Work-Related Visas in Japan: No More Confusion!
Japan’s work-related visa system can feel like a labyrinth—I’ll admit, even we took a while to figure it out. But don’t worry—I’m here to break it down into manageable pieces with guidance for each visa to help you navigate the process. For a quick reference, grab our Free Work-Related Visa List from the Freebie Shelf !
In this guide:
1. Table 1: Work-Related Visas (No Points System)
2. Table 2: Visas with Work Qualifications with Landing Criteria
3. Start-Up Visa: Launching Your Business in Japan
4. Designated Activities: A Non-Work Visa with Work Options
5. Typical Pitfalls to Avoid
Let’s dive in. (Visa name in blue)
1. Table 1: Work-Related Visas (No Points System)
Table 1 includes six visas that don’t use a points-based system, typically for diplomatic, academic, or cultural roles. Here’s the breakdown with guidance for each:
Diplomatic
This visa is for official diplomatic roles recognized by the Japanese government such as ambassadors, ministers, consuls general, delegation members, and their families.Official
Embassy/consulate staff or individuals dispatched by international organizations, plus their families (excluding diplomatic activities).Requires proof of official duties.Professor
University professors, assistant professors, or researchers at academic institutions. You’ll need a contract with a university or equivalent institution. Highlight your academic credentials (e.g., PhD, publications) to strengthen your application.Artist
Composers, painters, or authors engaged in income-generating artistic activities (excluding entertainment). Provide evidence of your work (e.g., a portfolio, exhibition history). A contract with a Japanese entity (e.g., gallery, publisher) is key.Religious Activities
Missionaries dispatched by foreign religious organizations. Requires a dispatch letter from your religious organization and a host in Japan (e.g., a temple).Journalist
Journalists or photographers working for foreign media organizations. You’ll need a contract with a foreign media outlet and proof of journalistic work (e.g., published articles).
2. Table 2: Visas with Work Qualifications with Landing Criteria
Table 2 visas require applicants to meet specific criteria set by the Ministry of Justice, such as education, salary, or work history (moj.go.jp). Many use a points-based system—details in the MOJ PDF . Let’s break them down:
Highly Skilled Professional (Type 1 and Type 2)
Who It’s For: Top-tier professionals in three areas:
Advanced Academic Research Activities: Researchers or professors (e.g., at Tokyo University). Requires a Master’s degree or 10 years of experience, plus ¥20M+ annual income.
Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities: Engineers or specialists (e.g., robotics experts). Same requirements as above.
Advanced Business Management Activities: Executives or entrepreneurs (e.g., green energy startups). Needs 5+ years of high-level management experience and ¥40M+ annual income.
*Type 2: For those who’ve excelled in Type 1 activities and meet MOJ criteria as beneficial to Japan (e.g., long-term contributions).
Guidance:
Application Tips: Use the points calculator/Immigration service provider to ensure you score 70+ points for Type 1 (based on education, salary, etc.). Highlight achievements like patents or revenue growth.
Path to permanent residency (PR): Type 1 - fast-tracks to PR in 1–3 years.
Pitfall: Complex criteria—consult pros to avoid rejection.
Highly Skilled Foreign Professional (Dependent)
Who It’s For: Spouses or children of Highly Skilled Professionals.
Guidance:
Application Tips: Apply alongside the main applicant. Dependents can work part-time (up to 28 hours/week) with permission.
Pitfall: Overworking can lead to visa issues—stick to the 28-hour limit. Else you need other Visa.
Special Highly Skilled Professional (J-SKIP)
Who It’s For: Top professionals with advanced degrees (Master’s, PhD) or high salaries (¥20M+ annually). Introduced in April 2023.
Guidance:
Application Tips: Highlight your degree and income. J-SKIP offers faster permanent residency (1 year) and relaxed points requirements.
Job Opportunities: Suits senior professionals in tech or academia.
Pitfall: High income thresholds
Other Working Visas
This category includes several common work visas, with Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa being the most popular (89% of foreign workers).
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Who It’s For: Professionals in tech (e.g., IT engineers), humanities (e.g., marketing), or international roles (e.g., interpreters).
Eligibility:Degree or 3+ years of experience (10 years for some roles).
Vocational school grads need a clear link between major and job; university grads have more flexibility.
