Work Visa to be permitted to work in Japan

Non-Japanese people, who intend to work in Japan basing on Work Visa, have to be permitted status of residence by the Immigration bureau.

The immigration bureau will approve Work Visa, if the non-Japanese people have qualifications and carry out working activities in Japan which follow to Japanese immigration law and rules.

Mainly the Work Visas shall be “Engineer/Specialist in Humanity/International Services “, “Skilled Labor “, “Intra-company Transferee “, “Business Manager (Management level employees) ” and “Highly Skilled Professionals (i)(b) “.

Engineer/Specialist in humanity/International Services

The following activities are applicable to those who engage in the following activities based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan;

Non-Japanese people must have qualifications regarding educational background or working experience and shall engage in working activity following;

  • have graduated university of the faculty of natural science or humanity science and shall engage in job which require skills or knowledge in the field of natural science or humanity science
  • have gotten diploma of Japanese vocational school (SENMONSHI) in the field of natural science or humanity science and shall engage in job which require skills or knowledge in the field of natural science or humanity science
  • have had more than 10 years working experience in the field of natural science or humanity science (including education term in the same field) and shall engage in job which require skills or knowledge in the field of natural science or humanity science
  • shall engage in employment activity in field of advertisement, international business, garment or interior design, product development and so on which is based on thought or sensitivity of foreign culture, and have had more than 3 years working experience in that field
  • shall engage in contract as interpreter/translator, language instructor and have graduated university

Non-Japanese people have to get salary that is same level as Japanese employees.

Skilled Labor

The following activities are applicable to those who engage in the following activities based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan;

Non-Japanese people who are engaged in skilled profession following;

  • chef/cook of foreign cuisine
  • carpenter of foreign architecture
  • chaser of jewelry
  • sommelier
  • athletic/sports trainer
  • pilot
  • other occupation requiring special skill which regulated by immigration rules

Non-Japanese people have to fulfill the required working experience (including education term in the same field) which are regulated by immigration rules.

Non-Japanese people have to get salary that is same level as Japanese employees.

Intra-company Transferee

Non-Japanese employee, who is working in a company locating outside Japan, shall be transferred to affiliated company in Japan.

The non-Japanese employee must have qualifications regarding working experience and shall engage in working activity following;

  • shall have had working experience in the field of ”Engineer/Specialist in Humanity/International Services” more than 1 year in the belonging company locating outside Japan
  • shall engage in job which require skills or knowledge in the field of ”Engineer/Specialist in Humanity/International Services”

The non-Japanese employees have to get salary that is same level as Japanese employees.

Highly Skilled Professionals (1)(b)

Please refer to URL below.

https://www.isa.go.jp/en/publications/materials/newimmiact_3_index.html

Procedure for the Work Visas

Procedure for non-Japanese people who live outside Japan

Certificate of Eligibility

  • Host companies in Japan shall apply for "Certificate of Eligibility" to a regional Immigration office in Japan as a representative of non-Japanese people to bring them over to Japan.
  • After the "Certificate of Eligibility" was approved the non-Japanese shall apply for VISA at the Japanese embassy or consulate general in their home country to enter into Japan.

Procedure for non-Japanese people who have been living in Japan

Change of Status of Residence

  • Non-Japanese people, who have been living in Japan and intend to change to work visa, shall be employed or have received an unofficial job offer by a Japanese company.
  • They shall apply for the "Change of Status of Residence" to a regional immigration office. The applicats should submitt some docuemts to make sure their employment conditions, personal history, company profile and so on to prove fulfillment work visa conditons.

Procedure for non-Japanese people who intend to renew Work Visa

Extension of Period of Stay

  • Non-Japanese people who have been working in a company in Japan on the status of Work Visa can apply for "Extension of Period of Stay" during 3 months before of the date of expiry until the expiry date of the current Visa.
  • Their working activity need to meet to the immigration law and rules and fulfill the appropriateness to be permitted to renew their Work Visa.

Procedure for Work Visa children who is born in Japan

Permission to Acquire Status of Residence

  • If children of a foreign national residing in Japan with Work visa is born in Japan and stays in Japan for more than 60 days, the children must apply for permission to acquire status of residence within 30 days of birth.
  • The status of residence for children of foreigners on Work visas is the "Dependent" visa.

