Engineer/Specialist visa in Japan: who qualifies?

Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (技術・人文知識・国際業務) covers skilled office and technical jobs. Who qualifies and what the office checks.

Reviewed on 2026-10-26

What work does the status cover?

The Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status (技術・人文知識・国際業務) covers work under a contract with a Japanese public or private organization that needs knowledge or skills in natural sciences or humanities, or that needs thinking or sensitivity rooted in a foreign culture.

The contract may be employment, mandate, outsourcing or commission, but it must be a continuing arrangement with specific organizations. The status does not allow work that is mainly general service or factory work; the agency says such jobs are not accepted as the main activity.

Graduates of Japanese universities with high Japanese ability can instead be admitted under Designated Activities (Notice No. 46), which allows a broader range of work than this status.

What education or experience is required?

For natural-science or humanities work, an applicant can qualify by graduating from a university (or equivalent education) in a subject related to the technology or knowledge the job needs. Completing a specialized or advanced course (専攻科) at a Japanese vocational school in a related subject also qualifies, if the completion meets conditions set by a Minister of Justice notice.

A third route is 10 or more years of practical experience, which may include time spent studying a related subject at a university, college of technology, high school or vocational school. The agency treats a graduate of a Japanese junior college as having graduated from a university.

Experience gained only as a technical intern or Specified Skilled Worker is not counted as practical experience. IT applicants who passed a designated information-processing exam or hold a designated qualification are exempt from the degree or experience requirement.

What counts as international work, and what pay is expected?

Work that needs thinking or sensitivity based on a foreign culture is limited to jobs such as translation, interpreting, language teaching, public relations, advertising, overseas trade, fashion or interior design, and product development, or similar work. Being a foreigner alone is not enough.

International-type work also requires 3 or more years of related practical experience, except that a university graduate doing translation, interpreting or language instruction does not need that experience. The 3 years need not be in the same job as the new duty, but must be in related work.

The pay standard is that the applicant receives pay equal to or higher than what a Japanese national would receive for the same work. Expense-reimbursement allowances such as commuting, family and housing allowances are excluded from this test unless they are taxable.

Which jobs and training are not accepted?

The guideline says jobs advertised as open to inexperienced people, and work usually done by Japanese staff who lack the required degree or experience, do not qualify.

Initial on-the-job training in duties outside the status, such as shop floor or factory line work, is allowed if Japanese graduate employees do the same training and it does not take up most of the whole expected stay, counted across permits. No percentage cap on such duties is set.

If practical training runs longer than 1 year from hiring, the agency asks for a training plan and reviews whether the training period is reasonable. When a training period is planned, it in principle grants a 1-year period of stay at the first decision to check the move to qualifying work.

Employer categories and documents

The agency sorts employers into Categories 1 to 4. Category 1 covers listed companies, government bodies, independent administrative agencies and similar organizations. Category 2 includes organizations whose withholding tax on salaries in last year's report was 10,000,000 yen or more. Category 3 filed that report but is not in Category 2, and Category 4 is any other organization or individual.

For a certificate of eligibility application, Category 1 and 2 employers normally need only the common application items plus proof of their category, because other documents are in principle not required. Category 3 and 4 employers also submit a company registry certificate, a business description, the latest financial statements, a document on the work and pay, and the applicant's history and education evidence.

Language rules, period of stay and timing

From applications filed on 2026-04-15, Category 3 and 4 employers must add extra documents, including a declaration about the organization's representative. For jobs that mainly use language with people, such as translation, interpreting or hotel front desk work, language ability of about CEFR B2 is expected.

For Japanese, JLPT N2 or higher, BJT 400 points or more, or 200 points or more on the EJU Japanese section is accepted as B2-equivalent, alongside other accepted routes. The period of stay for this status is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months.

The standard processing time for an extension is 2 weeks to 1 month. Holders must notify the agency within 14 days when the contracting organization ends the contract or changes its name or address, or when a new contract is signed.

Official source

Rulebook entries on this topic

What it is

The Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status covers work under a contract with a Japanese public or private organization that needs knowledge or skills in natural sciences or humanities, or that needs thinking or sensitivity rooted in a foreign culture.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一別表第一の二の表技術・人文知識・国際業務の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Intra-company Transferee status is for a staff member of an overseas office of an organization that has a head office, branch or other office in Japan, transferred to the Japan office for a fixed period to carry out the same work as the Engineer/Specialist status.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一別表第一の二の表企業内転勤の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Skilled Labor status covers work under a contract with a Japanese organization that requires skilled techniques in a specialized industrial field.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一別表第一の二の表技能の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Professor status covers research, guidance of research, or teaching at a Japanese university or equivalent institution, or at a college of technology.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一別表第一の一の表教授の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Researcher status covers research work under a contract with a Japanese public or private organization, other than the research and teaching activity that belongs to Professor status.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一別表第一の二の表研究の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Instructor status covers language teaching and other instruction at Japanese elementary, junior high, compulsory-education, high, secondary-education and special-needs schools, vocational schools, miscellaneous schools, or equivalent institutions.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一別表第一の二の表教育の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Medical Services status covers work as a doctor, dentist or another professional whose practice legally requires a qualification.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一別表第一の二の表医療の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Nursing Care status covers care work or care instruction performed by a certified care worker (kaigo fukushishi) under a contract with a Japanese organization.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一別表第一の二の表介護の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Show 31 more

Entertainer status covers performing-arts, music, sports and similar entertainment events and other show-business activity, apart from management activity that belongs to the Business Manager status.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一別表第一の二の表興行の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Religious Activities status covers missionary and other religious work done by a member of the clergy dispatched to Japan by a foreign religious organization.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一別表第一の一の表宗教の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Legal/Accounting Services status covers legal or accounting work that only people holding a qualification, such as a registered foreign lawyer or foreign certified public accountant, may lawfully perform.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一別表第一の二の表法律・会計業務の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
For this pay test, "remuneration" excludes expense-reimbursement allowances such as commuting, family and housing allowances, unless they are taxable.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（出入国在留管理庁）２（３）報酬 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Graduates of Japanese universities with high Japanese ability can instead be admitted under Designated Activities (Notice No. 46), which allows a broader range of work than the Engineer/Specialist status.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ３８・Ｑ３９ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Category 2 organizations include those whose withholding tax on salaries stated in the prior-year statutory report was 10 million yen or more.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）申請書類カテゴリー · Checked on 2026-10-23
Category 4 is any organization or individual that does not fall into categories 1 to 3.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１１ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Category 1 employers are listed companies, mutual insurance companies, Japanese or foreign national and local governments, independent administrative agencies, special and authorised corporations, public-interest corporations authorised by government, public corporations under the Corporation Tax Act, innovation-creating firms and firms meeting set conditions.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１１ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Category 3 is an organisation or individual for whom a prior-year statutory payment summary of employee wage withholding slips was filed, excluding Category 2; the ISA pages state no yen threshold for Category 3.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１１ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Category 2 can also be reached by approval to use the online residence-application system after submitting proof of Category 3 status, but this second route excludes Business Manager applications.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１１ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A March 2015 Immigration Bureau notice, still posted on the ISA site, defines Category 2 as an organisation or individual shown to have withheld income tax of 15,000,000 yen or more on the prior-year statutory report total.
カテゴリー１又は２の企業において就労する者及びその家族に係る在留資格認定証明書交付申請手続の取扱いについて（平成27年3月）参考 · Checked on 2026-10-23
In the change-of-status table, a student moving to work status who has graduated or will graduate from a Japanese university, junior college or graduate school, or from a highly ranked overseas university, is listed within the Category 2 column.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格変更許可申請カテゴリー · Checked on 2026-10-23
Artist status covers income-earning artistic activity such as music, fine art or literature, with entertainment work excluded; the ISA gives composers, painters and writers as examples.
在留資格「芸術」（出入国在留管理庁）この在留資格に該当する活動 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Journalist status covers reporting and other news activity under a contract with a foreign news organisation, for example a foreign correspondent or cameraman.
在留資格「報道」（出入国在留管理庁）この在留資格に該当する活動 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Work requiring a foreign-culture mindset means more than being a foreigner: it needs professional ability, above a set level, based on thinking or sensitivity that cannot be raised within Japanese culture.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月） 1(2)イ · Checked on 2026-10-22
The 30,000,000 yen is paid-in capital for a stock company or total contributions for a partnership-type company; for a sole proprietor it is the total actually invested in the business, such as the office, one year of staff pay and equipment.
在留資格「経営・管理」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について主な改正内容２ · Checked on 2026-10-23
The agency judges comparable pay case by case, comparing the applicant with Japanese staff hired at the same time for the same kind of work; a published refusal example is an applicant offered 135,000 yen a month while new Japanese graduates doing the same work received 180,000 yen.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙３２不許可事例（３） · Checked on 2026-10-22
In another published refusal a translator offered 170,000 yen a month was refused because Japanese new graduates hired at the same time for similar work received 200,000 yen.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙３３－１不許可事例（１） · Checked on 2026-10-22
A lower foreign salary is not refused outright: in a published hotel-front case 150,000 yen against 200,000 yen for Japanese staff was refused because no reasonable reason for the difference was found, which implies a documented reason could matter.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙５（ホテル・旅館等）不許可事例④ · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's wage survey defines 'wage' as the June scheduled cash earnings before tax, excluding overtime, late-night, holiday, standby and shift pay, which is a different base from the ISA test that excludes expense-reimbursement allowances.
令和７（2025）年賃金構造基本統計調査の概況（厚生労働省）主な用語の定義「賃金」 · Checked on 2026-10-22
For the university route, the 'university' in the landing standard includes foreign universities, and 'equivalent or higher education' means schooling at an institution that is not formally a university but is comparable in standard and organisation, judged case by case from the nature, content and level of that institution in its country's school system.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ３８ · Checked on 2026-10-22
The wording of the standard is that the person 'majored in a subject related to' (関連する科目を専攻して) the needed technology or knowledge, and the agency reads this as requiring that the subject studied at university or a vocational school and the duty are actually related, rather than any degree being enough.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）２（１）ア · Checked on 2026-10-22
For admission to a Japanese master's-level graduate school, MEXT lists as eligible a person who completed a foreign course of three or more years and was awarded a bachelor-equivalent degree, limited to foreign institutions evaluated by an evaluator certified by that country's government or related body, or ones that MEXT has designated as equivalent.
大学入学資格ガイド ver.2（令和８年５月一部更新）（文部科学省） Q45（学校教育法施行規則第155条第4の2号） · Checked on 2026-10-23
The ten-year experience route in the standard counts time spent studying a related subject and time in related work, and the agency says it does not require ten years in work that itself falls under Engineer/Specialist status.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）２（１）イ · Checked on 2026-10-22
In the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services standard, the ten-year practical-experience clause does not use the word 'continuous', whereas the Intra-company Transferee clause requires the overseas work period to be continuous for one year or more.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令技術・人文知識・国際業務の項第一号ハ／企業内転勤の項第一号 · Checked on 2026-10-23
The Medical Services standard sets a time limit only for practical nurses, who may work as training within four years of getting the Japanese licence; in none of the e-Gov revisions from 22 July 2016 to the 1 April 2027 version does the Medical clause carry a separate seven-year training limit for public health nurses, midwives or nurses.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令医療の項第一号〜第三号 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Under the clinical training Act, a foreign doctor, dentist or nurse who came to Japan to acquire medical knowledge can practise under a designated hospital's supervision with MHLW permission, which requires at least three years of clinical experience after the foreign qualification; the permit lasts up to two years (one year for nurses and other staff) and can be renewed once.
外国医師等が行う臨床修練等に係る医師法第十七条等の特例等に関する法律第三条 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Intra-company Transferee differs from Engineer/Specialist/International Services only in that the activity is for a fixed transfer period and can be done only at the specific office transferred to; the work itself must also fit the Engineer/Specialist status.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ３３（１） · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Instructor status covers language and other teaching at elementary, junior high, compulsory-education, high, secondary and special-needs schools, vocational schools, miscellaneous schools and equivalent bodies, with the examples given being language teachers at junior and senior high schools.
在留資格「教育」（出入国在留管理庁）この在留資格に該当する活動 · Checked on 2026-10-22
MHLW describes Nursing Care status as available to a certified care worker who has registered, with the spouse and children allowed to accompany the holder and no limit on how many times the stay can be renewed.
外国人介護人材の受入れの現状と今後の方向性について（厚生労働省、介護分野における特定技能協議会運営委員会令和７年３月28日）外国人介護人材受入れの仕組み · Checked on 2026-10-22
For admission to Japanese master's-level graduate schools, MEXT lists completion of a 16-year course of foreign schooling as an eligible route, including when part of it was a foreign university's correspondence course taken while living in Japan; this is an admission rule, not a work-status rule.
大学入学資格ガイド ver.2（令和８年５月一部更新）（文部科学省） Ⅰ-2-ⅰ 大学院（修士課程等）の入学資格 ③ · Checked on 2026-10-23

