Japan has many visa types (officially “statuses of residence”). The right one depends on why you are coming, your skills and qualifications, and how long you plan to stay. Use this table as a starting point, then read the full guide.
Verify with official sources. This table is a short summary of our guides, last checked on 7 November 2026. Rules and fees change often: always confirm with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan before you apply.
Compare visa types
| Visa type | Who it’s for | Japanese level usually needed | Work allowed | Typical duration | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) | Adults (18+) taking a full-time job in one of the SSW fields (19 for SSW (i), 11 for SSW (ii)) after passing a skills test | SSW (i): about A2 (JFT-Basic or JLPT N4+); more in nursing care, driving and railway jobs. SSW (ii): B1 scheduled from 1 April 2027 | Only the work of your field and job category; changing employer needs a new application | SSW (i): up to 3 years at a time, 5 years in total. SSW (ii): renewable without limit | Read the guide for Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) |
| Technical Intern (TITP) / Employment for Skill Development (ESD) | Workers sent by a government-approved sending organisation to train on the job; ESD replaces TITP from 1 April 2027 | TITP: no test at entry (nursing care A2). ESD: A1 test or 100+ hours of A1 study before work; A2 to move on to SSW (i) | Only under the approved plan; changing employer is limited (ESD allows a transfer within the same job category after 1–2 years) | TITP: up to 5 years. ESD: 3 years | Read the guide for Technical Intern (TITP) and ESD |
| Student | People accepted by a school in Japan (Japanese-language school, vocational school, university) to study as their main activity | No level set by ISA; each school sets its own (English-taught university programmes may need none) | Part-time only, with permission: up to 28 hours a week, 8 hours a day in school holidays | Decided per person, up to 4 years and 3 months at a time; extendable | Read the guide for Student |
| Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services | Professional jobs that need specialist knowledge (IT, engineering, business, law, translation, language teaching); not simple manual work | No general level; B2 proof since 15 April 2026 only for language-based jobs at category 3–4 employers | Work that fits the status; you may change jobs within it (notify ISA within 14 days) | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months at a time; extendable | Read the guide for Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services |
| Dependent (family) | The spouse or child of someone on an eligible status (e.g. Engineer/Humanities, SSW (ii), Student); not for SSW (i) or Technical Intern families, and not for parents | None | Part-time only, with permission: up to 28 hours a week | Decided per person, up to 5 years at a time; extendable | Read the guide for Dependent (family) |
| Permanent Residence | People with a long, stable life in Japan: usually 10 years in Japan, including 5 on a work or residence status (shorter routes for spouses of Japanese nationals and others) | None for applications up to 31 March 2027; B1 is a factor from 1 April 2027 | Any work, no limits | No period of stay (the residence card must still be renewed). Fee ¥200,000 if approved, from 1 October 2026 | Read the guide for Permanent Residence |
How to use this table
- Find the row that matches your main reason for coming to Japan.
- Open the guide to check eligibility, documents and steps.
- Confirm the details on the official websites linked in each guide.
Still not sure?
Browse all Work & Visa guides, or send us a question about our content. We cannot advise on individual cases.