What happens to medical expenses with a medical stay visa? Explaining the specific activity visa for medical purposes
Updated: July 2025, 9
A "medical stay visa" is required for foreigners to receive medical treatment in Japan.
This is a type of designated activity visa, which you will obtain if you intend to receive medical treatment in Japan yourself or if you wish for your family to receive medical treatment in Japan.
To apply for a medical stay visa, you must have the ability to pay for your accommodation and medical expenses during your stay.
Since they cannot enroll in the National Health Insurance, they must pay all medical expenses themselves.
In this article, we will explain the overview of the "Medical Stay Visa", as well as how to apply, application requirements, period of stay, points to note, etc.
What is a medical stay visa?
A medical stay visa is issued to allow you to receive medical treatment in Japan.
This visa is recognized as one of the "notified specific activities."
Specifically, this applies to activities such as hospitalization at a hospital or clinic in Japan and receiving medical treatment for an illness or injury.
You can also receive continuing medical care before and after your hospital stay.
Requirements for obtaining a medical stay visa
There are four main requirements for obtaining a medical stay visa:
- Stay in Japan for a significant period of time
- Being hospitalized and receiving treatment at a hospital or clinic in Japan
- The medical treatment before and after hospitalization is related to the medical treatment received during hospitalization.
- Ability to cover expenses during your stay in Japan.
1. Stay in Japan for a significant period of time
A medical stay visa requires you to stay in Japan for a "considerable period."
A "reasonable period" means more than 90 days.
Therefore, if you wish to receive medical treatment for longer than this period, you will need to obtain a medical stay visa.
If your stay in Japan is 90 days or less, you will be granted a "short-term stay" visa.
2. To be hospitalized and receive treatment at a hospital or clinic in Japan
The condition of a medical stay visa is that you will be hospitalized and receive medical treatment.
This visa applies not only to treatment during hospitalization, but also to medical procedures performed before and after hospitalization.
However, please note that outpatient medical treatment alone does not qualify for this visa.
There are many medical procedures permitted with this visa, including medical checkups, health examinations, dental treatment, and childbirth.
3. The medical treatment before and after hospitalization is related to the medical treatment received during hospitalization.
A medical stay visa requires that any medical treatment you receive before or after your stay is related to the treatment you receive during your stay.
This not only covers medical treatment received during hospitalization, but also continuing medical treatment before and after hospitalization, but these must be related treatments.
For example, if you obtain a medical stay visa for cancer treatment, the treatment you receive after being discharged from hospital must be related to that cancer treatment.
It is important that there is continuity of treatment during hospitalization and subsequent medical care.
4. Ability to cover expenses during your stay in Japan
A medical stay visa will not be granted if you do not have the ability to pay for the expenses during your stay in Japan.
The costs incurred during your stay will include living expenses such as accommodation and food, as well as medical expenses.
If you have a medical stay visa, you will not be able to enroll in Japan's national health insurance and will have to pay all medical expenses yourself.
As a result, medical expenses in Japan may be high.
Furthermore, the ability to pay these expenses does not necessarily have to be determined by the person receiving the medical treatment.
If the costs are paid by someone else, such as a relative, your ability to pay will be recognized.
Length of stay for medical stay visa
The period of stay for a medical stay visa is usually six months or one year.
This period will be determined based on your individual medical condition and progress of treatment.
If necessary, your period of stay can be extended, but to do so you must submit documents such as a doctor's certificate, a medical institution's acceptance certificate, a treatment schedule, and proof of payment of expenses during your stay.
Once your treatment is completed, your medical visa will be terminated and you will be required to return to your home country.
Therefore, once your treatment is completed, you will not be able to continue staying in Japan.
Activities permitted under a medical stay visa
Activities permitted under a medical stay visa include foreigners receiving medical treatment before, during and after hospitalization.
This not only covers medical treatment during hospitalization, but also ongoing medical treatment before and after hospitalization.
Furthermore, medical stay visas can be obtained not only by the foreign national receiving medical treatment, but also by his or her companion.
An attendant does not have to be a relative, and may be a non-relative, but in that case, their relationship to the person will be strictly examined.
The activities permitted for an attendant are limited to assisting the foreign national receiving medical treatment in his/her daily life.
Specifically, this includes caring for the patient during hospitalization and transporting or accompanying them before and after hospitalization, but activities that generate income or receive remuneration are not permitted.
How to apply for a medical stay visa
There are three ways to apply for a medical stay visa:
- New application: If you are applying for a new medical stay visa
- Change from other visa status: If you are changing from another residence status to a medical stay visa
- Extension of period of stay: When extending the period of stay of an existing medical stay visa
The documents required for application vary depending on the pattern.
In addition, the documents required for a medical stay visa and an accompanying visa are different, so preparations will need to be made according to each situation.
Please see below for specific required documents for each case.
