Useful Columns

For foreign business owners who have established a company in Japan and obtained a business management visa, we would like to provide an important warning regarding the latest operational trends of the Immigration Control Act and status of residence. In recent years, the examination and renewal criteria for the business administration visa have become stricter year by year, and in particular, the "actual status of business management and administrative activities in Japan"...

Five Illusions that Municipal Officials Should Throw Away Now Read the official materials of the Immigration Bureau and you will see them clearly. Below is a list of five "fatal misconceptions" that local government officials are still holding on to, based on the official data of the Immigration Bureau. If the person in charge reads this and thinks, "We are fine...

Audio Commentary There are foreign business owners desperately searching for a "savior" in the back alleys of Kyoto, the cold windy ancient capital of Japan. For them, we are the keepers of their visas and the last hope to connect their dreams. However, after the stricter regulations on October 16, 2025, especially for "first renewal cases that are about to expire," we at Gyoseishoshi Lawyer...

The Kyoto Overseas Business Center is positioned as an important institution for the internationalization and economic revitalization of Kyoto, as well as a support organization for start-up visas. However, looking back at the current status of start-up support for foreign students, we cannot help but have strong concerns. The government's policy of "Oyama meinou shi...

Audio Commentary Shockwave of Revision Hits Resident Foreign Managers On October 16, 2025 (enforcement date), the Immigration and Residency Management Agency's revision of the permission criteria for the "Management and Administration" status of residence came into effect. This revision is not a mere tweaking of the rules, but a serious threat to foreign business owners. In particular...

The Specified Skill System is indispensable for resolving the labor shortage. However, host organizations that accept foreign personnel face the risk of violating Japan's Labor Standards Law (Labor Standards Act). Violations of the Labor Standards Law, which cannot be justified by "ignorance" or "inadvertent error," can jeopardize the continuation of business. This system is a safe...

STOP and READ: The Japanese Startup Visa is an Extremely High-Risk Trap That Could Ruin Your Plans. Japanese) To all ambitious foreign entrepreneurs eyeing Japan-and especially those ench...

Audio Commentary Dear Registered Support Organization, Under the revised Gyoseishoshi Law that will take effect on January 1, 2026, it will be clearly illegal to prepare documents for application for status of residence for specified skills for remuneration, no matter what the name of the act may be. ⚠️ Risk: If the cost of document preparation is included in the support outsourcing fee, etc., the illegal act...

Voice Commentary The "Training and Employment System" scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2027 is a major institutional reform for Japan that will clearly shift the acceptance of foreign human resources from "international contribution" to "training and securing human resources in areas where there is a shortage of manpower". With the introduction of this new system, companies (providers of training and employment) and foreign...

In the restaurant industry, which is facing a serious labor shortage, it is possible to welcome U.S. citizens as "Specified Technical Skills 1". However, there are unique procedures and precautions to be taken before hiring an applicant residing overseas and starting work in Japan. Here we will explain three particularly important points...

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...

Audio Commentary Dear Registered Support Organization, Under the revised Gyoseishoshi Law that will take effect on January 1, 2026, it will be clearly illegal to prepare documents for application for status of residence for specified skills for remuneration, no matter what the name of the act may be. ⚠️ Risk: If the cost of document preparation is included in the support outsourcing fee, etc., the illegal act...

The revised Administrative Scrivener Law will come into effect on January 1, 2026 (January 1, 2026). 1. point of revision: Requests to unqualified persons will be "not permitted under any name! Gyoseishoshi Scriveners are required to submit documents to government offices (e.g., applications for permission to open a restaurant, applications for status of residence for foreign residents, inheritance-related...

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. ...

1. can i work even if my "period of stay" is still valid? Many foreign students and employers mistakenly believe that they can work until the expiration date of their residence card. The fact is: From the day you graduate from school (or are expelled from school), the "Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence" associated with the "College Student" visa takes effect...

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...

Important: Effective October 16, 2025, the requirements for the "Management and Administration" visa have been significantly tightened. The conventional wisdom of "investment of 5 million yen" or "one-person start-up" no longer applies. October 16, 2025 will be a historic turning point for foreigners who wish to start a business in Japan...

⏳ 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...

Some of you who are currently working under the "Specified Technical Skills 1" status may be considering changing your status of residence to "Technical/Humanities/International Services" ("Gijinkoku") in the future. In this issue, we will discuss the change of status of residence from Tokutei Gijutsu 1 to Gijinkoku...

In order for a foreigner to work in Japan, he/she must obtain a "status of residence" (work visa). However, not just anyone can be granted a work visa, and academic background, work experience, and expertise are important points for examination. In this context, companies and applicants are often asked questions such as, "Do you speak Japanese...?