What is a medical services visa?

1. What are the qualifications necessary to get a medical services visa?

The following qualifications are subject to a medical services visa:

physician, dentist, pharmacist, public health nurse, birthing assistant, registered nurse, assistant nurse, dental hygienist (shikaeiseishi), X-ray technician for medical examinations, physical therapist (rigakuryouhoushi), occupational therapist (sagyouryouhoushi), eye specialist (shinoukunrenshi), clinical technician (rinshoukougakugishi) and artificial limb technician (gishisougushi).

Those who “engage in medical treatment services which may lawfully only be undertaken by …those with other legal qualifications” other than the ones listed above are not granted a medical services visa as they do not have conformity with standard.

2. Documents required for application for a medical services visa

The documents required for application for a medical services visa are as specified in each website:
*The websites listed below are of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

[Application for Certificate of Eligibility]

(Japanese)
http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/shin_zairyu_nintei10_08.html

(English)
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/01.html

[Application for Change of Status of Residence]

(Japanese)
http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/shin_henko10_07.html

(English)
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/02.html

[Application for Extension of Period of Stay]

(Japanese)
http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/shin_zairyu_koshin10_08.html

(English)
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/03.html

3. Q&A concerning medical services visas

Frequently asked questions concerning medical services visas are as follows:

Q　Is a case of invitation of a foreign doctor subject to a medical services visa?

Ａ　To obtain a medical services visa, the applicant needs “to engage in medical treatment services, which are required to be undertaken by …those with …legal qualifications.” Here, “legal qualification” means qualification under Japanese law, so even if the applicant is a qualified doctor in his/her country, he/she is not granted a medical services visa unless he/she has any Japanese medical license.
Nevertheless, such foreign doctor may be able to obtain a trainee visa based on non-internship training if the purpose of entry to Japan is to observe advanced medical treatments at a hospital, etc.

Ｑ　What are the periods of stay for a medical services visa?

Ａ　5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, or 3 months.

Ｑ　I have a license as a nurse, but I went back to my country. Now, I would like to work as a nurse again in Japan, is it possible for me to obtain a medical services visa?

Ａ　As you have a license as a nurse, it is possible to obtain a medical services visa to work as a nurse in Japan, although you have left Japan.

Ｑ　I have a Japanese license as a doctor, but I am considering to manage a hospital without conducting any medical practice. Is this considered as a case subject to a medical services visa?

Ａ　If you are to mainly manage a hospital without any medical practice, a business manager visa is more likely to fit your case, than a medical services visa.

Ｑ　I heard that if I am to work as a registered nurse, I have to work as being trained within 4 years after acquiring a license as a registered nurse. If more than 4 years have passed already since acquiring such license, is it impossible to obtain a medical services visa?

Ａ　If more than 4 years have passed since acquiring qualification as a registered nurse, you will not be not granted a medical services visa because requirements specified in the Ministerial Ordinance on Criteria cannot be not fulfilled.

Ｑ　During the training to be conducted within 4 years after acquiring qualification as a registered nurse, may I receive considerations?

Ａ　People who are on a trainee visa cannot receive any considerations, but since a medical services visa, which is a sort of work visa, is obtained in this case, the visa holder must receive considerations. Otherwise, requirements are not fulfilled.

4. Actual cases

We would like to introduce some of the actual inquiries we could settle in connection with medical services visas.

1) I am not sure which visa should be applied to invite a doctor from abroad;
2) I’ve been back to my country, but I want to work as a nurse again in Japan as I have a Japanese license as a nurse;
3) I want all visa procedures for foreign doctors, etc. at the hospital and the management of periods of stay to be taken care of by professional;
4) I am a registered nurse and would like to know if I can receive a medical services visa.
5) I currently have a medical services visa, but I would like to change to highly-skilled professional visa.
6) I have am a doctor and have a medical services visa, but I am hoping to obtain a permanent resident visa as quickly as possible.

5. Summary of medical services visas

A medical services visa is a work visa given to foreigners who are engaged in medical services which must be done by a person with a relevant qualification under the law. Until recently, there were not many requests of consultation to administrative scriveners in connection with this type of visa in general, but inquiries by big hospitals as to this type of visa are gradually increasing especially regarding invitation of foreign doctors (trainee visa) and management of visas for foreign doctors.

Should you have any questions as to medical services visas, please feel free to contact us!