Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa Application Guide
Complete Guide to the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa
The “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” visa (often shortened to the “Gijinkoku” visa) is the most commonly used status of residence for foreign nationals working in Japan, covering professional roles such as IT engineers, accountants, legal staff, translators, and designers. This page covers eligibility, required documents, key screening points, and common reasons for denial.
Visa Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Status of Residence Name | Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services |
| Legal Basis | Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Appended Table I-2 |
| Period of Stay | 5 years / 3 years / 1 year / 3 months |
| Main Target Occupations | Engineers, SEs, accountants, legal staff, sales, translators, designers, etc. |
| Work Restrictions | Limited to activities matching the status of residence |
Covered Occupations and Duties
This visa covers three broad activity categories — “Engineer,” “Specialist in Humanities,” and “International Services” — each with its own target duties, described below. Note that purely manual labor (factory line work, basic reception, cleaning/security, etc.) is not eligible; whether the work is genuinely professional in nature is the core focus of screening.
“Engineer” Category Duties
Duties in the natural sciences requiring specialized knowledge or technical skill. Typical examples include roles held by graduates who majored in IT or STEM fields at university or vocational school.
Common Occupation Examples
- Systems Engineer (SE) / Programmer
- Web Engineer / App Development
- Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics Design Engineer
- Architecture / Civil Engineering Design (incl. CAD)
- AI Engineer / Data Scientist
- Network Engineer / Infrastructure Engineer
Screening Focus
The applicant’s university or vocational school major must have a clear connection to the job duties. For example, an information engineering major working as an engineer poses no issue, but a liberal arts graduate working as a programmer would need a detailed explanation of the connection in the application’s reason statement.
“Specialist in Humanities” Category Duties
Duties in fields such as law, economics, business administration, or sociology requiring relevant knowledge.
Common Occupation Examples
- Accounting / Finance / Tax staff
- HR / General Affairs / Legal staff
- Marketing / PR / Planning staff
- Sales (knowledge-based consultative sales)
- Import-Export / Trade staff
Screening Focus
The duties must genuinely require specialized knowledge acquired through education such as university study. If the role spans multiple categories (e.g. handling both translation and sales), a single unified application under this visa poses no issue.
“International Services” Category Duties
Duties requiring a way of thinking or sensibility rooted in a foreign culture — limited to roles that are difficult for Japanese nationals to fill, requiring foreign language ability or cross-cultural competence.
Common Occupation Examples
- Translation / Interpretation (in-house or external)
- Foreign language teacher (e.g. English conversation schools)
- Overseas sales / procurement using foreign languages
- Design / editorial work aimed at foreign audiences
- Inbound tourist reception / tour guiding
Screening Focus
The educational requirement for International Services differs slightly from “Engineer” and “Specialist in Humanities” — for roles such as translation, interpretation, or language teaching, even without a university degree, 3 years or more of relevant work experience is sufficient to apply.
Eligibility and Requirements
To apply for this visa, both the “applicant’s own requirements” and the “employment condition requirements” must be met. Each is explained below.
Educational Requirement
One of the following must be met:
| Education Type | Requirement Details |
|---|---|
| University graduate or above | Major must relate to the job duties (university may be located inside or outside Japan) |
| Graduate of a Japanese vocational school | Must hold a “Senmonshi” or “Koudo Senmonshi” title, with a major related to the duties |
| 10+ years of work experience | Can substitute for education if no degree is held (International Services category only requires 3+ years) |
Work Experience in Lieu of Education
If the educational requirement is not met, it can be substituted as follows:
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities Categories
10 years or more of relevant work experience (related research periods during university, graduate school, or technical college attendance may be combined). A certificate of employment and work history statement from previous employers must be prepared as supporting documents.
International Services Category
3 years or more of relevant experience in translation, interpretation, foreign language teaching, etc. If working as a language teacher and holding a university degree, the 3-year experience requirement is not necessary.
Salary Requirement
A foreign employee’s salary must not be lower than that of a Japanese employee performing equivalent work. Paying a lower salary on the basis of foreign nationality is one reason applications are denied.
Stability of the Employing Company
The employing company’s operational stability is also part of the screening. Immigration classifies companies into four categories, each requiring a different volume of supporting documents:
| Category | Company Type | Document Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Listed companies, certain government bodies, etc. | Minimal document requirements |
| Category 2 | Companies with total withholding tax of ¥10 million or more in the previous year, etc. | Some documents may be omitted |
| Category 3 | Companies that have filed a notification for establishing a salary-paying office (not falling under the above) | Standard documents such as financial statements required |
| Category 4 | Companies not falling under Categories 1–3 (including newly established companies) | Requires the most supplementary documents |
Required Documents Checklist
The required documents fall into two categories: “documents common to all applicants” and “additional documents by company category.”
Documents Common to the Applicant
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Application for Certificate of Eligibility (new application) or Application for Change of Status of Residence (change within Japan) | Form specified by Immigration |
| Photo (4cm × 3cm, taken within the past 3 months) | White background, clear frontal view |
| Copy of passport / Residence Card | Required for change-of-status applications |
| Final degree diploma or graduation certificate | Documents from overseas universities must include Japanese translation |
| Work history statement | If substituting work experience for education, a certificate of employment is also required |
Additional Documents for Category 3/4 (General Companies)
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Copy of employment contract or offer letter | Must state salary, job type, and job duties |
| Reason statement (from both company and applicant) | Explains job duties and relevance to education |
| Certificate of company registration (issued within 3 months) | Obtained from the Legal Affairs Bureau |
| Company profile / business overview | May be a company brochure or website screenshot |
| Financial statements for the most recent 3 fiscal periods (income statement / balance sheet) | Sole proprietors should submit a tax return |
| Tax assessment / tax payment certificate | Must be for the most recent fiscal year |
| Certificate of social insurance enrollment (health insurance / employee pension) | Confirms the company is properly enrolled as required by law |
Additional Documents for International Services (Translation, Interpretation, Language Teacher, etc.)
