​If one of the parents is a Japanese national, the baby automatically becomes a Japanese national. If both parents are non-Japanese, the baby needs to get a status of residence to live in Japan.

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Either way, when a foreigner residing in Japan gives birth to a child, the necessary steps which must be taken are:

To Work In Japan, a foreigner must receive a job offer from a guarantor in Japan, and then apply for a working visa at an embassy or consulate outside the country. 


Working visas are valid for a period of 3 months to 5 years, and may be used to secure employment at any employer within the scope of activities designated on the visa "including employers other than the guarantor". 

​April marks the start of the year for schools and many companies in Japan — a month when many newcomers from overseas arrive in the country, just in time for the cherry blossom season.

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If you are one of these new arrivals, a lot will be fresh and unfamiliar, and that, unfortunately, applies to the problems you may face as well as the positive aspects of your new life here. Even long-term residents are not immune to complications related to their visa status, work, money, family and so on. 

It is important to get good advice in times of trouble, especially if you did not grow up with the Japanese legal system.


​Here are some tips on how to use legal services in Japan, where you will be able to get the English language advice that you REALLY need.

February and March in Japan is tax season. Filing a tax return isn’t easy at the best of times, but doing it in another country can be particularly challenging. 


Fortunately, if you work for a company and that’s your sole source of income in Japan, they will take care of everything for you. However, those who are self-employed or have multiple sources of income will have to file a Tax Return "Kakutei Shinkoku - 確定申告". 

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The two main forms of tax are Income Tax "Shotokuzei - 所得税", and residence Tax "Juminzei - 住民税". The rates you pay for both kinds of tax are calculated according to your earnings.

​The Japanese Ministry of Justice has decided that it is going to amend the rules for becoming a permanent resident in Japan to allow foreigners to apply for permanent residence after as little as one year in Japan. These rules will become effective as of the end of March 2017.