Eligibility quiz
Has one of your grandparents ever been a Japanese citizen?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in Japan
You can live in Japan for the period on your residence card: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 6 months.
You can rent housing and open an ordinary bank account on the same basis generally available to lawful residents.
Study in Japan
Holders can attend school or study without changing their residence status.
Work in Japan
Holders can work in any lawful job, change employers or work for themselves without changing their residence status.
They can also choose not to work.
Travel and return
You can leave and return to Japan while your status is valid if you have the required permission to return.
With special re-entry permission, you normally must return within one year and before your stay expires.
You can use a re-entry permit where appropriate.
Use public healthcare
Holders generally join public health insurance through their employer or the national system.
Foreign residents staying over three months are generally covered by the national system if they do not have other coverage and meet its rules.
Insured patients ordinarily pay 30% when receiving care, with exceptions and help for high costs.
Use local services
Holders can use local public services, including consultation, parenting and disaster assistance, under the rules for each service.
Help depends on the programme and may depend on residence, income, insurance contributions and household circumstances.
How to apply
From outside JapanFrom outside Japan
Find the immigration office
Ask your proxy in Japan to find the immigration office responsible for their address.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Japan immigration office handles a Long-Term Resident Certificate of Eligibility application for a proxy living in your city?”
Download the application form
Get the Certificate of Eligibility application form for Long-Term Resident status. Your proxy can also get the form at an immigration office in Japan.
Find the application formSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I download the Japan Long-Term Resident Certificate of Eligibility application form for a Japanese grandchild?”
Fill in the form
Complete the Certificate of Eligibility application with your proxy in Japan.
Get help completing itSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in a Japan Long-Term Resident Certificate of Eligibility application as a Japanese grandchild?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the immigration office and the consulate.
See required documentsHand in the application
Ask your proxy to hand in the completed Certificate of Eligibility application and supporting documents at the immigration office responsible for their address. Eligible proxies can also apply through Japan's online residence application system.
Find submission instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does a proxy submit a Japan Long-Term Resident Certificate of Eligibility application for a Japanese grandchild?”
Wait for the certificate
Wait for the immigration office's decision and respond if it asks for more documents. If approved, the certificate will be sent electronically or delivered to you or your proxy.
See how it worksSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a Japan Long-Term Resident Certificate of Eligibility application for a Japanese grandchild take?”
Find your consulate
Find the Japanese embassy or consulate that handles visa applications for the country where you live or hold citizenship.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Japanese consulate handles Long-Term Resident visa applications for someone living in your city?”
Download the visa form
Get the Long-Term Resident visa application form.
Find the visa formSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I download the Japan Long-Term Resident visa application form?”
Fill in the form
Complete your Long-Term Resident visa application form.
Get help completing itSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in a Japan Long-Term Resident visa application form?”
Arrange your application
Book an appointment if your consulate requires one.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book a Japan Long-Term Resident visa appointment at the Japanese consulate serving your city?”
Hand in your application
Submit your visa form, passport, photograph and Certificate of Eligibility to your consulate. Ask the consulate how it accepts applications; it may allow an authorised representative or another submission method.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a Japan Long-Term Resident visa application with a Certificate of Eligibility at the Japanese consulate serving your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the consulate's decision and respond if it asks for more documents. A Certificate of Eligibility helps with processing but does not guarantee a visa.
See how long it takesSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a Japan Long-Term Resident visa application with a Certificate of Eligibility take?”
Receive your visa
Follow the consulate's instructions to receive your visa. You can then travel to Japan for an entry examination.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I receive my Japan Long-Term Resident visa from the Japanese consulate serving your city?”
Once in JapanOnce in Japan
Enter Japan
Present your passport and visa for the entry examination when you arrive. If admitted as a medium- or long-term resident, you will receive a residence card.
See arrival instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens at the Japan entry examination for a Long-Term Resident visa holder?”
Register your address
After you establish an address, report it to the town hall where you live and complete your resident registration. This records where you live in Japan under your new status.
Find registration instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I register my address in Japan after arriving with a Long-Term Resident visa?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Get your birth certificate and your parent's birth certificate from the offices that issued them. If your birth was reported to a municipal office in Japan, include its certificate accepting the birth report; if your parent formally acknowledged you, include the recognition certificate.
Relatives' identity records
Provide public records showing that your grandparents and parents existed. These can include their passports, death certificates or driving licences.
Grandparent's family register
Get a complete copy of your Japanese grandparent's family register or removed family register from the municipal office in Japan. Japanese certificates should generally have been issued within the past three months.
Marriage certificates *
Get the marriage certificates for your grandparents and your parents from the offices that issued them. For each marriage reported to a municipal office in Japan, also get its certificate accepting the marriage report; Japanese certificates should generally have been issued within the past three months.
* Only if your parent or grandparent married.
May need translationDeath certificates *
Get the certificate accepting the death report for each of your parents or grandparents whose death was reported to a municipal office in Japan. Japanese certificates should generally have been issued within the past three months.
* Only if your parent or grandparent has died and the death was reported to a municipal office in Japan.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Renewal and records
To stay longer, you must apply for an extension before your permitted stay expires.
Approval is not automatic, and you must continue to meet the conditions for your stay.
You must keep your residence card and immigration records accurate and report required address and status changes.
Residence can end
Your lawful stay can end if your permitted period expires without an approved extension or another status.
Your status can also end if you leave without valid permission to return, change to another status or become a Japanese citizen.
Fraud, false statements, unlawful residence and other legal grounds can lead to cancellation or removal from Japan.
Spouse status cancellation
If you hold this status as a Japanese citizen’s spouse, divorce or the end of the relationship can put it at risk.
It may be taken away if you live in Japan for more than six months without continuing your life as a spouse, unless you have a justifiable reason.
Before cancellation on this ground, you must have a chance to seek another status or permanent residence.
This six-month rule does not apply to holders who qualify as a Japanese citizen’s child or specially adopted child.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
For Foreigners Living In Japan
English Facebook group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Join on Facebookr/movingtojapan
English Reddit group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Join on RedditMoving to Japan
English Facebook group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Request to joinConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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