Upon receiving an advance application from a foreign national seeking to land in Japan (except for those who seek to engage in the activities set forth in the right-hand column corresponding to "Temporary Visitor" specified in Appended Table I (3)), the Minister of Justice, pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order, may issue a certificate (hereinafter referred to as "certificate of eligibility") stating that the foreign national conforms to the conditions set forth in Article 7, paragraph (1), item (ii).
The application as set forth in the preceding paragraph may be made by a staff member of the organization that will accept the foreign national, or by other persons prescribed by the Ministry of Justice Order to act as an agent.
If the head of the administrative organ with jurisdiction over the specified industrial field (meaning the "specified industrial fields" provided for in item (i) of the right-hand column under "Specified Skilled Worker" of the Appended Table I (2); hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph and Article 20, paragraph (1)) finds that the necessary human resources in a specified industrial field have been secured based on the field-specific operation policy pertaining to the specified industrial field, the head is to make a request to the Minister of Justice to take measures to temporarily suspend the issuance of certificates of eligibility.
If a request has been made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister of Justice is to take measures to temporarily suspend the issuance of certificates of eligibility based on the field-specific operation policy.
The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs apply mutatis mutandis to cases in which measures to recommence the issuance of certificates of eligibility are taken if measures to temporarily suspend the issuance of certificates of eligibility have been taken. In this case, the term "have been secured" in paragraph (3) is replaced with "are experiencing a shortage", and the term "is to" is replaced with "may" in the preceding two paragraphs.
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(1) Status of Residence Authorized Activities in Japan Diplomat Activities on the part of constituent members of diplomatic missions or consular offices of foreign governments hosted by the Japanese Government; activities on the part of those who are provided with similar privileges or immunities as are granted to diplomatic missions pursuant to treaties or international customary practices; and activities on the part of their family members belonging to the same household. Official Activities on the part of those who engage in the official business of foreign governments or international organizations recognized by the Japanese Government, and activities on the part of their family members belonging to the same household (except for the activities listed in the right-hand column under this Table's "Diplomat" column). Professor Activities for research, research guidance, or education, at a university, an equivalent educational institution, or a technical college. Artist Artistic activities that involve income, such as activities on music, fine arts, literature, etc. (except for the activities listed in the right-hand column under the "Entertainer" column in Table (2)). Religious Activities Missionary and other religious activities conducted by foreign religious workers sent by a foreign religious organization. Journalist News coverage and other journalistic activities conducted based on a contract with foreign news media. (2) Status of Residence Authorized Activities in Japan Highly Skilled Professional (i) Activities that fall under any of the following items (a) through (c) to be carried out by a person meeting the requirements provided by Ministry of Justice Order as a professional with highly-skilled capabilities, and are expected to contribute to the development of academic research or economy of Japan: (a) activities of research, research instruction or education based on a contract signed with a public or private organization in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice, activities of personally operating a business related to the activities in conjunction with those activities, or activities of research, research instruction or education based on a contract signed with a public or private organization in Japan other than the organizations designated by the Minister of Justice; (b) activities to engage in duties requiring knowledge or skills in the field of natural sciences or humanities based on a contract signed with a public or private organization in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice or activities to personally manage the business related to the activities in conjunction with those activities; (c) activities to operate international trade or some other business, or to engage in the management of such business at a public or private organization in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice, or in conjunction with these activities, activities to personally manage the business related to such activities. (ii) The following activities carried out by a person who has engaged in the activities listed in the preceding item and who meets the requirements provided by Ministry of Justice Order as a person whose stay contributes to the interests of Japan: (a) activities of research, research instruction or education based on a contract signed with a public or private organization in Japan; (b) activities to engage in duties requiring knowledge or skills in the field of natural