Introduction

For foreign nationals holding an “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” visa in Japan, renewing or acquiring their status of residence is a very important procedure. Many people are concerned about how traffic violations may affect this process. In particular, we often receive inquiries such as, “If I have three traffic violations, how will it affect my renewal or acquisition?” This article explains the latest practical points based on government and expert information in an easy-to-understand manner.

“Record of Disposition” and Traffic Violations in Visa Applications

Application forms for Certificate of Eligibility, Change of Status, and Extension of Period of Stay require you to declare any “criminal record (including dispositions due to traffic violations, etc.)”. This means that fines and criminal penalties for traffic violations must also be reported. However, not all traffic violations will immediately result in a denial.

Types of Traffic Violations and Their Impact

Traffic violations are broadly classified as “minor violations” and “serious violations.”

• Minor violations (e.g., illegal parking, minor speeding) are often resolved with administrative fines and generally do not have a significant impact on visa applications.
• On the other hand, serious violations such as drunk driving, driving without a license, or excessive speeding may result in criminal penalties (fines or imprisonment). Such serious offenses can significantly affect the “good conduct” requirement and increase the risk of denial.

Practical Impact of Three Traffic Violations

There is no official standard specifying the acceptable number of violations. However, in practice, the following tendencies are observed:

• If you have committed about three minor traffic violations in the past five years, it usually does not significantly affect your visa renewal or acquisition.
• However, if you repeatedly commit the same violation or if the violations are serious, the immigration officer may determine that you do not meet the “good conduct” requirement.
• If you have been subject to criminal penalties such as fines or imprisonment, these are treated as criminal records, and your application may be denied. For example, after a fine, you may need to wait five years to be considered as having “good conduct”; after imprisonment, ten years (or five years after the end of a suspended sentence).

Points to Note When Applying

• Always declare your traffic violation history honestly. False declarations can lead to more severe disadvantages.
• Even for minor violations, if you have repeated them in a short period, it is important to explain your efforts to prevent recurrence in your application.
• If you have serious violations or criminal penalties, consult a professional for advice on the timing of your application and additional documentation.

Example Case

Mr. A (male, 30s) holds an “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” visa and works at an IT company. In the past five years, he had two parking violations and one minor speeding violation. He declared all violations honestly at the time of renewal. As the violations were minor and he showed remorse, his renewal was approved.

On the other hand, Ms. B (female, 40s) received a criminal fine for drunk driving within the same period. In this case, she was judged not to meet the “good conduct” requirement, and her renewal was denied.

Summary

• For the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” visa, having three traffic violations does not usually cause major problems if they are minor. However, the content and frequency of violations can affect the outcome.
• Criminal penalties or serious violations are treated as criminal records and are strictly reviewed.
• Always declare your violation history honestly and consult a professional if necessary.