Who qualifies

For natural-science or humanities work, an applicant can qualify by graduating from a university (or equivalent education) in a subject related to the technology or knowledge the job needs.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表技術・人文知識・国際業務の項第一号イ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Alternatively, completing a specialized or advanced course (senko-ka) at a Japanese vocational school (senshu gakko) in a related subject qualifies, provided the completion meets conditions set by a Minister of Justice notice.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表技術・人文知識・国際業務の項第一号ロ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Work that needs thinking or sensitivity based on a foreign culture is limited to jobs such as translation, interpreting, language teaching, public relations, advertising, overseas trade, fashion or interior design, and product development, or similar work.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表技術・人文知識・国際業務の項第二号イ · Checked on 2026-10-22
An applicant for IT work who has passed a Minister-of-Justice-designated information-processing exam, or holds a designated qualification, is exempt from the degree or experience requirement.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表技術・人文知識・国際業務の項第一号ただし書 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Immigration Services Agency treats a graduate of a Japanese junior college as having "graduated from a university" for this status.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ３４ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A graduate of a Japanese vocational school who earned the title senmonshi or koudo senmonshi meets the standard, but a graduate of a foreign institution equivalent to a Japanese vocational school does not.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ３５ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Work experience gained only as a technical intern or Specified Skilled Worker is not counted as the "practical experience" required by the landing standard for the Engineer/Specialist status.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ４１ · Checked on 2026-10-22
The status does not allow work that is mainly general service or factory work; the agency says such jobs are not accepted as the main activity.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ３９ · Checked on 2026-10-22

