In applications for a status of residence, the terms “applicant,” “agent,” and “application intermediary” are often used. Although these terms may appear similar, each has a different role.
目次
- Applicant
- Agent
- Application Intermediary
- Relationship Between the Applicant, Agent, and Application Intermediary
- 1. Work-Related Statuses of Residence
- 2. Study, Training, and Cultural Activity Statuses of Residence
- 3. Family-Based and Status-Based Statuses of Residence
- 4. Diplomat, Official, and Designated Activities
Applicant
The “applicant” is the foreign national who wishes to obtain, change, or renew a status of residence.
An immigration application is, in principle, a procedure concerning the status of residence of the applicant themselves.
Agent
An “agent” is a person who is legally permitted to file an application on behalf of the applicant.
However, not anyone can become an agent. The scope of persons who may act as an agent is determined according to the type of application and the relevant status of residence.
In particular, for an Application for a Certificate of Eligibility, which is used to invite a foreign national from overseas to Japan, the scope of agents is prescribed for each status of residence.
A table showing the agents for each status of residence is provided below.
On the other hand, for an Application for Change of Status of Residence or an Application for Extension of Period of Stay filed by a foreign national who is already in Japan, the agent is, in principle, limited to the applicant’s legal representative, such as a person with parental authority over a minor, a guardian of a minor, or an adult guardian.
Application Intermediary
An “application intermediary” is a person who, upon request from the applicant or agent, handles the submission of application documents, receipt of the result, and other related procedures.
Certified administrative scriveners (Gyoseishoshi) authorized to handle immigration applications participate in immigration procedures as “application intermediaries.”
The important point is that an application intermediary is not the same as an agent.
Even when an administrative scrivener (Gyoseishoshi) handles the application as an intermediary, the applicant remains the person who is the subject of the application. If an agent is required, a legally recognized agent must exist separately.
Relationship Between the Applicant, Agent, and Application Intermediary
Immigration applications are, in principle, to be filed by the applicant themselves.
For applications to invite a foreign national from overseas to Japan, unless the applicant themselves is in Japan under a Temporary Visitor visa/status, the application must be filed through an agent who is in Japan.
Therefore, if neither the applicant nor an agent is in Japan, an application intermediary alone cannot file the application.
In addition, for an Application for Change of Status of Residence or an Application for Extension of Period of Stay, it is a prerequisite that the applicant themselves is residing in Japan.
Even when an application intermediary submits the documents and receives the result, the applicant must be in Japan both at the time of application and at the time the result is received.
1. Work-Related Statuses of Residence
| Status of Residence | Examples of Persons Who May Act as an Agent |
|---|---|
| Professor | A staff member of the Japanese institution where the applicant will belong and conduct educational activities |
| Artist | A staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a contract with the applicant, or a staff member of the Japanese institution where the applicant will belong and conduct artistic activities |
| Religious Activities | A staff member of the Japanese branch or other related religious organization of the foreign religious organization that dispatches the applicant |
| Journalist | A staff member of the Japan-based office of the foreign news organization that has entered into a contract with the applicant, or a staff member of the Japanese institution where the applicant will belong and conduct journalistic activities |
| Highly Skilled Professional 1(i) or 1(ii) | A staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a contract with the applicant |
| Highly Skilled Professional 1(iii) | A staff member of the Japanese business office where the applicant will engage in business management or administration |
| Business Manager | A staff member of the Japanese business office where the applicant will engage in business management or administration |
| Business Manager, where a new business office is to be established | A person entrusted with establishing the business office; if the entrusted party is a corporation, a staff member of that corporation |
| Legal/Accounting Services | A staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a contract with the applicant, or a staff member of the institution where the applicant will belong and engage in legal or accounting services |
| Medical Services | A staff member of the Japanese medical institution that has entered into a contract with the applicant, or a staff member of the Japanese medical institution where the applicant will belong and engage in medical services |
| Researcher | A staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a contract with the applicant, or a staff member of the Japanese business office to which the applicant will be transferred |
| Instructor | A staff member of the Japanese institution where the applicant will belong and conduct educational activities |
| Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services | A staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a contract with the applicant |
| Intra-company Transferee | A staff member of the Japanese business office to which the applicant will be transferred |
| Nursing Care | A staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a contract with the applicant |
| Entertainer | A staff member of the entertainment contract organization, a staff member of the Japanese institution inviting the applicant if there is no entertainment contract organization, or a staff member of the Japanese institution where the applicant will belong and conduct entertainment activities |
| Skilled Labor | A staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a contract with the applicant |
| Specified Skilled Worker | A staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a specified skilled worker employment contract with the applicant |
| Technical Intern Training | For individual-enterprise-type training, a staff member of the implementing organization; for supervising-organization-type training, a staff member of the supervising organization |
2. Study, Training, and Cultural Activity Statuses of Residence
| Status of Residence | Examples of Persons Who May Act as an Agent |
| Cultural Activities | A staff member of the Japanese institution where the applicant will belong and conduct academic or artistic activities, an expert who will instruct the applicant, or a relative of the applicant residing in Japan |
| Student | A staff member of the Japanese institution where the applicant will receive education |
| Student, where a tuition or living expense supporter is involved | A staff member of an organization that provides a scholarship to the applicant, a person who pays the applicant’s tuition or living expenses, or a relative of the applicant residing in Japan |
| Trainee | A staff member of the accepting organization |
3. Family-Based and Status-Based Statuses of Residence
| Status of Residence | Examples of Persons Who May Act as an Agent |
| Dependent | The person who will support the applicant in Japan, a relative of the applicant residing in Japan, or the person acting as the agent for the Certificate of Eligibility application of the person supporting the applicant |
| Spouse or Child of Japanese National | A relative of the applicant residing in Japan |
| Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident | A relative of the applicant residing in Japan |
| Long-Term Resident | A relative of the applicant residing in Japan |
4. Diplomat, Official, and Designated Activities
| Status of Residence | Examples of Persons Who May Act as an Agent |
| Diplomat | A staff member of the diplomatic mission, consular office, or other relevant organization of which the applicant or a family member who will belong to the same household will be a member, or a family member who will belong to the same household as the applicant |
| Official | A staff member of the Japan-based office of the foreign government or international organization where the applicant or a family member who will belong to the same household will engage in official duties, or a family member who will belong to the same household as the applicant |
| Designated Activities | A staff member of the institution where the applicant will belong and engage in the designated activities, the person who will employ the applicant, or a person designated by the Minister of Justice by public notice according to the nature of the designated activities |