
foreign national concerned or his or her father or mother.
- A letter of guarantee by the Japanese national concerned or
another person living in Japan.
|
|
Spouse or
Child of
Permanent
Resident |
1. In cases where the person concerned
is a spouse of a permanent resident, the following materials are
required.
- Documents certifying the personal relationship between the
person concerned and the permanent resident concerned.
- Copies of the certificate of alien registration or the
passport of the permanent resident concerned.
- Documents certifying the profession and the income of the
foreign national concerned or his or her spouse.
- A letter of guarantee by the permanent resident concerned.
2. In cases where the person concerned is a child of a permanent
resident, the following materials are required.
- The birth certificate of the person concerned and other
documents certifying the personal relationship between the
parent and the child.
- Copies of the certificate of alien registration or the
passport of the permanent resident concerned.
- Documents certifying the profession and the income of the
foreign national concerned or his or her father or mother.
- A letter of guarantee by the permanent resident concerned or
another person living in Japan.
|
|
Long-Term
Resident |
1. A copy of the family registration,
the marriage certificate, the birth certificate, and other documents
certifying the status of the foreign national concerned.
2. Documents certifying that the person concerned can defray all
expenses incurred during the stay in Japan. In cases where the
expenses incurred during the stay in Japan are defrayed by another
person, documents certifying the income of the person who intends to
defray all expenses.
3. A letter of guarantee by a person living in Japan. |
|