技術・人文知識・国際業務

Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services

WorkContent reviewed on 2026-10-23

What it allows

Work under a contract with a Japanese public or private organization that needs knowledge of the natural sciences or humanities, or thinking and sensitivity rooted in a foreign culture (such as translation, interpreting, language teaching, public relations, advertising, overseas trade, design and product development). Jobs that are mainly general service or factory work are not accepted.

Period of stay

5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months.

Requirements

A continuing contract with a Japanese public or private organization for the work (employment, mandate, outsourcing or commission)
A university degree (or equivalent) in a subject related to the job, completion of a related course at a Japanese vocational school, or 10 or more years of related practical experience (study time counts). Foreign-culture work such as translation, interpreting and design needs 3 or more years of related experience, except for a university graduate doing translation, interpreting or language teaching. A designated IT exam can replace the degree for IT work: see the official source
Pay equal to or higher than a Japanese national would receive for the same work · Confirm with the official source
The main activity must need this kind of knowledge; jobs that are mainly general service or factory work do not qualify (initial on-the-job training outside the status is allowed within limits) · Confirm with the official source
If the main duty is dealing with people in a language (such as interpreting or hotel front desk), ability at about CEFR B2 in that language; for Japanese, JLPT N2, BJT 400 or EJU Japanese 200 are accepted · Confirm with the official source

Where this can lead

Related rulebook entries

What it is

For work statuses such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, ISA sorts the receiving organisation into Categories 1 to 4: Category 1 covers listed companies, government bodies, independent administrative agencies and similar; Category 2 covers organisations whose withholding income tax on salaries in the previous year was 10,000,000 yen or more, or that were approved for the online system with category screening.
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（カテゴリー） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Category 3 is an organisation that filed the previous year's salary withholding statement summary but is not in Category 2, and Category 4 is any organisation that fits none of the others; if no document proving a higher category can be submitted, the application is treated as 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（カテゴリー） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Under Enforcement Regulation Appended Table 4 (Article 6-2), the proxy who may file a COE for most work statuses is a staff member of the Japanese organisation that contracts with the foreign national or that the person is transferring to; for Business Manager it is staff of the business office, or the entrusted person when a new office is being set up.
出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則別表第四（第六条の二関係）（出入国在留管理庁掲載の抄録）別表第四（第6条の2関係） · Checked on 2026-10-22
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
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

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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
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
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 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
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
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 agency says the length of stay is decided by factors that differ by status but generally rest on whether notification duties were met, whether taxes and public charges were paid, and the size of the sponsoring institution.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A Q18 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Partly confirmed: A March 2015 ISA notice defines Category 2 by withholding tax of 15,000,000 yen or more on the prior-year statutory report, which is higher than the threshold on the current ISA status pages.
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

Who qualifies

Categories 1 and 2 are in principle exempt from the extra evidence documents, so they file the application form, photo, return envelope and proof of their category (for example a Shikiho copy or the previous year's withholding summary), while Categories 3 and 4 must add the documents about the work, the applicant and the company.
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（提出書類） · Checked on 2026-10-23
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

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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
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
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
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
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 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
The landing standard for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services requires, for technical or humanities work, a degree in a major related to the job or equivalent education (a related vocational-college course or ten years of experience are alternatives), and pay equal to or above that of Japanese staff doing the same work.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第7条第1項第2号の基準を定める省令法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
A graduate of a vocational college course with the professional title (senmon-shi) meets the education requirement if the job matches the status and relates to the major, and a graduate of an overseas university also meets it.
出入国審査・在留審査Q&A Q42 · Checked on 2026-10-22

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
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

Periods

For COEs approved in August 2026 the average days from receipt to issue were 47.1 for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, 26.9 for Professor, 45.6 for Researcher, 29.8 for Instructor, 34.8 for Intra-company Transferee, 50.4 for Nursing Care, 72.1 for Skilled Labor and 62.6 for Medical Services.
在留審査処理期間（令和8年8月許可分）（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付処分（交付）までの日数 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Of the 10 years, at least 5 continuous years must have been spent in a work-purpose status or a residence-type status.
永住許可に関するガイドライン（令和８年１０月１日改定）第2の5(6) · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01
For permits granted in August 2026, the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status averaged 47.1 days for a certificate of eligibility, 41.0 days for an extension and 51.3 days for a change of status, measured to the notice of approval.
在留審査処理期間（日数）令和8年8月許可分（出入国在留管理庁）令和8年8月許可分 · Checked on 2026-10-22
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
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

