Japan Visa Guide 2026 — Types, Requirements & Process
Comprehensive visa information to help you visit Japan with ease
Visa ConsultationStaying up to 90 days? (Short-term)
Tourism, family visits, business trips — whether you need a visa depends on your nationality. No COE involved.
Staying longer than 90 days? (Long-term)
Work, study, family, business — pick your status of residence below. Every long-term visa starts with a COE.
All 27 Japan Visa Types & Categories 2026
Choose the right visa type based on your purpose of visit
Specified Skills & Technical Intern →
2Skilled workers and technical interns in designated industries
Latest policy changes
Recent official changes that affect your application, with the date they take effect.
Site content last updated: October 8, 2026
Permanent residence guideline rewritten
Published 1 October 2026: spouses need 5 years of marriage + 3 years in Japan, you must hold the longest period of stay, and Japanese (B1), household income, pension and time abroad are checked. The household-income standard already applies to applications filed since 1 April 2026 that are still pending.
Details →Employment for Skill Development replaces Technical Intern Training
The new 育成就労 system trains workers to Specified Skilled Worker (i) level over about 3 years and, under certain conditions, lets them change employer within the same field. The start date was fixed by a cabinet decision in September 2025.
Details →Renewal and change-of-status fees become tiered
Charged by the period of stay granted: ¥10,000–75,000 at the counter, ¥10,000–65,000 online. Applications accepted by 30 September pay the old ¥6,000 (¥5,500 online).
Details →Permanent residence fee rises to ¥200,000
Up from ¥10,000; applications accepted by 30 September pay the old fee.
Details →Visa fees up about 5×
Single-entry about ¥15,000, double/multiple-entry about ¥30,000 (was ¥3,000 / ¥6,000); the transit visa was abolished and merged into single/double entry. Applications received by 30 June paid the old rates.
Details →Naturalization: 10 years' residence as a rule
A change in how applications are screened (the Nationality Act still says 5 years): 10+ years' continuous residence is now required as a rule, with 5 years of tax and 2 years of social-insurance records checked. Applies to decisions made from 1 April, including applications already filed.
Details →Need Help With Your Visa?
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