Visa

In applications for a status of residence, the terms “applicant,” “representative,” and “application intermediary” are often used. Although these terms may appear similar, each has a different role. 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. Representative An “representative,” is a person who is legally permitted to file an application on behalf of the applicant. However, not anyone can become an representative. The scope of persons who may act as a representative, 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 representatives is prescribed for each status of residence. A table showing the representatives 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 representative 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 representative, 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 representative. 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 a representative is required, a legally recognized representative must exist separately. Relationship Between the Applicant, Representative, 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 a representative who is in Japan. Therefore, if neither the applicant nor a representative 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 ResidenceExamples of Persons Who May Act as RepresentativeProfessorA staff member of the Japanese institution where the applicant will belong and conduct educational activitiesArtistA 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 activitiesReligious ActivitiesA staff member of the Japanese branch or other related religious organization of the foreign religious organization that dispatches the applicantJournalistA 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 activitiesHighly Skilled Professional 1(i) or 1(ii)A staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a contract with the applicantHighly Skilled Professional 1(iii)A staff member of the Japanese business office where the applicant will engage in business management or administrationBusiness ManagerA staff member of the Japanese business office where the applicant will engage in business management or administrationBusiness Manager, where a new business office is to be establishedA person entrusted with establishing the business office; if the entrusted party is a corporation, a staff member of that corporationLegal/Accounting ServicesA 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 servicesMedical ServicesA 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 servicesResearcherA 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 transferredInstructorA staff member of the Japanese institution where the applicant will belong and conduct educational activitiesEngineer/Specialist in Humanities/International ServicesA staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a contract with the applicantIntra-company TransfereeA staff member of the Japanese business office to which the applicant will be transferredNursing CareA staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a contract with the applicantEntertainerA 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 activitiesSkilled LaborA staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a contract with the applicantSpecified Skilled WorkerA staff member of the Japanese institution that has entered into a specified skilled worker employment contract with the applicantTechnical Intern TrainingFor 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 ResidenceExamples of Persons Who May Act as RepresentativeCultural ActivitiesA 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 JapanStudentA staff member of the Japanese institution where the applicant will receive educationStudent, where a tuition or living expense supporter is involvedA 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 JapanTraineeA staff member of the accepting organization 3. Family-Based and Status-Based Statuses of Residence Status of ResidenceExamples of Persons Who May Act as RepresentativeDependentThe person who will support the applicant in Japan, a relative of the applicant residing in Japan, or the person acting as the representative for the Certificate of Eligibility application of the person supporting the applicantSpouse or Child of Japanese NationalA relative of the applicant residing in JapanSpouse or Child of Permanent ResidentA relative of the applicant residing in JapanLong-Term ResidentA relative of the applicant residing in Japan 4. Diplomat, Official, and Designated Activities Status of ResidenceExamples of Persons Who May Act as RepresentativeDiplomatA 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 applicantOfficialA 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 applicantDesignated ActivitiesA 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

The Difference Between a Representative and a Guarantor in Japanese Immigration Procedures

Difference Between the “Applicant,” “Representative,” and “Application Intermediary” in Immigration Applications