Tokyo Living in Tokyo Visa & Immigration Lawyers

The 8 Best Visa & Immigration Lawyers in Tokyo (2026)

Updated November 2026 · 8 picks

The best visa and immigration help in Tokyo in 2026 includes ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, Support Gyoseishoshi Corporation and Samurai Immigration Law Firm for everyday visa filings, plus Setagaya International Law Office, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune and Atsumi & Sakai when you need an attorney (bengoshi). Each has a Tokyo office and its own English-language information.

How we chose

Visa decisions affect where you can live and work, so we held this list to a high bar. Every provider here is currently operating, has its own website and a Tokyo office address, states its immigration focus on its own site, and shows evidence there of English service or foreign clients. We included gyoseishoshi offices and attorney (bengoshi) firms and say which is which. Nothing is ranked by approval rate, fee or any legal measure of "best," nobody paid to be included, and there are no affiliate links. Descriptions are the firms' own claims, and nothing here is legal advice.

Check credentials before you hire. Attorneys belong to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations; its English page on legal counseling for foreigners lists bar-association counseling centers in Tokyo, including one in Shinjuku, and its Japanese page, How to find a lawyer, explains how to find one. The JFBA says it does not refer clients to lawyers for specific disputes. Gyoseishoshi are registered with the Japan Federation of Gyoseishoshi Lawyers' Associations member search (in Japanese), which lets you search by name, registration number or main practice area such as foreign nationals. The federation also has an English page for foreigners.

For official procedures and forms, use the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, whose site is mainly in Japanese and links to information in other languages.

In Japan, two professions help with visas. A gyoseishoshi (administrative scrivener) is a licensed specialist who prepares and files documents with government offices, including status-of-residence applications at the Immigration Bureau. The Japan Federation of Gyoseishoshi Lawyers' Associations calls them "Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialists" and lists residence status, permanent residence and naturalization among the work they do for foreign nationals. A bengoshi is a licensed attorney and member of a bar association. Offices that file routine visa applications are usually run by gyoseishoshi, while disputes, criminal cases and court proceedings are bengoshi work.

This guide lists both, and says which each firm is. Many firms use the English phrase "immigration lawyer" for a gyoseishoshi, so check the credential, not just the name. You can often apply on your own, so ask what a provider adds, what the fee covers, and who will handle your case.

1. ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office — Hirakawacho

A gyoseishoshi practice for work, family and permanent-residence visas, with English and Chinese support.

Specialty Work, family and permanent-residence visa filings (gyoseishoshi)Best for Individuals and companies, English and Chinese speakers

ACROSEED says its immigration practice traces back to a predecessor administrative scrivener office founded in 1986, and that it has handled more than 43,000 visa and status-of-residence applications. Its English site covers work visas, spouse and child visas, permanent residence, naturalization and help after a refusal, and says English and Chinese support is available.

The site is clear about credentials: it states that "Immigration Lawyer" here means a licensed Administrative Scrivener (gyoseishoshi), not an attorney (bengoshi). It lists six such specialists and offers phone, email, online and in-office consultations.

Good to know: Use the free-consultation form or the weekday phone line; the site lists Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

8F Hirakawacho Bldg., 2-6-1 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 102-0093

Google Maps Website

2. Support Gyoseishoshi Corporation — Nishi-Shinjuku

A large gyoseishoshi corporation with an English visa and licensing site.

Specialty Work, spouse and permanent-residence visas, business licensing (gyoseishoshi)Best for Individuals and companies, multilingual

Support Gyoseishoshi Corporation is a gyoseishoshi corporation with offices in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. Its English site says its team is proficient in English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese, and lists visa topics including work visas, spouse, dependent and permanent residence visas, business-manager visas and help for applicants who were refused.

It also handles business licensing and corporate setup, so it suits companies bringing in foreign staff as well as individuals. The Tokyo head office is in Nishi-Shinjuku.

Good to know: The site lists several phone lines by service; use the English inquiry form for visa matters.

