What is 「所属機関」, "Attached Organization"?
There are two types of visa in Japan, "activities visa" & "resident visa".
An "activities visa" should be permitted in accordance with the activities in Japan such as the job. A "resident visa" should be permitted in accordance with the family relation such as the spouse.
Many of the activities visas are "working visas".
The objective jobs of working visas are usually to be done with some companies or organizations.
Immigration Control & Refugee Recognition Act defines a company or an organization which shall be worked with a "working visa" holder, as「本邦の公私の機関」to be translated into "public or private organization in Japan".
In order to apply for obtaining, changing or extending a working visa of a job with a "public or private organization in Japan", it shall be required not only a signature of the applicant but also a seal of the "public or private organization in Japan".
In the regulated application forms prepared by the ministry of justice, a company or an organization which shall be worked with is called as「所属機関」to be translated into "attached organization".
All of working visas are not required to have "attached organizations".
An "artist visa" or an "entertainer visa" can be obtained without an "attached organization" .
However it is principally necessary to put a seal of an "attached organization", if you apply for obtaining changing or extending any type of working visa on a job with an "attached organization".
In other words, you need to get an approval or a consent of the "attached organization" before apply for obtaining changing or extending a working visa on a job with an "attached organization".
In case of appling for some process on a working visa with an "attached organization",
there are differences of required documents or materials to be submitted in accordance with a category of the "attached organization".
"Business Manager", "Researcher", "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/Int'l Services", "Intra-company Transferee", "Skilled Labor" Visa
"Attached organizations" are divided into four categories as follows:
Category I : a listed company, a public organization, a governmental organization and so on
Category II : an institution or an individual which has paid withholding taxes on wages of its employees equal to or more than 15 million yen in the recent fiscal year.
Category III : an institution or an individual which has paid withholding taxes on wages of its employees less than 15 million yen in the recent fiscal year.
Category IV : Others
If the attached organization corresponds to category I, a document which certifies the organization corresponds to category I, shall be the only document other than an application form.
If the attached organization is a listed company, a copy of "Kaisha-Shikiho", a magazine on stock investment, and the application form are the only documents to be submitted.
If the attached organization corresponds to category II, a copy of the tax return which certifies the amount of total withholding taxes in the recent fiscal year, shall be the only document other than an application form.
If the attached organization corresponds to category III or category IV, many other documents or materials are to be submitted.
"Journalist" Visa
Attached organizations are divided into two categories, a foreign press registered by the ministry of foreign affairs & others.
If the attached organization corresponds to a registered press, a document which certifies the registration, shall be the only document other than an application form.
If the attached organization corresponds to an unregistered press, many documents or materials are required to be submitted.
"Instructor" Visa
Attached organizations are divided into two categories, a primary school, a junior or senir high school or the same grade school & other schools.
If the attached organization corresponds to any the former schools and the applicant is to work as a full time worker, an application form is the only ducument to be submitted.
In other cases many documents or materials are required to be submitted.
