Requirements for the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" work visa and points to learn from denial cases
- Ippo Visa Support
- Jun 7, 2024
- 7 min read
We often receive inquiries such as, "I want to obtain a work visa to work in Japan," or "I want to hire a foreigner, but can I obtain a work visa for my company's work?"
Many people may be wondering, "What exactly is a work visa?"
A work visa is the common name for a status of residence for the purpose of working in Japan. There are 19 types of work visas, including medical (doctor, nurse, etc.) and professor (university professor). This article will explain the most representative type, "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services." "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visas cover a wide range of activities and occupations, and are likely to fall under the category of "office work," making them widely obtained by foreigners.
What are the activity requirements for an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa?
Activities are specified in Appendix 1-2 of the Immigration Control Act.
Activities performed under a contract with a public or private institution in Japan that require skills or knowledge in the fields of science, engineering, or other natural sciences, or in the fields of law, economics, sociology, or other humanities, or that require thinking or sensibilities based on a foreign culture (excluding activities listed in the "Professor," "Artist," and "Journalist" columns of Table 1, as well as activities listed in the "Business Manager" through "Education" columns, the "Intra-Company Transferee," and the "Entertainer" columns of this table).
Appendix 1-2 of the Immigration Control Act
*Quoted from Appendix 1-2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (original text here)
While this may seem confusing, it is divided into three categories:
① Work requiring skills or knowledge in the field of natural sciences
- Occupations primarily related to science-based subjects such as engineering, science, agriculture, and pharmacy
- Specifically, examples include engineering, mechanical engineering, game development, and architectural design
- Engaging in technology development work under a contract with a company engaged in the manufacture of electronic products. (Graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at a Japanese university)
② Work requiring skills or knowledge in the humanities field
- Occupations primarily related to liberal arts subjects (including social sciences), excluding arts
- Specifically, accounting, human resources, general affairs, sales, consulting, etc.
- Engaged in legal assistant work under contract with a law firm. (Graduated from a Japanese university's law school)
3. Work requiring a mindset or sensitivity based on a foreign culture.
Specific examples include interpreting/translating, trade work, language school teaching, and design.
Interpreting/translating for transactions with the home country based on a contract with an import/sales company for general merchandise. (Graduated from a business school in the home country.)
At your employing company, you must perform work that falls under one of the categories ①, ②, or ③ mentioned above.
In addition, it is required that your work complies with the standards prescribed by the Ministry of Justice, taking into account the impact on national industry and public life, among other factors (referred to as Compliance with the Landing Standards Ordinance).
What is the Landing Standards Ordinance?
The Landing Standards Ordinance can be classified as follows:
Technical Category
Humanities/Knowledge Category
You must meet either ① or ② below:
① Educational Requirement
You have graduated from a university specializing in a subject related to the relevant technology or knowledge, or received an equivalent or higher level of education.
Alternatively, you have completed a specialized course at a Japanese vocational school in the relevant field and obtained a Professional or Advanced Professional title.
② Practical Experience Requirement
You have at least 10 years of practical experience in the relevant work.
International Services Category
You must meet both ① and ② below:
① Work Content Requirement
You engage in work such as translation, interpretation, language instruction, public relations, advertising, overseas business, fashion or interior design, product development, or similar activities.
② Practical Experience Requirement
You have at least 3 years of practical experience in work related to the intended duties.
Note: University graduates engaged in translation, interpretation, or language instruction are exempt from the practical experience requirement.
Key Points and Examples of Denial for Technical / Humanities / International Services Visa
Based on the above activity requirements and the Landing Standards Ordinance, here are three key points with examples of denied cases:
① The intended work must fall under one of the three categories (Qualification Appropriateness)
To qualify as “work requiring specialized technical knowledge,” simple factory tasks such as packing or assembly line work, repetitive tasks that can be performed without qualifications, or work that does not require academic or practical experience do not meet the criteria.
Examples of Visa Denial for Technical / Humanities / International Services Visa
Employment in a Bento Production Company
An applicant who graduated from the Faculty of Education applied to work as an on-site staff member under a contract with a company engaged in the production and sale of bento (boxed meals), performing tasks such as packing bento in a factory.
This work was not recognized as requiring knowledge in the field of humanities, and therefore did not meet the criteria for the Technical / Humanities / International Services visa, resulting in denial.
Since the work requires academic-level technical or specialized knowledge, tasks such as packing in a bento factory are considered simple, non-specialized work.
