Medical Services Visa (医療)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa Name	Medical Services Visa (医療)
Stay Length	1, 3, or 5 years
Renewable	Yes, indefinitely if requirements met
COE Application Cost	Free
Visa Sticker Fee	15,000 JPY (single entry)
Medical Exam Fee	Approximately 15,300 JPY
Overall Processing Time	1–3 months
Work Rights	Legally specified medical work only
Study Rights	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Not stated in the source
Citizenship Path	Not stated in the source
Family Sponsorship	Spouse and children (Dependent visa)
Visa Record	Clean immigration record required

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Purpose & Overview

The Medical Services visa (医療) is a residence status for foreign nationals qualified and licensed under Japanese law to practice medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, or other regulated healthcare professions in Japan.

Covered Professions

• Physicians and surgeons
• Dentists
• Pharmacists
• Midwives and public health nurses
• Nurses
• Medical technologists
• Other licensed healthcare professionals providing medical services

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Eligibility & Requirements

• Japanese Professional License: Must hold a valid Japanese medical or professional license issued under Japanese law. Foreign qualifications alone are not sufficient.
• Employment: An employment contract, appointment letter, or practice agreement with a recognized Japanese medical institution, hospital, clinic, or pharmacy.
• Language Proficiency: High Japanese language proficiency sufficient for professional medical communication (national licensing exams are conducted in Japanese).
• Background: Clean professional and immigration record.
• Passport: A valid passport.

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Application Costs & Processing Times

Fees

• Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Application: Free
• Visa Sticker Issuance Fee: 15,000 JPY (single entry, effective 2026-07-01)
• Japanese National Medical Examination: Approximately 15,300 JPY

Review Processing Times (Ministry of Justice Averages)

• COE (from overseas): Average 25.0 days (30-month average: 39.3 days)
• Change of Status (within Japan): Average 39.4 days (30-month average: 40.0 days)
• Renewal / Extension: Average 35.7 days (30-month average: 34.2 days)
• General Overall Processing Window: 1 to 3 months

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Conditions & Rights

• Work Restrictions: Restricted solely to legally specified medical-related work matching the applicant's Japanese license. Operating an independent clinic as an owner-manager is not permitted under this status and may require a Business Manager visa.
• Family Sponsorship: Spouses and children are eligible to apply for a Dependent (Family Stay) visa.
• Status Transitions: Holders may transition to other statuses if eligible, such as the Highly Skilled Professional (Type 1 & 2) visa (medical professionals can earn extra points) or Permanent Resident.

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Obligations

• Register local address at the municipality within 14 days of arriving in Japan.
• Maintain an active Japanese medical license and qualifying employment.
• Submit proof of valid medical licensure and employment certificates upon extending or renewing the status.

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Required Documents

• Valid passport
• Application for Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
• Recent passport-size photograph
• Copy of Japanese medical or professional license
• Employment contract or appointment letter from the host medical institution
• Proof of home country professional qualifications
• Medical institution registration or accreditation documents
• Resume / CV detailing medical education and professional practice history

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Application Steps

1. Obtain Japanese Licensing: Pass the relevant Japanese national licensing examination.
2. Secure Employment: Obtain an employment offer or practice agreement from a recognized Japanese medical institution.
3. Apply for COE: The sponsor in Japan submits the Certificate of Eligibility application to the regional Immigration Services Agency.
4. Apply for Visa: Submit the issued COE and visa application to a Japanese Embassy or Consulate abroad.
5. Arrive & Register: Travel to Japan and register the residential address at the local municipal office within 14 days.
6. Commence Practice: Begin medical practice at the designated facility.

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Important Warnings & Tips

• Foreign Credentials: Overseas medical licenses cannot be used directly to practice clinical medicine in Japan; the Japanese national examination is required (with limited exceptions for specific collaborative research).
• Preparatory Study: Prospective applicants may enter Japan under a Student visa first to study the Japanese language and prepare for the national licensing examinations.
• Mutual Recognition: Check whether home-country mutual recognition agreements apply.
• Official Information: Official guidelines are managed by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.