2023-04-27

Foreigners need a work visa to work during their stay in Japan. Since the length of stay varies by residency status, some worry about how long the work visa is valid and what happens when their visa expires. This article describes the work visa system and the length of stay allowed with this visa.

What is a work visa?

The term refers to the residency status foreigners need to work in Japan. Work visa is not an official term, but an idiomatic expression.

Residence statuses for the purpose of work are classified as follows, depending on the content of the work.

• “Diplomat", “Official", “Professor", “Artist", “Religious Activities", “Journalist", “Business Manager", “Legal/Accounting Services", “Medical Services", “Researcher", “Instructor", “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services", “Intra-company Transferee", “Entertainer", and “Skilled Labor".

You cannot work on a visa issued for activities that do not fall under the above categories. For example, “Cultural Activities", “Temporary Visitor", “Student", “Training", “Short-term Study", “Family Stay", etc.

However, with the residence status “Designated Activities" it is possible to work within the allowed limits.

Designated activities are activities specifically designated by the Department of Justice for individual foreign nationals, including domestic workers such as diplomats, working vacationers, and foreign nurse/nurse candidates under economic partnership agreements.

Length of stay for work visa

• Diplomat: period of diplomatic activity
• Officer: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 3 months, 30 days or 15 days 
• Professor:  5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
• Artist: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
• Religious activities: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
• Journalist: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
• Business manager: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 4 months, 3 months
• Legal/accounting services: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 3 months
• Medical services: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
• Researcher:  5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
• Instructor: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
• Engineer/specialist in humanities/International services: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
• Intra-company transferee: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
• Entertainer: 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, 3 months or 15 days
• Skilled labor: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
• Technical intern training: 1 within 2 years, 2 and 3 within 2 years)
• Highly skilled professional:
  • Highly skilled professional (i): 5 years 
  • Highly skilled professional (ii): indefinite
• Nursing care: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months
• Specified skilled worker:
  • Specified skilled worker (i): 1 year, 6 months, 4 months (within 5 years)
  • Specified skilled worker (ii): 3 years, 1 year, 6 months (there is no limit to how many times you can renew your visa)

Summary

A work visa is a status of residence required for foreigners to work in Japan. You can work in Japan only with visas issued for activities in the above categories.

However, with the “Designated Activities " residence status, it is possible to work within the allowed limits.