This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）
You first need to meet either the educational or the work-experience requirement. For education this means a university degree or higher; if you rely on experience instead, the guide figure is 10 years or more. On top of that, what is looked at is (1) that the work is specialised, (2) that the employer taking you on is properly set up, and (3) that you can communicate without difficulty at work.
An engineer with 5 years of experience, who has just received a job offer from a Japanese company.
Either one is fine. A university degree, or 10 years of practical experience.
A work visa requires either a university degree or 10 years of practical experience. This enquirer has 5 years of experience, so experience alone does not meet the requirement. If he has graduated from a university, he may be able to meet it that way instead.
The status of residence in question here is 在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services). This is what people usually mean by a "work visa" in Japan.
3 points: the nature of the work, the employer's situation, and being able to communicate without difficulty at work.
Once you meet the educational or work-experience requirement, the following 3 points are looked at.
Note that if you will be engaged in client-facing work that mainly uses language ability (interpreting, translation and the like), the amendment of 15 April 2026 (令和8年4月15日) made it a precondition that you have language ability equivalent to CEFR B2. Where the company you belong to falls under Category 3 or 4, supporting material must be submitted when you apply.
The application form and identity documents, plus proof of your education and experience and material from the employer.
Other documents may be needed depending on your circumstances. Screening for work visas is strict, so please consult us while you are still gathering documents.
Check whether you can meet the educational requirement instead. If you hold a university degree or higher, the number of years of experience is not asked. Graduates of a vocational school (senmonshi) may also be accepted, provided that what they studied is connected to the work they will do.
No. However, whether you can work without difficulty in communication is looked at during screening.
Roughly 1 to 3 months until the 在留資格認定証明書 (Certificate of Eligibility) is issued. It varies with the time of year and the contents of your documents.
It may be, provided that what you studied is connected to the work you will do.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.