What is a professor visa？

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1. What is the scope of a professor visa?

The following cases are within the scope of the occupations permitted by professor visas.

Cases where a president, director, principal, vice-president, vice-principal, headteacher, professor, associate professor, lecturer, assistant, etc. conducts research, guides research, or provides education.

Please note that the above titles are just examples. Accordingly, the engagement in research, research instruction, or educational activities at above institutions is a watershed for permission for a professor visa.

2. Documents required to apply for a professor visa

The documents required to apply for a professor visa are as follows.
Please note that the required documents differ depending on whether you are working full-time or part-time.

[Application for Certificate of Eligibility]

〇An application form for certificate of eligibility
〇A photograph (4cm×3cm)
〇A copy of the ID page of passport
〇A return envelope (for simple registered mail)
〇In case of working part-time, a document certifying the content, term, position and consideration of the applicant’s activities at university, etc., prepared by university, etc. or an institution other than university, etc.
〇Any other supporting material which will be necessary for examination

[Application for Change of Status of Residence]

〇An application form for change of status of residence
〇A photograph (4cm×3cm)
〇The passport and residence card
〇A post card prescribed by the Immigration Services Agency
〇In case of working part-time, a document certifying the content, term, position and consideration of the applicant’s activities at university, etc., prepared by university, etc. or an institution other than university, etc.
〇Any other supporting material which will be necessary for examination

[Application for Extension of Period of Stay]

〇An application form for extension of period of stay
〇A photograph (4cm×3cm)
〇The passport and residence card
〇A post card prescribed by the Immigration Services Agency
〇In case of working part-time, a certificate of taxation (or non-taxation) of resident tax and a certificate of tax payment (on which total income of the whole year and the situation of tax payment are stated)
〇Any other supporting material which will be necessary for examination

3. Q & A concerning professor visa(s)

Below is a list of frequently asked questions about professor visas.

Q: I will provide education for international students in a short-term course at university. Is such short-term course at university regarded as Japanese “university”?

A: In case of a professor visa(s), “university” includes 4-year universities as well as short-term courses, so it is correct to say that such short-term course falls under Japanese “university.”

Q: In case of conducting educational activities at the National Police Academy, is a professor visa applicable?

A: Universities under the jurisdiction of any ministry are not considered as “an equivalent educational institution” (meaning an educational institution equivalent to universities), where professor visa(s) holders are permitted to work. Thus, you cannot obtain a professor visa. In this case, you should consider applying for a visa for engineer/specialist in humanities/international services.

Q: I plan to work at graduate school as a part-time lecturer. Am I eligible for a professor visa even though I am a part-time lecturer?

A: As long as you conduct activities permitted by a professor visa as specified by the Immigration Act at university, etc., it does not matter whether you work full-time or part-time. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a professor visa in your case. In addition, in case that you plan to obtain a permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted, in order to engage in another activity, if the income earned by such activity is higher than the income earned by the activity under a professor visa(s), you need to check whether you are qualified for a different type of visa.

Q. Please tell me the period of stay under a professor visa.

A: A period of stay is either 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, and 3 monthes.

Q: I plan to do research at 4-year university in Japan without receiving any compensation. Is it possible to obtain a professor visa in this case?

A: Since a professor visa is a type of work visa, earning enough income to lead a stable life in Japan is one of the requirements. Accordingly, a professor visa is not applicable in your case, but a cultural activity visa or a short-term stay visa may be applicable as they do not require receipt of any consideration.

Q: I plan to conduct research at a Japanese research institute. Do I need a professor visa?

A: Professor visas are for activities for research, guidance of research or education at a university, an equivalent educational institution, or a technical school. Therefore, if you are doing research at an institute which is not a university, you will need a researcher visa.

Q: I have decided to work as a junior high school teacher in Japan. Which visa should I get in this case?

A: To work as a teacher at elementary school, junior high school, high school, etc., you need an instructor visa.

Q: Currently, I am a part-time lecturer at university. I have received an offer from another university and would like to work as a part-time lecturer there as well. Is there any problem in relation to my visa?

A: Both activities at universities fall under the activities permitted by a professor visa, so there is no issue related to visa.

Q: I don’t receive any consideration from university in Japan for doing research there, but the consideration will be paid by the institution in my country to which I belong. Is such activity covered by a professor visa?

A: Yes, and there will be no problem. Consideration under professor visas includes that from universities abroad, and therefore, if the consideration is paid by the foreign institution to which you belong, a professor visa is still applicable.

4. Actual cases of consultation related to professor visas

We would like to introduce you some cases of consultation related to professor visa(s) which we have settled.

1) I want to work as a part-time lecturer at several universities.
2) Which visa do I need in order to be hired by a temporary staffing company and work as a language instructor at university?
3) What is the procedure for a case where a high school teacher changes job to a lecturer at university?
4) What are the differences between a cultural activity visa and a professor visa?
5) I want to get a professor visa as soon as possible because classes are starting very soon.
6) I want to change my visa from a professor visa to a highly skilled professor visa(s).

5. Summary of professor visas

Professor visas are aimed at improving and developing academic research, and the documents required to be submitted to an immigration office are relatively simple. On the other hand, other types of visas may be applicable depending on the place for activity, activity contents, and whether or not any consideration is paid for the activity, so in such case, cross-sectional understanding is necessary.

We, Daiichi-Sogo Group, is actively engaged in services related to educational institutions, including universities. If you are uncertain about a professor visa(s),please feel free to contact us.