International Business (Status of Residence)- Residential Status

Number of foreign arrivals

In 2023, the number of foreign visitors to Japan totaled more than 23.75 million, of which 23.13 million were short-term tourists and about 600,000 were those with non-tourist status, and the number continues to increase every year. Foreigners are now an indispensable part of Japanese society and play a major role in shaping it.

For foreigners to enter Japan

In order for a foreign national (a person who does not have Japanese citizenship) to enter Japan, it is necessary to obtain permission to enter based on the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, the Foreign Nationals Technical Intern Training Act (Act on the Proper Implementation of Technical Intern Training for Foreign Nationals and the Protection of Trainees), and other relevant laws. （Even if you have the visa required for landing, you will not be allowed to land unless you meet certain conditions. （We offer a wide range of consultation services regarding the application for status of residence.

Application for recognition of status of residence

Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act

(Status of Residence and Period of Stay)

Article 2-2 Foreign nationals residing in Japan are(2) Except as otherwise provided by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and other laws, respectively, such(Landing permission for a foreign national or status of residence pertaining to the acquisition of such foreign national)(including the categories of item 1 (a) to (c) or item 2 listed in the lower column of the "highly skilled professionals" section of the table in Appended Table 1-2 for the status of residence as an advanced professional, item 1 or 2 listed in the lower column of the "specified skilled" section of the same table for the status of residence as a specified skilled worker, or item 1 or 2 listed in the lower column of the "skilled training" section of the same table for the status of residence as a technical intern. (including the category of item (i)(a) or (b), (ii)(a) or (b), or (iii)(a) or (b) listed in the lower column of the "Technical Internship" section of the same table in the case of a technical internship status. The same shall apply hereinafter) or any change thereof(2) The applicant shall reside in Japan with the status of residence.

Foreign nationals (non-Japanese nationals) residing in Japan must obtain one of the following statuses in advance to be able to stay in Japan.

Each of the above statuses is not available to everyone who wishes to obtain it, and a decision will be made on whether or not to grant it, taking into consideration the career, education, and employment history of the person applying for the status.

Landing permission for foreigners

When a foreign national (excluding special permanent residents, etc.) who has applied for landing has fulfilled the obligation to provide personal identification information (fingerprints and photo) and has applied for landing, the immigration officer will determine the status of residence and period of stay and grant permission for landing if all of the following conditions are met.

• Must possess a valid passport
  
  
• Have a valid passport and a valid visa.
  
  
• The activity applied for as intended to be carried out in Japan is not a false activity, and the applicant meets one of the status of residence requirements and meets the landing criteria.
  
  
• That the period of stay applied for conforms to the provisions of the Ministry of Justice Ordinance.
  
  
• No reason for refusal to land is applicable.

Activities other than those permitted under the status of residence

(Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act)

(Scope of Activities)
Article 19.　of the upper column of appended table 1.Those who stay in Japan with resident status,(2) Except for cases in which the permission set forth in the following paragraph is obtained, in accordance with the classification listed in each of the following itemsThe activities listed in each of said items shall not be conducted.
(i) Those who are staying with the status of residence in the upper columns of Tables 1, 2, and 5 of Appended Table 1, according to the status of residenceActivities or remuneration for operating a business with income that is not part of the activities listed below(Excluding gratuities for lectures not given in the course of business, temporary remuneration for daily life, and other remuneration provided for by a Ministry of Justice Ordinance. The same shall apply hereinafter). (excluding, however, the following)Received Activities
(ii) Those who stay with the status of residence in the upper columns of Tables 3 and 4 of Appended Table 1: Activities to operate a business with income or activities to receive remuneration.
2The Commissioner of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Agency may, through procedures provided for by a Ministry of Justice ordinance, request a person who resides in Japan with the status of residence in the upper column of appended table 1 to apply for a visa in accordance with the status of residence in the said table.(2) When an application has been filed to the effect that the applicant wishes to engage in an activity to operate a business with income or receive remuneration that does not belong to said activity to the extent that it does not interfere with the performance of the activities listed in the lower column, if the application is deemed appropriate, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may grant permission.In this case, the Director-General of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Agency may attach necessary conditions to such permission.

In principle, foreigners residing in Japan with a residence permit are only allowed to engage in prescribed activities in accordance with their permit category. For example, foreigners residing in Japan with a college student visa are not allowed to work more than 28 hours per week. If a foreigner wishes to engage in activities such as working in excess of these regulations, he/she must obtain permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence in advance.

Procedures for renewal of status of residence and various changes while in Japan

There is one status of residence and one corresponding period of stay ranging from one to five years. If you wish to continue to reside in Japan before your period of stay expires, you will need to renew your status of residence.

Foreign nationals residing in Japan with resident status are also required to report within the prescribed time limit any "change of place of residence," "change of name, date of birth, gender, or nationality," "loss of resident card," or "change of place of employment, school, or status (divorce, etc.).

Furthermore, if you change your status of residence during your period of stay, for example by changing jobs, you will need to go through the procedures to change your status of residence within the period of validity of your previous status of residence.

re-entry permit system

(Entry-Exit Control and Refugee Recognition Act)

(Re-entry permits)
Article 26　The Commissioner of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Agency (hereinafter referred to as the "Director-General") shall ensure that foreign nationals residing in Japan (excluding those with permission for provisional landing and those with permission for landing as provided in Articles 14 to 18 inclusive) The Director-General of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Agency (hereinafter referred to asperiod of stay(For those who have no fixed period of stay, the period during which they may stay in Japan)(2) When a person intends to leave Japan with the intention of re-entering Japan before the date of expiration of the period of stay in Japan (hereinafter referred to as the "period of stay" in this Article)、法務省令で定める手続により、そ(2) A re-entry permit may be granted upon application by a person who isIn this case, the Director-General of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Agency may, upon the application of such person and if he/she deems it appropriate, grant such permission as permission for multiple re-entry.

Foreign nationals residing in Japan with resident status are also subject to restrictions on departure from Japan.

The "re-entry permit system" is a system under which a foreign national residing in Japan may be granted permission upon application when he/she intends to leave the country with the intention of re-entering Japan before the expiration date of his/her period of stay.

Please note that if you leave Japan without this permission, your "continuity of stay" will cease and your previous residence permit will expire. However, if you re-enter Japan "within one year from the date of departure" and you declare your intention to re-enter Japan at the time of departure, you may re-enter Japan without obtaining prior permission under the "deemed re-entry permit" system.