Useful Columns

"My working holiday visa is about to expire, but I still want to continue my studies of Japanese dance in Japan." "I want to learn the techniques of pottery, which I've just started, more seriously under a Japanese master." People who come to Japan on a working holiday (specified period of stay) and experience Japan's charms often find themselves thinking, "There's still so much more I want to do...".

Good news for foreign residents living in Japan and companies that employ foreigners! The "Residence Card" and the "My Number Card," which have previously been bulky and separate in your wallets, can now be combined into a single card. It's called the "Tokutei Zairyu Card." Starting June 2026...

Yesterday, I accompanied a foreign worker I support to the Immigration Bureau (Immigration) to pick up their new residence card. They were strongly hoping "This time, I'm sure I'll get a 3-year visa!" and were really looking forward to it, but... the result was a disappointing "1 year." The card in their hand...

Kyoto is a world-class tourist city and an area with a very high demand for foreign staff with language skills and cross-cultural understanding. However, the visa (status of residence) to obtain to work in Japan is completely different depending on "what kind of work" and "what your educational background is". In the inbound field, especially in the middle...

The visa application process is more than just paperwork. It is an extremely rigorous "legal examination" that affects the life and future of an individual foreigner in Japan. As an administrative scrivener with expertise in immigration, I am more than just a document agent...

Due to the legal revision, the figure of "30 million yen" has taken on a life of its own, and we are increasingly hearing from foreign business owners who are currently doing business in Japan as sole proprietors, anxious about whether they too must immediately prepare 30 million yen in capital. In conclusion...

A very important deadline is just around the corner for all organizations with specified skills. The deadline for submission of periodic notifications for fiscal year 2023 (April 1 to March 31) is "May 31. Excluding Saturdays and Sundays, there are only a few days of actual operation left. 1. why can't we submit the periodic report after "May 31"?.

He contributes to the community and pays his taxes and social insurance perfectly. Nevertheless, his application for permanent residence has been denied simply because of his "low income (income). ...... In fact, sole proprietors, family business owners, or those with "spouse of Japanese national, etc." enrollment status...

Many internationally married couples frequently travel back and forth between Japan and other countries for work or other reasons. However, in order to maintain or renew a "Spouse or Child of Japanese National (Spouse Visa)" in Japan, there are strict legal rules and often-overlooked "blind...

For those living in Japan as the spouse of a Japanese national, the general requirement of "10 years of residence" has been greatly eased, and the chances of obtaining permanent residence have expanded. However, the relaxed requirements do not mean that the screening process is easy. This article describes the requirements for application and the necessary...

In recent years, an increasing number of companies are hiring foreign nationals as regular or contract employees. However, when hiring foreign employees, it is important not to forget about "visa (status of residence) renewal. If the employee does not renew his/her status of residence before it expires, he/she will be in Japan illegally, and the company will be...

For foreign nationals living in Japan, the status of "permanent resident" is a major milestone in their careers and lives, as it frees them from the hassle of visa renewal procedures and allows them to gain social credibility and easier access to housing loans. However, a turning point in policy is now approaching, significantly raising the requirements for "permanent residency" permission...

As of November 2025, the Immigration Bureau is in the midst of a full-scale transition to IC cards for residence cards, and it has finally become clear that the transition will be complete by the end of 2026. The plastic card will be replaced by a new residence card with an IC chip equivalent to a My Number card. ...

Residence Management to be Digitally Accelerated on June 14, 2026The "Specified Residence Card" is finally set to begin operation on June 14, 2026 (counter acceptance from June 15). This card will combine the functions of the existing "Residence Card" and "My Number Card" into a single card. Voluntary acquisition: Not mandatory for all, but for those who wish...

In the midst of a labor shortage due to the declining birthrate and aging population, foreign students are a valuable asset to the workforce. However, when hiring them, it is necessary to properly understand the rules specific to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act), which are not applicable to Japanese part-time workers. In particular, the "28-hour-per-week limit" is lenient...

Good news for foreign residents living in Japan and companies that employ foreigners! The "Residence Card" and the "My Number Card," which have previously been bulky and separate in your wallets, can now be combined into a single card. It's called the "Tokutei Zairyu Card." Starting June 2026...

When renewing "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" status (Spouse Visa), the screening process tends to become stricter year by year, and particular attention should be paid to the following points. 1. stability and continuity of marital life Continuity of cohabitation: In principle, it is most important that the couple lives together and is substantially married....

⏳ 1. Introduction: Why is my visa application so slow? Many people spend anxious days wondering when they will be granted a visa (status of residence) after applying for one. The examination period at the Immigration Bureau (Immigration Bureau) is usually from one to three months, but some applicants may wait as long as six months...

Nishijin brocade, Kyoto dolls, and Kyoto fans live and breathe in the city of Kyoto. These traditional industries, which have been nurtured in the capital for millennia, are now facing an unprecedented shortage of successors. Parents are faced with such difficult decisions: "We want to pass on our skills, but we can't attract young people" or "Do we have no choice but to close our workshops?.

We receive many inquiries from hotel and inn owners and cleaning companies about hiring foreign nationals with specified skills for guest room cleaning. In fact, when hiring foreign nationals with specific skills for room cleaning, there are two ways of hiring: one is to hire them in the "lodging field" and the other is to hire them in the "building cleaning field.