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The guideline says jobs advertised as open to inexperienced people, and work usually done by Japanese staff who lack the required degree or experience, do not qualify.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（出入国在留管理庁）１（２）ア · Checked on 2026-10-22
Initial on-the-job training in duties outside the status, such as shop floor or factory line work, is allowed if Japanese graduate employees do the same training and it does not take up most of the whole expected stay in the status, counted across permits rather than for one permit alone.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（出入国在留管理庁）別紙１１実務研修の取扱い · Checked on 2026-10-22
Applicants whose main work uses language for dealing with people, such as translation, interpreting or hotel front desk work, are expected to have language ability at about CEFR B2 level.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（出入国在留管理庁）別紙４１ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-04-15
For a language other than Japanese, B2-level ability is accepted if the language is the applicant's mother tongue or an official language; a test result showing B2 or a documented reasonable explanation can also be used.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（出入国在留管理庁）別紙４２（２）ア · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-04-15
The "contract" with a Japanese organization may be employment, mandate, outsourcing or commission, but it must be a continuing arrangement with specific organizations.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ３７ · Checked on 2026-10-22
After graduating from a university (junior colleges excluded) or equivalent education, or completing a qualifying vocational course, a Researcher applicant needs a master's degree or three years of research experience in the field, or alternatively ten years of research experience in the field.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表研究の項第一号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The degree and experience requirement does not apply to researchers who work under contract with national or local government bodies, independent administrative agencies or certain other public-law corporations designated by notice.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表研究の項ただし書 · Checked on 2026-10-22
At miscellaneous schools or equivalent institutions, or in non-teaching posts at other schools, an Instructor applicant must have graduated from a university or equivalent, or completed a related specialized vocational course, or hold a license for the subject to be taught.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表教育の項第一号イ · Checked on 2026-10-22
The medical standard names the qualified occupations (doctor, dentist, pharmacist, nurse, physical therapist and others) and requires pay equal to or higher than a Japanese worker would receive.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表医療の項第一号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Pharmacists, dental hygienists, radiological technologists, physical and occupational therapists, orthoptists, clinical engineers and prosthetists must be invited by a medical institution or pharmacy in Japan.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表医療の項第三号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
For a care applicant who qualified as a certified care worker through the routes cited in the ordinance and who earlier did technical intern training, the applicant must be recognized as intending to transfer the skills gained to the home country.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表介護の項第一号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
For live performing-arts work, the Japanese contracting organization must have a manager with at least three cumulative years of experience in work involving foreign entertainers.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表興行の項第一号イ（１） · Checked on 2026-10-22
The company must employ at least one full-time staff member; only Japanese nationals, special permanent residents and holders of a Table 2 status (permanent resident, spouse of a Japanese national, spouse of a permanent resident, long-term resident) count, and holders of a Table 1 status do not.
在留資格「経営・管理」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について（出入国在留管理庁）主な改正内容１常勤職員の雇用について · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-10-16
Among those who run the business or work in it (part-timers excluded), someone must have Japanese ability at a high, independent level and be set to live in Japan while the applicant runs or manages the business.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表経営・管理の項第三号 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-10-16
The manager must hold a doctorate, master's or professional degree in business management or a field relevant to the business, or have three or more years of experience running or managing a business.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表経営・管理の項第四号 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-10-16
A person who will manage the business must receive pay equal to or higher than a Japanese person doing that job would receive.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表経営・管理の項第五号 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-10-16
Work-status holders may do income-earning work outside their status only with prior permission for activity outside the status, and only to an extent that does not hinder their main activity.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一第十九条第二項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
In the standards ordinance table there is no separate row for Professor, Artist, Religious Activities or Journalist; they are mentioned only inside the Highly Skilled Professional row, which refers to the Table 1-1 activities from Professor through Journalist.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）高度専門職の項（第一号イ） · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Japan-side work of an Intra-company Transferee must be of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services type, so transfers into Skilled Labor-type or other work do not fit this status.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一の二企業内転勤の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A cook applying under the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement can qualify as a foreign-cuisine cook without the ten-year practical experience requirement that applies to other cooks.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）技能の項第一号ロ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A sommelier qualifies with five years of wine-evaluation experience plus one of these proofs: a good result in an international sommelier competition, participation in a competition limited to one entrant per country, or a qualification certified by a national or local government (foreign ones included) or a comparable public or private body and designated by Minister of Justice notice.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）技能の項第九号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
For university and technical-college graduates the ISA judges the link between the field of study and the duty flexibly, and applies the same flexible approach to overseas universities.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月） 2(1)ア（注） · Checked on 2026-10-22
For vocational school (senshu gakko) graduates the major and the duty must in principle be considerably related.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月） 2(1)ア（注） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Graduates of vocational courses certified under MEXT Notice No. 53 of 2023 are judged flexibly on the relation between their major and the duty, as are people who spent about three years on a duty already found related.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月） 2(1)ア（注） · Checked on 2026-10-22
The three years of experience for international-type work need not be in the same job as the new duty but must be in related work.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月） 2(2)イ · Checked on 2026-10-22
No percentage cap on mixed-in shop-floor duties is set; the test is whether on-the-job training lasts beyond the start of employment and takes up most of the stay, in which case it is refused.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ３６ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A hotel graduate-track hire with a two-month classroom course and four months of front-desk and restaurant service training before moving to front-desk duties and planning work is cited as an approved example, whereas two years mainly serving food and cleaning rooms is cited as refused.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙３許可事例（別紙5 ホテル） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Briefly carrying luggage during a group check-in is not a problem under the immigration law, but if such work turns out to be the main activity the extension may be refused.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙５１ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Cited approved examples include a convenience-store assistant manager trained on the shop floor for about one year before becoming store manager, and a supermarket general-track hire given two years of store training like Japanese graduates.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙３２許可事例（７）（14） · Checked on 2026-10-22
A restaurant-chain manager-candidate plan with several years of unfixed shop service and cooking before only selected people reach qualifying duties is cited as refused because it is not a uniform training period.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙３３－１不許可事例（5） · Checked on 2026-10-22
When a dispatched worker has several destinations, every destination must involve duties that fit the Engineer/Specialist status, and the dispatching and receiving companies can both be liable for illegal-work promotion if they do not.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ４２ · Checked on 2026-10-22
An employer or dispatch destination found to have committed disqualifying abuses under the Specified Skilled Worker or technical intern systems is, during its acceptance suspension, in principle not allowed to take in new Engineer/Specialist workers.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月） 1(1)（注） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Because a suitably scaled office is required, using a private residence as the business office is in principle not accepted.
在留資格「経営・管理」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について申請に関する取扱い２ · Checked on 2026-10-22
After the transition ends, falling short of 30,000,000 yen alone does not lead to automatic refusal if business is sound, taxes are paid and the standard is expected to be met by the next renewal.
在留資格「経営・管理」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について問３ · Checked on 2026-10-22
MHLW states that holders of Nursing Care status who are certified care workers were already allowed to work in home-visit services, while technical interns and Specified Skilled Workers were not at that time.
外国人介護人材の訪問系サービスへの従事について（報告）（社保審ー介護給付費分科会第245回令和7年3月24日資料3）現行の取扱い · Checked on 2026-10-22
For entertainment activity other than performing arts, such as professional sports, the landing standard only requires pay equal to or higher than a Japanese person would receive for the same work.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）興行の項第二号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Both the inviting organisation route and the contract route require that the organisation has fully paid, over the past three years, all pay it owed to entertainers staying under entertainer contracts.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）興行の項第一号イ(3)・ハ(2)(iv) · Checked on 2026-10-22
The owner or full-time staff of the inviting organisation must not be anyone involved in human trafficking, anyone who forged documents or was convicted of listed immigration or prostitution offences within five years, or a gangster or former gangster within five years.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）興行の項第一号イ(2)・ハ(2)(iii) · Checked on 2026-10-22
The ISA treats a standing-room live house with no fixed seats that holds 100 or more as meeting the capacity rule, and a counter where guests collect their own drinks and carry them to their seats does not count as serving at seats.
在留資格「興行」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について基準１号ロ（４） · Checked on 2026-10-22
A performer of ethnic music or dance working at an ethnic-cuisine restaurant that is not a hostess-type business is exempt from the contract-route organisation tests if paid at least 200,000 yen a month under the contract.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）興行の項第一号ハ(2)ただし書 · Checked on 2026-10-22
An inviting organisation whose owner or staff has been punished under labour-related or drug laws is held not to have the ability to run entertainer work properly.
在留資格「興行」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について基準１号イ要件について（３） · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Instructor education and experience tests apply only to work at miscellaneous schools or similar bodies or in non-teaching posts at other schools, so teaching posts at elementary to high schools are not covered by clause 1, only by the pay test.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）教育の項第一号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
For schools set up to teach children of diplomats and officials in a foreign language, an Instructor applicant needs only the degree, vocational-course or teaching-licence test and not the language-years or experience test.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）教育の項第一号ただし書 · Checked on 2026-10-22
For a change of status or an extension, the guideline treats only the fit of the activity with the status as a hard requirement and the landing standards as required in principle; the other listed factors are representative considerations, and the agency may still refuse after weighing everything even if all are met.
在留資格の変更、在留期間の更新許可のガイドライン（出入国在留管理庁）前文・項目1〜8 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A person who owes tax must have paid it; unpaid tax counts against the application, and a criminal penalty for tax evasion is treated as non-fulfilment, as are large or long-running arrears judged to be malicious even without a penalty.
在留資格の変更、在留期間の更新許可のガイドライン（出入国在留管理庁）項目7 納税義務等を履行していること · Checked on 2026-10-22
Premiums that the law requires a person to pay, such as National Health Insurance premiums, are judged in the same way as tax: large or long-running arrears found to be malicious are treated as non-fulfilment at renewal or change of status.
在留資格の変更、在留期間の更新許可のガイドライン（出入国在留管理庁）項目7（国民健康保険料等） · Checked on 2026-10-22
A foreign worker must have kept up the notifications required by the Immigration Act, such as change of address and residence-card matters and the notification about the contracting or affiliated organisation, as a factor in renewal or change of status.
在留資格の変更、在留期間の更新許可のガイドライン（出入国在留管理庁）項目8 入管法に定める届出等の義務 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Employment and working conditions, part-time work included, must comply with labour law; if a labour authority has issued a recommendation against the employer, the foreign worker is normally not blamed and the point is weighed accordingly.
在留資格の変更、在留期間の更新許可のガイドライン（出入国在留管理庁）項目6 雇用・労働条件が適正であること · Checked on 2026-10-22
For Engineer/Specialist/International Services, working part-time beyond the 28-hour weekly limit of the work permission as a habit means the person is not regarded as having good conduct, which counts against a change of status.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）３（１）素行が不良でないこと · Checked on 2026-10-22
Labour laws apply to a foreign employee just as to a Japanese employee, so the employer must state the working conditions in writing as the Labour Standards Act requires; the agency asks for this working-conditions document at filing.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１９ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A foreign worker employed at a workplace covered by health insurance and employees' pension is enrolled in both regardless of nationality, sex or pay, and the employer files the insured-person qualification acquisition form with the Japan Pension Service.
外国人従業員を雇用したときの手続き（日本年金機構） 1・2 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A resident aged 20 to under 60 who is not in employees' pension must join the National Pension as a Category 1 or 3 insured person, and foreign residents are included.
外国人にかかる年金制度（日本年金機構） 1. 年金制度への加入 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Nationals of the Philippines, Nepal and Vietnam, and of Indonesia from 4 January 2027 (planned), applying for a certificate of eligibility for a medium-to-long-term stay must file a tuberculosis non-disease certificate from a designated clinic abroad, valid in principle for 180 days from the X-ray date.
入国前結核スクリーニング（出入国在留管理庁）制度概要・対象者・スケジュール · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-01-04
An employment qualification certificate is optional: the agency says a worker may take up work without it, and an employer can rely on the passport stamp or residence card to confirm that the status permits the work.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ６８ · Checked on 2026-10-22
An employer checking a job applicant should confirm that the duties fit the work status on the residence card; if they do not, the worker must change to a fitting status or obtain permission for activity outside the status, and the certificate can be used when the point is hard to judge.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ６７ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Holders of Student or Dependent status with permission for outside work may work in general no more than 28 hours a week, counted so that any one-week window starting on any weekday stays within 28 hours, and may not work at sites running nightlife-type businesses.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１ A1(4) · Checked on 2026-10-22
Having stopped the activity of the status for three months or more does not lead to revocation if there is a justifiable reason, for example when a person who left a job is actively job-hunting by visiting companies.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ７７ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A foreign national who graduated from a university or junior college in a subject related to the job meets the education requirement for a change from Student status to Engineer/Specialist, and the ISA states that graduating from an overseas university also meets it.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ４２ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A doctor who graduated from a foreign medical school or holds a foreign licence can work as a doctor in Japan only after passing the Japanese national medical licensing examination and receiving a Japanese licence, and must first obtain MHLW recognition of eligibility to sit it.
外国の医学校を卒業し、または外国で医師免許を取得している方の受験資格認定について（厚生労働省）本文 · Checked on 2026-10-22
MHLW recognises eligibility for the national examination person by person and does not recognise a foreign medical school's graduates as a group, so graduating from such a school does not guarantee the right to sit the Japanese examination.
外国の医学校を卒業し、または外国で医師免許を取得している方の受験資格認定について（厚生労働省）注意 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A person who has not worked continuously for a year at the overseas office and so fails the Intra-company Transferee standard can still enter under Engineer/Specialist/International Services if that standard is met, for example by not limiting the transfer period, and a transfer inside the same legal entity needs no new employment contract.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ３３（２）（３） · Checked on 2026-10-22
A person with no teaching licence can be hired as a regular teacher only through a special licence from the prefectural board of education, which is a different route from the certification of someone who completed foreign teacher training under article 18 of the Educational Personnel Certification Act.
特別免許状の授与に係る教育職員検定等に関する指針（文部科学省）趣旨 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Neither a special licence nor a special part-time lecturer notification is needed for someone who teaches alongside a licensed teacher all the time, such as a guest teacher or a team-teaching assistant, which is the basis on which assistant language teachers work without a licence.
特別免許状の授与に係る教育職員検定等に関する指針（文部科学省）第４章第５節特別非常勤講師制度等の活用について · Checked on 2026-10-22
MHLW says the requirement for Nursing Care status is the certified care worker qualification, so a foreign worker who wants it must pass the national examination and register, and most examinees go by the practical-experience route of three years' work plus prescribed training while working.
外国人介護人材の受入れの現状と今後の方向性について（厚生労働省、介護分野における特定技能協議会運営委員会令和７年３月28日）国家試験・実務経験ルート · Checked on 2026-10-22
An EPA care-worker candidate who has worked and trained properly for four years is exempt from the skills test and the Japanese test when moving to Specified Skilled Worker (type 1), which is the feeder path for candidates who do not pass the national examination.
外国人介護人材の受入れの現状と今後の方向性について（厚生労働省、介護分野における特定技能協議会運営委員会令和７年３月28日）外国人介護人材受入れの仕組み（注２） · Checked on 2026-10-22
At the conclusion of any labour contract the employer must state wages, working hours and other conditions to the worker, and the enforcement rules require the written items to include contract period, workplace and duties, hours, wage calculation and payment, and matters on retirement; the ISA asks for this document at filing.
労働基準法第十五条第一項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
In the agency's guidance for the revised Business Manager standard, the required Japanese ability means B2 or higher on the Japanese language education framework, and either the applicant or a full-time employee can supply it, including an employee on a Table 1 status.
在留資格「経営・管理」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について（出入国在留管理庁）主な改正内容３日本語能力について · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2025-10-16
The standards ordinance requires the business to be run with full-time staff living in Japan, other than the person who runs or manages it, and holders of a Table 1 status of residence are excluded from that staff.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表経営・管理の項第二号イ · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2025-10-16

