Tips
Practical guides for foreign residents in Japan: visas, family, koseki and everyday procedures.
17 articles
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Applied online? How to prove your application is pending (special period) after the June 2026 residence card redesign
Online applicants get no "application pending" stamp on their residence card. How to prove your status in the special period after the June 2026 card redesign.
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Bringing your spouse and children to Japan as a Nikkei 3rd generation
Living in Japan as a Nikkei 3rd generation? See how your spouse and children can join you as Long-Term Residents, with requirements, documents and pitfalls.
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Nikkei 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation? Which Japanese visa fits your family line
Nikkei 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation? See which Japanese status of residence fits your family line, what each one allows, and how to prove your Japanese ancestry.
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Changing jobs on a work visa in Japan: the 14-day notification and why you may need a Certificate of Authorized Employment
Changing jobs in Japan on a work visa? The 14-day notification you must file, when to get a Certificate of Authorized Employment, and how to avoid renewal trouble.
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From vocational school to Specified Skilled Worker (i): what graduates need to know before changing from Student
Graduating from a vocational school in Japan? When the Specified Skilled Worker (i) visa fits, the tests and documents you need, and the fields that are closed.
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Graduating in 2027? Changing from Student to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa, step by step
Graduating in March 2027 with a job offer in Japan? When to apply, what immigration checks, and the mistakes that cause refusals when changing from Student to ESI.
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Going freelance on an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa: what’s covered, and when you need extra permission
Can you freelance or take side work on an ESI visa? What your status covers, when Permission for Other Activities is needed, and what renewal requires.
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Married to a Japanese National? How International Marriage Is Recorded in the Koseki
Foreign spouses don't get a Japanese koseki. Learn how your marriage is recorded in your spouse's family register, surname rules, children, and visa use.
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Having a baby in Japan as a foreign resident: 3 procedures you must complete (and the deadlines)
Had a baby in Japan? Foreign parents must file a birth notification in 14 days and apply for the baby's residence status in 30 days. Here's how.
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Looking for an Immigration Lawyer in Japan? Bengoshi and Gyoseishoshi Explained
Looking for an immigration lawyer in Japan? Learn how bengoshi (attorneys) and gyoseishoshi differ, and which one fits your visa application.
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