The Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa is the most common work visa for foreign professionals in Japan.
This visa allows foreign nationals to work in specialized professional roles that require academic knowledge, technical expertise, or international experience.
It is widely used by professionals in fields such as information technology, engineering, business, marketing, translation, and design.
Common job categories include:
• Software engineer
• System engineer
• Game developer
• Web designer
• Marketing specialist
• Business consultant
• Translator or interpreter
• Financial analyst
• International sales manager
The key requirement is that the job must require professional or specialized knowledge.
Applicants generally must satisfy one of the following conditions:
A bachelor's degree or higher in a field related to the job position.
Examples:
Computer science degree → software engineer job
Business degree → marketing or consulting job
If the applicant does not have a university degree, relevant professional experience may qualify.
In most cases, at least 10 years of experience is required.
This visa requires a sponsoring employer in Japan.
The employer must provide:
• employment contract
• job description
• company registration documents
• financial information
The immigration authorities will review whether the company is capable of employing a foreign professional.
The applicant must receive salary equal to or greater than a Japanese employee in a comparable role.
There is no fixed minimum salary defined in the law, but in practice salaries generally range from:
3 million to 10 million yen per year depending on experience and industry.
Typical documents include:
From the Applicant
• passport copy
• resume / CV
• university diploma
• academic transcript
• employment history documents
From the Employer
• employment contract
• company registration certificate
• company financial statements
• company brochure or website information
• explanation of job duties
Additional documents may be required depending on the case.
The application process generally follows these steps.
All required documents are collected and prepared for submission.
The employer or immigration specialist submits the application to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
Processing usually takes 1 to 3 months.
After the Certificate of Eligibility is issued, the applicant applies for a visa at
a Japanese embassy or consulate.
After arriving in Japan, the applicant receives a residence card and may begin working.
A.In most cases, the Engineer visa requires employment with a company in Japan.
Remote work for overseas companies alone usually does not qualify for this visa category.
A.Yes. However, the new job must also qualify under the same visa category.
Our office provides professional support for Engineer visa applications, including:
• eligibility assessment
• document preparation
• Certificate of Eligibility application
• communication with immigration authorities
If you are planning to work in Japan as a professional, we recommend scheduling a consultation.
Online consultations are available for overseas clients.