Articles
Practical guides and policy updates on visas, permanent residence and koseki records for foreign residents in Japan — written by a licensed gyoseishoshi.
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Is It Really Professional Work? Official ISA Cases on Simple Tasks, Paperwork and Workload (ESI Visa)
Boxing lunches, fixing tires, "store staff" on a contract: ISA cases show when work is not professional enough for the ESI visa, and what employers should show.
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Hotel and Ryokan Jobs on the ESI Visa: Official ISA Cases on Duties, Training and Language
Front desk work, yes; room cleaning, no. ISA cases show which hotel and ryokan jobs the ESI visa covers, how long training can last and why language matters.
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Japan plans to add “Do you intend to comply with Japanese laws?” to arrival and re-entry cards from January 2027
A draft ordinance adds a question on intent to comply with Japanese laws to the disembarkation card for foreigners, the re-entry card and the cruise passenger landing form. What changes, who is affected and the timeline.
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Japan’s pre-entry tuberculosis screening (JPETS): who needs a TB certificate, when to get it, and Indonesia from January 2027
Nationals of the Philippines, Nepal, Vietnam and, from January 2027, Indonesia need a TB certificate from a designated clinic to apply for a COE or a long-term visa to Japan. Who is covered, exemptions and timing.
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Vocational School Graduates and the ESI Visa: 3 Official ISA Cases on “Related Studies”
For vocational school graduates, the ESI visa needs a close link between studies and job. Three ISA cases show where that link was found and where it was not.
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Approved or Refused? 3 Official ISA Cases on the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa
Three cases published by the Immigration Services Agency show why ESI visa applications fail: low pay, open-ended "training" and too little interpreting work.
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How to get copies of your past immigration applications in Japan
Not sure what was written or submitted in your last application? Here is how to request copies from the regional immigration bureau and how to identify each application.
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How to get your Japan entry and exit records (and count your days outside Japan)
Lost track of your trips abroad? Here is how to request your official entry and exit records from the Immigration Services Agency, what they show, and how long it takes.
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Dependent visa in Japan: who qualifies, working limits, and your child’s options after high school
Who can bring family on a Dependent visa, how much a dependent can work, and how a child who finishes a Japanese high school can switch to full-time work.
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Bringing your foreign spouse to Japan: what Immigration checks in a spouse visa COE application
Applying for a COE for your foreign spouse? How Immigration judges a genuine marriage, how to prepare the questionnaire and evidence, and which cases need extra care.
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Have a question about your own situation?
Our articles cover general rules. For advice on your own situation, a licensed gyoseishoshi can answer your questions in writing or handle your application for you.
Questions about your own situation? Get a written answer from a gyoseishoshi (JPY 13,200, tax incl.) →