Artist Visa of Japan

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What is an Artist Visa? Requirements, Necessary Documents for Application, and Immigration Screening Explained
What specific occupations qualify for the Artist Visa?
Criteria for applying for a Japan “Artist Visa”
Artist visa appeal
Foreigners staying in Japan on Artist visa
What are the key points for immigration screening of the Artist Visa?
Demonstrate your artistic achievements to date
The ability to earn a stable income through artistic activities
Relationship with Other Visas
Documents required for the application
When the applicant is overseas
Noted Matters
Our office makes each case on a case-by-case basis.
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What is an Artist Visa? Requirements, Necessary Documents for Application, and Immigration Screening Explained

An Artist Visa is a type of work visa specifically for artists, as the name suggests. As it is a work visa, one of the requirements for approval is that the applicant can earn a living solely through artistic activities. Consequently, it is intended for artists with a significant level of established artistic achievement.

Generally, it is not widely known under what circumstances an Artist Visa can be obtained. Furthermore, questions frequently arise regarding the level of artistic achievement required to qualify for this visa.

On this page, a specialized administrative scrivener will explain how to obtain an Artist Visa and key points for the screening process.

What specific occupations qualify for the Artist Visa?

The activities covered by the Artist Visa are defined in the Immigration Control Act as income-generating activities in music, fine arts, literature, and other artistic fields.

Specific occupations include the following individuals:

Artists such as composers, lyricists, painters, sculptors, craftspeople, authors, and photographers engaged in creative activities
Instructors in music, fine arts, literature, photography, theater, dance, film, or other artistic activities

For example, this includes composers, painters, photographers, writers, and others who engage in creative activities themselves and earn their livelihood from such activities. Demonstrating sufficient professional achievement is crucial. Past awards, published works, or commissioned contracts are used to verify eligibility. Applications based solely on hobbies or practice stages are not accepted; the key review point is whether the activity is recognized as professional.

Please note that the above examples are illustrative only. If your artistic activities fall under other categories, you may still be eligible for an artist visa.

Criteria for applying for a Japan “Artist Visa”

To engage in artistic activities in Japan. The “Artistic activities” are as follows.
- Composers, lyricists, painters, sculptors, craftspeople, writers, realists, etc. as Creative activities by artists.
- The activities of music, art, literature, photography, theater, dance, film, or other artistic instructors.
As a professional artist, you have a stable income from art activities in Japan (art activities without income can apply for “Cultural activities” visa).
Have received national or international awards, been selected for national or international exhibitions, etc. Have a significant track record.

-> Legal regulations regarding artist visas.

Artist visa appeal

It is possible to engage in related artistic activities in Japan with financial gain.
After a certain number of years, you can apply for permanent residence visa according to the Japanese Immigration Law.
Spouses and children can also apply for a Dependent visa to come and live in Japan together.

Foreigners staying in Japan on Artist visa

According to the Ministry of Justice, the total number of foreigners holding an artist visa as of Dec. 2024 was 679 people.

What are the key points for immigration screening of the Artist Visa?

To obtain an artist visa, the following points are crucial.

The first point is having a substantial track record in artistic activities, such as awards from exhibitions or experience as an instructor in artistic fields. This connects to the second point: demonstrating a proven track record sufficient to generate stable income from artistic activities. You must demonstrate achievements in your artistic activities to date—such as winning prizes in competitions or being selected for exhibitions—that indicate the potential for stable income. If you have no such achievements, the credibility of your ability to earn stable income through artistic activities will be low, making it highly likely your Artist Visa application will be denied.

The second point is the ability to maintain a stable livelihood in Japan solely through artistic activities. Immigration screening also recognizes the ability to earn sufficient income to sustain social life as a key factor distinguishing approval from denial.

The third point concerns the relationship with other residence statuses. The nature of the work performed, the base of operations, and the presence or absence of income are crucial in determining whether an Artist Visa is appropriate or if another visa type is more suitable.

If you are applying for an artist visa, here are two things to focus on to prove.

The artist’s track record
Objective evidence of the artist’s income activities since coming to Japan.

Demonstrate your artistic achievements to date

First, as an artist, you should have your own biography and show your own performance. If you have not received a prestigious award, but have participated in many exhibitions (preferably Solo exhibitions), we have worked on your behalf.

To substantiate your income, you must provide proof of past activities. While awards from renowned competitions or exhibitions are helpful, they are not mandatory. While they serve as clear indicators for immigration authorities during screening, even without awards, carefully explaining your activity history can lead to a favorable assessment.

However, you must possess a career equivalent to such awards. Documenting your past achievements in writing is essential. For example, a designer with publication records from major Japanese or international publishers, or exclusive contracts with international major manufacturers or high-end brands, may still qualify for an artist visa even without awards.

While academic background and practical experience are not required for an artist visa, the review of the applicant’s artistic career history becomes correspondingly rigorous.

Artists do not need any requirement of educational background. This is also the advantage of artist visa.

