Q&A ② (How to Apply for a Visa)
Matters Concerning Application Methods, etc.
This page outlines common questions and points for business owners to keep in mind when hiring foreign nationals.
Q5: Can an employee of the hiring company submit applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, a Change of Status of Residence, or an Extension of Period of Stay on behalf of the foreign national?
A5:
- For a Certificate of Eligibility application, an employee of the accepting organization can act as a proxy.
- For a Change of Status of Residence or Extension of Period of Stay application, the foreign national must, in principle, apply in person. However, an employee of the hiring company can submit the application as an agent if they have received prior approval from the Director of the Regional Immigration Services Bureau and have a request from the applicant. For more on this agent system, please refer to the provided link.
- If an employee of the foreign national’s affiliated company has been approved to use the online application system, they can apply on the applicant’s behalf.
Q6: If an employee of the hiring company is submitting an application, where should they apply?
A6: For a Certificate of Eligibility application, you should apply at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau that has jurisdiction over your company’s location.
(For a Change of Status of Residence or Extension of Period of Stay application, if the employee has agent approval, they can apply at the immigration office that has jurisdiction over or is in charge of their place of work, regardless of the applicant’s place of residence.)
Q7: How long does it take to get a result after submitting an application?
A7: The standard processing times are as follows:
- Certificate of Eligibility: 1 to 3 months
- Change of Status of Residence and Extension of Period of Stay: 2 weeks to 1 month
Note: Actual processing times can vary significantly based on the visa type and the workload of the regional immigration office. It is very common for it to take much longer than the standard period, especially at the Tokyo Immigration Office, which is extremely busy and requires a longer review period. Please be aware of this.
Q8: Visas can be granted for periods like 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years. What criteria are used to determine this period?
A8: The decision is based on a comprehensive evaluation of factors, including the planned period of employment, the foreign national’s past activities and fulfillment of public duties, and the business scale and performance of the contracting company.
Q9: I have lost the Certificate of Eligibility. What should I do?
A9: The Certificate of Eligibility cannot be reissued if it is lost. You must apply for a new one.
(Source: Immigration Services Agency Website, February 2025)
Q&A ① (When Hiring) – Yokoyama Daisuke Gyoseishoshi Office (Tokyo/Shinjuku)
Q&A ③ (About Required Documents) – Yokoyama Daisuke Gyoseishoshi Office (Tokyo/Shinjuku)
◆ If your company falls into any of the following categories, please feel free to contact us! (Free consultation) ◆
- You are new to hiring foreign nationals and are worried about successfully handling the visa application.
- You are unable to properly create the “Statement of Reasons for Hiring.”
- You are unsure if you meet the visa requirements (for the individual, your company, and the job duties).
- You want to outsource the visa application process to reduce the risk of denial and improve work efficiency.
160-0023 Annex Kobayashi Bldg. 523, 8-19-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Yokoyama Daisuke Gyoseishoshi Office
Chief Administrative Scrivener Daisuke Yokoyama [Japan Federation of Administrative Scriveners Association Registration No. 23080943]
- A former Tokyo Metropolitan Government employee and current visa-specialist administrative scrivener will provide careful and responsible support.
◎ Visa Certificate of Eligibility/Change of Status Application Package (from ¥118,000)
◎ Visa Renewal Application Package (from ¥49,000)
◎ Creation of “Statement of Reasons for Hiring” only (from ¥28,000)
◎ Consultation on Foreigner Employment (First consultation is free)
Email: info@daisukeoffice.com
Official LINE ID: @615wivml
Phone: 03(6824)5009 / 090(1275)1188 FAX: 03(6824)5012
Free Consultation Application – Yokoyama Daisuke Gyoseishoshi Office (Tokyo/Shinjuku)
Fee Schedule (Foreigner Visas) – Yokoyama Daisuke Gyoseishoshi Office (Tokyo/Shinjuku)