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Diplomat status

JapanSpecial cases

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Japan Read the five questions ↓

What exactly is the official special programme/status and why does it exist?

The 'Diplomat' status of residence (issued on a Diplomatic visa) covers the activities of members of diplomatic missions or consular offices of foreign governments hosted by the Government of Japan, persons given similar privileges and/or immunities under treaties or international customary practice, and their family members belonging to the same household.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The source defines the status but does not separately explain why it exists.
  • MOFA page dated July 22, 2015.

Which specific population, role, circumstance or historical/legal situation does it cover?

Constituent members of diplomatic missions or consular offices of foreign governments hosted by the Government of Japan (examples: diplomatic agents, diplomatic couriers), those provided with similar privileges and/or immunities under treaties or international customary practice, and their family members belonging to the same household.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa14.html
    Activities on the part of constituent members of diplomatic missions or consular offices of foreign governments hosted by the Government of Japan, activities on the part of those who are provided with similar privileges and/or immunities as are given to diplomatic missions in accordance with treaties or international customary practices, and the activities on the part of their family members belonging to the same household.
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/
    Diplomat (Examples: diplomatic agents, diplomatic couriers, etc.)

What circumstance, event, relationship, nomination, invitation or status activates access?

Access is triggered by carrying out official activities as a member of a foreign diplomatic mission or consular office hosted by Japan (or a person with equivalent privileges/immunities), or by being a household family member of such a person. Holding a diplomatic passport alone is not enough: a diplomatic-passport holder visiting for a purpose other than official business (holiday, tourism, transit, etc.) is granted 'Temporary visitor' status (15, 30 or 90 days) instead.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa14.html
    Activities on the part of constituent members of diplomatic missions or consular offices of foreign governments hosted by the Government of Japan, activities on the part of those who are provided with similar privileges and/or immunities as are given to diplomatic missions in accordance with treaties or international customary practices, and the activities on the part of their family members belonging to the same household.
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa14.html
    (1) Not all diplomatic passport holders can obtain a Diplomatic visa/the Status of Residence of “Diplomat”. Please note that if a foreign national in possession of a diplomatic passport visits Japan for a purpose other than official business, such as a holiday, tourism, transit, etc., the foreign national will be granted the Status of Residence of ”Temporary visitor” (period of stay of 15 days, 30 days or 90 days), and will not be exempt from the obligation to provide fingerprints and other biological information at the time of the examination for landing.

What sponsor, authority, nomination, certification, evidence or other step must occur before the status can be obtained?

The visa application requires a passport, a photograph, a note verbale and/or documents issued by the foreign government or international organisation certifying the person's identity and purposes while visiting Japan, and a visa application form (which in some cases can be omitted).

See recorded sources
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa14.html
    3. Visa application documents (1) Passport (2) Photograph (3) Note verbale and/or documents issued by the foreign government or international organization, certifying the identity of the person concerned and his or her purposes while visiting Japan (4) Visa application form (In some cases this can be omitted)

What immigration status and rights result, how long do they last, can family be included, and what happens if the special qualifying circumstance ends?

The result is the Status of Residence 'Diplomat', with a period of stay of 'During mission'. Family members belonging to the same household are covered. The source does not state what happens when the mission ends.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • What happens when the mission ends is not stated.
  • Rights of family members beyond being covered are not detailed.
  • MOFA page dated July 22, 2015.
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa14.html
    Activities on the part of constituent members of diplomatic missions or consular offices of foreign governments hosted by the Government of Japan, activities on the part of those who are provided with similar privileges and/or immunities as are given to diplomatic missions in accordance with treaties or international customary practices, and the activities on the part of their family members belonging to the same household.
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa14.html
    Foreign nationals who receive the Status of Residence of “Diplomat” are permitted to stay in Japan for the length of “During mission”.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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