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The Government of Japan has officially designated Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians wishing to live and work in the country. In addition to that, the Japan government has launched a special visa category for highly skilled and innovative young Nigerians, as well as artisans and blue-collar workers willing to upskill.
So, this is another opportunity for Nigerians to Japan in 2025. If you're interested in traveling to Japan using this new opportunity, then you're in the right guide. In this article, we've explained how you can explore the Japanese's special visa category to live and work in Japan.
Travelling to Kisarazu to Live and Work
Step 1: Obtain COE and Apply for Visa
To travel from Nigeria to Kisarazu to live and work, there are some requirements and criteria you'll need to meet. First of all, you'll need to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Japan government requires a COE issued by their immigration for foreigners staying for long term or work-related visas.
The Certificate of Eligibility is arranged by your prospective employer or sponsor in Japan. So, this document is processed in Japan and scanned to you. You can then add it to some other documents in Nigeria to process your Visa.
Once your COE is ready, you can then proceed to apply for the special visa via the Japan Visa Application Centre (JVAC). Meanwhile, it's important to note that as a Nigerian national, you'll need to apply through one of the JVACs branch in Nigeria. One is located in Abuja, and another one is in Lagos, and they're both run by VFS Global.
Visa Requirements
- You'll need to completed and submit visa application form.
- You'll need a COE provided by your employer or sponsor.
- You'll need passport-sized photo that's 45 × 35 mm, white background, recent, and your name written on the back.
- Other documents may be demanded JVAC, depending on your travelling plans.
Once all these documents are intact, file your visa application and submit it to any JVAC branch in Nigeria. The visa processing may take a minimum of 12 working days in Abuja and 14 working days in Lagos. Complex cases may take longer, so apply well in advance.
However, it's very important to make your category clear during application. You must explicitly make it clear that you're applying under skilled-worker visa or the upskilling category for artisans. This is because a skilled-worker visa is for people with professional qualifications, degrees, or specialized experience (e.g., engineers, IT specialists, healthcare professionals).
On the other hand, the Upskilling or Specified Skilled Worker Visa (often called SSW)— designed for artisans, technicians, and blue-collar workers—requires passing skill and sometimes Japanese language tests. In addition to that, it’s more open to trades like construction, caregiving, agriculture, or factory work.
Another thing you need to note is that skilled professionals may qualify for longer stays, renewals, and even permanent residency faster. But SSW visas have stricter renewal conditions more than skilled worker visa. In addition to that, you may not be able to apply for permanent residential permit unless upgraded.
In fact, the upgrading processes may not be as easy as it seems because Japan government may bring another policy in the future. So, if you're not sure about the category to apply, ask your sponsor or employer because if apply under the wrong track, you might block yourself from better long-term opportunities and some privileges.
Step 2: Book Travel and Logistics to Kisarazu
Once your visa is approved, you can book a flight to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND), which is about 23-25 km away and offers direct bus services. Kisarazu is located in Chiba Prefecture, about 70 km from Tokyo. The city is accessible via the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line, a scenic bridge-and-tunnel route, that allows fast commutes to and from Tokyo.
Kisarazu offers a lower cost of living than central Tokyo, with access to education, healthcare, cultural festivals, and an international-friendly environment. You’ll find educational institutions like Seiwa University and Kisarazu National College of Technology, as well as a bilingual international school, Gyosei in the hometown.
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Final Notes
The special visa was announced on August 22, 2025, during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Tokyo. In the statements made by government officials during the conference, the special visa is aimed at boosting exchanges with the four African countries by officially connecting municipalities with existing relations with those nations.
Japanese government did not named Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians, the government also named three cities in Japan as hometowns for three other African countries. The cities of Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture was named the hometown of Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture as the hometown of Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture as the hometown of Mozambique.