Accounting and Labor Management in a Restaurant Business
An applicant who graduated from the Department of Information Systems Engineering applied under a contract with a restaurant management company, receiving a monthly salary of ¥250,000, to perform computer-based accounting (sales, purchases, expenses), labor management, and customer management (reservation handling).
The reviewing authorities determined that the workload for accounting and labor management was insufficient for a company with only 12 employees, and the customer management tasks (taking reservations by phone and recording them in ledgers) did not require technical or specialized knowledge in natural or humanities sciences.
Consequently, the application was denied, as the duties did not meet the requirements of the Technical / Humanities / International Services visa.
Tasks such as telephone reservations or ledger entries are not considered to require specialized academic knowledge, and the overall workload is insufficient for specialized technical work.
Front Desk Staff at a Hotel (Including Training Duties)
An applicant was hired as front desk staff responsible for reservations and interpretation services. The initial plan included a one-year training period involving restaurant service and room cleaning duties.
However, it was found that previous foreign employees under similar training conditions had continued performing non-qualifying tasks (restaurant service, room cleaning) beyond the planned training period. As a result, the visa application was denied.
Guideline: If a certain period of practical training is established at the beginning of employment, activities performed during this training—though not qualifying as Technical / Humanities / International Services—may be considered acceptable if similar training is also provided to Japanese graduates, and the activities do not constitute the majority of the residence period.
However, if training activities extend significantly beyond the planned period, and the applicant continues performing non-qualifying tasks, the activities cannot be recognized, and the application will be denied.
Requirement ②: Academic Background and Practical Experience
To engage in work that requires specialized technical or academic knowledge, it is necessary to have acquired relevant knowledge through university or vocational school studies.
If the subjects studied in university or vocational school are not related to the intended work, the applicant is deemed not to meet the required educational qualifications, which can lead to visa denial.
Example of Visa Denial Based on Educational Background and Job Relevance
An applicant who graduated from a vocational school in voice acting applied under a contract with a Japanese hotel frequently visited by foreign guests, intending to work as lobby staff performing translation and interpretation duties.
The application was denied because the subjects studied in the vocational program were not sufficiently related to the intended work.
Key Point: Vocational schools (senmon gakkō) require a higher degree of relevance between the applicant’s major and the intended work compared to universities. This is due to the following reasons:
Purpose of Vocational Schools:
Vocational schools are designed to cultivate skills necessary for a profession or daily life and to improve general knowledge. Therefore, there must be a significant relationship between the major studied at the vocational school and the work to be performed.
Purpose of Universities:
Universities are academic institutions that aim to provide broad knowledge, cultivate specialized academic expertise, and develop intellectual, moral, and applied abilities. They conduct education and research to contribute to societal development (School Education Act, Articles 83(1) and 83(2)).
Given this broader educational purpose, universities are evaluated more flexibly regarding the relevance of a student’s major to the work they intend to perform.
Requirement ③: Compensation Comparable to Japanese Employees
The applicant must receive compensation equal to or higher than what a Japanese employee would earn for the same position.
Specifically, the salary must be comparable to that offered to newly hired or mid-career Japanese staff.
Example of Visa Denial Due to Insufficient Compensation
An applicant who graduated from the Faculty of Engineering applied under a contract with a company providing computer-related services to work as an engineer, receiving a monthly salary of ¥135,000.
It was discovered that newly hired Japanese employees performing the same work received ¥180,000 per month, meaning the applicant’s compensation did not meet the requirement of being equal to or higher than that of Japanese employees, resulting in visa denial.
The Landing Permission Standards Ordinance specifies that applicants must receive compensation at least equal to that of Japanese employees performing the same work.
Key Points to Keep in Mind for Technical / Humanities / International Services Visa
The Technical / Humanities / International Services visa can be obtained if all requirements are properly met.
However, some applicants attempt to acquire the visa fraudulently, such as:
Submitting false job descriptions to immigration authorities, or
Paying large sums to brokers to obtain the visa.
Even if the visa is initially granted through such methods, penalties may apply later.
Obtaining the visa is not the goal but the start. What matters is the ability to renew it and work safely and legally in Japan.
If a work visa is obtained through false or fraudulent means, penalties include:
Up to three years imprisonment or fines up to ¥3,000,000, or a combination thereof (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 70(1)2-2).
To protect yourself and your family, and to ensure stable and safe employment, it is essential to fully understand what is permitted and prohibited under the Technical / Humanities / International Services visa before applying.
If you are considering a work visa or are uncertain whether you meet the requirements, please contact our office for professional guidance.
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