Japan Work Permit / Employment-Based Long-Stay Visa
Category: Work · Processing time: 4-16 weeks (End-to-end processing incorporating corporate COE and consular stamping).
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Apply through official authority
Immigration Services Agency of Japan
Always submit applications through the official source. Last verified 2026-07-08.
Visa type
Work
Processing time
4-16 weeks (End-to-end processing incorporating corporate COE and consular stamping).
Fees
COE_Sponsorship_Application: ¥0
Validity
Granted in increments of 1, 3, or 5 years (5-year status is strictly required for future PR conversions under 2026 rules).
Stay duration
Long-term (renewable indefinitely as long as qualifying employment continues).
Entry type
Confirm single/multiple entry rules
Insurance
Confirm if required
Bookmark
Save this visa to My Plan
Overview
Authorizes legal long-term residence and specialized professional employment in Japan. Provides a pathway to Permanent Residency (if a 5-year visa track is maintained).
- Leads to permanent residency: Yes
- Requires job offer: Yes
- Language required: No
- Minimum education: Bachelor's degree, higher academic equivalent, or 10+ years of documentable, highly specialized professional experience (3 years for international services/translation).
- Financial requirement: The contract salary must be equal to or higher than what a Japanese national would receive for comparable work (generally a baseline of at least ¥200,000-¥250,000 per month).
- Accommodation proof: Yes (Registered residential address must be filed at the local ward office within 14 days of entry).
Estimated Costs
- - COE_Sponsorship_Application: ¥0
- - SingleEntryVisaConsularFee: ¥15,000 (Effective July 1, 2026)
- - MultipleEntryVisaConsularFee: ¥30,000 (Effective July 1, 2026)
- - DomesticStatusExtensionCeiling: Up to ¥100,000 statutory maximum cap
Required Documents
- - Official Visa and COE Application Forms with recent passport photos
- - Original Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or digital COE receipt notification
- - Valid Passport
- - Signed corporate employment contract detailing job duties and exact salary breakdown
- - University graduation certificate, diploma, or official academic transcripts
- - JLPT N2 certificate, BJT score report, or diploma from a Japanese institution (if required under the April 2026 language mandate)
- - Company tax categories documentation (Category 1 through 4 records)
Application Steps
- Secure a qualifying, specialized professional job offer and execute an employment contract.
- The employer acts as a proxy to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at the regional Immigration Services Agency (ISA) office in Japan.
- For dispatch or EOR arrangements, submit the new mandatory joint employer-client written compliance pledge.
- Await COE issuance (2026 averages range from 2 to 4 months due to enhanced compliance screening).
- Submit the approved COE alongside the national visa application to the nearest local Japanese Embassy or Consulate.
- Pay the updated consular visa fee, receive the entry stamp, and land in Japan to obtain the physical Residence Card.
Always confirm the latest steps and forms on the official portal: Immigration Services Agency of Japan →
Travel Insurance Requirement
- Mandatory: Confirm with official source
- Minimum coverage: Confirm current coverage rules
- Valid regions: Confirm accepted regions
- Approved providers: Use providers accepted by the official authority
Embassy, Consulate & Appointments
Embassy, consulate, jurisdiction, and appointment details vary by applicant location. Confirm the correct office before booking travel or paying fees.
Open appointment or official portal →Browse foreign embassies in Japan (MigrantIQ directory) →
Directory listings are for planning only — not legal advice. Confirm jurisdiction and appointment rules on the official portal.
Application checklist
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Benefits & What This Visa Allows
- - Authorised employment with sponsoring employer
- - Often allows family / dependant visas
- - Counts toward residency / PR in many countries
- - Renewable subject to continued sponsorship
Trust & safety
Before you pay or submit documents
Use the official portal for applications and payments. Be careful with agents who guarantee approval, ask for personal-account transfers, or pressure you to send originals before a written contract.
Relevant laws
- Work Authorisation Rules
Employment · Severity: Critical
In Japan, obtaining the appropriate visa is important for anyone planning to work. Not all visas that allow entry into the country permit employment. For instance, a student visa allows limited work hours, while a work…
- Tax Residency and Income Reporting
Tax · Severity: High
In Japan, tax residency is determined by your physical presence in the country. If you live in Japan for more than one year, you are considered a tax resident. This applies to various groups, including workers,…
- Immigration Status and Overstay Rules
Immigration · Severity: Critical
In Japan, your right to stay is strictly tied to the type of visa, residence permit, entry stamp, or visa exemption you possess. You should understand that factors such as pending applications, job offers, or school…
Active scam alerts
In Japan, many newcomers, including visa applicants, families, students, and workers, may find themselves targeted by fraudulent agents who overcharge for services related to document translation, notarization, or…
In Japan, a common scam involves individuals impersonating airport staff, immigration officers, or travel agents. These scammers may approach tourists, first-time travelers, workers, and students, claiming that a…
In Japan, prospective students and their families are increasingly targeted by fraudsters offering fake university admissions, scholarships, or student visa packages. These scams often originate from unofficial agents…
In Japan, newcomers sometimes hit housing scams where fake apartments are advertised to pressure them into paying a deposit before they have a chance to view the property or sign a legitimate contract. This scam is…
Quick Eligibility Check
Use this self-check for Work / Employment Visa. It does not replace official legal assessment.
Common Rejection Reasons
- - The applicant's university major or historical experience does not directly match or align with the specialized duties of the job description.
- - The employer is a Category 3 or 4 company and the applicant failed to supply mandatory JLPT N2/B2 language proof for an interpersonal or customer-facing role.
- - The role is determined by immigration to consist primarily of un-specialized, repetitive manual labor (out-of-scope tasks).
- - The proposed corporate salary fails to meet equal-pay metrics compared to local Japanese workers.
Application Tips
- - Be absolutely certain of your hiring company's category classification (Category 1 listed corporations require minimal documentation, while Category 4 startups require exhaustive financial audits).
- - If your role involves a dispatching agency or an Employer of Record (EOR), make sure your hiring manager has processed the mandatory March 2026 written compliance pledge to avoid instant processing holdouts.
- - Keep perfect, unblemished records of all your local tax, pension, and health insurance payments if you plan to extend or shift your visa, as the 2026 rules have zero tolerance for late payments.
- - If your long-term goal is Permanent Residency, proactively lobby your employer to support a 5-year period of stay renewal; 1-year and 3-year visas are no longer acceptable for final PR submission.
Sources & References
Use these references for verification. Official government and appointment portals override summary guidance on MigrantIQ.
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan
Official source for forms, appointments, fees, and final requirements.
- MigrantIQ visa record
Summary record maintained for planning and source verification.
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Frequently Asked Questions
This visa is designed for applicants matching Work pathway criteria.
Typical processing time is 4-16 weeks (End-to-end processing incorporating corporate COE and consular stamping)., subject to documentation quality and application volume.
Start with eligibility evidence, document checklists, and proof of funds before submitting.