Numbers and tests

A third route is ten or more years of practical experience, which may include time spent studying a related subject at a university, college of technology, high school or vocational school.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表技術・人文知識・国際業務の項第一号ハ · Checked on 2026-10-22
International-type work also requires three or more years of related practical experience, except that a university graduate doing translation, interpreting or language instruction does not need that experience.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表技術・人文知識・国際業務の項第二号ロ · Checked on 2026-10-22
The pay standard is that the applicant receives pay equal to or higher than what a Japanese national would receive for the same work.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（出入国在留管理庁）２（３）報酬 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The transferee must have worked, immediately before the transfer, in qualifying Engineer/Specialist-type work at an overseas office of the same organization for a continuous period of at least one year.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表企業内転勤の項第一号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A researcher transferred from an overseas office of the same organization is exempt from the degree and experience test if they had done research there continuously for at least one year.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表研究の項第一号ただし書 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Under that same clause, a language teacher needs twelve or more years of education in that language; a teacher of any other subject needs five or more years of professional experience teaching that subject.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表教育の項第一号ロ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A licensed practical nurse may work only as training within four years after obtaining the Japanese practical-nurse license.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表医療の項第二号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Under the contract route, the organization must be explicitly obliged to pay the performer at least 200,000 yen a month.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表興行の項第一号ハ（２） · Checked on 2026-10-22

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Under the contract route, the performer also needs two or more years of study in the field at a foreign school or two or more years of experience abroad, unless the event pays 5,000,000 yen or more per day.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表興行の項第一号ハ（１） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Under the contract route, the venue where the show takes place must have a stage of at least 13 square meters, unless the applicant is the only entertainer-status performer at that venue, in which case the venue need only meet the clean-owner-and-staff test.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表興行の項第一号ハ（３） · Checked on 2026-10-22
A separate short-engagement route covers events paying 500,000 yen or more per day (total for a group) when the stay in Japan does not exceed 30 days.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表興行の項第一号ロ（５） · Checked on 2026-10-22
A foreign-cuisine cook or food producer needs ten or more years of practical experience, which may include time spent studying cooking at a foreign school.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表技能の項第一号イ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A craftsperson in construction or civil engineering specific to a foreign country needs ten years of experience, or five years if working under the direction of a foreign national who has ten or more years of such experience.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表技能の項第二号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
An aircraft pilot needs at least 250 flight hours and must work as a pilot on an aircraft used by an air transport business.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表技能の項第七号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A sports coach needs three or more years of experience (including study and paid playing time), or a person designated by Minister of Justice notice, or a participant in an international competition such as the Olympics.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表技能の項第八号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A wine sommelier needs five or more years of practical experience plus a competition result or recognized qualification listed in the ordinance.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表技能の項第九号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A jewelry, precious-metal or fur processing craftsperson needs ten or more years of practical experience in that skill.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表技能の項第四号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Since 16 October 2025 the Business Manager business must have invested assets of at least 30,000,000 yen, including capital.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表経営・管理の項第二号ロ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-10-16
Before the 2025 revision the capital requirement was 5,000,000 yen, and a requirement to employ two or more people served as an alternative to the capital test; the agency's summary compares the old and new requirement side by side.
「経営・管理」許可基準に係る見直しについて（令和７年１０月１６日施行） ①資本金・出資総額 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-10-16
Most work-status standards set no fixed salary figure but require pay equal to or higher than a Japanese person would receive for the same work.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表研究・教育・医療・企業内転勤・介護・技能の各項（技術・人文知識・国際業務、興行にも同旨） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Time already spent in Japan under Intra-company Transferee status at an office of the same overseas organisation counts toward the continuous one-year overseas work requirement.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）企業内転勤の項第一号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Intra-company Transferee landing standard requires pay equal to or higher than a Japanese national would receive for the same work; no fixed salary amount is set.
在留資格「企業内転勤」該当する活動・上陸許可基準基準第二号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
For a Thai cook the ISA document list asks for proof of five or more years as a Thai cook, a Thai Ministry of Labour skill-level certificate of at least beginner grade, and proof of reasonable pay in Thailand during the year before filing.
在留資格「技能」調理師としての活動を行おうとする場合在留資格認定証明書交付申請（タイ料理人） · Checked on 2026-10-22
A maker or repairer of products specific to a foreign country needs ten or more years of practical experience, which may include time studying the subject at a foreign educational institution.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）技能の項第三号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
An animal trainer needs ten or more years of practical experience in animal training, including any time spent studying it at a foreign educational institution.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）技能の項第五号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A specialist in offshore oil drilling, geothermal drilling or seabed geological survey for mineral exploration needs ten or more years of practical experience in that skill.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）技能の項第六号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Every Skilled Labor category requires pay equal to or higher than a Japanese person would receive for the same work, in addition to the experience or flight-hour test for the specific occupation.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）技能の項基準（本文） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Training is judged over the whole expected period of stay, so a person hired indefinitely may spend a full one-year permit mostly on training, but a three-year contract with no renewal cannot include two years of training.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙１２ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Time spent in Designated Activities for start-up preparation counts toward the three years of business management experience required under the revised Business Manager standard.
在留資格「経営・管理」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について主な改正内容４（注２） · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Nursing Care landing standard requires pay equal to or higher than a Japanese person would receive for the same work, in addition to the skill-transfer clause for former technical interns.
在留資格「介護」該当する活動・上陸許可基準基準第二号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Under the contract route the inviting organisation must have a manager with three or more cumulative years of experience in foreign entertainers' work and employ five or more full-time staff.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）興行の項第一号ハ(2)(i)(ii) · Checked on 2026-10-22
Under the contract route the venue needs a performers' dressing room of at least nine square metres plus 1.6 square metres for each performer beyond five, at least five venue employees, and, if it is a hostess-type licensed business, five or more staff devoted to hostessing; none of this applies where the applicant is the only entertainer-status performer at the venue.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）興行の項第一号ハ(3) · Checked on 2026-10-22
The 2025 wage survey reports average starting pay of new graduates by education as 262,300 yen a month for university, 299,000 for graduate school, 235,500 for junior college or technical college and 230,700 for vocational school, a figure employers can use as a reference for new-graduate pay.
令和７（2025）年賃金構造基本統計調査の概況（厚生労働省） (10) 新規学卒者の学歴別にみた賃金 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The same survey puts foreign workers in professional and technical fields other than Specified Skilled Workers at an average of 313,200 yen a month (average age 32.4, 3.2 years of service), against 254,300 yen for all foreign workers.
令和７（2025）年賃金構造基本統計調査の概況（厚生労働省） (9) 在留資格区分別にみた賃金（第９表） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Medical Services, Instructor and Researcher each use the same open-ended test as the main work statuses, requiring pay equal to or higher than a Japanese person would receive, so none of them has a fixed salary figure.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令医療の項第一号・教育の項第二号・研究の項第二号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Japanese-language clinical competence survey for foreign medical graduates requires a total of at least 60 out of 100 with no zero from either examiner in listening, speaking, writing, reading aloud medical terms and examination, which is the language proof for doctors.
医師国家試験受験資格認定制度（厚生労働省）４．日本語診療能力調査について · Checked on 2026-10-22
For the new Intra-company Transferee item 2 planned for 1 April 2027, the ISA's summary lists five conditions: at least 20 full-time staff at the receiving organisation, item-2 foreigners capped at 5 percent of full-time staff, at least one year of work at the source office, pay equal to or above Japanese staff, and a total stay under that status of one year at most.
育成就労制度の関係省令等について（出入国在留管理庁）２．企業内転勤２号の在留資格の要件 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01

Periods

When a training period is planned, the agency in principle grants a one-year period of stay at the first decision so it can check the move to qualifying work.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（出入国在留管理庁）別紙１４ · Checked on 2026-10-22
For dispatched workers, the period of stay granted follows the length of the dispatch contract.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」をもって派遣形態で就労する場合の取扱いについて記３ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Because the transfer is for a fixed term, a request to stay in Intra-company Transferee status longer than five years is examined carefully for its necessity.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ４４ · Checked on 2026-10-22
No status of residence other than Diplomat, Official, Highly Skilled Professional (type 2) and Permanent Resident may carry a period of stay longer than five years.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一第二条の二第三項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The period of stay for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services is five years, three years, one year or three months.
出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則別表第二（在留期間）別表第二 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Intra-company Transferee and Nursing Care both carry periods of five years, three years, one year or three months.
出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則別表第二（在留期間）別表第二 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The period of stay for Entertainer status is three years, one year, six months, three months or 30 days.
出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則別表第二（在留期間）別表第二 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The period of stay for Skilled Labor is five years, three years, one year or three months.
出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則別表第二（在留期間）別表第二 · Checked on 2026-10-22

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Professor, Artist, Religious Activities and Journalist each carry periods of five years, three years, one year or three months.
出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則別表第二（在留期間）別表第二 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Researcher and Instructor each carry periods of five years, three years, one year or three months.
出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則別表第二（在留期間）別表第二 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The period of stay for Business Manager is five years, three years, one year, six months, four months or three months.
出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則別表第二（在留期間）別表第二 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The agency decides the length of stay by weighing the planned work period, the person's record of activity and public obligations, and the size and track record of the contracting organization.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ８ · Checked on 2026-10-22
The standard processing time for a certificate of eligibility application is one to three months.
在留資格認定証明書交付申請（出入国在留管理庁）標準処理期間 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The standard processing time for a change of status application is one to two months.
在留資格変更許可申請（出入国在留管理庁）標準処理期間 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The standard processing time for a period-of-stay extension application is two weeks to one month.
在留期間更新許可申請（出入国在留管理庁）標準処理期間 · Checked on 2026-10-22
If an extension or change application is filed before expiry but not decided in time, the person may stay lawfully until the decision or until two months after the original expiry date, whichever is earlier.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一第二十条第六項（第二十一条第四項で準用） · Checked on 2026-10-22
On a trial basis the ISA aims to issue certificates for Category 1 organisations within two weeks of filing, three weeks if employees changed since the last filing, and within one month for Category 2.
在留資格「興行」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について基準１号イ運用方法２ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2023-12-01
The ISA entertainer page lists the possible periods of stay as 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, 3 months or 30 days.
在留資格「興行」（出入国在留管理庁）在留期間 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A certificate of eligibility is valid for three months from the day it is issued, and it loses its effect if the holder does not apply to land within that time; this is separate from the validity of the visa.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ６ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A single-entry visa is normally valid for three months from its issue date, so the holder must pass immigration within that time; if it lapses, a new visa application is needed.
よくある質問（査証）｜外務省 4 入国までＱ１ · Checked on 2026-10-22
The standard visa processing time at a Japanese mission is five business days from the day after acceptance when nothing needs checking, but a long-stay visa applied for without a certificate of eligibility can take weeks to months.
よくある質問（査証）｜外務省 2 審査Ｑ１ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A person who does not get five years is given three years or one year, depending on how long the stay is planned, the person's own record of stay and the employer's activity track record; the agency publishes no table that maps these inputs to a specific term.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ１８ · Checked on 2026-10-22
In general the term of stay is set on the record of Immigration Act notifications, the payment of public taxes and charges, and the size of the contracting organisation, and the factors differ by status.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ１８ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Under the Employment-for-Skill-Development system due to start on 1 April 2027, a training plan is approved only if the period is within three years, with up to one further year allowed where the worker has failed a required test for a prescribed reason; in the ordinance the status itself needs an approved plan and good conduct.
改正法の概要（育成就労制度の創設等）（出入国在留管理庁）育成就労法２．育成就労計画の認定制度 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01
The immigration inspector decides the status of residence and the period of stay at the landing examination and records them in the passport, so the period of stay is fixed at landing and not by the certificate of eligibility itself.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第九条第三項 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Deadlines

