JAPAN BIZLAW LITE 4 GAIJIN
IMMIGRATION
You, as a "gaijin," are a foreigner. As is the case with almost every other nation in the world, you need a visa to enter a foreign country. Again, as this paper deals with business, we will concentrate on Japan's business related visas.
Most business people from the USA, Canada, Australia and Western Europe can enter Japan for up to 90 days with a visa.
The particular procedures for the visa you should obtain from your local Japanese embassy or consulate. In most cases you will need certain documentation from your sponsoring organization in Japan.
The one point to note is that for each of the types of visas listed below, the visas permit one year or three year periods of stay. After that you may qualify for visa renewal under the same type of visa. If you stay in Japan for many years, without trouble, you may even be able to obtain permanent residence status. Of course, if, during your stay, you marry a Japanese citizen you can apply for a visa based on that relationship, which is completely different from a business visa.
So the main Japanese visas for business people are as follows:
Investor/Business Manager
Activities to commence the operation of international trade or other business, to invest in international trade or other business and to operate or manage international trade that business, or to operate or manage international trade or other business on behalf of the foreign nationals (including the foreign corporations; hereinafter in this section "foreign national" is to include "foreign corporation") who have begun such an operation or have invested in such a business (excluding engaging in the operation or management of the business which is not allowed without legal qualifications) The business in question must meet certain conditions of scale. Applicants who wish to engage in business management must fulfill certain conditions concerning work status and personal history.
Intra-company Transferee
Activities on the part of personnel who are transferred to business offices in Japan for a limited period of time from business offices which are established in foreign countries by public or private organizations which have head offices, branch offices or other business offices in Japan and who engage at those business offices in the activities described as "Engineer" or "Specialist in Humanities/International Services." Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status.
Engineer
Activities to engage in service which requires technology and/or knowledge pertinent to physcial science, engineering or other natural science fields, on the basis of a contract with public or private organizations in Japan. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status.
Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Activities to engage in service which requires knowledge pertinent to jurisprudence, economics, sociology or other human science fields to engage in service which requires specific ways of thought or sensitivity based on the experience with foreign culture, such as interpreting, translation, copywriting, fashion design, interior design, sales, overseas business, information processing, international finance, design, or public relations and advertisingbased on a contract with public or private organizations in Japan. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status
Legal/Accounting Services
Activities to engage in legal or accounting business which is required to be carried out by attorneys recognized as foreign law specialists under the Foreign Lawyers Law; certified public accountants recognized as accountants practicing foreign accounting under the Foreign Accountants Law or those with other legal qualifications.
You, as a "gaijin," are a foreigner. As is the case with almost every other nation in the world, you need a visa to enter a foreign country. Again, as this paper deals with business, we will concentrate on Japan's business related visas.
Most business people from the USA, Canada, Australia and Western Europe can enter Japan for up to 90 days with a visa.
The particular procedures for the visa you should obtain from your local Japanese embassy or consulate. In most cases you will need certain documentation from your sponsoring organization in Japan.
The one point to note is that for each of the types of visas listed below, the visas permit one year or three year periods of stay. After that you may qualify for visa renewal under the same type of visa. If you stay in Japan for many years, without trouble, you may even be able to obtain permanent residence status. Of course, if, during your stay, you marry a Japanese citizen you can apply for a visa based on that relationship, which is completely different from a business visa.
So the main Japanese visas for business people are as follows:
Investor/Business Manager
Activities to commence the operation of international trade or other business, to invest in international trade or other business and to operate or manage international trade that business, or to operate or manage international trade or other business on behalf of the foreign nationals (including the foreign corporations; hereinafter in this section "foreign national" is to include "foreign corporation") who have begun such an operation or have invested in such a business (excluding engaging in the operation or management of the business which is not allowed without legal qualifications) The business in question must meet certain conditions of scale. Applicants who wish to engage in business management must fulfill certain conditions concerning work status and personal history.
Intra-company Transferee
Activities on the part of personnel who are transferred to business offices in Japan for a limited period of time from business offices which are established in foreign countries by public or private organizations which have head offices, branch offices or other business offices in Japan and who engage at those business offices in the activities described as "Engineer" or "Specialist in Humanities/International Services." Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status.
Engineer
Activities to engage in service which requires technology and/or knowledge pertinent to physcial science, engineering or other natural science fields, on the basis of a contract with public or private organizations in Japan. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status.
Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Activities to engage in service which requires knowledge pertinent to jurisprudence, economics, sociology or other human science fields to engage in service which requires specific ways of thought or sensitivity based on the experience with foreign culture, such as interpreting, translation, copywriting, fashion design, interior design, sales, overseas business, information processing, international finance, design, or public relations and advertisingbased on a contract with public or private organizations in Japan. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status
Legal/Accounting Services
Activities to engage in legal or accounting business which is required to be carried out by attorneys recognized as foreign law specialists under the Foreign Lawyers Law; certified public accountants recognized as accountants practicing foreign accounting under the Foreign Accountants Law or those with other legal qualifications.
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