What Are Designated Activity No. 40 and No. 41? (Detailed Explanation)

Within the status of residence "Designated Activity," long-term stays for the purpose of tourism, recreation, and similar activities are classified under a Ministry of Justice Notice as No. 40 (the primary resident) and No. 41 (the accompanying spouse).

Designated Activity No. 40 (Long-Term Stay for Tourism, Recreation, and Similar Activities)

This applies to persons who stay in Japan for a period not exceeding one year and engage in tourism, recreation, or similar activities. Employment is not permitted. The purpose is travel, leisure, and an unhurried stay in Japan.

• Period of Stay: 6 months (extendable up to a maximum of 1 year by submitting a Period of Stay Extension Permit Application at the local Regional Immigration Services Bureau before the 6-month period expires)
• A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) cannot be applied for solely from overseas. The applicant must first enter Japan under a short-term stay (visa waiver, etc.), then apply for a COE at a Regional Immigration Services Bureau within Japan. If the applicant is still in Japan when the COE is approved, they can obtain a Residence Card via a "Change of Status of Residence Permit Application." If the applicant is outside Japan, they must bring the COE to the Japanese embassy or consulate to obtain a visa, and a Residence Card will be issued upon entry.
• Financial assets are generally verified through bank deposits and savings accounts. (As securities accounts alone may fall below the required threshold due to price fluctuations, proof via bank deposits may be required in some cases.)
• There is no limit on the number of applications. Once you have departed Japan, you may reapply.

Designated Activity No. 41 (Accompanying Spouse of No. 40 Holder)

This applies to the spouse accompanying a person who holds Designated Activity No. 40 status, who is also a national of a visa-exempt country or region (as with No. 40), and who has insurance coverage for death, injury, or illness during their stay.

• The spouse must reside at the same address as the No. 40 holder in Japan and engage in tourism and similar activities together.
• The applicant for No. 41 status must themselves be present in Japan at the time of application; it is not possible for the No. 40 applicant alone to come to Japan and apply on behalf of the No. 41 applicant.
• The No. 41 holder is not required to enter Japan at the same time as the No. 40 holder, but may not enter Japan before the No. 40 holder.
• Accompanying children are not permitted.

Eligibility Requirements (Who Can Apply)

The Designated Activity Visa for high-net-worth individuals is available to nationals of countries and regions exempt from short-term stay visa requirements who meet one of the following requirements.

Requirements for Designated Activity No. 40

1. The applicant must be 18 years of age or older.
2. At the time of application, the combined total of the applicant's and their spouse's bank deposits and savings must be equivalent to at least 30 million yen (or at least 60 million yen if the spouse is also staying or intends to stay in Japan separately under this program — i.e., both spouses staying individually under this system).
3. The applicant must have insurance coverage for death, injury, or illness occurring during their stay in Japan.

Requirements for Designated Activity No. 41

1. The applicant must be the spouse accompanying a person who holds Designated Activity No. 40 status (and must reside at the same address in Japan and engage in tourism and similar activities with the No. 40 holder).
2. The applicant must satisfy both condition (i) of No. 40 (being a national of a visa-exempt country or region for short-term stays) and condition (iii) (holding the insurance coverage described above).
3. The applicant must not enter Japan before the No. 40 holder. Simultaneous entry is not required, but entry must occur after the No. 40 holder.

※The list of visa-exempt countries and regions is set out in Appendix 9 of the Ministry of Justice Notice and is updated from time to time. Please refer to the latest information on the Immigration Services Agency page "Status of Residence 'Designated Activity' (Long-Term Stay for the Purpose of Tourism, Recreation, etc., and Their Spouses)" and the Ministry of Justice Notice (PDF).

Criteria for the Designated Activity Visa for High-Net-Worth Individuals (Summary)

The Designated Activity Visa for high-net-worth individuals is available to nationals of visa-exempt countries and regions who meet the following criteria.

1. A person who is 18 years of age or older and holds bank deposits equivalent to at least 30 million yen (combined savings of a couple are acceptable).
2. The spouse accompanying the person described in 1 above (the spouse must reside at the same address in Japan and engage in tourism and similar activities together).

• Accompanying children are not permitted.
• If the spouse does not accompany the person in 1 above and both spouses are staying separately under this program, each must hold bank deposits equivalent to at least 60 million yen (combined savings of the couple are acceptable). The person in 2 above is not required to enter Japan at the same time as the person in 1, but may not enter Japan before the person in 1.

Visa-Exempt Countries for Short-Term Stay

The designated visa for long-term stay has a period of stay of 6 months (extendable by another 6 months), but for stays of 90 days or less, nationals of visa-exempt countries and regions do not need to obtain a visa in advance.

The period of stay granted upon landing permission is "15 days" for Indonesia, Thailand, and Brunei, and "90 days" for all other countries and regions.