Shinjuku Monolith 25F, 2-3-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 163-0925

Google Maps Website

3. Samurai Immigration Law Firm — Nishi-Shinjuku

A gyoseishoshi firm that files visa applications for individuals and foreign-owned companies.

Specialty Visa applications and company establishment (gyoseishoshi)Best for Individuals and foreign-owned companies

Samurai Immigration Law Firm says it was established in 2009 and focuses on visa applications and company establishment for foreigners. Its English site lists offices in Ueno, Shinjuku, Yokohama, Omiya, Chiba, Nagoya and Osaka, and says an administrative scrivener prepares the application forms and files them at the Immigration Bureau for clients.

The site offers free visa consultations by appointment, with a separate English phone line, and publishes guides on topics such as permanent residency and naturalization. It describes its staff as administrative scriveners, not attorneys.

Good to know: Book a consultation by phone or the website form in advance; the site says appointments are required.

Shinjuku L Tower 15F, 1-6-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 163-1515

Google Maps Website

4. Setagaya International Law Office — Sangenjaya

An English-speaking law firm for foreigners, covering immigration with family, labor and criminal law.

Specialty Immigration alongside international family, labor and criminal law (law firm)Best for Foreign residents with legal disputes affecting their visa

Setagaya International Law Office describes itself as an English-speaking law firm assisting foreigners living in Japan. Its site lists international family law, labor law, criminal law and immigration law, with immigration covering visa status changes, renewals and permanent residency.

The firm's immigration page explains why it handles both: a divorce, dismissal or criminal case can change a foreign national's visa status, and it says one lawyer who understands both may be more efficient than two. Its office is near Sangenjaya Station in Setagaya.

Good to know: Consider this firm when a visa question comes with a legal dispute, such as a divorce, a dismissal or an arrest.

ASTILE Sangenjaya II-502, 3-16-3 Taishido, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0004

Google Maps Website

5. Niitsu Legal Visa Office — Hiroo

A one-person gyoseishoshi office that says it practices only immigration law.

Specialty Permanent residency, work, spouse and long-term resident visas (gyoseishoshi)Best for Individuals and companies in English, Japanese and French

Niitsu Legal Visa Office is a gyoseishoshi office in Hiroo led by Kyohei Niitsu, who is also registered as a maritime agent (kaiji dairishi). Its site is available in English, Japanese and French, and says the practice is exclusively in Japan immigration law, for companies and individuals.

It lists permanent residency, long-term resident, work and spouse visas and certificates of eligibility, and publishes a price list and visa information pages. The site's own history says the office was established in 2006.

Good to know: Check the price list page before contacting; the site shows the office's phone and inquiry form.

DOT4F, 1-7-20 Hiroo, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0012

Google Maps Website

6. Anderson Mori & Tomotsune — Otemachi

A large Tokyo law firm whose labor team files visa applications for corporate clients.

Specialty Corporate visa and immigration support within a law firm (bengoshi firm with gyoseishoshi staff)Best for Companies hiring or relocating foreign staff

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune is a full-service Tokyo law firm. Its English site says its labor and employment team includes qualified immigration specialists (gyosei shoshi) who prepare visa application documents and file them with the Immigration Bureau, and that the team advises on the Immigration Control Act.

The service is aimed at companies hiring foreign staff, and the firm says it can hold preliminary consultations with the Ministry of Justice or the Immigration Bureau on difficult matters. Individuals should ask whether the firm takes personal visa cases.

Good to know: Large firms usually work through an employer; ask HR whether the company already has a relationship with the firm.

Otemachi Park Building, 1-1-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8136

Google Maps Website

7. Atsumi & Sakai — Uchisaiwaicho

A law firm with an immigration team advising foreign companies on visas and work permits.

Specialty Corporate visa, work permit and foreigner-registration support (law firm)Best for Foreign companies and their employees

Atsumi & Sakai is a Tokyo law firm with offices in Japan and overseas. Its English site says its immigration team advises and supports foreign companies on visa applications and renewals, work permits and foreigner registration, and also advises on social and labor insurance.