sciences or humanities based on a contract signed with a public or private organization in Japan; (c) activities to operate business of international trade or other businesses at a public or private organization in Japan, or to engage in the management of those businesses; (d) activities (except for the activities that fall under any of the items (a) through (c)) listed in the right-hand column of the "Professor" section to the "Journalist" section in Table (1) or the activities listed in the right-hand column in the "Legal/Accounting Services," "Medical Services," "Instructor," "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services," "Nursing Care," "Entertainer," or "Skilled Labor" sections, or in item (ii) of the right-hand column of the "Specified Skilled Worker" section in this Table, carried out in conjunction with any of the activities in items (a) through (c). Business Manager Activities to operate business of international trade or other businesses, or to engage in the management of those businesses, in Japan (except for activities to engage in the operation or management of business which is legally prohibited to conduct without the qualifications listed in the right-hand column of the "Legal/Accounting Services" section in this Table). Legal/Accounting Services Activities to engage in a legal or accounting business which are to be carried out only by registered foreign-qualified lawyers, registered foreign-qualified public accountants, or those with other legal qualifications. Medical Services Activities to engage in medical treatment services which are to be undertaken only by physicians, dentists, or those with other legal qualifications. Researcher Activities to engage in research based on a contract signed with a public or private organization in Japan (except for the activities listed in the right-hand column of the "Professor" section in Table (1)). Instructor Activities to engage in language teaching or other educational activities at an elementary school, junior high school, compulsory education school, senior high school, school for secondary education, special needs school, advanced vocational school, miscellaneous school, or other educational institutions equivalent to a miscellaneous school in facilities and organization in Japan. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Activities to engage in duties which require skills or knowledge in the field of physical science, engineering, or other natural science fields, or in the field of jurisprudence, economics, sociology or other humanities fields, or to engage in duties which require the ways of thinking or sensitivity founded on foreign culture (except for the activities listed in the right-hand column of the "Professor," "Artist," and "Journalist" sections in Table (1), and the activities listed in the right-hand column of the "Business Manager" through "Instructor" sections and the "Intra-Company Transferee" through "Entertainer" sections in this Table), based on a contract entered into with a public or private organization in Japan. Intra-Company Transferee Activities which a staff member who is transferred to a business office in Japan for a limited period of time from a business office established in a foreign country of a public or private organization which has a head office, branch office or other business offices in Japan engages in, which are listed in the right-hand column of the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" section in this Table, at the business office. Nursing Care Activities in which persons with the qualification of certified care worker engage in the services of nursing care or nursing care instruction based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan. Entertainer Activities to engage in performances of acting, popular entertainment, playing a musical instrument, sports activities or any other form of show business (except for activities listed in the right-hand column of the "Business Manager" section in this Table). Skilled Labor Activities to engage in duties which require expert skills that belong to special industrial fields based on a contract signed with a public or private organization in Japan. Specified Skilled Worker (i) Activities to engage in duties that require skills for which a considerable degree of knowledge or experience provided for in Ministry of Justice Order which belong to a specified industrial field (meaning the field specified in Ministry of Justice Order as an industrial field for which shortage of labor should be secured by employing foreign nationals due to difficulty in securing human resources; the same applies in the following item) designated by the Minister of Justice is necessary, based on a contract (limited to those conforming to the provisions of Article 2-5, paragraph (1) through paragraph (4); the same applies in the following item) concerning employment signed with a public or private organization in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice; (ii) activities to engage in duties that require expert skills specified in Ministry of Justice Order which belong to a specified industrial field designated by the Minister of Justice conducted based on a contract concerning employment signed with a public or private organization in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice. Technical Intern Training (i) Activities which fall under either of the following sub-item (a) or (b): (a) activities to attend lectures and engage in duties related to skills, technique or knowledge (hereinafter referred to as "skills, etc.") based on the technical intern training