Status of Residence (Visa), Naturalization, Permanent Residence, International Marriage, International Inheritance
For foreigners who are looking for supports regarding immigration & legal issues
Building a society where Japanese and foreigners can live comfortably together is a big challenge for Japan right now. As a Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist (Gyosei-shoshi* in Japanese), I wish to make modest contribution to the realization of such an ideal society.
Each foreign national has his/her own specific reasons and situations to come to or stay in Japan. When you need assistances regarding status of residence, permanent residency, naturalization, international marriage, international inheritance, or other legal issues related to family matters during your stay, you can expect my sincere dedication.
Service fees are set at reasonable rate to be of your help. I wish as many foreign nationals as possible to feel welcomed and to have happy living in Japan!
Masakazu Tada
*What is a Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist?
A Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist is a person with national qualification of Japan who is authorized to conduct administrative procedures with various offices of Japanese national and local governments. It is also called as ‘Administrative Scrivener’ in English and as ‘Gyosei-shoshi’ in Japanese.
Benefits of Choosing This Office
Personalized Assistance dedicated to each client!
One-hour Free Online Consultation!
You can decide after free consultation whether to hire us!
Simple Fee Schedule with no unexpected charges!
Fixed Fees at reasonable rate!
Legal Expertise & Research Ability that you can rely on!
Menu of Our Services
Consultation related to Status of Residence (Visa)
Consultation related to Permanent Residency & Naturalization
Consultation related to International Family Law
Application for Certificate of Eligibility
Application for Change of Status of Residence
Application for Extension of Period of Stay
Application for Permanent Residence
Application for Naturalization
Preparation of Documents related to International Family Issues
*Please feel free to call us if you are looking for other services/applications/documents that are not listed above.
Work Flow of Application Agency Service for Status of Residence
Application agency service means that we submit the application to Immigration Services Bureau* as an intermediary in the name of clients, and if any document amendment is required, it will be done only with approval by the client. This function is different from acting as a legal representative.
*Immigration Services Bureau is a regional office of Immigration Services Agency which is usually called as IPA (or Nyukan) in short.
STEP 1
Free Consultation
Free one-hour consultation will be conducted via video conference. It can be divided into two sessions if required.
STEP 2
Contract
After hearing your request, we will send you an estimate. If you agree to the terms and conditions, both parties shall sign the contract.
STEP 3
Meeting
Meeting in person, we will provide you with the list of documents that you need to prepare, explain the timeline, and answer questions.
STEP 4
Preparation
We will review contents of the documents received from you, and advise if any further information is needed in addition.
STEP 5
Writing Documents
We will fill in the application forms and write other documents (such as the statement of reasons for employment), and ask you to review and sign them.
STEP 6
Application
On behalf of you, we will act as an intermediary and submit your application to Immigration Services Bureau.
STEP 7
Follow-up
We will take care of questions and requests from Immigration Services Bureau on behalf of you until the permission is issued.
STEP 8
Receiving Permission
We will receive the permit documents from Immigration Services Bureau on behalf of you and deliver them to you.
STEP 9
Continued Support
Upon your request, we will manage the renewal schedule for your residence status and residence card, and notify you in advance of any deadlines.
If you only need us to prepare the application documents and submit them by yourself, please ask us for individual quotation.
What is Visa? What is Status of Residence?
It is commonly said that foreign nationals need “visa” of various types depending on each one’s activities or positions; e.g., a work visa to work in Japan, a student visa to study in Japan, a spouse visa to marry a Japanese citizen and etc. However, this expression concerning “visa” is not exactly correct.
A foreign national can obtain “visa” from a Japanese embassy or consulate (organizations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in his/her home country or country of residence. A “visa” serves as a kind of recommendation letter by the Japanese embassy or consulate in the country addressed to the immigration officers at international airports/seaports of Japan. It recommends the immigration officer the foreign national’s entry into Japan.
On the other hand, “status of residence” limits activities or positions that foreign nationals engage in while residing in Japan. Each status is determined and granted by Immigration Services Bureau (an organization under the Ministry of Justice).
Therefore, for example, a typical procedure for a foreign national who is planning to work in Japan can be correctly described as follows:
(1) The foreign national’s representative in Japan (such as an employer, a relative or agent) applies for and obtains from Immigration Services Bureau the Certificate of Eligibility for the appropriate “status of residence” that corresponds to his/her intended type of work.
(2) The Certificate of Eligibility is then sent to the foreign national who is still in his/her home country or country of residence.
(3) The foreign national presents this Certificate of Eligibility at a Japanese embassy or consulate in his/her country when he/she applies for a “visa” for the purpose of entering into Japan. Then, the embassy or consulate will issue a “visa” that corresponds to the “status of residence” stated in the above-mentioned Certificate.
(4) When the foreign national arrives at Japan with using the “visa” which enables him/her to enter the country, and submit the original Certificate of Eligibility at the passport control of the arrival airport/seaport, the person will finally be permitted the “status of residence” for his/her job in Japan.
Reference: List of Status of Residence (major ones only)
“Highly-Skilled Professional”
“Business Manager” Company Directors, General Managers of large companies, etc.
“Education” Teachers of junior high/high schools, etc.
“Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (Gi-Jin-Koku) Engineers/technicians working for companies or local governments (including IT engineers), Overseas business transactions, Interpreters, Designers qualified with knowledge/sense based on a foreign culture, etc.
“Intra-company Transferee”
“Skilled Worker” Foreign cuisine chefs, Airplane pilots, Animal trainers, Sports coaches, Wine sommeliers, etc.
“Nursing Care” Certified nursing care workers who have the qualification of Japan
*These statuses require applicability of the Landing Permission Criteria.
“Student”
“Dependent” Spouse and children supported by foreign residents
*These statuses require applicability of the Landing Permission Criteria.
“Designated Activities” mean activities specifically designated for individual foreign nationals by the Minister of Justice
- Domestic servants for foreign residents who have the status of “Highly-Skilled Professional,” “Business Manager,” etc.
- Candidates of EPA nurses/care workers
- Foreign nationals who are granted the start-up preparation activities based on the “Notification on Foreign Entrepreneurial Activities Promotion Project” (Startup Visa, Notification No. 44)
- Graduates of Japanese universities who wish to work in Japan with the status of residence other than “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (Notification No. 46)
- Digital nomads staying in Japan for the purpose of international remote work (Notification No. 53)
- Working Holidays
- Internship/Summer Job/International Cultural Exchange
- Other specified activities designated by Notification of the Minister of Justice
- Other specified activities designated by the Minister of Justice without Notification (Kokuji-gai)
“Permanent Resident” Persons granted permanent residence
“Spouse or Child of Japanese National”
“Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident”
“Long-Term Resident”
- Refugees resettled in third countries
- Third-generation Japanese
- Persons who are granted residence by the Minister of Justice with a specified period of stay in consideration of special reasons