最終更新日 2023-06-26
Status of Residence (Zairyu shikaku) is a legal basis for you as a foreign national to stay in Japan and engage in specific activities for a prescribed period. You can find the basic information on your residence card (Zairyu card).
Understanding Japan’s status of residence system may not be easy for you. You might want to familiarize yourself with the relevant Japanese laws, regulations, public notices, guidelines, and social and tax systems. Unfortunately, you would encounter difficulty finding the necessary information on the official websites, not to mention their English translations.
In this post, I’m sharing some essential points about Japan’s status of residence system, which will help you understand the basics and precautions.
- Classification: Activity-based group and Personal status-based group
- The role of the immigration law
- What you can (or are expected to) do
- What you should be careful of
- Wrap up
1. Classification: Activity-based group and Personal status-based group
You can find a list of Japan’s status of residence in the “List of status of residence” section of the Immigration Services Agency’s website. You can change the language setting by clicking the multi language panel.
For your information, in the latest immigration law, the appended tables include newly created statuses of residence “specific skills type 1” and “specific skills type 2,” and the name of the competent authority has been changed from “the Immigration Bureau of Japan” to “the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.”
The appended tables consist of Appended Tables I (1) to (5) and one under Appended Table II.
Appended Tables I (1) to (5) show the names of statuses of residence on the left and each corresponding “authorized activities” on the right. These are grouped as an “Activity-based Group” because each residence status
Appended Table II shows the names of residence statuses on the left and each corresponding “personal status or position for which residence is authorized” on the right. These are grouped as a “Personal Status-based Group.”
2. The role of the immigration law
Under Japanese immigration law, each residence status corresponds to a particular set of authorized activities. By granting permission to land and stay in Japan within the scope of prescribed activities, the Japanese government can adjust the number of foreign nationals to land and stay in Japan according to its policy.
3. What you can (or are expected to) do
Your residence status identifies activities you can (or are expected to) engage in Japan.
If your residence status belongs to the Activity-based Group, you are authorized to engage in the activities shown in the right column of your residence status.
If your residence status belongs to the Personal Status-based Group, you are authorized to engage in activities that a person having such status or position as specified in the right column of your status of residence naturally does. Unlike the other group, there are no limitations regarding the type of work or what to do.
4. What you should be careful of
(a) Authorized activities and extra-status activities
As you are required by law to engage in authorized activities, not engaging in such activities continuously for a certain period during your stay will be a reason for canceling your residence status.
Further, if you engage in paid work beyond the scope of authorized activities without obtaining permission for extra-status activities, you will likely be subject to penalties for illegal employment and deportation.
(b) Change or extension of your status of residence
If your situation has changed or is about to change while you stay in Japan, you may need to change your residence status by applying for permission.
And if you wish to continue to stay after the expiration of the original period, you must apply for permission to extend a period of stay.
During the examination of applications for permission to change of status of residence or to extend a period of stay, the law stipulates that the Justice Minister may grant permission only when the Minister finds that “there are reasonable grounds” to grant permission based on the documents submitted by a foreign national.
Your application may be refused if you do not behave well, i.e., committing crimes during your stay or having not substantively engaged in authorized activities.
The “reasonable grounds” are explained in detail in the guidelines for permission to change residence status and extend the period of stay. An English translation of the guidelines is here.
(c) Period of stay
The period of stay is decided by an immigration officer and is granted along with residence status. The period of stay is shown in the Appended Table II of the regulation for enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. An English translation of this enforcement regulation is here. You can find the Appended Table II almost at the end.
5. Wrap up
- You must keep yourself engaged in the activities authorized under your residence status during your period of stay.
- You must comply with the laws and regulations of Japan in every aspect.
- Violations of laws and regulations may result in the cancellation of your residence status and deportation.
- You should carefully read the guidelines for permission for a change of residence status and extension of the period of stay to understand what you are expected to do or not to do during your stay.
If any questions arise regarding your residence status, do not hesitate to contact the regional immigration bureau in charge of your address or an immigration specialist near you.