plan (limited to those pertaining to individual-enterprise-type technical intern training (i) prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (2), item (i) of the Technical Intern Training Act) provided for in Article 8, paragraph (1) of the Technical Intern Training Act, which received the accreditation (where a change has been approved in accordance with the provisions of Article 11, paragraph (1) of the Technical Intern Training Act, the plan after the change; hereinafter the same applies) under Article 8, paragraph (1) of the Technical Intern Training Act; (b) activities to attend lectures and engage in duties related to skills, etc. based on the technical intern training plan (limited to those pertaining to supervising-organization-type technical intern training (i) prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (4), item (i) of the Technical Intern Training Act) provided for in Article 8, paragraph (1) of the Technical Intern Training Act, which received the accreditation set forth under the same paragraph. (ii) Activities which fall under either of the following sub-item (a) or (b): (a) activities to engage in duties that require skills, etc. based on the technical intern training plan (limited to those pertaining to individual-enterprise-type technical intern training (ii) prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (2), item (ii) of the Technical Intern Training Act) provided for in Article 8, paragraph (1) of the Technical Intern Training Act, which received the accreditation set forth under the same paragraph; (b) activities to engage in duties that require skills, etc. based on the technical intern training plan (limited to those pertaining to supervising-organization-type technical intern training (ii) prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (4), item (ii) of the Technical Intern Training Act) provided for in Article 8, paragraph (1) of the Technical Intern Training Act, which received the accreditation set forth under the same paragraph. (iii) Activities which fall under either of the following sub-item (a) or (b): (a) activities to engage in duties that require skills, etc. based on the technical intern training plan (limited to those pertaining to individual-enterprise-type technical intern training (iii) prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (2), item (iii) of the Technical Intern Training Act) provided for in Article 8, paragraph (1) of the Technical Intern Training Act, which received the accreditation set forth under the same paragraph; (b) activities to engage in duties that require skills, etc. based on the technical intern training plan (limited to those pertaining to supervising-organization-type technical intern training (iii) prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (4), item (iii) of the Technical Intern Training Act) provided for in Article 8, paragraph (1) of the Technical Intern Training Act, which received the accreditation set forth under the same paragraph. Remarks: If the Minister of Justice seeks to establish the Ministry of Justice Order in the right-hand column corresponding to "Specified Skilled Worker," the Minister is to consult with the heads of the relevant administrative organs in advance. (3) Status of Residence Authorized Activities in Japan Cultural Activities Academic or artistic activities that do not involve any income, or activities conducted to acquire culture or arts and crafts peculiar to Japan by conducting specialized research or through the guidance of experts (except for activities listed in the right-hand column of the "Student" through "Trainee" sections in Table (4)). Temporary Visitor Activities for sightseeing, recreation, sports, visiting relatives, tour of facilities, participating in lectures or meetings, business liaison or other similar activities during a short stay in Japan. (4) Status of Residence Authorized Activities in Japan Student Activities to receive an education at a university, technical college, senior high school (including the second semester course at a school for secondary education) or a senior high school course of a special needs school, junior high school (including the second semester course at a compulsory education school and the first semester course at a school for secondary education) or a junior high school course of a special needs school, elementary school (including the first semester course at a compulsory education school) or an elementary school course of a special needs school, advanced vocational school or miscellaneous school, or an equivalent educational institution in terms of facilities and organization in Japan. Trainee Activities to acquire skills, etc. by being accepted at a public or a private organization in Japan (except for the activities listed in item (i) of the right-hand column of "Technical Intern Training" in Table (2) and the right-hand column of the "Student" section in this Table). Dependent Daily activities of a spouse or child supported by the foreign national staying in Japan with the status of residence referred to in the left-hand column of Tables (1), (2) or (3) (excluding "Diplomat," "Official," "Specified Skilled Worker" (limited to those pertaining to item (i) of the right-hand column corresponding to "Specified Skilled Worker" of Table (2)), "Technical Intern Training," and "Temporary Visitor") or staying with the status of residence of "Student" in this Table. (5) Status of Residence Authorized Activities in Japan Designated Activities Activities which are specifically designated by the Minister of Justice for individual foreign nationals.