New application
Please check below for the documents required when applying for a new medical stay visa.
| Classification | Document |
|---|---|
| Common documents for medical stay visa and accompanying person visa | ・ Application for issuance of Certificate of Eligibility ・One photo (4cm long x 3cm wide) - A clear photograph taken from the front, without a hat and without a background, taken within 3 months prior to application ・Reply envelope (for simple registered mail) - A return address must be clearly stated and a 392 yen stamp must be affixed |
| Documents required for medical stay visa | ・Certificate of acceptance issued by a Japanese hospital ・Materials related to the hospital where you will be admitted (pamphlets, etc.) ・Treatment schedule - Documents detailing your place of stay and contact information before and after hospitalization - Any documents related to payment of expenses required during your stay - Certificate of payment of advance payments, deposits, etc. to hospitals, etc. - Copy of private health insurance policy and terms and conditions - Evidence of payment by your medical insurance - Deposit balance certificate - Proof of payment by sponsors, support groups, etc. |
| Documents required for accompanying person visa | - Documents explaining the date of stay, place of stay, contact information, and relationship with the person accompanying the person ・Documents proving that you can cover all expenses necessary for your stay |
Change from other visa status
Please check below for the documents required when changing from another residence status to a medical stay visa.
| Classification | Document |
|---|---|
| Common documents for medical stay visa and accompanying person visa | ・ Application for permission to change status of residence ・One photo (4cm long x 3cm wide) - A clear photograph taken from the front, without a hat and without a background, taken within 3 months prior to application ・Reply postcard - A return address must be provided |
| Documents required for medical stay visa | ・Certificate of acceptance issued by a Japanese hospital ・Materials related to the hospital where you will be admitted (pamphlets, etc.) ・Treatment schedule - Documents detailing your place of stay and contact information before and after hospitalization - Any documents related to payment of expenses required during your stay - Certificate of payment of advance payments, deposits, etc. to hospitals, etc. - Copy of private health insurance policy and terms and conditions - Evidence of payment by your medical insurance - Deposit balance certificate - Proof of payment by sponsors, support groups, etc. |
| Documents required for accompanying person visa | - Documents explaining the date of stay, place of stay, contact information, and relationship with the person accompanying the person ・Documents proving that you can cover all expenses necessary for your stay |
Extension of period of stay
Please check below for the documents required to renew your period of stay.
| Classification | Document |
|---|---|
| Common documents for medical stay visa and accompanying person visa | ・ Application for permission to renew the period of stay ・One photo (4cm long x 3cm wide) - A clear photograph taken from the front, without a hat and without a background, taken within 3 months prior to application ・Reply postcard - A return address must be provided |
| Documents required for medical stay visa | ・Medical certificate ・Certificate of acceptance issued by a Japanese hospital ・Materials related to the hospital where you will be admitted (pamphlets, etc.) ・Treatment schedule - Documents detailing your place of stay and contact information before and after hospitalization - Any documents related to payment of expenses required during your stay - Certificate of payment of advance payments, deposits, etc. to hospitals, etc. - Copy of private health insurance policy and terms and conditions - Evidence of payment by your medical insurance - Deposit balance certificate - Proof of payment by sponsors, support groups, etc. |
| Documents required for accompanying person visa | - Documents explaining the date of stay, place of stay, contact information, and relationship with the person accompanying the person ・Documents proving that you can cover all expenses necessary for your stay |
About the application agent
The application for a medical stay visa does not have to be made by the foreigner receiving medical treatment; it can be made by a proxy.
However, there are only a limited number of people who can act as an agent for an application, so you should check in advance.
The following people can act as agents for applications for a medical stay visa for foreigners receiving medical treatment.
- Staff at the hospital where the applicant is hospitalized
- Relatives of the applicant who reside in Japan
- Accompanying person of the applicant (in this case, limited to applications for permission to change or renew residence status)
If an attendant applies for a medical stay visa, the following people are permitted to act as an agent for the application.
- Foreign nationals receiving medical treatment who are required to be accompanied
- Hospital staff who are hospitalized with foreign nationals receiving medical treatment
- Relatives of the applicant who reside in Japan
Anyone who meets these requirements can apply on your behalf.
Points to note when obtaining a medical stay visa
There are a few things you need to be aware of when obtaining a medical stay visa.
First of all, foreigners staying in Japan on a medical stay visa and their accompanying persons are not eligible to enroll in Japan's National Health Insurance.
National health insurance is for people who have an address within a city, town, village, or special ward, but foreigners with medical stay visas are not covered.
The basis for this restriction is clearly stated in the National Health Insurance Act and the Enforcement Regulations of the National Health Insurance Act.
Specifically, Article 6, Paragraph 11 of the National Health Insurance Act stipulates that persons specified by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Ordinance are not considered to be insured persons.
Those designated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ordinance include foreigners with medical stay visas.
For this reason, if you stay in Japan on a medical stay visa, you will have to pay the full cost of treatment and hospitalization at hospitals and clinics.
Foreigners who obtain a medical stay visa must be fully aware that they will be responsible for all medical expenses.
Medical costs in Japan can be expensive and may cost more than you anticipated.
Therefore, before obtaining a visa, it is important to make sure that you have sufficient funds to cover all expenses during your stay, including medical costs.
Final thoughts
This time, we explained about medical stay visas.
A medical stay visa is a status of residence that is issued when you are admitted to a Japanese hospital and receive medical treatment.
This visa allows you to receive medical treatment not only during your hospital stay, but also before and after your stay.
To apply for a medical stay visa, you must meet several requirements, such as staying for 91 days or more and undergoing medical treatment that requires hospitalization.
It is important to review these requirements carefully before applying.
Support Administrative Scriveners Corporation provides support regarding specific activity visas.
We can also provide support in foreign languages, so if you have any problems obtaining a visa, please contact us.
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