Japan Visa Guide 2026 — Types, Requirements & Process
Comprehensive visa information to help you visit Japan with ease
All 27 Japan Visa Types & Categories 2026
Choose the right visa type based on your purpose of visit
Short-Term Stay (Tourism / Business)
Tourism, family visits, and short business trips — no residence status required
Cultural Activities
Unpaid academic or artistic activities, or learning traditional Japanese arts
Engineer / Humanities / International Services
IT engineers, translators, designers, marketers, and other professionals
Business Manager
Entrepreneurs and managers running a business in Japan
Intra-Company Transferee
Employees transferred from an overseas office to a Japan branch
Professor
Teaching and research at universities and colleges in Japan
Researcher
Professional research at government agencies or private companies
Educator
Language teaching and other education at primary and secondary schools
Medical Services
Licensed doctors, dentists, nurses, and other medical professionals
Legal / Accounting Services
Foreign law attorneys, certified public accountants, and similar
Nursing Care
Certified nursing care workers (Kaigo Fukushishi)
Entertainer
Actors, singers, dancers, and professional athletes
Skilled Labor (Chef, Craftsman, etc.)
Foreign cuisine chefs, sports instructors, artisans, and pilots
Specified Skilled Worker (Type 1 & 2)
Skilled workers in 14 specified industries; Type 2 allows family
Technical Intern Training
Foreign nationals undergoing technical training in Japan
Highly Skilled Professional (Type 1 & 2)
Points-based visa for top professionals with fast-track PR eligibility
Designated Activities (特定活動)
Catch-all residence status for 20+ sub-types — from Working Holiday to J-Find, Medical Stay, EPA Nurse, and more
Student
Study at universities, graduate schools, vocational schools, or language schools
Trainee
Skills training at public or private institutions in Japan
Family Stay (Dependent)
Dependents (spouse/children) of foreign residents in Japan
Spouse / Child of Japanese National
Spouse, child, or special adoptee of a Japanese national
Spouse / Child of Permanent Resident
Spouse or Japan-born child of a permanent resident
Long-Term Resident
Nikkei 3rd generation, refugees, and Chinese war orphans
Permanent Resident
Permanent residence with no employment restrictions
Artist
Paid artistic activities — composers, painters, writers
Religious Activities
Missionaries and religious workers dispatched by overseas organizations
Journalist
Foreign media correspondents and photographers based in Japan
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All major residence statuses covered, from tourist to permanent residency
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