(1) Status of Residence Authorized Activities in Japan Diplomat Activities on the part of constituent members of diplomatic missions or consular offices of foreign governments hosted by the Japanese…
一 在留資格 本邦において行うことができる活動 外交 日本国政府が接受する外国政府の外交使節団若しくは領事機関の構成員、条約若しくは国際慣行により外交使節と同様の特権及び免除を受ける者又はこれらの者と同一の世帯に属する家族の構成員としての活動 公用 日本国政府の承認した外国政府若しくは国際機関の公務に従事する者又はそ…
Open this provision(Change of Status of Residence)
A foreign national with a status of residence may have their status of residence (including the period of stay for the status; hereinafter the same applies from this paragraph to paragraph (3) and in…
在留資格を有する外国人は、その者の有する在留資格（これに伴う在留期間を含む。以下第三項まで及び次条において同じ。）の変更（高度専門職の在留資格（別表第一の二の表の高度専門職の項の下欄第一号イからハまでに係るものに限る。）を有する者については、法務大臣が指定する本邦の公私の機関の変更を含み、特定技能の在留資格を有する者…
Open this provision(Certificate of Eligibility)
Upon receiving an advance application from a foreign national seeking to land in Japan (except for those who seek to engage in the activities set forth in the right-hand column corresponding to…
法務大臣は、法務省令で定めるところにより、本邦に上陸しようとする外国人（本邦において別表第一の三の表の短期滞在の項の下欄に掲げる活動を行おうとする者を除く。）から、あらかじめ申請があつたときは、当該外国人が前条第一項第二号に掲げる条件に適合している旨の証明書（以下「在留資格認定証明書」という。）を交付することができる。
Open this provision(Certificate of Eligibility)
If the head of the administrative organ with jurisdiction over the specified industrial field (meaning the "specified industrial fields" provided for in item (i) of the right-hand column under…
特定産業分野（別表第一の二の表の特定技能の項の下欄第一号に規定する特定産業分野をいう。以下この項及び第二十条第一項において同じ。）を所管する関係行政機関の長は、当該特定産業分野に係る分野別運用方針に基づき、当該特定産業分野において必要とされる人材が確保されたと認めるときは、法務大臣に対し…
Open this provision(Certificate of Eligibility)
If a request has been made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister of Justice is to take measures to temporarily suspend the issuance of certificates of eligibility based…
法務大臣は、前項の規定による求めがあつたときは、分野別運用方針に基づき、一時的に在留資格認定証明書の交付の停止の措置をとるものとする。
Open this provision(An Examination by an Immigration Inspector)
the activities stated in the application to be conducted while in Japan are not false, and fall under either of the activities set forth in the right-hand column of the Appended Table I…
申請に係る本邦において行おうとする活動が虚偽のものでなく、別表第一の下欄に掲げる活動（二の表の高度専門職の項の下欄第二号に掲げる活動を除き、五の表の下欄に掲げる活動については、法務大臣があらかじめ告示をもつて定める活動に限る。）又は別表第二の下欄に掲げる身分若しくは地位（永住者の項の下欄に掲げる地位を除き、定住者の項…
Open this provisionforeign national
「外国人」
Anyone who does not hold Japanese nationality.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (i)· applies throughout the law
field-specific operation policymachine translation
「分野別運用方針」
The policy the Minister of Justice sets jointly with the responsible ministers for running the Specified Skilled Worker status of residence in each industrial field short of workers.
Short name set inArticle 2-4, paragraph (1)
certificate of eligibilitymachine translation
「在留資格認定証明書」
A certificate the Minister of Justice issues in advance, on application, stating that a foreign national planning to land in Japan meets the landing condition in Article 7, paragraph (1), item (ii), on the activities the person plans in Japan; not issued to those coming to engage in Temporary Visitor (短期滞在) activities.
Short name set inArticle 7-2, paragraph (1)
specified industrial field
「特定産業分野」
One of the industries short of workers in which foreign nationals may be employed as Specified Skilled Workers, as provided in Appended Table I (2).
Defined inArticle 7-2, paragraph (3)· applies only in this paragraph and in Article 20, paragraph (1)