This is Shimoyama from IMS.
The temperature has been dropping lately, and the chill of winter is upon us. Illuminations are lighting up the city trees and buildings, and the most exciting season of the year is nearing!
Soon it will Christmas, with Christmas trees, presents and reindeer, Santa Claus... Wait. Does Santa need a visa?
(Although a month early,) I would like to think a little about Santa's immigration needs.
Santa originally comes from Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark. His activities only occur on Christmas Eve, which is considered a short-term stay. However, since Denmark is a visa-exempt country, no special procedures are requires. It would be perfectly fine for Santa to arrive in Japan on Christmas Eve, deliver his presents to children, and then leave.
But what if he was rewarded or compensated for delivering gifts? Some countries do set out milk and cookies for him... In that case, he would need to get a visa in the appropriate category.
The first thing that comes to mind is the "Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services" visa, and the next, is that he's giving a "performance". So we should consider is delivering presents to children is "work that requires thinking or sensitivity based on foreign cultures," or if it's considered part of the "entertainment business".
Unfortunately, Santa would be unable to get a visa if his activities were considered "unskilled labor"...
Well, that's enough about that! 🙂 The best reward for Santa is, of course, the smiles and happiness of children. So do your best, Santa! (And don't get compensated!)
The Christmas tree in our office was decorated last weekend. Even though my childhood years are long gone, just seeing this tree makes me feel a little bit excited.
For more information, please contact us below ↓
https://imsvisa.support/en/contact/
