What Is the Difference Between Visa and Residence Status? An Immigration Lawyer Explains with Real Cases

Introduction

As an administrative scrivener (immigration lawyer) assisting foreign nationals every day, I often hear the question: “What’s the difference between a visa and residence status?”

When I first started this work, I also thought that “a visa is simply the permission to stay in Japan.” However, through studying immigration procedures and gaining practical experience, I came to clearly understand that: “A visa is the permit to enter Japan, while residence status determines your activities once inside Japan.”

In this article, I’ll share my own experiences and explain this difference in a way that even first-time applicants can understand.

1. What Is a Visa?

Many of my clients start by obtaining a visa at a Japanese embassy in their home country. A visa is essentially “the permission that allows you to enter Japan after prior screening.”

For example, one client from Bangladesh needed a visa issued by the Japanese embassy to board the plane and pass immigration at Narita Airport.

• Role: Pre-screening for entry permission.
• Issuing authority: Japanese embassies or consulates overseas.

2. What Is Residence Status?

After entering Japan, the most important factor becomes your residence status. I often explain it like this: “A visa is your entry ticket, while residence status is your license to live and work in Japan.”

Common types of residence status include:

• Work visas (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services)
• Business Manager visa
• Dependent visa
• Student visa

3. Key Differences Between Visa and Residence Status

Category	Visa	Residence Status
Role	Permission to enter Japan	Permission to stay and define activities in Japan
Issuing Authority	Japanese embassies/consulates overseas	Immigration Bureau within Japan
Examples	Short-term visa	Engineer/Specialist in Humanities, Business Manager, etc.

4. Common Misunderstandings I See

• “If I have a visa, I can stay as long as I want.” → No, a visa is only for entry. Your stay depends on your residence status.
• “I have to go to the embassy to renew my visa.” → Actually, you need to apply for “residence status extension” at the Immigration Bureau in Japan.

5. My Advice as an Immigration Lawyer

From my experience, many people miss the timing of their applications because they misunderstand these terms. I’ve seen clients rush to the Immigration Bureau at the last minute, thinking they needed a “visa renewal” at an embassy, when in fact they needed to extend their residence status in Japan.

6. Conclusion

• A visa is your entry permit.
• Residence status determines your activities and duration of stay.
• All updates or changes are handled at the Immigration Bureau in Japan.