Introduction

Experience beautiful landscapes, delicious cuisine, and warm encounters with people in Japan.

Have you ever felt the desire to stay longer and fully immerse yourself in Japan’s charm? 

For those who are affluent and looking for an extended stay, we offer the perfect Long-Term Stay Visa.

This special visa allows you to enjoy Japan’s seasonal beauty and delve deeper into its traditional culture. 

We offer comprehensive information on the requirements and procedures for arranging a 6-month to 1-year stay in Japan with this visa. 

What is the Designated Activities Long-Term Stay Visa?

The “Designated Activities” visa, intended for long-term stays such as tourism and relaxation, allows for an initial stay of 6 months in Japan. With the option to extend, you can stay for up to 1 year.

A stay of 6 months to 1 year provides ample time to fully experience Japan’s rich culture and sophisticated daily life. 

During your extended stay, you can immerse yourself in hobbies and improve your skills, or explore Japan extensively after retirement. 

Scope of activities

Permitted activities

This visa allows for the following activities: 

• Tourism
• Relaxation at hot springs and similar places 
• Visiting friends and relatives 
• Participation in amateur sports
• Attending workshops and seminars organized by educational institutions etc. 

Activities Not Permitted

The activities not permitted under this visa are as follows: 

• Activities Involving Income
• Employment

Eligibility

1. Individuals who meet the following conditions – Residence Status: Designated Activities No. 40 

・The applicant’s nationality must be from a visa-exempt country.  

・The applicant must be at least 18 years old.

・The applicant must possess savings of at least 30 million yen (equivalent to 30 million yen). 

・The applicant must have private health insurance that covers the entire intended stay and provides coverage for death, injury, and illness. 

２, Spouse of individual above as 1 – Residence status: Designated Activities No.41 

・The applicant must be legally married to the person in 1. 

・The nationality must be from a visa-exempt country or region. 

・The applicant must stay in the same location as the person in 1 and engage in activities together. 

・The applicant must possess savings of at least 30 million yen, which can be combined with the savings of the person in 1. 

・The applicant must have private health insurance that covers the entire intended stay and provides coverage for death, injury, and illness. 

※ This visa is intended for spouses only, and it does not allow for the accompaniment of children under the immigration regulations. 

Key Preparation Points

Before applying for this visa, please ensure you have the following preparations in place: 

1. Documents proving savings of 30 million yen in Japanese currency, including deposit and withdrawal records for the past six months. 
2. The ability to explain your planned activities during your stay, including the regions you will visit, the duration of each stay along with the nature and plans of the activities you will participate in. 
3. Documentation detailing the coverage of the private health insurance you will be enrolled in.

Q&A

Are de facto marriages and same-sex marriages that are legally recognized abroad recognized as marriages? 

Unfortunately, de facto marriages and same-sex marriages that are validly established abroad are not currently recognized as meeting the spousal requirements for this visa. A legal marriage is required. 

Is it acceptable for the timing of entry not to be simultaneous? 

The spouse does not necessarily need to enter at the same time, but they cannot enter before the person mentioned in the above category 1. 

The couple has separate action plans. In this case, will the visa requirements change? 

If a couple has different action plans, each person must individually obtain the “Designated Activities No. 40” visa. In this case, proof of savings totaling 60 million yen is required, which can be combined between the spouses. 

Are there any obligations or procedures related to this residence status during the stay? 

There are three types of notifications required. 

・Notification of place of residence after new entry (mid- to long-term residents) 

・Notification of change of address (mid- to long-term residents) 

・Notification of changes to information on your residence card other than your place of residence 

Can I enroll in the National Health Insurance? 

You cannot enroll in the National Health Insurance. Having private health insurance is a requirement for obtaining the visa, and this insurance must cover cases of death, injury, and illness. 

Can I enroll in the National Pension? 

You cannot enroll in the National Pension. 

I plan to obtain this visa to visit my son, who is studying in Japan. Can I apply for it? 

Yes, visiting friends or relatives is included in the scope of activities for this visa, so you are permitted to visit your son who is studying in Japan. You are eligible to apply for it. 

Contact us  

At Stellar, we offer services for acquiring a ‘Long-Term Stay’ visa for Japan lovers in the Kyushu and Hiroshima areas. Please fee to contact us through our contact form. 

※ Our application service, which allows us to handle the entire process from application submission through to receiving the results on your behalf, is available under the condition that the applicant is physically present in Japan at the time of application, in accordance with the regulations. 

Please note

Please note that immigration regulations are subject to change, so always refer to the most up-to-date information.