Status-of-Residence Guide · 在留資格
Live in Japan, legally and for the long term.
Clear, current guides to every long-term Japanese visa — work, business, family, and permanent residency. Written for foreigners, in plain language.
Choose your pathway
Which status of residence fits you?
技術・人文知識・国際業務
Work Visa
For engineers, specialists, and international-business roles at a Japanese employer.
- STAY
- STAY 1 / 3 / 5 yrs
- FAMILY
- FAMILY yes
高度専門職
Highly Skilled Professional
A points-based fast track with the strongest perks — and the quickest route to PR.
- STAY
- STAY 5 yrs
- FAMILY
- FAMILY yes
経営・管理
Business Manager
Start or run a company in Japan. Requires capital, an office, and a real plan.
- STAY
- STAY 1 / 3 / 5 yrs
- FAMILY
- FAMILY yes
特定技能
Specified Skilled Worker
Skilled labour across 16 industries facing shortages, from caregiving to food service.
- STAY
- STAY up to 5 yrs
- FAMILY
- FAMILY no
特定活動（デジタルノマド）
Digital Nomad
Live in Japan for up to six months while working remotely for an employer or clients abroad.
- STAY
- STAY 6 months
- FAMILY
- FAMILY yes
日本人の配偶者等
Spouse of a Japanese National
For spouses and children of Japanese citizens. Few work restrictions.
- STAY
- STAY 1 / 3 / 5 yrs
- FAMILY
- FAMILY yes
家族滞在
Dependent
Bring your spouse and children while you hold a work or student status.
- STAY
- STAY matches sponsor
- FAMILY
- FAMILY no
留学
Student
Study at a university or language school — with a clear pathway into work.
- STAY
- STAY up to 4y 3m
- FAMILY
- FAMILY no
永住者
Permanent Resident
Stay indefinitely with no work limits and no more renewals. The long game.
- STAY
- STAY indefinite
- FAMILY
- FAMILY yes
帰化
Naturalization
Become a Japanese citizen. A different path from PR — with different trade-offs.
- STAY
- STAY citizenship
- FAMILY
- FAMILY yes
Read your card
Your whole status, on one card.
Every long-term resident carries a 在留カード — your residence card. Two fields decide what you can do here: your status of residence and your period of stay. We explain what each one means, and how to renew or change it before it expires.
How to read your residence card →“Immigration rules are confusing enough in your own language. We make Japan's make sense — in yours.”