Status of Residence for a Professional Golfer’s Dedicated Caddie
- We have signed a management contract with a professional golfer who will compete on the Japan tour. We would also like the caddie to work in Japan alongside the player. Would this fall under the “Entertainer (Kogyo)” category?
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To obtain the Entertainer (Kogyo) Visa, the activities must fall within the scope below.
1. “Activities related to entertainment such as theater, variety performance, music, dance, sports, etc. in an entertainment format” include performing in theater, variety shows, music/dance, concerts, sports, circuses, and other shows staged for the public, as well as non-performing but important entertainment activities essential to staging such shows, and activities by assistants who are indispensable for performers to conduct the entertainment.
a. “Entertainment (Kogyo)” means showing or playing theater, variety performance, music, dance, sports, circus, or other shows to the public at a specific venue; appearances by singers at bars, cabarets, and clubs are included.
b. “Non-performing but important entertainment activities” refers to key roles such as choreographers and directors who do not appear on stage but independently conduct essential entertainment-related work; these also fall under the Entertainer Visa.
C. “Activities as indispensable assistants for performers to conduct entertainment” include, for example, managers, theatrical lighting staff, circus animal handlers, and trainers for athletes.
d. Even if the activity is artistic (e.g., musical performance), when it is carried out in an entertainment format for the public, it is treated as Entertainer (not Artist) for visa purposes. For instance, an orchestra that gives public performances falls under Entertainer.
In this case, if the caddie’s role is recognized as “inseparably connected with the entertainment,” the Entertainer status may apply. The key elements are “necessity” and “integration.” If the caddie not only carries the bag and passes clubs, but also provides technical and mental advice and performs manager-type functions, immigration authorities tend to view the caddie as necessary—i.e., without this person the Entertainer activity would be difficult to execute and not readily substitutable.
Furthermore, where the caddie performs duties ordinarily expected of a dedicated (exclusive) caddie, “integration” with the performer’s activity is also likely to be recognized.
Accordingly, if the above conditions are met, we recommend applying under the Entertainer (Kogyo) category together with the professional golfer.
Entertainer Visa Q&A Index
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Entertainer Visa vs. Designated Activities Visa
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Remuneration structures under the Entertainer visa
Relaxation of Entertainer Visa criteria: changes to “Entertainer” 1–4 effective August 1, 2023
Related Service Page:
Entertainer (Kogyo) Visa Application
This status of residence is required when foreign models, singers, actors, actresses, dancers, artists, and professional athletes carry out concerts, events, and other entertainment activities in Japan.
Since 1986, ACROSEED has specialized in immigration and visa services for foreign employees in Japan. For nearly 40 years, we have advised corporate HR teams on compliance, procedures, and workforce planning.
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