Designated Activities - Required Documents
The Designated Activities visa status is for activities individually designated by the Minister of Justice. There are various types, and the required documents differ depending on the type.
| Applicable Activities | Activities individually designated by the Minister of Justice |
|---|---|
| Period of Stay | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, 3 months, or a period individually designated by the Minister of Justice (within 5 years) |
Required Documents by Application Type
- Application for Certificate of Eligibility (New)
- Application for Change of Status of Residence
- Application for Extension of Period of Stay
Important Notes Before Applying
- The Designated Activities visa requires significantly different documents depending on the type of activity. In addition to the common documents below, be sure to check the detailed page for your specific activity type for additional required documents.
- For questions about application forms and required documents, please contact the Immigration Information Center. (TEL: 0570-013904)
- Applications with incomplete documents may result in significant delays in examination or denial of permission.
- All certificates issued in Japan must be submitted within 3 months of the date of issue.
- Documents written in foreign languages must be accompanied by a Japanese translation.
Application for Certificate of Eligibility (New)
The following are documents common to all Designated Activities types. Additional documents are required depending on the type of activity.
1. Application for Certificate of Eligibility - 1 copy
The application form varies depending on the type of activity.
2. Photograph - 1
4cm (H) x 3cm (W), taken within 6 months before the application, front-facing, without hat, plain background, clear image.
3. Return envelope - 1
Write the recipient’s address on a standard envelope and attach stamps for simplified registered mail.
4. Additional documents depending on the type of activity
Submit documents prescribed by the Immigration Control Act Enforcement Regulations according to the type of activity. Please check the detailed page for your applicable activity type. (See Detailed Pages by Activity Type)
Application for Change of Status of Residence
The following are documents common to all Designated Activities types. Additional documents are required depending on the type of activity.
1. Application for Change of Status of Residence - 1 copy
The application form varies depending on the type of activity.
2. Photograph - 1
4cm (H) x 3cm (W), taken within 6 months before the application, front-facing, without hat, plain background, clear image. Not required for those under 16 years old.
3. Passport and Residence Card
Present at the counter.
4. Additional documents depending on the type of activity
Submit documents prescribed by the Immigration Control Act Enforcement Regulations according to the type of activity. Please check the detailed page for your applicable activity type. (See Detailed Pages by Activity Type)
Application for Extension of Period of Stay
The following are documents common to all Designated Activities types. Additional documents are required depending on the type of activity.
1. Application for Extension of Period of Stay - 1 copy
The application form varies depending on the type of activity.
2. Photograph - 1
4cm (H) x 3cm (W), taken within 6 months before the application, front-facing, without hat, plain background, clear image. Not required for those under 16 years old or for extensions of 3 months or less.
3. Passport and Residence Card
Present at the counter.
4. Additional documents depending on the type of activity
Submit documents prescribed by the Immigration Control Act Enforcement Regulations according to the type of activity. Please check the detailed page for your applicable activity type. (See Detailed Pages by Activity Type)
Detailed Pages by Activity Type
The additional required documents for the Designated Activities visa differ depending on the type of activity. Select your applicable activity type below to check the detailed required documents.
Sports and Culture
- Amateur athletes and their family members
- Internship, summer jobs, and international cultural exchange
- Ski instructors
Employment and Business
- Graduates of Japanese universities, etc. and their spouses (No. 46 / No. 49)
- Job-seeking activities for international students who graduated from Japanese universities, etc.
- Business startup and job-seeking activities for graduates of excellent overseas universities (J-Find)
- Stay for those enrolled in school or who have received a job offer after graduation
- Business startup activities for international students who graduated from Japanese universities, etc.
- Stay until graduate school enrollment for international students who graduated from Japanese universities, etc.
EPA, Medical, and Research
- EPA nurses, care workers, and candidates
- Family members of EPA nurses and EPA care workers
- Medical stay and accompanying persons
- Designated research activities, etc.
- Designated information processing activities
Domestic Workers
- Domestic workers (for diplomats, etc.)
- Domestic workers for Highly Skilled Professional foreign nationals and Special Highly Skilled Professional foreign nationals
Family and Long-term Stay
- Long-term residents for tourism, recuperation, etc. and their spouses
- Working spouses of Highly Skilled Professional foreign nationals
- Parents of Highly Skilled Professional foreign nationals or their spouses
- Parents of designated research activity holders, etc. / Family stay activities for designated research activities, etc.
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