Indonesia, Iceland, Singapore, Ireland, Thailand, Andorra, Malaysia, Italy, Brunei, Estonia, South Korea, Austria, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Macau, Greece, Croatia, the United States, San Marino, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Argentina, Spain, Uruguay, Slovakia, El Salvador, Slovenia, Guatemala, Serbia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Suriname, Denmark, Chile, Germany, Dominican Republic, Norway, Bahamas, Hungary, Barbados, Finland, Honduras, France, Mexico, Bulgaria, Belgium, Australia, Poland, New Zealand, Portugal, North Macedonia, former Yugoslavia, Israel, Malta, Turkey, Monaco, Latvia, Tunisia, Lithuania, Mauritius, Liechtenstein, Lesotho, Romania, Luxembourg, United Kingdom

List of Required Documents

Required documents vary depending on the type of application (Certificate of Eligibility Application, Change of Status of Residence Permit Application, Period of Stay Extension Permit Application, or Acquisition of Status of Residence Permit Application). The following is an overview based on guidance from the Ministry of Justice and the Immigration Services Agency. Please be sure to check the Immigration Services Agency's relevant page for the latest forms and requirements.

1. Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Application (for first-time entry to Japan)

【Common Documents】

• Application for Certificate of Eligibility, 1 copy (PDF / Excel)
• 1 photograph (specified format)
• 1 self-addressed return envelope (standard size, with the return address written and a stamp for simplified registered mail attached)

Additional documents required for No. 40 (person staying for tourism, recreation, etc.)

• Documents showing the current balance and past 6 months of transactions for bank accounts in the applicant's (and their spouse's) name (e.g., copy of passbook, screenshot of online banking statement, etc., showing up to the most recent transaction; editable files such as Excel are not acceptable)
• Copy of private health insurance certificate and policy terms (covering the intended period of stay, including death, injury, and illness)
• Documents explaining the applicant's planned activities during their stay (may be omitted if described in detail on the application form)

Additional documents required for No. 41 (accompanying spouse)

• Copy of the Residence Card or passport of the applicant's spouse (the No. 40 holder), 1 copy
• Document proving the relationship between the applicant and their spouse (the No. 40 holder), such as a marriage certificate, 1 copy
• Copy of private health insurance certificate and policy terms
• Documents explaining the applicant's planned activities during their stay (may be omitted if described in detail on the application form)

2. Change of Status of Residence Permit Application (changing from another status to Designated Activity No. 40 or No. 41)

【Common Documents】

• Passport and Residence Card (to be presented)
• 1 photograph (not required for those under 16 years old)
• Application for Permission to Change Status of Residence, 1 copy (PDF / Excel)

No. 40: Following the documents required for No. 40 in the "Certificate of Eligibility" section above — bank account records (past 6 months and current balance), health insurance, and planned activity documents.

No. 41: Copy of the No. 40 spouse's Residence Card or passport, marriage certificate, health insurance, and planned activity documents.

3. Period of Stay Extension Permit Application (continuing the same designated activity)

【Common Documents】

• Passport and Residence Card (to be presented)
• 1 photograph
• Application for Permission to Extend Period of Stay, 1 copy (PDF / Excel)

No. 40: Copy of private health insurance certificate and policy terms; documents proving the ability to cover living expenses during the stay (bank balance certificate, etc.); documents explaining activities from the time of entry to the present and future planned activities.

No. 41: Health insurance, marriage certificate, copy of the No. 40 spouse's Residence Card or passport, and documents explaining activities and future plans.

4. Main Documents to Submit to the Embassy, etc., When Applying for a Visa (After Obtaining the COE)

These are the main documents required when applying for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate general overseas after obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility.

No. 40 Holder

• Passport
• Visa application form (with 1 photograph attached), 1 copy
• Certificate of Eligibility, 1 original and 1 copy (if submitted, the travel schedule, bank account documents, and health insurance may be omissible in some cases)
• Travel / stay schedule
• Bank passbook, etc., for the past 6 months (showing current balance and transaction details; combination with spouse's account is acceptable)
• Document confirming enrollment in travel/health insurance that covers death, injury, and illness (covering the intended period of stay)
• (For third-country applications) Documents proving lawful residence or employment and long-term stay in that country

No. 41 Holder (Accompanying Spouse)

• Passport
• Visa application form (with 1 photograph attached), 1 copy
• Certificate of Eligibility, 1 original and 1 copy
• Marriage certificate
• Travel / stay schedule
• Document confirming enrollment in health insurance
• (For third-country applications) Documents as described above
• (When applying for a visa separately from the No. 40 holder) Copy of the No. 40 holder's Residence Card showing "Designated Activity (Long-Term Stay)"

※Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is a certificate issued in advance by the regional immigration authorities under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice. It certifies that the activities a foreign national intends to carry out in Japan upon landing inspection are genuine and qualify for one of the statuses of residence under the Immigration Control Act (excluding Short-Term Stay), thereby confirming that the conditions for landing are met. The COE for a long-term stay can be applied for while the No. 40 or No. 41 holder is staying in Japan under a "Short-Term Stay" or similar status.

Holding a Certificate of Eligibility makes it easier to receive a visa within the standard processing period (5 business days from the day after acceptance) at a Japanese embassy or consulate general. (Please note that holding a COE does not guarantee visa issuance.)

If any submitted documents are in a foreign language, please attach a Japanese translation. Certificates issued in Japan must be submitted within 3 months of their issue date. For details on the application process and who may submit application documents, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency page "Status of Residence 'Designated Activity' (Long-Term Stay for the Purpose of Tourism, Recreation, etc., and Their Spouses)" and the Foreigners' Information Center (TEL: 0570-013904).

Period of Stay

For both No. 40 and No. 41: 6 months. By submitting a Period of Stay Extension Permit Application at the local Regional Immigration Services Bureau before the 6-month period expires, the stay can be extended up to a maximum of 1 year.