Stable company financials, salary matching Japanese standards, necessity of employment, appropriate workload
Applicant’s good conduct, no criminal record or overstays
Guidance:
Application Tips: Prepare a Certificate of Eligibility via immigration service provider. About 90% of student visa holders transition to this visa.
Freelancers or self-employed individuals can apply for this visa; however, the difficulty level is higher compared to obtaining it through employment with a company.
Pitfall: Japanese language schools don’t count as academic qualifications
Business Manager
Who It’s For: Corporate executives or managers (e.g., company presidents).
Guidance: With Business Manager VISA, you can establish a start-up and it requires ¥5M in capital and abusiness plan.
Intra-Company Transferee
Who It’s For: Employees transferred from a foreign office to a Japanese branch.
Guidance: Your company must provide transfer documentation, such as a formal transfer letter or contract, to confirm your assignment to the Japanese branch. Be sure to review your company’s global mobility policy to understand what support is offered—such as housing allowances, moving expenses, or tax assistance—and clarify any language barriers if the policy isn’t in English.
Pitfall: Fixed-term transfers only—ensure your contract specifies the duration.
Skilled Labor
Who It’s For: Specialists with unique skills (e.g., foreign cuisine chefs, pilots, sports trainers).
Guidance: Prove expertise with certifications or experience. Chefs should highlight unique cuisines not widely available in Japan.Specified Skilled Worker (Type 1 and Type 2)
Who It’s For: Foreign nationals in 14 industries facing shortages (e.g., healthcare, construction). Type 1 requires considerable knowledge/experience; Type 2 requires advanced skills.
Guidance:
Application Tips: No degree needed, but you must pass skills and Japanese language tests (N4 level- The level at which one can understand basic daily Japanese and communicate effectively).
Job Opportunities: With Japan facing a workforce shortage due to an aging population—particularly in 14 industries like healthcare, restaurant, construction —the number of applicants for this visa is steadily rising, especially in rural areas like Shimane (Relatively earthquake free area) where demand is high.
Pitfall: Ensure your contract meets Immigration Act standards—non-compliance can lead to rejection.
Technical Intern Training (Type 1, 2, 3)
Who It’s For: Trainees learning skills (e.g., manufacturing, agriculture).
Guidance:
Application Tips: Requires a certified training plan. A stepping stone to Specified Skilled Worker visas.
Note: This program will be replaced by a ”Training and Employment System" (育成就労制度, Ikusei Shūrō Seido)by 2027, allowing job switching (as of April 22, 2025, exact date TBD).
Pitfall: Limited to specific industries—verify alignment.
3. Start-Up Visa: Launching Your Business in Japan
Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs in tech, healthcare, or arts, supported by municipalities.
Eligibility: Requires a business plan and approval from an approved municipality (e.g., Fukuoka).
Guidance:
Application Tips: Partner with a city like Fukuoka, known for startup support. You’ll need ¥5M in capital. Use templates on meti.go.jp for your business plan.
Job Opportunities: Fukuoka’s startup ecosystem is thriving—perfect for tech ventures.
Pitfall: Requires local government approval—start early and network with incubators.
