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Immigration



Frequently Asked Questions on Entry, Residence, and Registration procedures.
Immigration Service contact addresses




Frequently Asked Questions on Entry, Residence, and Registration procedures.


Q
What does a foreigner need to get landing permission when arriving in Japan?

 
A
Landing permission is given to a foreigner who has a valid passport and a valid visa. The passport must be issued by the foreign government or other authority qualified by the Japanese government. A visa can be obtained from Japanese government establishments outside of Japan (embassy or consulate). There are certain cases, such as international agreements and other reasons, when visas are not required. Landing permission is granted when the foreigner fulfills all the conditions listed below, which are stipulated in Japan's Immigration Control and Article 7(1) of Refugee Recognition Act (hereafter referred to as the Immigration Control Act). The conditions are as follows
  1. Must possess a valid passport and a valid visa.
  2. The activities, that the foreigner wishes to engage in, must be notified without any false representation, and meet the requirements for his residence status. If a foreigner is entitled to residence status that requires special conditions in gaining landing permission, he or she must meet those conditions.
  3. The duration of stay must meet the conditions stipulated by the Ministry of Justice.
  4. Must not meet any of the criteria for rejection for landing.

Q
What is a Certificate of Eligibility?

 
A
When a foreigner who wishes to enter Japan arrives at an airport or seaport in Japan, he or she must apply and obtain landing permission, from an immigration officer through screeming. Eligibility must be proven by fulfilling the following conditions:
  1. Must possess a valid passport and a valid visa.
  2. The activities, that the foreigner wishes to engage in, must be notified without any false representation, and meet the requirements for his or her residence status. If a foreigner is entitled to a residence status that requires special conditions to gain landing permissions, he or she must meet those conditions.
  3. The duration of stay must meet the conditions stipulated by Ministry of Justice.
  4. Must not meet any of the criteria for rejections for landing.
A certificate of Eligibility is issued by the Justice Minister upon receiving an application from a foreigner wishing to enter Japan. This certificate will serve as evidence that the applicant fulfills the necessary conditions for the activities in which the foreigner wishes to engage in Japan, and that they are in accordance with the residence status (excluding Temporary Visitor Status). Showing this certificate to the immigration officer simplifies the procedure in obtaining landing permission.
Application may be made by a proxy in Japan such as spouse or employer of the applicant at the nearest regional immigration authority to the proxy's place of residence in Japan.

Q
When do foreigners must complete Alien Registration?

 
A
Foreigners* staying in Japan must complete alien registration at the local municipal government within 90 days from the day of landing in Japan. Anyone losing their Japanese citizenship, any children born in Japan, and anyone staying in Japan without the landing process stipulated in Chapter 3 of Japan's Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, must also apply to the local municipal government for initial registration within 60 days from the day when the need was identified, in order to have the Alien Registration certificate issued.

*Exemption from Alien Registration: Registration is not required for foreigners with diplomatic or official residence status, or to those persons eligible for such status stipulated in the Agreement Regarding Status of United States Armed Forces in Japan.


Q
When are expulsion orders issued?

 
A
The Immigration Control Act stipulates that in cases of entry without valid passport (illegal entry), or without landing permission (illegal landing), or staying for a period exceeding the permitted period of stay (illegal stay), the offender shall be deported.


Q
How to contact immigration information services for each procedure?

 
A
Foreign Residents General Information Centers are located at Regional Immigration Bureaus in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, and branch offices in Yokohama and Kobe. These centers provide information services for visitors and accept telephone inquiries in English, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, and other languages, as well as in Japanese. There are administrative consulting counters top be used by foreigners at immigration bureaus and branch offices without information centers.

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Immigration Service contact addresses

Ministry of Justice Immigration Bureau 1-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8977 TEL 03-3580-4111
Omura Immigration Center 644-3 Kogasimamachi, Omura-shi, Nagasaki, 856-0817 TEL 0957-52-2121
East Japan Immigration Center 1766 Kunocho, Ushiku city, Ibaraki, 300-1288 TEL 0298-75-1291
West Japan Immigration Center 1-11-1 Koriyama, Ibaraki city, Osaka, 567-0071 TEL 0726-41-8152
Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau,
Yokohama Branch Office		 37-9 Yamashitacho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, 231-0023 TEL 045-661-5110
Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau,
Narita Airport Branch Office		 Narita Airport Terminal 2,1-1 Furugome, Aza-Furugome, Narita, 282-0004 TEL 0476-34-2222
Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau 2-1-17 Tanimachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-0012 TEL 06-6941-0771
Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau,
Kansai Airport Branch Office		 1 Senshu-Kuko Naka, Tajiricho, Sennan-gun,Osaka, 549-0011 TEL 0724-55-1453
Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau,
Kobe Branch Office		 29 Kaigandori Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0024 TEL 078-391-6377
Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau 4-3-1 Sannomaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya, 460-0001 TEL 052-951-2391
Hiroshima Regional Immigration Bureau 6-30 Kamihatchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, 730-0012 TEL 082-221-4411
Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau 778-1 Shimousui, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, 812-0003 TEL 092-623-2400
Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau,
Naha Branch Office		 1-15-15 Hikawa, Naha, Okinawa, 900-0022 TEL 098-832-4185
Sendai Regional Immigration Bureau 1-3-20 Gorin, Miyagino-ku, Sendai, 983-0842 TEL 022-256-6076
Sapporo Regional Immigration Bureau 12 Odori-nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060-0042 TEL 011-261-7502
Takamatsu Regional Immigration Bureau 1-1 Marunouchi, Takamatsu, 760-0033 TEL 087-822-5851

Foreign Residents' General Information Centers 37-9 Yamashitacho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, 231-0023 TEL 045-651-2852
29 Kaigandori Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0024 TEL 078-326-5141
Operation of these Information Centers are entrusted to the Immigration Juridicial Foundation.

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