Existing Business Manager holders will not be refused renewal solely for failing the new standards until 16 October 2028.
在留資格「経営・管理」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について問１ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2028-10-16
An extension application can be filed up to the day the period of stay expires, and from three months before expiry if the current period is six months or longer.
在留期間更新許可申請（出入国在留管理庁）申請期間 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A change-of-status application may be filed from when the reason for the change arises until the day the current period of stay ends.
在留資格変更許可申請（出入国在留管理庁）申請期間 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Holders of Professor, Business Manager, Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Instructor, Intra-company Transferee, Technical Intern Training, Student or Trainee status, and of some Highly Skilled Professional types, must notify the immigration agency within 14 days when the name or address of the organization where they work or study changes or ceases, or when they leave or move to another organization.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一第十九条の十六第一号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Holders of Researcher, Engineer/Specialist, Nursing Care, Skilled Labor or Specified Skilled Worker status, Entertainers working under a contract, and some Highly Skilled Professional types must notify the agency within 14 days when the contracting organization changes its name or address, ceases to exist, ends the contract, or when a new contract is signed.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一第十九条の十六第二号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Applications received up to 30 September 2026 still pay the old fee even if the permission is issued on or after 1 October 2026.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等について概要 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
Under Act No. 51 of Reiwa 8, the five-year post-graduation transition is extended to care worker training-facility graduates through fiscal 2031; for those graduating from fiscal 2027 the route of keeping the qualification after five years of care work is dropped, so the national exam is required.
社会福祉法等の一部を改正する法律の概要について（厚生労働省・こども家庭庁）２（２）介護福祉士養成施設卒業者の経過措置の見直し · Checked on 2026-10-23
For online filings the date that counts for the old versus new fee is the receipt date shown in the receipt-number notice email; applications received on or before 30 September 2026 still pay the old fee by revenue stamp even if permitted later.
オンライン申請における手数料額及び手数料納付方法についてＱ２ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01

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For a foreign worker enrolled in employment insurance the Hello Work notice is made through the insurance acquisition or loss form, due by the 10th of the next month on hiring and within 10 days of the next day on leaving; for a worker not enrolled, a separate form is due by the end of the next month for both hiring and leaving.
「外国人雇用状況の届出」について（厚生労働省）外国人雇用状況届出の概要 1・2 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Fees

Issuing an employment qualification certificate at the counter costs 2,000 yen, paid with revenue stamps.
就労資格証明書交付申請（出入国在留管理庁）手数料 · Checked on 2026-10-22
From 1 October 2026 the counter fee for permission to change status or extend a period of stay depends on the period granted: 10,000 yen for up to 3 months, 18,000 for over 3 up to 6 months, 25,000 for over 6 months up to under 1 year, 33,000 for 1 year, 48,000 for over 1 year up to under 3 years, 64,000 for 3 up to under 5 years and 75,000 for 5 years or more.
在留資格変更許可申請（出入国在留管理庁）手数料 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
For applications filed online from 1 October 2026 the permission fee is lower: 10,000 yen for up to 3 months, 15,000 up to 6 months, 21,000 under 1 year, 27,000 for 1 year, 42,000 for 1-3 years, 56,000 for 3-5 years and 65,000 for 5 years or more, plus a small payment-processing fee.
オンライン申請における手数料額及び手数料納付方法について手数料額 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
The Immigration Control Act now caps the fee for a change of status or an extension at 100,000 yen, with the exact amount set by cabinet order.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一第六十七条第一項 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
A reduced fee of 10,000 yen applies regardless of period to people who are near the public-assistance poverty level and need humanitarian consideration.
在留資格変更許可申請（出入国在留管理庁）手数料注２ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
A certificate of eligibility application has no fee.
在留資格認定証明書交付申請（出入国在留管理庁）手数料 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Under article 67 the fee for permission is paid when the entry is made or the permit issued, and the statute caps change of status and extension at 100,000 yen, permanent residence at 300,000 yen and re-entry permission at 10,000 yen, with the exact amounts set by cabinet order.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第六十七条第一項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The counter fee for permanent residence permission rises from 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen for applications received from 1 October 2026.
在留許可手数料の改定ポスター（令和８年１０月１日から）改定後の手数料 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01

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The highest counter fee for a change of status or extension is 75,000 yen for a permit of five years or more, and the highest online fee is 65,000 yen.
在留許可手数料の改定ポスター（令和８年１０月１日から）改定後の手数料 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
Online payments carry a separate settlement charge of 330 yen for permits under three years, 550 yen for three years or more and 220 yen for re-entry permits, in addition to the permission fee.
オンライン申請における手数料額及び手数料納付方法についてオンライン申請の手数料額 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
Re-entry permission (3,500 yen single, 6,500 yen multiple) and the employment qualification certificate (1,600 yen) keep their fees unchanged, with only the online settlement charge added.
オンライン申請における手数料額及び手数料納付方法についてオンライン申請の手数料額 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
The reduced fee is 20,000 yen for permanent residence, available only to spouses or children (and similar relatives) of Japanese nationals, permanent residents or special permanent residents, and reduced fees cannot be requested through the online system.
令和８年１０月１日以降における在留許可手数料の減額措置又は免除措置について１（３） · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01

How it works

If practical training runs longer than one year from hiring, the agency asks for a training plan and reviews whether the training period is reasonable.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（出入国在留管理庁）別紙１２ · Checked on 2026-10-22
For dispatch work, the destination must be fixed when applying; an application cannot be approved if the dispatch destination is still undecided, except for new hires who must first complete training.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」をもって派遣形態で就労する場合の取扱いについて記２ · Checked on 2026-10-22
The agency may grant a change of status or extension only when the documents submitted give reasonable grounds to find it appropriate.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一第二十条第三項・第二十一条第三項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A certificate of eligibility application can be filed by a staff member of the receiving organization as agent, but change and extension applications must in principle be filed by the foreign national.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ５ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A certificate of eligibility application is filed at the immigration office that has jurisdiction over the employer's location.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ６ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A lost certificate of eligibility cannot be reissued; the applicant must file a new application.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ９ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Students graduating in March can file a change-of-status application from December, and the result is handed over after the graduation certificate is submitted.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１３ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A person waiting for a change-of-status permit may attend an entry ceremony or unpaid training but may start paid work only after the permit is granted.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１７ · Checked on 2026-10-22

