A visa can be said to resemble a letter of recommendation required for entry into Japan received in advance from a Japanese diplomatic mission abroad that certifies that the passport is a valid passport and that there are no impediments to allowing the passport holder to enter Japan within the scope of that visa. Whereas a status of residence is established when foreign nationals who wish to enter and reside in Japan receive landing permission upon arriving at their port of entry. In other words, the status of residence constitutes the grounds on which a foreign national is permitted to stay in Japan; it is a qualification enabling the foreign national to carry out the activities stipulated in the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and to reside in Japan for the purpose of carrying out those particular activities. The scope of activities in which a foreign national may engage during his/her stay in Japan is determined according to his/her status of residence. Except where a permit to engage in an activity other than that permitted by the status of residence is obtained, the foreign national must not, in principle, engage in any activities generating an income other than those permitted by his/her status of residence.