Services of Immigration Lawyer

Immigration lawyer who notified to immigration bureau as application agency can give following services;

  • Attending to the regional immigration offices and apply for the "Certificate of Eligibiliy", "Change of Status of Residence", "Extension of Period of Stay" and "Status of Permanent Residence" on behalf of applicants or inviting companies
  • Corresponding to the regional immigration offices on behalf of applicants or inviting companies
  • Giving legal advice to apply for each of applications related Work Visa
  • Informing and helping to collect necessary documents and materials to apply for the "Certificate of Eligibility", "Change of Status of Residence", "Extension of Period of Stay" and "Status of Permanent Residence" related Work Visa
  • Making documents and filling out application forms to apply for the "Certificate of Eligibility", "Change of Status of Residence", "Extension of Period of Stay" and "Status of Permanent Residence" related Work Visa

Fees for Work Visas

Fees for "Engineer/Specialist in Humanity/International Services" and "Skilled Labor" "Business Manager (Management level employees)" visas

Application Retainer
(Yen)
Contingency
(Yen)
Total
(Yen)
Certificate of Eligibility 70,000 70,000 140,000
Certificate of Eligibility
(simultaneous application)
35,000 35,000 70,000
Change of Status of Residence 60,000 60,000 120,000
Change of Status of Residence
(simultaneous application)
30,000 30,000 60,000
Extension of Period of Stay
(Simple case)
40,000 0 40,000
Extension of Period of Stay
(simultaneous application)
20,000 0 20,000
Extension of Period of Stay
(Job changed)
60,000 60,000 120,000
Extension of Period of Stay
(Job changed)
(simultaneous applicaiton)
30,000 30,000 60,000
Certificate of Authorized Employment 70,000 0 70,000

Fees for Intra-company Transferee Visa

Application Retainer
(Yen)
Contingency
(Yen)
Total
(Yen)
Certificate of Eligibility
80,000 80,000 160,000
Certificate of Eligibility
(simultaneous application)
40,000 40,000 80,000
Extension of Period of Stay
40,000 0 40,000
Extension of Period of Stay
(simultaneous application)
20,000 0 20,000

Fees for "Highily Skilled Professional (i)(b)" visa

Application Retainer
(Yen)
Contingency
(Yen)
Total
(Yen)
Certificate of Eligibility 80,000 80,000 160,000
Certificate of Eligibility
(simultaneous application)
40,000 40,000 80,000
Change of Status of Residence 70,000 70,000 140,000
Change of Status of Residence
(simultaneous application)
35,000 35,000 70,000
Extension of Period of Stay
(Simple case)
40,000 0 40,000
Extension of Period of Stay
(simultaneous application)
20,000 0 20,000

Fees for "Dependent" visa

Application Retainer
(Yen)
Contingency
(Yen)
Total
(Yen)
Certificate of Eligibility 30,000 30,000 60,000
Certificate of Eligibility
(simultaneous application)
15,000 15,000 30,000
Extension of Period of Stay
(Simple case)
40,000 0 40,000
Extension of Period of Stay
(simultaneous application)
20,000 0 20,000
Permission to engage in
activities other than permitted
under the status of residence
20,000 0 20,000

  • The retainer fee is payment to the lawyer, so that lawyer will start to work for you. Please be aware the retainer fee is not refundable.
  • The contingency fee is payment to the lawyer, so that you have success in getting permission.
  • "Change of status of Residence" shall take another 5,500 yen for revenue stamp (for online applications).
  • "Extension of Period of Stay" shall take another 5,500 yen for revenue stamp (for online applications).
  • "Certificate of Authorized Employment" shall take another 1,600 yen for revenue stamp (for online applications).
  • It shall take extra charges except application for Tokyo regional immigration bureau or Yokohama district immigration office such as transportation charges and daily allowance (except online application).
  • "Application for permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted under the status of residence" will be accepted if the application is made at the same time as the "application for extension of period of stay".
  • Extraordinary cases shall take extra charges.