The ¥10M threshold for self-employed applicants is based on income after business expenses — not total client billings. Submitting gross revenue figures overstates your case and creates a mismatch when reviewers cross-check against your tax filings. → Full income guide

Tax certificates from your home country that don't translate cleanly into a clear yen-equivalent figure, or income that fluctuates without a clear underlying trend, both slow down or weaken review.

A documented, already-agreed raise or new job offer at ¥10M+ can count — but only with real documentation (a signed contract or offer letter), not a stated intention or expectation.

Most card-attached travel insurance caps around 90 days — well short of a 6-month stay. Using this as your sole qualifying policy is one of the most common gaps we found researching this guide. → Full breakdown

The ¥10M treatment cost requirement gets attention, but the separate death/repatriation benefit requirement (no minimum amount, but must be included) is easy to overlook if you're not checking your policy line by line. → Full insurance requirements

A shorter policy that you're planning to extend later doesn't satisfy the requirement at application time — coverage needs to span your entire planned stay from the start.

ISA's own Q&A confirms there's no proxy arrangement for this visa when the applicant is outside Japan. If you're abroad, you apply directly at the embassy — not through a representative filing a COE on your behalf. → Full application guide

ISA wants specifics: what you'll be doing, for whom, and how it's structured. A generic description ("remote work for my company") is weaker than a clear, concrete explanation of your role and clients.

The entire premise of this visa is income from outside Japan. Even a passing mention of potential local freelance work or side income can undermine an otherwise strong application.

Every document not already in Japanese needs an attached Japanese translation. This is an easy checklist item to miss under time pressure, and a common reason for delays.

The family eligibility list (Designated Activity No. 54) is different from your own — some nationalities are on one list but not the other. Check both independently. → See both lists

Your spouse or child cannot enter Japan ahead of you under this status — plan travel dates accordingly. → Full family guide

If your child is born in Japan and you're staying more than 60 days afterward, the status acquisition application is due within 30 days of the birth — a tight, easy-to-miss deadline during an already busy time. → Full guide