【List of Required Documents for a Long-Term Resident Visa Application】
Documents required for a Long-Term Resident visa (Status of Residence: Long-Term Resident) vary depending on each individual case.
Be sure to confirm the required documents that apply to your situation and prepare them carefully.
Basic Documents Generally Required
✅ Application for Certificate of Eligibility (official form designated by the Ministry of Justice)
✅ Photograph (4 cm × 3 cm, taken within the last 3 months)
✅ Copy of passport (photo identification page)
✅ Copy of residence card (if already residing in Japan)
✅ Statement of reasons for application (a detailed explanation of why it is necessary to obtain a Long-Term Resident visa)
✅ Copy of resident record (Jūminhyō) (if you have an address in Japan)
✅ Letter of guarantee (if a guarantor is available)
✅ Copy of the guarantor’s identification (such as a driver’s license or passport)
Additional Documents Required by Case
1️⃣ Descendants of Japanese nationals (second- or third-generation) and their family members
Required documents:
✅ Family register (koseki) or birth certificate (to prove Japanese ancestry)
✅ Copy of the parent’s passport or residence card
✅ Documents proving a stable living basis in Japan (such as income certificates, housing lease contracts, etc.)
2️⃣ Minor biological children of Japanese nationals or permanent residents
Required documents:
✅ Family register (koseki) of the parents (if one of the parents is a Japanese national)
✅ Birth certificate (to prove the parent-child relationship)
✅ Proof of actual care and upbringing (such as school enrollment certificates, medical records, etc.)
3️⃣ Change from “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” status (due to divorce, bereavement, etc.)
Required documents:
✅ Certificate of acceptance of marriage notification or divorce notification
✅ Documents proving a stable livelihood (such as bank passbooks, income certificates, etc.)
✅ If there are children, documents proving parental authority or custody
4️⃣ Cases requiring humanitarian consideration (refugee recognition or special circumstances)
Required documents:
✅ Certificate of refugee recognition (if applicable)
✅ Documents proving special circumstances (such as medical records or legal opinions from an attorney)
✅ Documents proving past residence history in Japan (such as immigration records, entry and exit records, or residence card history)