If you wish to work and reside in Japan, you will need an appropriate visa. Those with temporary visitor, transit or general visas are not permitted to work. For a list of immigration offices and to download application forms, see The Ministry of Justice website (www.immi-moj.go.jp). The Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau Office (5-5-30 Konan, Minato-ku) also has an information centre, open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00, as does the Shinjuku Foreign Resident Information Center (03 3209 6177).

To make life easy, you can contact an English-speaking visa consultant who can assist with immigration and visa issues, establishing permanent residency, starting a business, as well as other legal and administrative processes.

Visa Consultants
Ishizaka Immigration Lawyer’s Office Shinjuku-ku www.ishizakaoffice.com 03 5269 3977
Niitsu Legal Visa Office Hirō www.niitsu-law.jp 03 3443 5112
Kazumi Nakayama Administrative
Scrivener Office Takadanobaba n_kazumi77@yahoo.co.jp 03 5330 0651
Ando Administrative Office Kasai www12.ocn.ne.jp/~office41 03 5658 2276
Azuma Legal and Business
Support Center Tsukiji www.azuma-law.com 03 6226 5105