List of Embassies and Consulates-General in Japan. << Click Here >>

Basic Information

The number of foreign nationals visiting Japan exceeds 14,000 a day, and more than 3 times this number of Japanese nationals go abroad every day. Presently living in Japan are foreign nationals from all corners of the globe. Therefore, Japanese people find themselves coming into increasing contact with foreign nationals which naturally leads to a growing need for better understanding. Considering Japan's international role, it is important for Japan to promote mutual international understanding and relations. The Immigration Bureau's role serves to help build a society where Japanese and foreign nationals can live peacefully together. Below is a basic introduction of the Japanese immigration system. Please contact your closest Japanese embassy or consulate to make sure that you have all the required documents before traveling to Japan. Temporary visitors (Tourists) If you are a citizen of one of the over 50 countries with which Japan has concluded a "general visa exemption arrangement", you need only a valid passport in order to enter Japan as a "temporary visitor", otherwise, you need to apply for a visa before coming to Japan. Temporary visitors from most countries are allowed to stay in Japan for up to 90 days. If you are a citizens of Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you have the possibility to extend your stay in Japan to a total of up to six months. You still initially enter Japan for 90 days, but can then apply for an extension at an immigration office in Japan. Temporary visitors are not allowed to engage in any paid activities. Short term studies at certain Japanese language schools are permitted. Travelers who change airplanes or ships in Japan, may be eligible for a transit visa, which allows them to enter Japan for 72 hours to 15 days for sightseeing purposes, before proceeding to their final destination outside of Japan. All foreign tourists in Japan are required to carry their passports with them at all times. Working Holiday visa This is a special visa for young citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. A working holiday visa is a special visa for young people (between age 18 and 30) to stay in Japan for up to one year, and visa holders are allowed to work while staying in Japan. Japan has currently mutual working holiday agreements with the following countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Korea, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Citizens of other countries do not have the possibility to apply for a working holiday in Japan. Working visa Foreigner who wish to work in Japan, need to apply for an appropriate visa before coming to Japan. There are about a dozen types of working visas, each allowing the holder to engage in paid activities only within a defined professional field. For example, there are visas for artists, professors, engineers, instructors and entertainers. If you change jobs while you are in Japan, you also need to change your status of residence, provided that the new job falls into a different professional field. Most working visas are valid for one or three years and need to be extended before they expire. Student visa Foreigner who wish to study in Japan, need to apply for an appropriate visa before coming to Japan. (An exception may be short stays at Japanese language schools.) There are a few types of student visas depending on the type of studies. Holders are not allowed to engage in any paid activities. Spouse visa Applicants who are married to a Japanese national can apply for a spouse visa before coming to Japan. Visa holders are allowed to engage in any paid activity. A spouse visa is valid for one or three years and needs to be extended before it expires. Permanent residence People who have resided in Japan for at least five consecutive years and fulfill a few more vaguely defined conditions, may be eligible to apply for permanent residence. Permanent residents do not need to worry about extending visas anymore and are allowed to engage in any paid activity. Alien registration All foreigners who stay in Japan for more than 90 days, need to apply for an alien registration card within the first 90 days of their stay. Applications can be made at the local municipal office (e.g. city hall). The alien registration card is an important document required for opening a bank account and similar activities. Foreign residents are required to carry their alien registration card with them at all times. Re-entry permit Workers, students and spouses, as well as permanent residents are required to apply for a re-entry permit whenever leaving Japan temporarily (for example, for holidays) in order to keep their status of residence in Japan. Without re-entry permit, a person who leaves Japan, will lose his/her status of residence. Re-entry permits can be obtained at immigration offices and some airports. Naturalization People who have resided in Japan for at least five consecutive years and fulfill a range of other vaguely defined conditions, may be eligible to apply for Japanese citizenship. Japan does not allow multiple citizenship, which means that new citizens will have to give up their previous citizenship(s). For more information Click Here

Official guide with information on all kinds of visa for people from all countries of the world

Wage System

The Japanese wage system has traditionally been closely linked to the seniority system. Wages are often still strongly influenced by an employee's length of service. Salaried workers normally receive a monthly salary plus two seasonal bonuses. Particularly in large companies, the bonus system plays an important role. In 2002, bonuses amounted to about one-fourth of annual base wages. In terms of wage differential, full-time workers of medium and small companies generally earn less than those of large companies. In June 2001, the average monthly salary for all workers employed full time in companies with between 10 and 99 employees was 287,700 yen; between 100 and 999 employees, 322,900 yen; and in companies with more than 1,000 employees, 400,300 yen. Through the diversification of society, employment has been taking on new forms, including the popularization of freelance employment and the introduction of outsourcing. In response to such changes, the wage system has also been diversified.

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Transportation

1. Bus "Shinagawa Futo Junkan" from JR Shinagawa station Konan-guchi (East Exit) / Busstop "Tokyo Nyukoku-Kanrikyoku Mae"

2. 15 minutes' walk from "Tennozu-Isle station", Tokyo Monorail or Tokyo Rinkai Line (Saikyo Line)

3. (Only a very limited parking space is available. It is highly appreciated if you refrain from coming to the Immigration Infomation Center by your car.)

Student Life in Japan

Living Expenses Taking utilities, food, clothes, transportation, books and other miscellaneous expenses into consideration, you can expect monthly living costs to be ¥120,000 - ¥150,000. Monthly Average Living Expenses Housing ¥50,00 - ¥75,000 Food ¥35,000 - ¥42,000 Books ¥7,000 Transportation ¥5,000 - ¥20,000+ Medical Insurance ¥7,000 - ¥12,000 per year Telephone ¥ 3,000 Miscellaneous ¥15,000 Food Since meals are not included in most of the housing arrangements for exchange students (except for dormitory-type housing), you may either need to prepare your own meals or eat out. If you choose to prepare your meals, be prepared to pay much higher prices for groceries in Japan. If you choose to eat out, you will find restaurants featuring many types of cuisine in addition to those that feature Japanese cuisines. Again, prices are likely to be higher than you are accustomed to. Tap water is safe to drink, and you can buy bottled water at any supermarket or convenience store. Transportation You do not need a car in the city because you can easily get around the Tokyo metropolitan area by using trains, subways, and buses. Moreover, you can take advantage of being a student by purchasing a commutation pass at a student discount. Unfortunately, during the morning and evening rush hours, public transportation can be very crowded. The following website has a route search function to help you determine the trains you need to take in order to get to your destination: Click Here Universities in Japan Keio University University of Tokyo Nihon University Ryukoku University Tokyo Institute of Technology Hokkaido Tokai University Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Tokai University For complete list of Universities in Japan Click here