What is the Designated Activities No. 46 Visa?
The “Designated Activities No. 46” visa is a relatively new residence status introduced in May 2019. It allows foreign nationals to engage in work activities in Japan that were not permitted under traditional work visas (e.g., Engineer/Humanities/International Services), including some roles considered as “simple labor,” provided certain conditions are met.
Main Requirements for Obtaining the Visa
1. Academic Background
Applicants must meet one of the following:
①Graduated from a four-year university in Japan and obtained a bachelor’s degree
②Completed a graduate program in Japan and earned a master’s or doctoral degree
③Graduated from a junior college, professional university (first phase), or technical college in Japan, and obtained a bachelor’s degree through additional accredited studies and an examination approved by the Ministry of Education
④Graduated from a certified four-year vocational school in Japan and obtained the title of “Advanced Specialist”
2. Salary
The salary must be equal to or greater than that of a Japanese national in a comparable position.
3.Japanese Language Ability
Applicants must be able to handle everyday conversations as well as more advanced logical and explanatory Japanese. They must meet one of the following:
①Passed JLPT N1
②Scored 480 or higher on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test
③Graduated from a foreign university with a major in Japanese (full department-level major)
4. Nature of Work
The job must utilize the applicant’s academic background and skills. For example, positions involving customer service, interpreting, and shift management based on business knowledge learned at university.
Examples of Eligible Jobs
①Customer service and interpreting at a restaurant with a high number of foreign guests, along with shift management
②Interpreting between Japanese and foreign staff in a factory, while also participating in work duties
③Handling product procurement and serving foreign customers in a retail store
④Assisting with interpreting and caregiving at a care facility
⑤Creating and updating multilingual websites at hotels or inns, and providing guest services
⑥Planning services for inbound tourists and interpreting during taxi operations
Note: Jobs consisting solely of simple labor without interpreting or other added duties are not eligible (e.g., only factory line work or only restaurant hall service).
Employment Conditions
Must be employed as a full-time or contract employee
Temporary, part-time, or casual employment is not eligible
Applicants must have a job offer before applying; the employer will be listed on the permit. A job change requires a formal visa status change.
Period of Stay and Renewal
Initial stay and first renewal are typically granted for 1 year
Extensions are possible for up to 5 years total
Renewal includes review of your tax status, conduct (e.g., traffic violations), and overall residency behavior
Our Services
We provide Designated Activities No. 46 visa application services.
For further assistance or application support, please contact us.
