People who are going to come to RIKEN from overseas should start the visa application process as early as possible, preferably about two months before their intended arrival date in Japan.

Ask your local Japanese embassy or consulate what documents will be required, and then ask your Japanese employer to arrange for the necessary employment-related documents.

For short-term visits to Japan for symposiums, conferences, and meetings, you may not need a visa. There are 63 countries with reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with Japan (as of September 2009).

There are many factors involved in getting or changing a visa, for example nationality, duration of stay, previous work experience, and type of job, so every application is different. If you have any questions about visas, ask your Japanese employer.

For official government information about visas, see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html.