In this section, I will explain the meaning of “Status of Residence” in the context of residing in Japan, as well as the different types available.
What is “Status of Residence”?
A “Status of Residence” defines what kind of activities a foreign national is allowed to engage in while in Japan. The regulations primarily concern employment. Given the infinite variety of jobs and working styles in the world, it stipulates exactly which jobs or working styles a foreign national is permitted to undertake in Japan.
Conversely, a Status of Residence is the government’s way of stipulating “what kind of foreigners are allowed to enter Japan.” Originally, foreign nationals do not have a legal right to enter or reside in Japan. By creating and granting legal rights of residence through legislation, the government grants the right or qualification to reside in Japan to specific exceptions among foreign nationals. Therefore, the content of the Status of Residence is designed to be beneficial to Japanese society and the economy, intending international cooperation and the development of Japan through the residence of foreign nationals.
Status of Residence Defines Limits, Freedoms, and Obligations
Therefore, a Status of Residence defines the scope of activities (mainly work-related) that a foreign national can engage in within Japan. It grants freedom within that scope and permits residence in Japan as long as those activities are performed. In other words, if the foreign national becomes unable to perform those activities, or continues not to perform them, they fall outside the scope of their Status of Residence, which becomes a cause for revocation. Thus, continuing the activities stipulated in the Status of Residence can be said to be a condition and an obligation for the foreign national to reside in Japan.
Status of Residence is Not a “Permission to Reside”
It may come as a surprise, but a Status of Residence itself is not a permission to reside in Japan. This permission is called “Landing Permission,” and holding a Status of Residence is merely one of the conditions for Landing Permission. Therefore, just because you fit into a specific Status of Residence category does not necessarily mean you will be granted permission to reside in Japan. Permission to reside is granted based on a comprehensive judgment, including the appropriateness of the Status of Residence. The Status of Residence is just one component of that judgment.
“Just because you fit a specific Status of Residence does not mean you can reside in Japan.”
Status of Residence is One of the Three Conditions for Landing Permission
There are 29 Types of Status of Residence
There are 29 types of Status of Residence. Below is a list of the 29 types, along with their overview and classification.
List of Status of Residence
- Diplomacy, Official, Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist
- Highly Skilled Professional, Business Manager, Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Researcher, Instructor, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Intra-company Transferee, Nursing Care, Entertainer, Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker, Technical Intern Training
- Cultural Activities, Temporary Visitor
- Student, Trainee, Dependent
- Designated Activities
- Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, Long-term Resident
Overview of Each Status of Residence
- Diplomacy… For members of diplomatic missions of foreign governments performing political diplomacy.
- Official… For those performing official business of foreign governments or international organizations.
- Professor… For those conducting research, research guidance, or education at universities, etc.
- Artist… For those engaging in artistic activities that generate income.
- Religious Activities… For those engaging in religious activities such as missionary work.
- Journalist… For those engaging in journalistic activities.
- Highly Skilled Professional… For foreign nationals with advanced specialized capabilities.
- Business Manager… For those engaging in the operation/management of a business or trade in Japan.
- Legal/Accounting Services… For those engaging in activities using legal or accounting qualifications.
- Medical Services… For those engaging in activities using medical qualifications.
- Researcher… For those conducting research.
- Instructor… For those engaging in education (e.g., language teachers).
- Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services… For those working using technology/knowledge of physical science or humanities, or using international thinking and sensitivity.
- Intra-company Transferee… For those transferring within a corporate group (parent company, subsidiary, grandson company, affiliate, etc.).
- Nursing Care… For those possessing the Certified Care Worker qualification engaging in nursing care or care guidance.
- Entertainer… For those engaging in theatrical performances, musical performances, sports, or other entertainment activities.
- Skilled Labor… For those working with skilled techniques in specific specialized fields.
- Specified Skilled Worker… For those engaging in work requiring considerable knowledge/experience in industries with labor shortages.
- Technical Intern Training… For those receiving training in specific fields to acquire skills and transfer them back to their home country.
- Cultural Activities… For those engaging in academic or artistic activities not involving income.
- Temporary Visitor… For those staying for a short period for tourism, recreation, sports, visiting relatives, tours, lectures, meetings, business contact, or other similar activities.
- Student… For those receiving education at universities, vocational schools, Japanese language schools, or other similar institutions.
- Trainee… For those acquiring skills at institutions that have established a certain system for training.
- Dependent… For spouses or children supported by foreign nationals currently residing in Japan.
- Designated Activities… For those engaging in activities that do not fall under the above Statuses of Residence but are permitted to reside in Japan.
- Permanent Resident… For those permitted to reside permanently with fewer restrictions.
- Spouse or Child of Japanese National… For spouses or children of Japanese nationals.
- Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident… For spouses of Permanent Residents, or children of Permanent Residents born and residing in Japan.
- Long-term Resident… For those who do not fall under Permanent Resident, Spouse of Japanese National, or Spouse of Permanent Resident, but are permitted to reside for special reasons similar to them.
Classification of Status of Residence
Status of Residence is often classified into 7 groups. There are common characteristics within each group, and some features are shared across groups. Below is a summary table, followed by an explanation of the classifications.
| Activity/Status Basis | Work/Non-work Basis | Work Permit | Ministerial Ordinance | Applicable Status of Residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activity-based | Work-related | Allowed | Yes | Engineer/Humanities/Intl. Services, Intra-company Transferee, Skilled Labor, Business Manager, Highly Skilled Professional, Specified Skilled Worker, Technical Intern Training, Nursing Care, Instructor, Researcher, Medical Services, Entertainer, Legal/Accounting |
| Work-related (Special) | Allowed | No | Diplomacy, Official, Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist | |
| Activity-based | Non-work-related | Not Allowed (*) | Yes | Student, Trainee, Dependent |
| Activity-based | Non-work-related | Not Allowed | No | Temporary Visitor, Cultural Activities |
| Status-based | Residential | Unlimited | No | Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, Long-term Resident |
| Other | Designated | Designated | Individual | Designated Activities (Working Holiday, Internship, etc.) |
Status Based on Activity vs. Status Based on Personal Status
Status of Residence is divided into two main groups depending on whether the focus is on “activities” or “status”.
Status Based on Personal Status
This focuses on the person’s civil status, such as whether they are eligible for permanent residence or whose family member they are (focusing on family registry or family tree).
The four statuses classified under this category are listed in the table above.
Status Based on Activities
This focuses on what the foreign national will do in Japan. Examples include working as a salaryman, managing a company, contracting with a company for work, tourism, or participating in events.
Work-related vs. Non-work-related
The activity-based statuses mentioned above are further divided into work-related and non-work-related. Non-work-related statuses are not premised on employment, so working falls outside the regulations of the Status of Residence and is generally prohibited as a violation. However, there are cases where minor employment is tolerated or permitted upon application.
Ministerial Ordinance Criteria (Detailed conditions added to the law)
“Ministerial Ordinance Criteria” (Landing Permission Criteria) are rules set in more detail than the law itself. While laws are enacted or amended by the Diet, requiring a Diet resolution for every detailed item would result in slow and rigid responses. Therefore, the law allows the administration to set detailed criteria beforehand (listing permissions) within the law, and subsequently, the government establishes rules as Ministerial Ordinance Criteria at its discretion, as long as they do not violate the law. This system allows for detailed and speedy responses.