Bringing a parent to live in Japan

2 comments

1. Same as with most countries, it is almost impossible unless you’ve already become a Japanese NATIONAL, not merely a Japanese Permanent Resident like me. There would need to be a specific, legal reason under immigration law that this person be allowed in to reside in the country. Merely to live with you doesn’t count. Merely to be cared for by their own family doesn’t count. Unfortunately.

   Bringing a non-productive person into their society isn’t something any country will plan for and put into their laws easily. They only make such allowances to benefit their own CITIZENS/NATIONALS.

   (To cut off certain commenters ahead of time—assuming they can actually read—here “non-productive” means not contributing directly to society by working for a company for a lifetime. Nothing to do with social development or cultural concerns. That’s why many working visas in many countries have maximum application ages. They simply don’t want older people coming in, working only a few years, and then retiring in-country. That may suck, but there’s reality.)

   Note to anyone who thinks they are very smart: Do NOT, under any circumstances, lie or try to be ‘sneaky’ on any immigration paperwork (in any country), thinking you’ve found a “loophole.” I was an immigration officer in the USA for a decade. Part of my job was spotting and foiling such attempts, and I was damned good at it. Assume that Japan has people at least as good as I was. If you are caught attempting such paperwork lies, you may be banned from Japan for years, perhaps permanently. Some offenses carry serious jail terms to be served BEFORE you’re kicked out of the country permanently.

2. >I would love to bring my mom over here within the next few years but it’s looking almost impossible.

   The Highly Skilled Foreign Professional (HSFP) visa allows you to bring a parent to Japan if you have a child under a certain age (or you or your spouse are currently pregnant).

   Other than that, there isn’t a retirement visa nor is there a “parent of a resident” visa. So your only hope is to have a sob story for immigration about your parent being incapable of independent living and there being literally no one else capable of providing care. Then immigration can issue a “Designated Activities” visa for her to come and be cared for by you.

   These lawyers have a brief blurb about it on their website (they are private immigration lawyers advertising their services, not an official government agency):
   https://www.tokyoimmigration.jp/?p=182