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A foreign national can apply for an employment qualification certificate stating which income-earning activities they may lawfully do, and where their permitted activity is otherwise clear, nobody may treat them unfavorably for not presenting it.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一第十九条の二 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Fees for online applications are now paid by convenience-store or bank settlement instead of revenue stamps; credit card and QR payments are not supported.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等についてオンライン申請に対する許可又は交付手数料の納付方法の変更 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
A March 2015 Immigration Bureau notice (the ISA predecessor, still on the ISA site) says that certificate-of-eligibility applications for people working at Category 1 or 2 employers get simplified documents and a target of about ten days from receipt.
カテゴリー１又は２の企業において就労する者及びその家族に係る在留資格認定証明書交付申請手続の取扱いについて（平成27年3月） 1 · Checked on 2026-10-23
If last year's wage withholding summary is not yet complete when applying, the employer should submit the latest one available, meaning the summary for the year before.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１２ · Checked on 2026-10-22
For certificate-of-eligibility filings, a Category 1 or 2 employer normally needs only the common application items plus proof of its category, because other documents are in principle not required.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Skilled Labor filings use separate document sets for cooks and for other occupations such as builders, product makers, animal trainers, drilling engineers, jewellers, pilots, sports coaches and sommeliers; the employer category system applies as it does for Engineer/Specialist filings.
在留資格「技能」（出入国在留管理庁）提出書類 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Language-ability proof is required for new, change and acquisition applications when language-based work such as translation or hotel front desk is the main duty, and at renewal only if the duties changed to such work.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ２８・Ｑ２９ · Checked on 2026-10-22
If the dispatch destination cannot be fixed because post-hire training must come first, the employer instead submits the training details, a labour-conditions notice covering the scope of dispatch duties, and the dispatcher's pledges on the applicant's dispatch work and on the choice of destination, and files the destination pledge and dispatch contract at the next extension.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」をもって派遣形態で就労する場合の取扱いについて（令和８年７月）注 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The business plan submitted at the status decision must be confirmed by a person with specialist management knowledge, and as of the effective date these are SME management consultants, certified public accountants and certified tax accountants; a lawyer is not listed.
在留資格「経営・管理」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について主な改正内容５ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Training-facility graduates up to fiscal 2026 who start care work on 1 April after graduation may change to Designated Activities until they receive the care worker registration certificate, so they can complete the five years of care work needed to qualify without the exam.
介護福祉士養成施設を卒業して介護等の業務に従事する留学生の取扱いについて 1・2 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Students who qualified as certified care workers through the practical-experience or welfare-high-school route can likewise work in care under Designated Activities from 1 April after passing the exam until their registration certificate is issued.
介護福祉士国家試験に合格して介護等の業務に従事する留学生の取扱いについて措置の内容 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The ISA splits performing-arts filings into those under a contract with a Japanese organisation at a venue outside the nightclub-type businesses named in the Entertainment Business Act, those hosted by listed public or cultural bodies or fitting a venue or pay exception, and all others, and says the required documents differ by activity.
在留資格「興行」（出入国在留管理庁）提出書類 · Checked on 2026-10-22
To show the staff and unpaid-pay tests, the organisation files a roster of its owner and full-time staff in any format and the ISA reference declaration, marking changes since the previous roster.
在留資格「興行」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について基準１号イ要件について（１）（２） · Checked on 2026-10-22
An employment contract need not yet exist, but a document stating duties, pay and period such as a labour-conditions statement is required, and for someone not yet holding a work status a conditional contract effective on permission is commonly used.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ２１・Ｑ２０ · Checked on 2026-10-22
An employment-reason statement is not a document required by law, but the ISA may ask for a detailed explanation of the reason for hiring and the duties if it needs more detail.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ２２ · Checked on 2026-10-22
An employment certificate has no set format but should state the applicant's name, nationality, birth date and sex, department, hire date, position and pay, and duties, signed with the issuer's company, address and title.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１８ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Certificates that can be reissued, such as a graduation certificate, must be submitted as originals, while a graduation diploma may be a copy if the original is shown at filing.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１４ · Checked on 2026-10-22
If the tax certificates cannot be issued, for example because the person had no Japanese address on 1 January, the filer submits a free-form reason statement plus withholding slips or payslips showing recent income.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ２３ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Certificates issued in Japan must be dated within three months of filing, foreign-language documents need a Japanese translation, and submitted documents are not returned unless the filer asks for return of hard-to-replace originals at filing.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）申請に当たっての留意事項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A person filing on behalf of the applicant must show proof of identity such as a company ID card for a certificate application, or a notified agent certificate or family register for change and extension, and should add a passport copy if the certificate name may differ from the passport.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The ISA states that a foreign national cannot receive residence permission without paying the prescribed fee, which is why partial reductions exist for people in hardship who need humanitarian consideration.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等に関するQ&A 問６ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Online bank settlement can be paid by Pay-easy at an ATM or by internet banking but not at a bank counter, and the fee should be paid by the day before collecting the residence card.
オンライン申請における手数料額及び手数料納付方法についてＱ９・Ｑ８ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
The exact online fee is shown only in the settlement email sent after the review is complete, and each application gets its own payment link, so fees for several applications cannot be combined or changed.
オンライン申請における手数料額及び手数料納付方法についてＱ４・Ｑ６ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
The ISA sets the fee by the length of stay actually granted because the benefit of its management measures differs by stay length, so the fee cannot be fixed until the period is decided.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等に関するQ&A 問３ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
Counter applications still pay by revenue stamp, the stamp denominations needed now vary with the period granted, and the agency asks people to buy stamps for cash in advance where possible because shops at the immigration offices have limited stock.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等について収入印紙について · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
The agency may take decisions using tax and similar payment records that other government bodies give it on request, so a renewal can be judged on data the applicant did not submit; the note was added in the June 2026 revision.
在留資格の変更、在留期間の更新許可のガイドライン（出入国在留管理庁）項目7（注） · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-06-01
Since April 2010 the counter asks applicants to show their health-insurance enrolment; since 2 December 2024 the Individual Number Card online status screen, a notice of qualification information or a certificate of eligibility is shown instead, and being unable to show it is not itself a ground for refusal.
在留資格の変更、在留期間の更新許可のガイドライン（出入国在留管理庁）前文（社会保険） · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2024-12-02
Every employer must notify Hello Work when it hires or loses a foreign worker, except holders of Diplomat or Official status and special permanent residents, and failing to notify or notifying falsely is punishable by a fine of up to 300,000 yen.
「外国人雇用状況の届出」について（厚生労働省）対象・罰則 · Checked on 2026-10-22
When filing the Hello Work notice the employer must check the worker's residence card or passport to confirm the entries, and does not need to attach a copy of the card.
「外国人雇用状況の届出」について（厚生労働省）外国人雇用状況届出の注意事項等について · Checked on 2026-10-22
The agency treats the employer's notification about accepting or ending the employment of a foreign national (the medium-to-long-term resident acceptance notification) as an effort duty on hiring and on leaving, and it does not apply to Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist, Technical Intern Training or Specified Skilled Worker holders.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１ A1(3)・Ｑ４ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Holding a certificate of eligibility is not enough to enter Japan: the person must show it at a Japanese mission abroad to get a visa, and landing can still be refused if the landing standards are found unmet at the airport.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ５ · Checked on 2026-10-22
For Intra-company Transferee, the MOFA page says that staff of listed companies or internationally well-known firms may sometimes obtain a visa relatively quickly even without a certificate of eligibility, and applicants should consult their mission beforehand.
就業査証：企業内転勤（外務省）注 · Checked on 2026-10-22
If a person who received a paper certificate cancels the trip, or submitted only a copy when applying to land, the original should be returned by post or at the counter to the office that issued it, with the application number, the returner's name and relation, and the reason.
在留資格認定証明書交付申請（出入国在留管理庁）紙の在留資格認定証明書の取扱いについて · Checked on 2026-10-22
A foreign worker who already holds a work status and takes a new job whose duties still fit that same status does not need a change-of-status application; instead the worker files the notification about the contracting or activity organisation, and an extension is needed only if the stay is about to expire.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ２ A2(2) · Checked on 2026-10-22
Near the expiry date, a person with Engineer/Specialist status who changes jobs files an extension application if the new duties still fall under the current status, or a change-of-status application if the activity itself changes, and in either case before the stay expires.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ３５ · Checked on 2026-10-22
A worker who changed jobs and wants confirmation that the new duties fit the current status can apply for an employment qualification certificate, which must be filed at the immigration office covering the worker's home address, not the workplace.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ３６・Ｑ３７ · Checked on 2026-10-22
For an employment qualification certificate after a job change the applicant adds documents showing the details of the new workplace and activity, and the standard processing time is one to three months, against same-day issue when the workplace and duties are unchanged.
就労資格証明書交付申請（出入国在留管理庁）申請書・必要書類等・標準処理期間 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Applying for permission for activity outside the status costs no fee, is filed at the immigration office covering the home address, and takes a standard two weeks to two months; it can be filed online only together with an extension, change or acquisition application.
資格外活動許可申請（出入国在留管理庁）手数料・標準処理期間・オンライン申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
In an extension for a dispatched worker, the contract submitted may be the one in force at filing, but if only about a month of the contract remains and the outlook for the next period is unclear, the worker must separately explain future work.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ２５ · Checked on 2026-10-22
The period of stay requested on the application does not have to match the planned employment period entered by the employer; the employer is told to state the actual employment period.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ３３ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Under the recognition rules for foreign medical graduates, a person who meets the document screening may be recognised for the preliminary examination, and after passing it must complete at least one year of clinical and public-health practical training before being allowed to sit the national examination.
医師国家試験受験資格認定制度（厚生労働省）２．審査方法 · Checked on 2026-10-22
When a school board uses a private firm for assistant language teachers, MEXT says the contract must be a worker-dispatch contract under the Worker Dispatch Act whenever the ALT is employed by the firm and works under the school's direction, whatever the contract is called.
外国語指導助手の契約形態について（通知）（文部科学省）本文 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Team teaching in which the class teacher gives the ALT specific instructions on content or lesson flow, or evaluates the ALT's work, cannot be run under a service contract; MEXT tells boards to switch to the JET Programme, direct employment or a dispatch contract.
外国語指導助手の請負契約による活用について（通知）（文部科学省）本文 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A person already in Japan under another status, such as Specified Skilled Worker (care), moves to Nursing Care by a change-of-status application that must include a copy of the certified care worker registration certificate.
在留資格「介護」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格変更許可申請提出書類 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Minister of Justice may issue a certificate of eligibility on advance application by a foreign national who intends to land (short-term visitors excluded), and the application can be made through an agent such as a staff member of the receiving organisation.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条の二第一項・第二項 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Penalties

The authorities may revoke a Table 1 status of residence, such as a work status, if the holder does not carry out the status activity for three consecutive months without a valid reason.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一第二十二条の四第一項第六号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Doing paid work outside the permitted status without permission is punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 2,000,000 yen, or both; a person found to be mainly engaged in such work faces up to three years or 3,000,000 yen under article 70.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一第七十三条 · Checked on 2026-10-22
An employer who has a foreign national do work outside their status can be punished by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 3 million yen, or both, and the agency notes this can apply to both the dispatching company and the destination company.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ４２ · Checked on 2026-10-22
From the 2027 version of the Immigration Act, a person who makes a foreigner do unauthorised work in the course of business faces up to five years in prison or a fine of up to five million yen, or both.
出入国管理及び難民認定法（令和9年4月1日施行時点）第七十三条の二第一項 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01

Lists and tables

The Immigration Services Agency groups work statuses into a first table (Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist) and a second table whose statuses are labelled as subject to the landing criteria in the Ministerial Ordinance on Standards.
在留資格一覧表（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格一覧表二の表 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Immigration Services Agency lists these statuses as work-permitted: Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist, Highly Skilled Professional, Business Manager, Legal/Accounting, Medical, Researcher, Instructor, Engineer/Specialist, Intra-company Transferee, Nursing Care, Entertainer, Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker and Technical Intern Training.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１就労資格 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The designated exam list in the notice includes Japan's Information Technology Engineers Examination categories such as the Applied Information Technology Engineer, Fundamental Information Technology Engineer and Information Security Management exams.
上陸基準省令の技術・人文知識・国際業務の在留資格に係る基準の特例を定める件第一号ロ（９）〜（１１） · Checked on 2026-10-22
For Japanese, the guideline accepts any of JLPT N2 or higher, BJT 400 points or more, or 200 points or more on the EJU Japanese section as showing B2-equivalent ability, alongside other accepted routes.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（出入国在留管理庁）別紙４２（１） · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-04-15
The ordinance limits Legal/Accounting Services to work as a lawyer, judicial scrivener, land and house investigator, registered foreign lawyer, CPA, foreign CPA, tax accountant, labor and social security attorney, patent attorney, maritime agent or administrative scrivener.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）表法律・会計業務の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
For a certificate-of-eligibility application, Category 1 proof is a Shikiho copy or other listing evidence, a government establishment approval, or an innovation-firm certificate (among other listed documents); Category 2 needs the prior-year wage summary copy, plus the online-system approval notice for organisations that qualified through that route; Category 3 needs the summary copy; with no proof the applicant is Category 4.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Category 3 and 4 employers additionally submit a company registry certificate, a document describing the business, the latest financial statements (or a business plan for a new business), a document on the work and pay, and the applicant's history and education evidence.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Category 4 employers must also explain why they cannot submit the prior-year wage summary, using either a withholding exemption certificate or a payroll-office opening notice with recent withholding payment slips.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-23

