|
|
|
|
|
|
The entry procedures for non-Japanese
citizens and the type of activity they may engage in are stipulated
in detail by a law called the Immigration-Control and Refugee-Recognition
Act ("Immigration-Control Act"). Even if your stay in Japan proceeds
without any problems, both in terms of studies and daily life, if
you should neglect or fail to follow the procedures stipulated by
the Immigration-Control Act, you may not be able to continue your
studies in Japan. Therefore care must be taken to follow the regulations. |
|
|
|
|
Status of residence (27 categories)
and length of stay are determined according to the reason for the
foreigner's stay in Japan. The activities that a foreigner may engage
in are determined according to their status of residence. If a non-Japanese
person takes part in activities that are not part of his/her status
(i.e. work for money without a permit), he or she may be deported,
not allowed to extend their period of stay or not allowed to apply
to change their status of residence.
The main statuses of residency as well
as permitted activities are outlined in the chart below. For details,
please contact the following Immigration Information Centers (consultations
are available in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and other languages). |
|
|
| Immigration
Information Centers |
| Sendai: |
022-298-9014 |
| Tokyo: |
03-5796-7112 |
| Yokohama: |
045-651-2851
(and 2852) |
| Nagoya: |
052-973-0441 (and 0442) |
| Osaka: |
06-6774-3409 (and 3410) |
| Kobe: |
078-326-5141 |
| Hiroshima: |
082-502-6060 |
| Fukuoka: |
092-626-5100 |
|
|
|
| Major
statuses of residence and permitted activities |
| Status
of residence |
Permitted
activities |
| Researcher |
Research activities
based on a contract with a Japanese organization. |
| Instructor |
Instruction
at elementary, junior and senior high schools, miscellaneous
schools or other equivalent educational institutions. |
| Engineer |
Services
that require technological skill and/or knowledge pertinent
to physical science, engineering or other natural science fields. |
| Specialist in Humanities
/ International Services |
Services
that require knowledge pertinent to jurisprudence, economics,
sociology or other fields of human science or services that
require ways of thought or sensitivity based on experience with
foreign cultures. |
| Skilled labor |
Services
that require skills belonging to special fields. |
| Temporary Visitor |
Sightseeing,
recreation, visiting relatives, amateur business purposes or
other similar activities during a short period of stay in Japan. |
| College Student |
Receipt
of education at colleges (including junior colleges), special
training colleges and colleges of technology. |
| Pre-college Student |
Receipt
of education at high schools, special training schools (excludes
post secondary courses) and miscellaneous schools or equivalent
educational institutions. |
| Trainee |
Learning
and acquiring technology, skills or knowledge at public or private
organizations in Japan. |
| Dependent |
Daily
activities as a spouse or minor child of foreigners who reside
in Japan. |
| Designated Activities |
Activities
specifically designated by the Minister of Justice. |
|
|
|
Note: Other
statuses of residency include Diplomat, Official, Professor, Artist,
Religious Activities, Journalist, Investor and Business Manager, Legal
and Accounting Services, Medical Services, Intra-company Transferee,
Entertainer, Cultural Activities, Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child
of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident and Long-term
Resident.
Note 2: The status of residence of a
student attending Japanese-language institute falls under either the
College Student or Pre-college Student category. |
|
|
|
|
The procedures that need to be taken
to enter Japan as a foreign student are as follows:
i)Gain admission to a higher educational
institution.
ii)Acquire a passport
iii)Acquire a visa
Please inquire at an overseas Japanese
embassy or consular offices(http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html) for details regarding visas. Please
note that a "temporary visitor" visa is normally needed to enter Japan
in order to take an entrance examination. |
|
|
|
|
1) Be sure to note your term of residence
Students who hold the College Student
residency status are permitted to reside in Japan for either 2 years
or 1 year. Those holding the Pre-college Student status of residence
are allowed to stay in Japan for either 1 year or 6 months. If you
wish to extend your stay or change your status of residence, you will
need to make an application to do so.
2) Be sure to make the application
as soon as possible
If you should happen to reside in Japan
without extending the term of your stay or changing your status of
residence, you will become an illegal alien even if you do not mean
to do so. You can make applications to extend your stay 2 months before
the end of the term, so it is recommended that you make your application
as soon as possible.
In recent years, a growing number of
schools have begun making the application for extension of stay on
behalf of foreign students. Therefore, there are an increasing number
of foreign students, such as those attending Japanese-language institutes,
who do not know about the immigration bureaus. Because procedures
related to staying in Japan need to be taken by the individual in
essence, it is important that you clearly understand your status of
residence, term of residency as well as the necessary procedures.
3) If you are unsure of anything,
be sure to check with a counseling center before you make your application
If your class attendance is low without
a reason such as illness, you will be judged as not concentrating
on your studies. In such cases, you will not receive permission to
extend your stay or change your status of residence. Even if there
is a valid reason, your extension or change of status of residence
may not be approved without documentary proof. Once your application
for an extension of stay or change of status of residence is turned
down, it is extremely difficult to reverse the decision. Therefore,
if you should have any questions or doubts about your application,
be sure to consult with the Immigration Information Center or a counseling
center for foreign students before making your application.
|
 |
