• Visa and Status of Residence
• Accommodation
• Insurance (Travel insurance)
• Shipping from overseas
• Articles prohibited by Japanese Customs
• Cash and credit card situation in Japan
• Checking international taxation agreements

Visa and Status of Residence

Visa

In principle, foreign nationals who wish to enter Japan are required to obtain their passports from their own governments and obtain proper Japanese visas from an overseas Japanese Embassy or Consulate General before coming to Japan.

A visa signifies the judgment that a foreigner wishing to enter Japan has been deemed suitable to enter and stay in Japan. Visas may only be obtained only diplomatic establishments outside Japan, and cannot be acquired after arriving in Japan.

Status of Residence

Status of Residence designates the official activities that foreigners may engage in, or activities related to their status or position while staying in Japan. There are currently 27 types of status of residence.

Researchers conducting research activities at Waseda University and their families would usually enter Japan with one of the residence status types listed below.

Note: In cases where a person stays for a short period and is from a country or region that has a visa exemption arrangement with Japan, a visa is not required.

Certificate of Eligibility

Any foreign national who wishes to enter Japan is subject to inspection by the Immigration Officer, through which he/she may be granted a landing permit. To obtain this permit, he/she must verify the following.

1. both the passport and the visa must be valid;
2. the statement of activities which will be done in Japan must not be falsified and must match the status of residence (In cases where the landing permit conditions are set according to the status of residence, the foreigner must comply with those conditions.);
3. the period of stay related to the application must comply with the regulations of the Ministry of Justice; and
4. the foreigner must demonstrate that he/she does not meet any of the criteria for denial of entry.

A Certificate of Eligibility is issued by the Ministry of Justice prior to a visa application as evidence that the applicant who wishes to enter Japan fulfills condition 1) above, based on the application. If the Certificate (which was obtained before coming to Japan through your application or a proxy in Japan) is shown to the immigration officer at the time of entry, the landing permit can be obtained more smoothly.

An application for Certificate of Eligibility can be filed by a proxy at the regional immigration authority under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice nearest to the intended Japanese residence of the applicant or the proxy.
The issue of the Certificate of Eligibility takes one to three months after application.

Re-Entry Permit

There are two types of re-entry permits: single entry permit, and multiple entry permit, with which one can leave and re-enter Japan any number of times during the period of validity. Once a multiple re-entry permit is obtained, there is no need to obtain a re-entry permit for each re-entry..
(The above information is a translation from the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Immigration Bureau of Japan)

In cases where you plan to travel outside Japan for reasons such as attending an international conference during your stay in Japan, please visit the sites, 'Staying in Japan => Immigration Bureau => Re-entry permit.'

Procedure flow

In cases where the foreigner is from a country or region that has a visa exemption arrangement with Japan, and intends to stay for a short period, a visa is not required. In cases other than the case above, where the foreigner needs a visa, in principle we recommend that you first apply for a Certificate of Eligibility or ask a proxy in Japan to obtain one for you and attach that Certificate to your visa application, to be submitted at any Japanese diplomatic establishment near you outside Japan. However, depending on the program to which the applicant has been appointed, there may be cases where the visa application can be done with just a notification of appointment issued by the financial group, without a Certificate of Eligibility. For further information, please inquire at a nearby Japanese diplomatic establishment outside Japan. In either case, please carry on with the visa application procedure, keeping close contact with the diplomatic establishment and you host department at Waseda University.

Accommodation

Please refer the "Housing" section of "Life at Waseda University".

Insurance (Travel insurance)

Please take out some form of travel insurance prior to departure from your country. For those whose stay in Japan will exceed one year, please join the National Health Insurance Scheme. Regarding national health insurance, see the "Legal Procedures" and "National Health Insurance" sections of "Life at Waseda University".

Shipping from overseas

When shipping goods from overseas to Japan, if your planned accommodation is offered by Waseda, the goods may be received and stored at the accommodation even before your arrival. In most cases, Waseda residences are furnished with kitchen utensils. For the details, please inquire with your host department.

Articles prohibited by Japanese Customs

Goods with Prohibitions, Controls and Restrictions / Japan Customs
http://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/prohibit.htm

Cash and credit card situation in Japan

Credit cards can be used in most shops but some retail stores and small restaurants do not accept cards. Carrying cash at all times during your stay is recommended.

Checking international taxation agreements

Please visit the sites: 'Staying in Japan => Checking international taxation agreements (if you will receive stipends or salary from Waseda University)'