The complete guide to Japanese immigration. Everything rests on the Certificate of Eligibility: the review happens in Japan before your visa application — and the procedure is the same for all nationalities.
6
Visas covered
3 000 ¥
Visa fee (~€18)
Jul. 2026
Updated
Free · Results in 3 minutes
Overview
Japan — the review first, the visa second.
The Japanese system reverses the usual logic: the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE), requested in Japan by your employer or school, is the substantive review. The visa application at the embassy is then just a quick formality — and among the cheapest in the world.
CoE
Key to the system (1–3 months)
ISA
Immigration Services Agency
All
Nationalities — single procedure
Japan in 2026 is more selective: N2 Japanese required for some customer-facing jobs (April 2026), the entrepreneur visa tightened to ¥30M in capital (October 2025), language schools subject to a minimum A1 level. On the upside: a genuine digital nomad visa since 2024, a free Working Holiday (32 partner countries), and the HSP status that opens permanent residence in 3 years — or even 1.
Which visa for your situation in Japan?
Free assessment · Results in 3 minutes · No commitment
How to enter?
Three access logics.
Depending on your profile, a different mechanism applies.
CoE sponsorship
Work visa, HSP, student, Business Manager: a sponsor in Japan (employer, school, your company) obtains the Certificate of Eligibility. The visa follows in 5–10 days for ¥3,000.
Points-based merit
The Highly Skilled Professional (70 points: age, degrees, salary, Japanese) enhances the work visa: 5-year status, family privileges, and permanent residence in 3 years — 1 year at 80+ points.
Temporary stays
Digital nomad (6 months, ¥10M in income) and Working Holiday (12 months, ages 18–30, free): Japanese interludes without a CoE — but with no path to residence either.
Good to know: Japan has no “retiree / no activity” visa, and since October 2025 the entrepreneur route (Business Manager) requires ¥30M (~€170,000) in capital along with five other cumulative conditions.
Available visas and permits
The main visas we support.
Click a permit to see the requirements, required documents, timelines, and practical tips. Each of these visas comes with full guidance in your nomadpass space.
TRV
Work visa — Engineer / Specialist
The standard employee visa · CoE via the employer
All nationalitiesEmployer required
›
Timeline
CoE 1–3 months + visa 5–10 days
Cost
¥3,000 (~€18) — CoE free
Duration
1, 3, or 5 years — renewable without limit
Key requirement
A degree related to the role (or 10 years of experience)
Since April 2026: N2 Japanese required for customer-facing jobs at small employers (cat. 3/4). Purely technical jobs are exempt.
At 70 points, switch to the HSP: same duties, better privileges.
HSP
Highly Skilled Professional
Points-based visa (70) · fast-track permanent residence
All nationalities70 points required
›
Timeline
Priority CoE 1–3 months + visa 5–10 days
Cost
¥3,000 — minimum salary ¥3M
Status
5 years from the start · spouse with extended right to work
Toward PR
3 years — or 1 year at 80+ points
The HSP remains tied to an employer: it's an enhanced work visa, not an untethered selection. Every point you claim must be proven.
J-Skip: at ¥20M in income, direct access without a points calculation.
ETU
Student visa
Universities, vocational schools, and language schools
All nationalitiesDemanding
›
Timeline
CoE 1–3 months (filed by the school) + visa 5–10 days
Cost
¥3,000 — required funds ~¥2M (≈ €12,000)
Work allowed
28 hrs/week during term · 40 hrs during holidays
Japanese
A1 (N5) minimum for language schools since April 2026
The financial proof is read like a story: stable funds, documented origin. A massive last-minute deposit is the number one red flag.
After graduation: job-search visa (6 months ×2), then work visa.
DN
Digital nomad visa
6 months of remote work for abroad · launched in 2024
~50 eligible countries¥10M in income
›
Timeline
~5 business days to a few weeks
Cost
¥3,000 · required income ¥10M/year (~€57,000)
Duration
6 months — not renewable in-country
Insurance
Private, medical coverage ≥ ¥10M
Income from exclusively foreign sources: no work for Japanese entities. No residence card and no path to residence.
Family can accompany you (also 6 months). Around fifty eligible countries.
PVT
Working Holiday visa
12 months · ages 18–30 · free
Per bilateral agreementAccessible
›
Timeline
1–2 weeks after filing — the appointment is the real challenge
Cost
Free · funds ~€4,500
Quotas
Set by each agreement — from 30 places to unlimited
Type
Unrestricted work (except adult entertainment) · once in a lifetime
2026: in several countries, appointment calendars are exhausted or only open in windows. Watch the Japanese embassy in your country — plan a year ahead.
Not convertible in-country: to stay afterward, you must leave and go through a CoE again.
BM
Business Manager — Entrepreneur
Create and run a business · sharply tightened in late 2025
All nationalities¥30M capital
›
Timeline
CoE 2–4 months + visa 5–10 days
Cost
¥3,000 — required capital ¥30M (~€170,000)
Requirements
6 cumulative requirements since October 16, 2025
Substance
1 qualified local employee · a dedicated office · a certified plan
Major reform: capital ×6, N2 Japanese (you or the employee), 3 years of experience or a master's. Shell companies are the explicit target.
Too high a bar? The Startup Visa (Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka) offers 6–12 months of runway.
This list presents the main permits, which cover the vast majority of relocation situations. It is not exhaustive: other specific routes exist (sector-based Specified Skilled Worker, J-Find for graduates of top universities, Startup Visa) with the country's official authorities.
Not sure which permit to choose?
Our assessment identifies the right visa in 3 minutes
Competent authorities
The official bodies for your procedure.
The Japanese system splits the roles between immigration (in Japan) and the diplomatic network (abroad).
The official portal for studying in Japan: student immigration procedures, accredited institutions, scholarships (MEXT, JASSO).
Regulatory news
Recent changes to Japan's immigration rules.
Jul 2026
Japan — In several countries, the 2026 Working Holiday slots are exhausted: aim for the 2027 campaign and prepare the file before your embassy’s windows open.
Update
By project
Your situation, your visa.
Select your profile to access the detailed guides.
6 visas and permits are covered for Japan, including Work visa — Engineer / Specialist (employee) · Highly Skilled Professional — Points-based visa · Student visa. The free assessment identifies the one that fits your situation in 3 minutes.
How long does it take to get a visa for Japan?
From 5 days to about 4 months depending on the visa. For example, Work visa — Engineer / Specialist (employee): CoE: 1 to 3 months (employer's side) · then the visa in ~5-10 days.
How much does a visa for Japan cost?
Official fees depend on the visa. For example, Work visa — Engineer / Specialist (employee): CoE free + visa ¥3,000 (single entry) · ¥6,000 (multiple).
Is the information on Japan up to date?
Yes: every sheet cites its official sources (MOFA — Work or Long-term stay (visa list), ISA — Certificate of Eligibility, MOFA — Highly Skilled Professional visa) and carries a verification date. Last verified: 2026-10-06.