4. Designated Activities: A Non-Work Visa with Work Options
The Designated Activities visa, while non-work, allows specific work activities. It’s a catch-all for unique situations, with the Minister of Justice designating activities for individuals. There are two types: Notified (告示特活) and Non-Notified (告示外特活). Here’s the full list and guidance:
Full List of Designated Activities
No. 1: Domestic Workers (Diplomatic/Official)
No. 2: Domestic Workers (Highly Skilled Professional/Business Manager)
No. 3: Taiwan-Japan Relations Association Staff and Families
No. 4: Palestinian General Delegation Staff and Families
No. 5: Working Holiday
No. 6: Amateur Sports Athletes
No. 7: Families of Amateur Sports Athletes
No. 8: International Arbitration Agents
No. 9: Internship (Work)
No. 10: British Volunteers
No. 11: Removed
No.12: Summer Job
No.14: Removed
No. 15: International Cultural Exchange
No. 16–31（Except 25 and 26）: EPA Candidates and Families (Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam)
No.25: Medical Stay
No.26: Accompanies person with No.25
No. 32: Foreign Construction Workers (Applications Closed)
No. 33: Working Spouses of Highly Skilled Professionals
No. 34: Parents of Highly Skilled Professionals or Their Spouses
No. 35: Foreign Shipbuilding Workers
No. 36: Specific Research Activities
No. 37: Specific Information Processing Activities
No. 38: Families of Specific Research/Information Processing Workers
No. 39: Parents of Specific Research/Information Processing Workers or Their Spouses
No. 40: Long-Term Tourists for Sightseeing/Recreation
No. 41: Spouses Accompanying Long-Term Tourists
No. 42: Foreign Employees in Manufacturing
No. 43: Nikkei 4th Generation
No. 44: Entrepreneurs with Approved Support Plans
No. 45: Spouses or Children of No. 44 Entrepreneurs
No. 46: Japanese University Graduates in Wide-Ranging Roles Requiring Japanese Fluency
No. 47: Spouses or Children of No. 46 Graduates
No. 48: Tokyo Olympics/Paralympics Personnel
No. 49: Spouses or Children of No. 48 Personnel
No. 50: Ski Instructors
No. 51: Future Creation Individuals (J-FIND)
No. 52: Spouses or Children of No. 51 Individuals
No. 53: Digital Nomads
No. 54: Spouses or Children of No. 53 Nomads
Guidance for Key Categories
Working Holiday (No. 5):
Eligibility: Ages 18–30, no dependents, sufficient funds (¥200,000+ recommended).
Guidance: Apply through your country’s embassy. Great for exploring Japan while working part-time.Internship (No. 9):
Eligibility: University students earning credits—requires an internship agreement.
Guidance: Ensure a formal contract between your university and Japanese hostJapanese University Graduates (No. 46):
Eligibility: Graduates with high Japanese fluency (N1/N2) working in diverse roles. (including universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, colleges of technology, and certain vocational schools)
Guidance: Added in 2019—ideal for grads who don’t fit traditional Engineer/Specialist roles.Digital Nomad (No. 53):
Eligibility: Remote workers earning ¥10M+ annually (introduced 2024 !).
Guidance: Provide income proof. Perfect for tech professionals working remotely in Japan.Future Creation Individual (J-FIND, No. 51):
Eligibility: Top university grads (top 100 globally), within 5 years of graduation, ¥200,000 for living expenses.
Guidance: Introduced in 2023. Allows 2 years for job hunting or startup prep—great for new grads.Non-Notified Activities:
Job Hunting: For students continuing job searches post-graduation (6 months, renewable once).
Awaiting Employment: For those with a job offer but delayed start dates.
*General Guidance: Policies can change with social trends.
5. Typical Pitfalls to Avoid
Mismatched Education and Job: Vocational school grads need a clear link between their major and job—rejections are common if they don’t align.
Job Changes: A person currently working as an English teacher at a school on an education visa will need to change their visa if they switch jobs to be a private English conversation school teacher.
Self-Applications: DIY visa changes often fail due to missing documents or misunderstandings of requirements. Consult immigration service providers to avoid rejection—while it comes with a cost, it can save significant time and money in the long run by ensuring a smoother process.
HR Tip: Companies issue offer letters or contracts before visa applications. Some firms, especially foreign ones, conduct background checks first. Applications can run parallel to checks, but contracts often include clauses like: “Your employment is subject to successfully completing a background check and obtaining an appropriate visa. If the visa application is rejected, the company is not responsible for the results.” Read contracts carefully.
Language Barriers: Only 30% of government websites offer English. (Basic Japanese (N3+) helps.
6. Wrap-Up:
The visa application process can be very time-consuming, often taking at least three months from start to finish. In my HR experience, I’ve seen 2 applications rejected despite hiring an immigration attorney—one due to perceived risks associated with the applicant’s home country, and the other because their overseas experience wasn’t recognized as relevant to activities in Japan.
Recent news indicates that some immigration brokers promise Start-Up visas with fewer requirements, but be cautious of such brokers—they may lead to scams or non-compliance with Immigration Services Agency standards. Always verify through official channels to ensure legitimacy.
Japan’s work visas may seem daunting, but with the right preparation, you can unlock a world of opportunities.
Check out Free Work-Related Visa List on the Freebie Shelf for a handy reference. You’ve got this! Good luck.