Japan Work Visa 2026: Types, COE, Fees and Processing
Japan does not have one work visa. It has a list of statuses, each tied to a kind of work, and almost every application runs through a document issued in Japan first: the Certificate of Eligibility. Get that, and the visa itself takes about a week. Skip it, and you wait months. This guide explains the system using Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Services Agency as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
To work in Japan you need a working visa that matches your job, such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Intra-company Transferee, Skilled Labor or Highly Skilled Professional. A proxy in Japan, such as your employer, first applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). With it, the visa is issued in about 5 working days; without it, typically one to three months. Working visas are granted for 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. Since 1 July 2026 the visa fee is approximately 15,000 yen for single entry and 30,000 yen for multiple entry. A single-entry visa must be used within three months. Highly skilled professionals with 70 points can apply for permanent residence after 3 years, and with 80 points after 1 year.
The main working visas
| Visa | Examples given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
|---|---|
| Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services | Scientific engineers, IT engineers, foreign language teachers, interpreters, copywriters, designers |
| Intra-company Transferee | People transferred to the Japanese branch or head office of the same company |
| Business Manager | Company presidents, directors |
| Skilled Labor | Chefs specialising in the food of a foreign country, pilots, sports trainers, sommeliers |
| Specified Skilled Worker | Work-ready foreign nationals with certain expertise and skills in certain industrial fields |
| Instructor | Teachers at elementary, intermediate and high schools |
| Professor; Researcher | University professors and assistants; researchers at research institutes |
| Medical Services; Nursing Care | Physicians, dentists, pharmacists and nurses certified in Japan; certified care workers |
| Legal/Accounting Services | Attorneys, public accountants and tax accountants certified in Japan |
| Highly Skilled Professional | People recognised as highly skilled human resources under a points system |
Other routes that allow work sit outside the working visa list: a Start-up visa for entrepreneurs supported by a Japanese municipality, and Designated Activities, which covers working holidays, paid internships and digital nomads.
The Certificate of Eligibility comes first
A Certificate of Eligibility is issued by a regional immigration authority under the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. It certifies that you meet the conditions for landing in Japan: that the activity in your application is genuine and falls under one of the statuses in the Immigration Control Act. A proxy in Japan, such as the company hiring you, can apply for you.
| With a COE | Without a COE | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa processing | 5 working days from the day after the application is received, if there is no problem | Typically one to three months |
| Documents | Passport, application form, photograph and the COE | A large amount of verification documents |
| Highly Skilled Professional visa | Required | Not possible |
Two cautions from the ministry. A COE does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. And if there is a problem with an application, the embassy sends it to Tokyo for further examination, which can take more than a month.
How to apply, step by step
- Get a job offer from an employer in Japan whose work fits one of the visa categories.
- Your proxy in Japan, such as the employer, applies for your Certificate of Eligibility at the regional immigration bureau.
- You receive the COE, on paper or as an electronic certificate.
- You apply for the visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate for your area, with your passport, one application form, one photograph and the COE. Some nationalities need extra documents.
- The visa is issued, usually in about 5 working days.
- You travel within three months. A single-entry visa is valid for three months and cannot be extended.
Nationals of the Philippines, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar and China should note that pre-entry tuberculosis screening applies to them for work and long-term stays.
How long you can stay
| Visa | Period of stay granted |
|---|---|
| Working visas such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Instructor, Researcher | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months |
| Business Manager | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 4 months or 3 months |
| Highly Skilled Professional | 5 years |
To extend your period of stay once you live in Japan, you go to the regional immigration bureau, not to an embassy.
What it costs
Visa fees changed in 2026. An amended Cabinet Order took effect on 1 July 2026, and for applications accepted from that date the fee is approximately 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and approximately 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa. You normally pay in the local currency of the country where you apply.
- Depending on your nationality and purpose, the fee may be waived or may differ.
- If the visa is not issued, no visa fee is charged.
- If you apply through an agency approved by the embassy, the agency charges its own handling fee on top.
The Highly Skilled Professional route
Japan's points-based system gives preferential immigration treatment to people it recognises as highly skilled foreign professionals. The threshold is 70 points. The benefits set out by the Immigration Services Agency include a 5-year period of stay and a much shorter path to permanent residence.
| Applicant | Stay required before applying for permanent residence |
|---|---|
| Standard rule | 10 years or more |
| Highly skilled professional with 70 points or more | 3 years |
| Highly skilled professional with 80 points or more | 1 year |
Under certain conditions a highly skilled professional can also bring a parent to help care for a child under 7, which other working statuses do not allow. A COE is mandatory for this visa, and family members can be issued their own.
Bringing your family
The spouse and children of a foreign national with a working visa apply for the Dependent (Family Stays) visa.
Mistakes to avoid
- Applying for the visa without a COE. It is allowed for most working visas, but it takes months and far more paperwork.
- Budgeting on the old fee. Advice written before July 2026 quotes the previous fees.
- Letting the visa lapse. You have three months from issue to enter Japan.
- Taking a job outside your category. Each status covers a defined kind of work.
- Treating the COE as a guarantee. The embassy still decides the visa.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a work visa for Japan?
You need a job that fits one of Japan's working visa categories. A proxy in Japan, such as your employer, applies for a Certificate of Eligibility, and you then apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate with your passport, an application form, a photograph and the certificate.
How long does a Japan work visa take?
With a Certificate of Eligibility, the visa takes 5 working days from the day after the application is received, provided there is no problem. Without one, it typically takes one to three months.
How much is a Japan work visa in 2026?
For applications accepted from 1 July 2026, approximately 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and approximately 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa, paid in local currency. No fee is charged if the visa is not issued.
What is a Certificate of Eligibility?
A document issued by a regional immigration authority in Japan certifying that you meet the conditions for landing. A proxy in Japan, such as your employer, can apply for it. It speeds up the visa but does not guarantee it.
How long is a Japan work visa valid?
Working visas are granted for 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months, and the Highly Skilled Professional visa for 5 years. The single-entry visa in your passport must be used to enter Japan within three months.
How can I get permanent residence in Japan faster?
The standard requirement is a stay of 10 years or more. Highly skilled professionals with 70 points or more can apply after 3 years, and those with 80 points or more after 1 year.
Can my family come with me to Japan?
Yes. The spouse and children of a foreign national with a working visa can apply for the Dependent (Family Stays) visa.
Sources (official only)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Work or long-term stay
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Working visa
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Highly skilled professional visa
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Visa fees
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Visa processing time
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Validity of a visa
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan — Points-based system for highly skilled professionals: questions and answers
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Fees and requirements change, so check with the Japanese embassy or consulate for your area before you apply. Information, not legal advice.