Kinds of visas in japan
There are seven categories of visas. Each visa has its own requirements that depends on Japan's relationship with your country and the kind of visa. A visa does not guarantee permission into the country. Permission is stamped into your passport on arrival. So be nice to the immigration officials! Check the governments' visa descriptions for more information.
College Student
Activities to receive education at colleges or equivalent educational institutions, specialized courses of study at advanced vocational schools("Senshugakko"), educational institutions designated for preparing persons who have completed 12 years of education at schools in foreign countries to enter college,or "Koto senmongakko".
2 years or 1 year

You go there as a student, serve your term, go back home, secure a job in the country from overseas, get a work visa sponsorship, get a work visa, move back to Japan and work hard to secure a place for the X years it takes for you to manage residency. That's how everyone I know has done it.

The reason Japanese immigration law is so strict is because traditionally, there is a strong belief in the country that the majority of crime is done by immigrants. (And the figures are actually quite strongly in support of this assertion.) So if an immigrant is going to live in the country, they want to make sure they know exactly where and what that person is doing at all times. They don't want the system like America where once you're in the country, you basically disappear and no one cares. They want to know what the person will be doing for X years in the future from the moment they enter the country, and they want to also know when that person should be gone. They don't want to have to deal with the person's status changing while they're still there, unless the person goes through the hurdles to get residency.

The only really "wierd" law about immigration in Japan is natural born citizenship. I believe if your mother was a full Japanese citizen and your father was not, you are given citizenship upon birth. However if your father was full Japanese and your mother was not, you are simply a resident. It doesn't matter how many generations you've been in the country, as fourth and fifth generation Koreans who still do not have citizenship can attest to.

Regardless, upon reaching 20 years old you must get rid of your dual citizenship/residency and choose either Japan or the other country, which is why when I go to Japan now I have to go on a tourist visa. Which is kind of disheartening, but I sure as hell was not giving up US citizenship. Despite our government's recent idiocy it's still the most valuable citizenship in the world and you will never get it back if you give it up.

While you are still a resident (but not a natural) you must always carry your gaijin card (you will recive one). it is a criminal offense not to. remember this ONLY POLICE, OFFICIALS AND JOB EMPLOYERS CAN SEE IT, NO ONE ELSE CAN TAKE IT ANY FORM OR ASK FOR IT.
This is to keep track of these:
~that you are a resident and not a natural
~how long you have been in japan
~some other stuff i dont know icon_xp.gif

you do not need this anymore after you become a natural (attain citizenship)

It is also a good idea to carry around your passport while you are a resident. if you are asked to show your ID TRY NOT SHOW YOUR GIAJIN CARD UNLESS YOU HAVE TO. remember that in japan, YOU CAN ASK THE POLICE FOR THEIR ID.


STRICTNESS: one thing, is that japan is very harsh on criminals, almost 100% of the accused are tossed in jail, where you can be beaten, and generally, if you end up there, you are doomed. If you live.

But also, you know how immigrants come to the USA and then POOF! disappear? that is impossible in japan.; Before it was possible to work on a student visa, but this led to people quitting college, working as traffickers, and so on. Also, you cannot recive any government servies unless you are included in a koseki, and have a juuminhyou (when natural you get your own, when resident you are included in the setainushi's bikouran, or side notes of the head of the family) if you do what immigrants do in north america, you dont recieve any. There are probably a few people in your country that maerica has no idea exist. Japan probably will know each hair on your body personally icon_xd.gif

ALSO, NEVER I REPEAT DO NOT EVER, OVER STAY YOUR VISA, LEAVE A WEEK EARLY IF YOU HAVE TO BUT NEVER OVER STAY IT! YOU WILL BE DEPORTED, AND WILL BE BANISHED FROM JAPANESE BORDERS FOR 10 YEARS, AND HAVE LOST ALL CHANCE OF EVER COMING BACK, EVEN IF YOUR A SINGLE MOTHER.

My friend's getting her visa changed to a working one as we speak, and she is already in Japan. Well, technically she has no visa right now, since an American passport apparently serves as an automatic tourist visa in Japan. But anyway, she came here without a job, did the search from there, and explained to me that there are two options for people like her:
1. Find a place that will sponsor your work visa and pay you under the table for the 2 months or so it takes to get the work visa, or...
2. Go with the more legal option of doing nothing for 2 months while your future employer gets you the work visa.

Either way, apparently it's possible to come here as a tourist and end up with a work visa. Naturally, the bigger companies are less likely to go with Option 1, though smaller companies will.

Of course, my friend came here with the experience of already having lived here for a year, advanced Japanese ability, and some job connections, so that makes finding jobs easier. She's going with Option 1, btw.

She also warned me that in order to get a working visa from Japan, you have to have your *actual* college diploma with you. -Japan certainly propagates its stereotype as the land of red tape!

About Visa Procedures

There are 2 types of approach for you to obtain a visa. The first step for both routes is to ask a representative at your local Japanese embassy or consulate whether or not you should attach a "Certificate of Eligibility (COE)" to your visa application.

Normally, you save time if you obtain a COE or one is obtained for you by an interested party in Japan. The processing time for issuing a visa with a COE is generally 2-4 weeks shorter than without. This is because without it, the overseas embassy or consulate is required to carry out an inquiry regarding your eligibility with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice and the Regional Immigration Bureau in Japan and then wait to hear back from each of them. With a COE one may apply for a "Change of Status" in Japan (from Temporary Visitor status) to the status of residence shown on the COE.

For "Student" and "Contract worker" visas, Japanese embassies may not accept your application at all if you do not have a COE.

Obtaining permament Resident status
(1) The alien's behavior and conduct must be good;
(2) The alien must have sufficient assets or ability to make an independent living.

Becoming a natural:
(1) The applicant has domiciled in Japan for five years or more consecutively;
(2) He or she must be twenty years of age or more and of full capacity according to the law of his or her native country;
(3) His or her behavior and conduct must be good;
(4) He or she is able to make an independent living by his or her own property or ability, or those of one's spouse or other relatives with whom one lives;
(5) He or she is of no nationality, or the acquisition of Japanese nationality will result in the loss of the foreign nationality;
(6) He or she has never attempted or advocated the overthrow of the Constitution of Japan or the Government formed thereunder by means of force or violence, nor has ever organized or been a member of a political party of any organization which attempts or advocates the same.

remember that while you are still a resident you cannot leave or re enter japan without recieving a exit and re entry visa.
AND NOTE TO ALL FEMALES HERE:
IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN WITH A JAPANESE MAN YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE PERMANTLY RESIDENTS, AND CAN NEVER ATTAIN CITIZENSHIP.
UNDER JAPANESE LAW, TO BE JAPANESE NATURAL, IF YOU ARE BORN IN JAPAN, YOUR MOTHER MUST BE JAPANESE.

ok, i have a question about the last part. what's this about your kids not being citizens? could you explain this to me a bit?

haha, ok if you hadn't heard of ayu that would be quite...well, sad.
hmm...20 years, eh? well all right then.
but what if they were born in japan to a non japanese mother, but a japanese father?
or, what if they were born in japan, but didn't get the citizenship. could they apply when they reach 20?

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hmm...i don't think you need to. i accepted your apology. some of them got pretty mad...(for some reason...) but i posted again in there, if you wanna check it out. i don't think you need to apologize again. sorry they exploded on you, some of them are very opinionated

even if you od give up your US citizenship, the american government will hound on you, thinking you re just trying to avoid taxes because "who would want to leave the best place on earth?"

um alot of people mr.bush.

"who would want to leave the best place on earth?"