In Japan, what people casually call a "visa" is really a status of residence (在留資格). Each status defines who can hold it, how long it lasts, whether and how you can work, and whether it leads toward permanent residence. The table below summarises the most common statuses, drawn from the ISA's official list of residence statuses. Periods of stay are usually granted in steps — often 1, 3, or 5 years — and the longer terms tend to come once you have a track record of stable income and tax compliance. Always confirm specifics against the Immigration Services Agency (isa.go.jp).
| Status | Who it's for | Typical duration | Work | Renewal basis | Path to PR | Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 技人国 Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / Int'l Services |
Professionals in IT, engineering, office, translation, marketing roles | 1 / 3 / 5 yr | Within the approved field only | Continued employment + taxes paid | Yes (standard ~10 yrs) | Yes (Dependent) |
| 経営・管理 Business Manager |
Company founders, executives, managers | 1 / 3 / 5 yr | Running/managing the business | Viable business, office, financials | Yes | Yes (Dependent) |
| 日本人の配偶者等 Spouse/Child of Japanese National |
Spouses and children of Japanese nationals | 1 / 3 / 5 yr | No restriction | Genuine, ongoing marriage | Faster (~3 yrs married) | N/A (status itself) |
| 永住者 Permanent Resident |
Long-term residents granted PR | Indefinite (card every 7 yr) | No restriction | Card only — status does not expire | Already PR | N/A |
| 定住者 Long-Term Resident |
E.g. certain descendants, refugees, special circumstances | 1 / 3 / 5 yr | No restriction | Continuing basis of status | Yes (~5 yrs) | N/A (status itself) |
| 高度専門職 Highly Skilled Professional |
High-point professionals (points-based) | 5 yr (1-go); indefinite (2-go) | Broad, with preferential treatment | Maintain 70+ points | Fast (1–3 yrs by points) | Yes (preferential) |
| 家族滞在 Dependent |
Spouse/children of a worker or student | Matches the main holder | Up to 28 hrs/wk with permission | Main holder's status + support | Limited (usually via own status) | N/A |
| 特定技能 Specified Skilled Worker |
Workers in designated labour sectors | Up to 5 yr total (1-go) | In the designated field | Employment + insurance/tax paid | 1-go: limited; 2-go: possible | 1-go: no; 2-go: yes |
| 留学 Student |
Students at recognised institutions | Up to ~4 yr 3 mo | Up to 28 hrs/wk with permission | Continued enrolment | No (study years don't count as work) | No |
| 特定活動 Designated Activities |
Case-by-case activities (e.g. job-hunting, working holiday) | Varies by designation | Depends on the designation | The specific designated activity | Varies | Varies |
A few things worth highlighting. The two family statuses are easy to confuse: 家族滞在 (Dependent) is for the family of a worker or student and only allows part-time work with permission, while 日本人の配偶者等 (Spouse of a Japanese national) carries no work restriction and offers a faster route to permanent residence. The highly skilled professional status (高度専門職) is the express lane — enough points can reduce the PR waiting period to as little as one year. And remember that permanent resident status never expires, even though the plastic card must be renewed periodically.
Keep reading
Ready to renew? See how to renew your visa in Japan.
Aiming for PR? Read the permanent residence guide.
Track your residence-card expiry with the free visa renewal tracker.