1. What is a passport?

A passport is an official travel document issued by a country to its own nationals. It usually shows the holder’s name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and expiry date.

In Japanese immigration procedures, a passport may be used to confirm identity, nationality or region, name spelling, entry and departure history, past visa stickers, and past landing permission.

2. A visa and landing permission are not the same

Before entering Japan, a foreign national may need to obtain a visa from a Japanese Embassy, Consulate-General, Consular Office, or designated visa application route. In some cases, a visa sticker is placed in the passport.

However, a visa does not automatically guarantee entry into Japan. At the airport or seaport, the person must undergo landing examination, and landing permission is granted only if the legal requirements are satisfied.

3. Visa stickers and landing permission stickers in a passport

A passport may contain a visa sticker issued before entry into Japan. It may also contain a landing permission sticker after landing permission is granted at the port of entry.

The landing permission sticker may show the person’s status of residence and period of stay. Old landing permission stickers can be useful when confirming past entry history or changes in status of residence.

However, for medium- to long-term residents today, the current status of residence and period of stay should generally be confirmed by the latest residence card.

4. The residence card is the basic document for current status confirmation

A residence card shows important information such as status of residence, period of stay, expiry date, and work restrictions. For employers hiring foreign nationals in Japan, checking the residence card is essential.

However, a residence card alone may not explain all immigration history. In some cases, it is necessary to check the passport or Designated Activities document to confirm past entry history, name spelling, previous visa stickers, immigration stamps, or the exact scope of permitted activities.

5. The Designated Activities document may be attached to the passport

For the status of residence “Designated Activities,” the residence card may only show “Designated Activities.” It may not show the exact activities permitted in Japan.

Therefore, the Designated Activities document is very important. This document states the specific activities individually designated by the Minister of Justice. It may be necessary to confirm whether the person is allowed to work and what type of activity is permitted.

When landing permission is granted under “Designated Activities,” the designated document may be attached near the landing permission sticker in the passport. In practice, it is often attached to the passport in a stapled form, and it may be overlooked by the person or the employer.

Typical situations where the designated document should be checked

• The residence card shows “Designated Activities.”
• The employer needs to confirm whether the person is allowed to work.
• The person is under job-search, departure preparation, transition to Specified Skilled Worker, or another individually designated activity.
• The employer is checking immigration status before hiring.
• The person plans to apply for extension or change of status of residence.

6. With eVISA, there may be no visa sticker in the passport

Japan also has an electronic visa system, known as JAPAN eVISA. In eVISA cases, a visa is issued and recorded electronically, and no visa sticker is placed in the passport.

Therefore, “there is no visa sticker in the passport” does not always mean that no visa exists. On the other hand, JAPAN eVISA is currently limited to a single-entry short-term stay visa for tourism purposes. Other purposes such as visiting relatives or friends, business, study, work, or transit require paper-based visa application at the Japanese overseas establishment according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs guidance.

7. Points to check after passport renewal

After renewing a passport, the new passport number, expiry date, and name spelling should be checked carefully. In immigration procedures, both the old and new passports may be relevant.

8. Practical points for employers in Japan

Employers hiring foreign nationals should first check the residence card to confirm the status of residence, period of stay, expiry date, and work restrictions.

However, the passport or designated document should also be checked in the following situations.

• The person’s status of residence is “Designated Activities.”
• The person plans to travel abroad or return temporarily to their home country.
• The passport number or name spelling changed after passport renewal.
• Past entry history or changes in status of residence need to be confirmed.
• An extension or change of status of residence application is being prepared.
• Family-related procedures, permanent residence, or explanation of personal history may be required.

9. When passport review becomes important in immigration procedures

10. Summary

A passport is not only a travel document. For foreign nationals in Japan, it may be closely connected to visas, landing permission, residence cards, Designated Activities documents, re-entry, and identity confirmation.

• A visa and a status of residence are not the same.
• A visa is a pre-entry procedure, while landing permission is the legal basis for staying in Japan after entry.
• Landing permission stickers may help confirm past entry history.
• The current status of residence should generally be checked through the latest residence card.
• For “Designated Activities,” the designated document is important.
• The designated document may be attached to the passport in a stapled form.
• With eVISA, there may be no visa sticker in the passport.
• Old passports should generally be kept, especially when immigration history may be relevant.