Its Tokyo office is in the Fukoku Seimei Building, with reception on the 16th floor. As with other large firms, its immigration services are described for companies rather than individuals.

Good to know: Use the firm's contact page and say you need immigration support for a company or an employee.

Fukoku Seimei Bldg. 16F, 2-2-2 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0011

Google Maps Website

8. Ishizaka's International Administrative Scrivener Office — Fuchu

A solo gyoseishoshi office for residence, family and permanent-residence procedures.

Specialty Permanent residency, family and employment-related status procedures (gyoseishoshi)Best for Individuals and companies, English and Chinese

Ishizaka's International Administrative Scrivener Office is run by administrative scrivener Akio Ishizaka, who is listed as a member of the Tokyo Administrative Scrivener Association. Its page says English and Chinese are available, and it adds that the office works as translators rather than interpreters, so most communication is in writing.

It lists help with permanent residency eligibility, visa compliance after a job change or promotion, bringing a spouse or children to Japan and procedures after a child is born in Japan. Its office is in Fuchu, in western Tokyo. The page is hosted on the federation's member-site platform rather than its own domain.

Good to know: Because communication is mainly written, send your question and documents by message first.

5-4-7 Shiraitodai, Fuchu City, Tokyo 183-0011

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a gyoseishoshi and a lawyer for a visa?

A gyoseishoshi (administrative scrivener) prepares and files applications with government offices, including status-of-residence applications at the Immigration Bureau. A bengoshi is a licensed attorney who can handle disputes and court matters. For a routine work, spouse or permanent residence application, many people use a gyoseishoshi; if a case involves a refusal you want to challenge, a criminal matter or a family-law dispute that affects your visa, ask a bengoshi. Some firms in this guide have both.

Do I need a lawyer or scrivener to apply for a visa in Japan?

Not necessarily. The Immigration Services Agency publishes procedures for residence applications, and applicants can generally file on their own. Many foreigners hire a professional because the documents are in Japanese and the requirements depend on the visa category. The offices in this guide say they prepare the documents and file them at the Immigration Bureau on your behalf.

How long does a visa application take in Japan?

It depends on the type of status, the Immigration Bureau office and how complete the documents are, so no single figure applies. Ask the provider for a general range for your category and check the Immigration Services Agency's pages for current procedures. Any firm that guarantees a result or a timeline deserves caution.

How do I check that a gyoseishoshi or lawyer is licensed?

For a gyoseishoshi, use the Japan Federation of Gyoseishoshi Lawyers' Associations member search, which accepts a name or registration number. For an attorney, the JFBA is the national body and each attorney belongs to a local bar association; ask for the lawyer's bar registration. Check the individual who will handle your case as well as the firm.

Is there free or low-cost legal counseling for foreigners in Tokyo?

The JFBA's English page lists bar-association counseling centers in Tokyo, with a fee quoted per 30 minutes and a phone line that takes appointments in English. No visa status is required to consult, according to the page. Some bar associations also offer free counseling for people with low or no income, so ask the center.

Can a company help with a visa for an employee?

Yes. Large law firms in this guide, such as Anderson Mori & Tomotsune and Atsumi & Sakai, describe immigration support for companies bringing in foreign staff, and gyoseishoshi corporations such as Support Gyoseishoshi list business-manager and work visas. If your employer is sponsoring you, ask HR which provider they already use.

1. ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office — Hirakawacho

2. Support Gyoseishoshi Corporation — Nishi-Shinjuku

3. Samurai Immigration Law Firm — Nishi-Shinjuku

4. Setagaya International Law Office — Sangenjaya

5. Niitsu Legal Visa Office — Hiroo

6. Anderson Mori & Tomotsune — Otemachi

7. Atsumi & Sakai — Uchisaiwaicho

8. Ishizaka's International Administrative Scrivener Office — Fuchu

Frequently asked questions

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