The Entertainer Visa No. 2 underwent a change of requirements in August 2023, with eased conditions regarding venue capacity and remuneration amounts. However, there was also a review of the content of the traditional Entertainer Visa No. 1 and No. 3, resulting in a complex set of revisions. This article will provide a clear and detailed explanation of these changes.
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What is the Entertainer Visa?
The Entertainer Visa is required for foreign nationals who engage in entertainment activities in Japan.
“Entertainment” is defined as showing or presenting movies, plays, sports, performances, or shows to the public at specific facilities.
This visa system permits foreigners to engage in entertainment activities, such as performing arts and sports, in Japan.
The Entertainer Visa No. 2 is necessary when foreign nationals perform large-scale entertainment activities, such as plays, performances, dance, and music concerts, at major venues in Japan.
Change of Entertainer Visa Requirements in August 2023
In August 2023, significant changes were made to the structure of the Entertainer Visa.
Some of the requirements for the Entertainer Visa were relaxed, making it possible for foreign nationals to engage in longer concert tours and activities at smaller venues such as live music clubs.
The requirements for event organizers were also eased, allowing more foreign artists and performers to participate in entertainment activities in Japan.
Under the new standards, the following changes were made:
When a foreign national intends to engage in activities related to theater, entertainment, singing, dancing or musical performances.
(1) Those conducted in facilities other than those specified in Article 2, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Entertainment and Amusement Business Law based on a contract concluded with a public or private institution in Japan.
(2) Any of the following applies: – Theater, entertainment, singing, dancing or musical performances sponsored by the national or local government agencies or special corporations in Japan, and performances stipulated in the School Education Law Those conducted at schools, vocational schools or miscellaneous schools – Events organized by public or private Japanese organizations established with the assistance of the national or local government organizations or independent administrative institutions for the purpose of contributing to cultural exchange. ・To attract tourists by using foreign scenery or culture as a theme, a theater, a show, a song, a dance, or a musical performance by foreign national is regularly held. The facility is located in a facility with a land area of 100,000 square meters or more. – Facilities that do not provide food or drink for a fee in the seating area and do not entertain customers (those operated by public or private organizations in Japan that do not aim to make a profit) (limited to venues with seating capacity of 100 or more) The amount of remuneration obtained from the performance (if performed by a group, the total amount received by the group) is 500,000 yen or more per day, and Those conducted while residing in Japan for a period not exceeding 30 days
(3) Those not falling under either (1) or (2)
When a foreign national wishes to engage in activities related to entertainment (such as sports) other than theater, performing arts, singing, dancing or musical performances.
When a foreign national intends to engage in entertainment activities that fall under any of the following (1) to (4):
(1) Activities related to advertising products or businesses (2) Activities related to the production of broadcast programs (including cable broadcast programs) or films (3) Activities related to commercial photography (4) Activities of making audio or video recordings on commercial records, video tapes or other recording media
Seating Capacity of Over 100 People
Under the previous regulations, “the seating capacity referred to the number set for each facility based on building confirmation under the Building Standards Act and the installation standards for fire prevention equipment under the Fire Services Act. The number of seats generally referred to fixed seating.”
This regulation led to situations where venues like live houses or events did not meet the “100-seat capacity” requirement.
With the revision, venues are now allowed to host events with more than 100 people, even if the audience is standing, as long as the venue can accommodate 100 or more people.
If the seating capacity exceeds 100 people, the visa application can be submitted. Previously, the requirement was that the venue had to have at least 100 fixed seats.
Stay of “Within 30 Days”
Before the revision, the rule was that applicants could only stay for up to 15 days if their remuneration exceeded 500,000 yen per day. This period has now been extended.
Bands and orchestras previously could not schedule national tours longer than 15 days, but with the relaxed rule, the stay period has been doubled to 30 days, providing more scheduling flexibility.
If the applicant’s remuneration exceeds 500,000 yen per day, the restriction on the period of entertainment activities has been extended from 15 days to a maximum of 30 days.
cf.Immigration Services Agency Japan
Requirements for Entertainer Visa No. 2
When applying for an Entertainer Visa No. 2, according to the Immigration Services Agency, one of the following conditions must be met:
- Whether it is an entertainment activity at a school:
The performance, entertainment, song, dance, or musical performance is organized by a national or local government agency, or a special public corporation, or is conducted at a school, specialized training college, or other schools as stipulated by the School Education Law.
- Whether it is an entertainment activity organized by a public or private organization:
The performance is organized by a public or private institution in Japan, established for the purpose of cultural exchange with the support of national, local government, or independent administrative agencies.
- Whether it is an entertainment activity at a facility with an area of over 100,000 square meters:
The performance, entertainment, song, dance, or musical performance is continuously held at a facility with a site area of over 100,000 square meters, for the purpose of attracting tourists by showcasing foreign scenery or culture.
- Whether it is an entertainment activity at a facility that does not provide customer service:
The performance is held at a facility that does not provide paid food and beverages to the audience or engage in customer service, and is operated by a non-profit public or private organization in Japan or a facility with a seating capacity of over 100 people.
- Whether the remuneration exceeds 500,000 yen per day:
The remuneration obtained from the performance (or the total amount received by the group in the case of group performances) must exceed 500,000 yen per day, and the entertainment activity must be completed within a stay period of no more than 30 days.
Visa Applications with VISAdeAI
Throughout this guide, we have detailed the importance of the Entertainer Visa in Japan and outlined the specific steps required for the application process.
As certified administrative scriveners, we provide support to help applicants overcome any obstacles they may encounter and ensure the smooth progress of the application process. We hope the information provided in this article will help applicants feel more confident when applying.
While obtaining a visa in Japan can be a complex and challenging process, having the right information and proper support can significantly simplify it. Use VISAdeAI to aim for a smooth visa application experience.