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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
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
The period of stay for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services is one of 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」在留期間 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Deadlines

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

Fees

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

How it works

Certificates issued in Japan must be dated within three months of filing, foreign-language documents need a Japanese translation, submitted materials are generally not returned, and when the name on the COE application differs from the passport spelling a passport copy should be filed with it to avoid delays.
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（留意事項） · Checked on 2026-10-22
MOFA lists the documents for a working visa as the passport, one application form, one photo and the original or a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility (an electronic COE may be shown on screen or printed); some nationalities, such as Chinese applicants, must add other papers.
Working visa（外務省 Visa） Necessary documents · Checked on 2026-10-22
A foreign resident with a non-HSP status can apply for a change of status to No. 1 (i), (ro) or (ha), which is granted if the activity qualifies, the points reach 70 and the past stay record has no problem.
高度人材ポイント制Ｑ＆Ａ（令和８年４月時点）問47 · Checked on 2026-10-22
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
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

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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
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
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
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
Partly confirmed: A March 2015 Immigration Bureau notice (the ISA predecessor, still on the ISA site) says certificate-of-eligibility applications from Category 1 or 2 employers are simplified and aimed to be processed in about ten days from receipt; current practice may differ.
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

Lists and tables

For a Certificate of Eligibility application, Categories 3 and 4 must also submit a document showing the work terms (a labour conditions notice, officer pay resolution or transfer letter), proof of education or career history, the company registry certificate, a document describing the business, and the latest financial statements or a business plan for a new business.
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（カテゴリー３・４の提出書類） · Checked on 2026-10-23
ISA treats CEFR B2 Japanese as met by JLPT N2 or higher, 400 points on the BJT, 200 on the Japanese-language portion of EJU, 525 on the JPT, 20 or more years as a mid- to long-term resident, graduating from a Japanese university or completing a specialised course at a Japanese technical college or vocational school, or completion of compulsory education and high school in Japan.
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（注１ CEFR B2相当とみなす場合） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-04-15
Holders of Highly Skilled Professional 1(a)/(b) and 2(a)/(b), Researcher, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Nursing Care, Entertainer (when working under a contract with a domestic organization), Skilled Labor and Specified Skilled Worker status report changes of their contracting organization (group B).
所属機関等に関する届出・所属機関による届出Ｑ＆Ａ（出入国在留管理庁） Bグループ · Checked on 2026-10-22
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

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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Employers are sorted into four categories for filing: listed companies and public bodies in category 1, employers with withholding tax of 10,000,000 yen or more in category 2, employers that filed withholding statements in category 3 and all others in category 4; the documents to submit differ by category, and categories 1 and 2 generally need no further materials.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」提出書類カテゴリー · Checked on 2026-10-22
For Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services applications from 15 April 2026 by category 3 or 4 employers, the CEFR B2-equivalent Japanese proof for language-based jobs is deemed met by JLPT N2, BJT 400, EJU Japanese 200, JPT 525, 20 years as a mid- to long-term resident, a Japanese university or vocational college degree, or finishing compulsory education and high school in Japan.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」お知らせ注1 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-04-15

Recent changes

For applications from 15 April 2026, Category 3 and 4 organisations must add a declaration about their representative, and for jobs that mainly use language skills with people (such as interpreting or hotel front desk) evidence of CEFR B2-level ability in the working language.
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（令和８年４月１５日以降の申請） · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-04-15
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
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
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

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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 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
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 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
For applications from 15 April 2026, employers in category 3 or 4 must add a statement from the head of the organization and, for jobs mainly using language skills with people, proof of B2-level ability in the working language.
在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」お知らせ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-04-15

Open the official page ↗ · As of 2026-10-23

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.