JAPAN VISA TYPES

Visas for Japan are divided into two main categories: Short-term and Long-term/Work.

Here is the full list and explanation that a visa consultant needs to know:

1. Temporary Visitor Visas (Short-term)

This visa is issued to those who wish to stay in Japan for up to 90 days and do not intend to engage in paid activities (work).

• Tourism Visa:
  

  • Purpose: Sightseeing.

  • New for Georgia: An e-Visa (Electronic Visa) is now available for Georgian citizens, making the process much simpler. You no longer need to visit the consulate if the purpose is strictly tourism.

  • Condition: Usually Single Entry.
    

• Business Affairs Visa:
  

  • Purpose: Negotiations, market research, conferences, signing contracts.

  • Required Documents: A Letter of Invitation and a Letter of Guarantee from the Japanese company.
    

• Visiting Friends/Relatives Visa:
  

  • Purpose: Visiting family or friends living in Japan.

  • Difficulty: This is the most "paper-heavy" short-term visa. The host (in Japan) must provide detailed documents regarding their income, residence, and status (Juminhyo, Koseki, etc.).
    

2. Long-Term & Work Visas

Main Rule: To obtain a long-term visa, the host/sponsor in Japan must first obtain a document called a CoE (Certificate of Eligibility). Without this, the consulate will not issue the visa.

• Student Visa:
  

  • Purpose: Studying at a Japanese language school or university.

  • Rights: Students are allowed to work up to 28 hours per week after obtaining special permission.
    

• Work Visa - "Engineer/Humanities/International Services":
  

  • Purpose: The most common visa for office workers, engineers, and translators.

  • Requirement: A university degree is usually mandatory.
    

• Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa:
  

  • Purpose: Talent with exceptional skills and experience.

  • Advantage: This is a points-based system (age, salary, education). If you have enough points, you can obtain Permanent Residence (PR) on a fast track (in 1–3 years).
    

• Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa:
  

  • Purpose: Manual labor jobs (construction, elderly care, agriculture).

  • Requirement: Passing a language test (JLPT/JFT) and a professional skills test is required.
    

3. Specific Visas

• Medical Visa:
  

  • For medical treatment in Japanese hospitals. Can also be issued to an accompanying person.

• Spouse Visa:
  

  • For spouses of Japanese citizens or Permanent Residents.