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Home country educational certificate (confirming degree obtained) | Must include Japanese translation |
| Certificate of employment showing 3+ years of relevant experience | Waived for language teachers with a university degree |
| Detailed job duties statement | Explains which translation/interpretation duties will be handled |
Application Process
The application process differs depending on whether it is a “new application from overseas” or a “change of status/renewal within Japan.” Each is explained below.
New Application From Overseas (Filed on Behalf of the Applicant by the Company)
Confirm Offer / Prepare Documents
Once the employing company confirms the job offer, they collect the applicant’s (foreign talent’s) documents and prepare the full application document set.
Submit the Application for Certificate of Eligibility
The company (or an agent) submits the application to Japan’s Immigration Services Agency. An administrative scrivener may submit it as an agent.
Review and Wait for Results (Standard processing time: 1–3 months)
Immigration reviews the documents; additional materials may be requested during this period and should be responded to promptly.
Obtain and Mail the Certificate of Eligibility Overseas
Once the certificate is issued, the company mails it to the applicant.
Apply for the Visa at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate Abroad
The applicant applies for visa issuance at their local Japanese embassy or consulate, using the certificate of eligibility.
Enter Japan, Receive the Residence Card, and Begin Work
Upon entry, the applicant receives a Residence Card and may begin work within the scope of the status of residence.
Change of Status / Renewal Within Japan
Gather Documents and Prepare the Application
It is recommended to begin preparation 3 months before the current period of stay expires. Applying after the deadline risks overstay.
Submit the Application to the Relevant Immigration Office
Submit to the regional Immigration Services Agency office or branch office with jurisdiction over your place of residence.
Review Period (Standard processing time: 2 weeks to 2 months)
After the application is accepted, a postcard notification will be sent when the result is ready for collection. You may continue residing in Japan during this period.
Approval Notification and Collecting the New Residence Card
Upon approval, visit Immigration to collect the new Residence Card, and confirm that the period of stay and status of residence are recorded correctly.
Common Reasons for Denial and Countermeasures
There are several common patterns behind denied applications for this visa. Understanding them in advance can significantly reduce risk.
Reason 1: Failure to Explain the Connection Between Major and Job Duties
The connection between education and job duties is a core screening element. For example, a “liberal arts graduate working as a web designer” would need the reason statement to explain in detail how the knowledge gained applies to the role. Supplementary materials such as course syllabi, qualifications obtained, or training completed can help demonstrate this connection.
Reason 2: Unstable Business Operations at the Employing Company
Recently established companies, those with ongoing losses, or very small companies face relatively stricter screening. In addition to the latest financial statements, submitting supplementary materials such as contracts with business partners, a business plan, or funding status can improve the chance of approval.
Reason 3: Salary Level Too Low or Below That of Japanese Employees
Salary must meet or exceed the minimum wage and must not be lower than that of Japanese employees in equivalent roles. Salary reasonableness can be demonstrated through the employment contract and industry salary benchmark data.
Reason 4: Issues in Past Residence History
Working beyond permitted hours as a student (over 28 hours/week), applying only after the period of stay has expired, or a record of illegal employment will all be scrutinized closely during screening. Even with a past issue on record, approval is still possible if the reason statement clearly demonstrates current compliance and a reflection on the past issue.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I keep using this visa after changing jobs?
If the new role still falls within the same status of residence, a change of status is not required. However, within 14 days of changing jobs, you must submit a “Notification Regarding Contracting Organization” to your nearest Immigration office. If you move to a completely different industry or occupation, a change of status may sometimes be required — it is advisable to confirm in advance.
Can vocational school graduates apply?
Graduates of a Japanese vocational school who hold a “Senmonshi” or “Koudo Senmonshi” title can apply, but the connection between their major and the job duties is essential. For graduates of overseas vocational schools, it should first be confirmed whether the qualification is recognized as equivalent to a university degree.
Can I apply once I’ve received a job offer?
Yes. You can submit the Application for Certificate of Eligibility once you have received a job offer. The offer letter or employment contract must be submitted with the application, but the offer must already be confirmed at the time of application.
Can my family come to Japan with me?
A spouse and minor children may accompany you under “Dependent” status. As a general rule, “Dependent” status does not permit work, but after obtaining permission to engage in activity other than that permitted, part-time work of up to 28 hours per week is allowed. Note the strict 28-hour weekly cap — exceeding it constitutes a violation that may affect future renewals and Permanent Residency applications.
How should I respond if additional documents are requested after applying?
Immigration sometimes requests supplementary documents during screening via an “additional document request” notice. Once received, you must respond promptly within the specified deadline — delays may affect the review outcome. Having an administrative scrivener handle the application allows for a fast, professional response to any such requests.
Consult an Administrative Scrivener (Gyoseishoshi)
Applying for this visa — from confirming eligibility, to gathering documents, to preparing the application — requires specialized knowledge. Consulting an administrative scrivener is especially recommended in the following situations, to improve your chance of approval:
Situations Where Consultation Is Recommended
- A startup (newly established company) wishing to hire foreign talent
- Your major does not directly match the job duties, making the connection hard to explain
- A past record of a status of residence violation or denial
- Applying under the International Services category requiring proof of work experience
- Wishing to outsource document preparation, translation, and Immigration liaison all at once
Our Firm’s Scope of Service
- Feasibility assessment (evaluating likelihood of approval)
- Confirmation and checklist of required documents
- Preparation of application forms and the reason statement
- Filing the application with Immigration as your agent
- Handling additional document requests and progress tracking
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