The ability to earn a stable income through artistic activities

Another important point is the income plan in Japan. If you have a lot of highly rated work, but no revenue activities in Japan, you cannot get an artist visa. An artist visa is also a kind of working visa, and you do not have enough money to meet the visa criteria.

You must be able to earn sufficient income to live in Japan. While there is no specific monetary threshold, “substantial remuneration” is required.

So how much is substantial remuneration?

In fact, neither the Immigration Control Act nor the examination guidelines specify a concrete amount. Therefore, it is impossible to state that permission will be granted if you have a certain number of tens of thousands of yen or more. While it is often said that at least ¥200,000 per month is necessary, this also depends on whether the income is stable and whether you have an employer in Japan. This is because the required income must cover not only rent and living expenses but also the costs associated with your artistic activities.

Note that income earned from artistic activities does not need to come from an employment contract with a Japanese company. Income from overseas is also acceptable.

Furthermore, income from multiple jobs can be combined for the application. It is also possible to receive compensation through contracts with multiple companies or organizations. If you are concerned that compensation from just one company might be insufficient when applying with contracts from multiple entities, include documentation from the second and third contracting organizations in your application.

This is similar to the business plan you prepare when applying for a “Business manager visa”. The artist must sign a contract with a Japanese gallery and have a channel to sell artworks in Japan, etc. Objective explanations are required. Our office can provide support such as Contract template between the artist and the Japanese agent (gallery).

Relationship with Other Visas

A confusing example involves the Artist Visa and the Entertainment Visa.

“Entertainment” Visa: Performing or presenting shows such as concerts to an unspecified large audience
“Artist” Visa: Pursuing art or instructing juniors without performing shows such as concerts

Based on the above, for example: – Performing hula dance for a large audience would fall under the “Entertainment” visa. – Teaching ballet lessons to a limited number of students would fall under the “Artist” visa.

Both visa types require the foreign national to be active in the media and have an award history within their field, which can cause confusion about which visa applies.

In such cases, it might be easier to think about it very broadly as follows:

“Artist” might be thought of as pursuing the path of mastery. Compared to “Entertainer,” “Artist” tends to require a slightly higher level of career achievement.

So, does that mean an art instructor qualifies for an Artist visa? It’s not that simple. If the activity involves “research guidance or educational activities” in the arts at a Japanese university, it falls under the “Professor” visa category, not the “Artist” visa.

Documents required for the application

When applying for an artist visa, in addition to the basic residence status application form, documentation proving your artistic activities is required.

In fact, the List of Required Documents used by our firm is the equivalent of 5 pages in WORD file. The documents submitted with the application are often up to 100 pages long.

Application Form
Proof photo (vertical 4 cm x horizontal 3 cm)
(If you have a contract with an organization in Japan to engage in artistic activities) A document issued by the organization that proves the content, duration, status and remuneration of your work
(If you do not have a contract with an organization in Japan and are engaged in artistic activities on your own) A document (in any format) from the applicant stating the specific details of the activities, the duration and the estimated amount of income in Japan
Personal resume detailing the applicant’s experience in artistic activities
Recommendation letter from an arts organization such as a relevant association
Records of media coverage, etc.
Record of award-winning performance, etc.
Catalogue of past works, etc.

When the applicant is overseas

Foreign nationals wishing to come to Japan on an artist visa who are currently overseas shall apply for a Certificate of Eligibility using the following methods.

If the applicant has a business contract with a company or similar entity, the company representative shall apply for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) as the applicant’s agent.
The foreign national may enter Japan on a “Temporary Visitor (short-term stay)” visa and apply for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

Noted Matters

Although engaged in arts activities, arts education at the university should qualify for a Professor visa.

A teacher of tango or flamenco in a dance studio should be eligible for an Artist visa.

To participate in specific concerts, concerts, competitions, you should be eligible for the Entertainer (Talent) visa. So, for example, an artist who travels to Japan to perform in an orchestra recital, to participate in a costume show, or to act in a TV show, does not meet the requirements for an Artist visa.

Our office makes each case on a case-by-case basis.

We received a visa application request from a company operating a dance studio in Tokyo, seeking to hire a new Argentine dance instructor on a long-term basis. Foreigners who are dancers and dance instructors active globally, not just in their home country of Argentina, are eligible to apply for an artist visa.

Regarding dance styles, visas are granted for any type of dance, including ballroom dancing, flamenco, belly dancing, classical ballet, hula dancing, jazz dance, tap dance, salsa dancing, etc.

Please note, however, that even if they are dancers, foreign dancers coming to Japan to hold a performance in Japan require an entertainner visa, not an artist visa. The type of visa required depends on what the dancer will be doing in Japan.

The Immigration lawyer at our office is dedicated to providing the best possible service.

We are dedicated to listening to your situation, helping you suggest the best solution, and creating individualized application forms and schedules and other documents. None of the documents are the same.

In addition to traditional painting artists, our office has extensive experience in handling cases of modern artists.

If you come to our firm and apply for a paid consultation, we will provide you with a detailed list of required documents in Japanese, English and Chinese. We look forward to hearing from you.

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