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The payroll evidence for a Category 4 employer is a copy of the payroll office opening notice plus either the last three months of withholding tax payment slips with a receipt stamp or proof of approval for the special semi-annual payment schedule.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Professor filings are split into Category 1 for full-time university staff and Category 2 for part-time staff; Category 1 needs no other documents in principle, and Category 2 submits a statement of activity, period, position and pay prepared by the university.
在留資格「教授」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-23
An Artist applicant shows the activity through a contract stating content, period, position and pay or, with no contract, a self-written statement of the planned activity and expected income, and supports it with a detailed artistic résumé and any of the following: recommendation, press coverage, prizes or a works list.
在留資格「芸術」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Religious Activities applicants submit a dispatch letter from the foreign religious body showing period, position and pay, outlines of the sending and receiving bodies, and proof of the person's clerical status and career.
在留資格「宗教」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Journalist filings have two categories: Category 1 when the foreign news organisation already employs a staff member holding a foreign press registration card from the MOFA press secretary, and Category 2 for everyone else.
在留資格「報道」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Journalist applicants prove the activity by a dispatch statement from the foreign news organisation, a Japanese labour-conditions notice if hired in Japan, or the freelance contract, plus an outline of the news organisation.
在留資格「報道」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
To show how the overseas and Japanese offices are related, the transferee submits the branch registration for a same-corporation transfer, the investment relationship for a secondment to a Japanese company, or both the Japan-office proof and capital relationship for a secondment to a foreign company with a Japanese office.
在留資格「企業内転勤」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Activity evidence for a transfer within one corporation is a copy of the transfer order or appointment notice; for a transfer between different corporations it is the labour-conditions notice issued under the Labor Standards Act.
在留資格「企業内転勤」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The transferee also provides a résumé, a document from the last overseas employer showing duties, position and pay for the past year, proof that the overseas office exists, proof of the Japanese office, and the latest financial statements.
在留資格「企業内転勤」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Evidence differs by occupation: pilots submit an employer document proving 250 or more flight hours, sports coaches submit proof of coaching practice or participation in an Olympic, world or other international competition, and sommeliers submit employment proof plus a competition or qualification document.
在留資格「技能」調理師以外の活動を行おうとする場合在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Minister of Justice notice lists Japanese exams that exempt IT applicants from the degree test: the Registered Information Security Specialist exam and the national information-processing engineer exams from IT Strategist down to Fundamental Information Technology Engineer and Information Security Management, plus older predecessor exams.
上陸基準省令の技術・人文知識・国際業務の在留資格に係る基準の特例を定める件第一号イ · Checked on 2026-10-22
The notice also designates exams run in China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Mongolia and Bangladesh.
上陸基準省令の技術・人文知識・国際業務の在留資格に係る基準の特例を定める件第二号〜第十号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Also designated are the Certified IT Project Manager credential of the Singapore Computer Society (item 11) and, from the Korean Human Resources Development Service, the Engineer Information Processing and Industrial Engineer Information Processing qualifications (item 12).
上陸基準省令の技術・人文知識・国際業務の在留資格に係る基準の特例を定める件第十一号・第十二号 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Besides JLPT N2, BJT 400 and EJU 200, accepted proof of B2-level Japanese includes JPT 525, living in Japan 20 years or more as a mid-to-long-term resident, and completing Japanese compulsory education plus high school.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙４２(1) · Checked on 2026-10-23
At extension, a dispatched worker's file adds the dispatcher's ledger, the receiving company's ledger and a work status report to the labour-conditions notice and individual dispatch contract.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留期間更新許可申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Nursing Care certificate filings need a copy of the certified care worker registration certificate, the labour-conditions notice, an outline of the inviting facility, the representative declaration and, only for former technical interns, a skill-transfer declaration.
在留資格「介護」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
MHLW says a certified care worker qualifies through any of four routes, all ending in the national exam: training facility, practical experience (three years or more of care work plus training), welfare high school, and the EPA route.
国家試験受験資格に関する仕組み等について（社会保障審議会福祉部会福祉人材確保専門委員会資料２令和７年10月20日）介護福祉士の資格概要２ · Checked on 2026-10-23
The e-Gov revision list of the standards ordinance shows enforced amendments on 2023-08-01, 2024-04-26, 2024-06-10, 2025-09-30, 2025-10-16 and 2026-04-01 (the list also holds earlier ones), and a not-yet-enforced amendment dated 2027-04-01.
e-Gov法令API 上陸基準省令の改正履歴 law_revisions · Checked on 2026-10-22
For artistic performing work that is not a staged entertainment engagement (kogyo), the applicant must engage in one of four kinds of activity, advertising, producing broadcast programmes or films, commercial photography, or recording on commercial media, and must be paid at least as much as a Japanese person would receive.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）興行の項第三号 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Item 1-ro of the performing-arts standard offers several alternatives, among them an activity hosted by a national or local government body or specified public corporation or held in a school, one hosted by a body set up with public funds for cultural exchange, one held at a facility of 100,000 square metres or more that stages foreign-themed shows for tourists, and one held at a venue with no paid food service or hostess service that is non-profit or has seating for 100 or more.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）興行の項第一号ロ(1)〜(4) · Checked on 2026-10-23
Instructor filings use three categories: Category 1 for full-time staff at elementary, junior high, high, secondary and special-needs schools, Category 2 for full-time staff at other institutions, and Category 3 for part-time staff.
在留資格「教育」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Instructor evidence includes a degree or specialist-title certificate, a copy of the teaching licence, proof of 12 years of education in the language to be taught, or proof of 5 years of experience for other subjects.
在留資格「教育」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Medical filings use Category 1 for doctors and dentists and Category 2 for other professionals; a doctor or dentist shows a copy of the Japanese licence and others show a Japanese licence from a list of twelve occupations, and the employer shows an outline of the hospital or clinic with its permit date.
在留資格「医療」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Researcher filings need a résumé, proof of degree or of research experience including graduate study, or for transferees a document on the past year's duties and pay at the overseas office, plus the usual activity, business and financial documents by employer category.
在留資格「研究」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The common certificate-of-eligibility items are the application form, one photo and a stamped return envelope, and the activity must be shown by a labour-conditions notice issued under Labor Standards Act article 15, a director-pay resolution, or an organisation document for a branch transfer or non-company officer.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Career evidence is a résumé naming employers, duties and periods, plus a degree certificate or equivalent, employment certificates for related work, an IT exam certificate, or three years of related experience for foreign-culture work.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A vocational-school graduate must also submit proof of the senmonshi or koudo senmonshi title, and a senko-ka graduate proof of completing the advanced course.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）提出書類（専門学校卒業者） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Every extension filing includes a resident-tax assessment or non-assessment certificate and a tax payment certificate for the latest year, either one being enough if it shows both income and payment status.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留期間更新許可申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
At the first extension after moving to a Category 3 or 4 employer, the worker must add the activity documents, company registry, business outline and financial statements, and for Category 4 the reason for not filing the wage summary.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留期間更新許可申請 · Checked on 2026-10-22
To be allowed to land, a foreign national needs a valid passport and visa (unless exempt), an activity that is genuine and fits a residence status and its landing standards, a period of stay that meets the ministerial ordinance, and no ground for denial of landing.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ９ · Checked on 2026-10-22
For the professional work visas (including Engineer/Specialist, Medical, Instructor, Researcher and Nursing Care) the Japanese mission asks for a passport, visa application form, photo and the certificate of eligibility (original or copy, or the e-certificate), plus extra household-register papers for Chinese nationals.
就業査証：法律・会計業務、医療、研究、教育、技術・人文知識・国際業務、介護（外務省）必要書類 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A Skilled Labor visa applicant also gives the mission an employment contract and a résumé, in addition to the passport, form, photo and certificate of eligibility, and the MOFA page lists the periods 5 years, 3 years, 1 year and 3 months.
就業ビザ：技能（外務省）必要書類 · Checked on 2026-10-22
For an Entertainer visa the mission also asks for the contract, a career statement and documents proving the performing record, and the MOFA page ends its list of periods of stay with 15 days, which differs from the figure in the enforcement rules and on the ISA page.
就業査証：興行（外務省）滞在期間・必要書類 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Permission for activity outside the status is granted only if seven conditions all hold, including that the side work does not hinder the main activity, the person is actually doing the main activity, the side work is itself work that a skilled work status covers and is not in a nightlife-type business, and the employer of the main job consents.
資格外活動許可申請（出入国在留管理庁）資格外活動許可の要件（一般原則） · Checked on 2026-10-22
The enforcement regulations allow three kinds of permitted outside activity: up to 28 hours a week of work, activity within Instructor, Engineer/Specialist or Skilled Labor (sports instruction) for holders contracted with a local government, and any activity individually designated by the bureau chief with the employer's name and duties.
出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則第十九条第五項第一号〜第三号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The agency says a five-year period of stay is decided on points such as the record of Immigration Act notifications, the schooling of children of compulsory-school age, the past and expected length of stay, and, for work statuses, the business condition of the contracting organisation.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ１８（在留期間５年） · Checked on 2026-10-22
For a vocational-school graduate, an ISA example shows the examiner asking the employer about the education, career and pay of Japanese staff doing the same job and about the job advertisement, and the case was accepted when they were university graduates paid the same as the applicant.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙３３－１許可事例（13） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Permitted overseas-graduate examples in the ISA annex show monthly pay of about 200,000 to 1,700,000 yen, such as 200,000 for market-support work at a car maker, 250,000 for trade accounting and 300,000 for an interpreter-translator, but these are illustrations and not floors.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙３１許可事例 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Published permitted cases for Japanese university graduates working in a different field from their faculty include an education graduate working as an English conversation teacher, a business graduate doing translation and interpreting, and an engineering graduate doing consulting at a food company, which shows how flexibly the university link is judged.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙３２本邦の大学を卒業した留学生に係る事例許可事例（２）（４）（５） · Checked on 2026-10-22
For Japanese vocational-school graduates, the ISA lists refusals for a different major, such as an international-business course focused on English that led to real-estate sales and an international-communication and hospitality course that led to restaurant store management, because the studied subjects were not related to the duty.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）別紙３３－１不許可事例（専攻した科目との関連性が認められず）（４）（６） · Checked on 2026-10-22
To prove practical experience the ISA asks for an employment certificate or similar showing the period in related duties, and where the study period is counted it asks for a school certificate stating that the related subject was studied; for the foreign-culture route it separately asks for a document proving three years of related experience.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付申請（学歴又は職歴等を証明する文書） · Checked on 2026-10-22
A Skilled Labor cook shows experience with an employment certificate that must carry the employer's name, address and telephone number, covering the period in the skilled duty and including any study at a foreign school; where a public body issued a certificate, a copy is added, and for Chinese cooks the household register and professional qualification certificate.
在留資格「技能」調理師としての活動（出入国在留管理庁）申請人の職歴を証明する文書（１）料理人（タイを除く。）の場合 · Checked on 2026-10-22
For a sommelier the ISA asks for an employment certificate proving wine-evaluation experience plus one of three alternatives: proof of an excellent result in an international sommelier competition, proof of being a country's sole representative in one, or a certificate of a qualification designated by notice for those holding neither.
在留資格「技能」調理師以外の活動（出入国在留管理庁）申請人の職歴を証明する文書（４）ソムリエの場合 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A sports coach shows evidence of coaching practice, counting study at a foreign school and paid playing time, and separately a document proving participation as an athlete in the Olympics, world championships or other international competitions; a pilot shows an employer document proving at least 250 flight hours.
在留資格「技能」調理師以外の活動（出入国在留管理庁）申請人の職歴を証明する文書（２）パイロット（３）スポーツ指導者 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A foreign-trained nurse must be recognised by MHLW before taking the Japanese nurse examination, and the criteria include at least 12 years of schooling on entry, a course of three years or more, at least 102 credits, a school officially recognised in its country and, for people who did not finish Japanese junior and senior high school, Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1.
看護師国家試験受験資格認定基準（厚生労働省） 3．認定基準（1）〜（7） · Checked on 2026-10-22
The ISA lists four kinds of ground on which a Table 1 status such as a work status can be revoked: obtaining permission by false means, not doing the activity of the status while doing other activity, not doing the activity for a continuous period of three months, and residence-notification failures.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A（出入国在留管理庁）Ｑ６９ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Unless the person is a Japanese national or special permanent resident, the agency checks the Japanese-ability requirement against one of these: JLPT N2 or above, 400 or more points on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test, 20 or more years as a mid-to-long-term resident, graduation from a Japanese university or other higher-education institution, or completing Japanese compulsory education and graduating from a Japanese high school.
在留資格「経営・管理」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について（出入国在留管理庁）主な改正内容３（注２） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2025-10-16

Recent changes

The document set required for dispatched workers changed for applications filed from 9 March 2026, following a revised checklist.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」をもって派遣形態で就労する場合の取扱いについて記１ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-03-09
From applications filed on 15 April 2026, employers in category 3 or 4 must add extra documents, including a declaration about the organization's representative.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）お知らせ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-04-15
Since 1 April 2020 the Nursing Care landing standard no longer depends on the route by which the care worker qualification was obtained.
在留資格「介護」（出入国在留管理庁）備考 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2020-04-01
The Entertainer landing standard and the enforcement rules were amended with effect from 1 August 2023.
在留資格「興行」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について本文 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2023-08-01
The revised Business Manager standards took effect on 16 October 2025.
在留資格「経営・管理」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について本文 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-10-16
Before the October 2026 increase the fee was a flat 6,000 yen at the counter and 5,500 yen online.
特定技能制度に関するＱ＆Ａ（出入国在留管理庁） Q23 申請の手数料 · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-10-01
The Ministerial Ordinance on Standards was last amended by Ministry of Justice Ordinance No. 12 of Reiwa 8, effective 1 April 2026.
e-Gov法令API 上陸基準省令の改正履歴 law_revisions · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-04-01
The ISA revised the document list for Intra-company Transferee filings, and the new list has operated from 1 April 2026.
在留資格「企業内転勤」（出入国在留管理庁）参考資料 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-04-01

Show 21 more

The ISA-published text of the IT exam notice shows its latest amendment as Ministry of Justice Notice No. 118 of 20 July 2020, with no later amendment listed.
上陸基準省令の技術・人文知識・国際業務の在留資格に係る基準の特例を定める件最近改正 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2020-07-20
The ISA clarification guideline for Engineer/Specialist was first issued in March 2008 and last revised in April 2026, and its hotel annex was also last revised in April 2026.
「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（最終改定令和８年４月）表紙 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Business Manager applications received up to the day before the 16 October 2025 effective date and still under review continue to be judged under the pre-revision standard.
在留資格「経営・管理」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について施行に伴う留意点１ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-10-16
From April 2025 an MHLW notice lets technical interns and Specified Skilled Workers in care work in some home-visit services, in principle only with one or more years of care-facility experience and the employer meeting training, accompaniment, career, harassment and ICT conditions.
外国人介護人材の訪問系サービス従事における留意点について本文・四① · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-04-01
Ministry of Justice Ordinance No. 12 of Reiwa 8, effective 1 April 2026, widened the vocational-school routes in the standards to cover completion of an advanced course (senko-ka) as well as the specialised course, for Researcher, Instructor, Engineer/Specialist and Student.
上陸基準省令（令和8年4月1日施行版）令和八年法務省令第十二号 · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-04-01
In the version of the standards in force from 16 October 2025, the Engineer/Specialist vocational-school clause referred only to completion of the specialised course (senmon katei), without the advanced course.
上陸基準省令（令和7年10月16日施行版）改正前の条文（令和7年10月16日版） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2025-10-16
The 2026 amending ordinance consists only of an enforcement date of 1 April 2026 and carries no transitional measures, so no separate rule for earlier filings is written into the ordinance.
上陸基準省令（令和8年4月1日施行版）附則 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-04-01
A revision scheduled for 1 April 2027 splits Intra-company Transferee into item 1 (existing Engineer/Specialist-type work) and a new item 2 for staff in skill-acquiring work overseas for at least one year, whose total stay in Japan under item 2 must stay under one year.
上陸基準省令（令和9年4月1日施行予定版）企業内転勤の項第一号・第二号 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01
The 2027 revision shortens the Nursing Care standard to the pay requirement alone, dropping the skill-transfer clause for former technical interns.
上陸基準省令（令和9年4月1日施行予定版）介護の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01
The 2027 revision replaces the technical intern row of the standards with an Employment-for-Skill-Development row requiring an approved training plan and good conduct, while the Skilled Labor clause itself shows no change in the revision text.
上陸基準省令（令和9年4月1日施行予定版）育成就労の項 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01
The revision ordinance No. 45 of Reiwa 7 takes effect on the date the amended Immigration Act and Technical Intern Training Act take effect, stated as 1 April 2027.
上陸基準省令（令和9年4月1日施行予定版）附則第一条 · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2027-04-01
The ISA dispatch-work notice linked from the Engineer/Specialist page was last updated on 13 July 2026, and the revised checklist took effect for filings from 9 March 2026.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）参考資料 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-03-09
From 1 December 2023 the ISA sorts inviting organisations for standard 1-i certificate applications into Category 1, those that have previously received a certificate under that standard, and Category 2, everyone else, with different document lists; a refusal for failing the organisation tests sends the organisation back to Category 2.
在留資格「興行」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について基準１号イ運用方法 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2023-12-01
For Researcher filings from 15 April 2026, Category 3 and 4 employers must add the representative declaration, as for Engineer/Specialist.
在留資格「研究」（出入国在留管理庁）お知らせ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-04-15
For residence cards issued from 14 June 2026 an application photo is required from age 1; before then it was required only from age 16.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格変更許可申請（写真） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-06-14
The Hello Work notification forms were reissued with a 14 June 2026 date and a further set of forms is to be used from 1 April 2027, so employers filing after that date must use the new version.
「外国人雇用状況の届出」について（厚生労働省）様式 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01
From 1 April 2027 the Immigration Act lets the Minister revoke Permanent Resident status for a holder who breaches duties under the Act or deliberately does not pay public taxes and charges; this ground applies to Permanent Residents only, not to work-status holders, whose payment record is instead a factor at renewal.
出入国管理及び難民認定法（令和9年4月1日施行時点）第二十二条の四第一項第八号 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01
Act No. 60 of 2024 was promulgated on 21 June 2024 and is to take effect on 1 April 2027 except for some provisions; the ISA's page confirms that the permanent-residence revocation changes start on that date.
令和６年入管法等改正について（出入国在留管理庁）施行日 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01
Since 17 March 2023 the certificate of eligibility can be received by e-mail and forwarded to the applicant abroad, who can show the e-mail on a phone at the visa application and at the airport instead of a paper certificate.
在留資格認定証明書の電子化について（出入国在留管理庁）概要 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2023-03-17
In the ISA's summary of the implementing rules, Intra-company Transferee item 2 is a newly created status for staff of an overseas office who come to acquire skills, and it needs no approved training plan and no involvement of the Organization for Employment-for-Skill-Development.
育成就労制度の関係省令等について（出入国在留管理庁）企業内転勤２号 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01
The 1 April 2027 revision of the standards ordinance leaves the clauses for Engineer/Specialist/International Services, Skilled Labor, Instructor and Medical Services word-for-word the same as the current text, so a calculator needs no 2027 switch for them; the changes found elsewhere are for Intra-company Transferee, Nursing Care and the technical-intern row.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（令和9年4月1日施行時点）技術・人文知識・国際業務／技能／教育／医療の各項 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01

Information only. Not legal advice and not an official service. Check the official source and consult the Immigration Services Agency or a licensed administrative scrivener (行政書士) before you decide.