Visa & Entry
Work visas for Japan
就労ビザしゅうろうびざshūrō bizaThe job decides the status
To work in Japan, a foreign national needs a residence status that covers the job, such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Intra-company Transferee, Highly Skilled Professional or Specified Skilled Worker. Most are obtained through a Certificate of Eligibility applied for in Japan, usually by the employer, followed by a visa from a Japanese embassy.
Japan does not issue a general work permit. Instead, each residence status (zairyū shikaku) defines which activities are allowed, and the job must fit the status. A software developer, a marketing specialist and an interpreter can all fall under the same status, while a cook, a researcher or a company founder each need a different one.
For the applicant, the process usually starts with the employer in Japan, which applies to the Immigration Services Agency for a Certificate of Eligibility. With that certificate, the visa is issued quickly at a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad. Requirements are set by the agency and have been changed several times in recent years.
Step by step
- 1Secure a job offerObtain a contract or offer from an employer in Japan for work that fits a residence status.
- 2Apply for the Certificate of EligibilityThe employer or its representative applies at the regional immigration services bureau with documents on the company, the job and your qualifications.
- 3Apply for the visaOnce the certificate is issued, apply for the visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence.
- 4Enter JapanEnter within the validity of the certificate and visa; at major airports you receive the residence card on arrival.
- 5Register and renewRegister your address at the municipal office within 14 days, and apply for renewal before the period of stay expires.
The main work statuses
More than a dozen statuses permit employment. The ones below cover most foreign professionals and workers. Each status carries a period of stay, typically between three months and five years, which can be renewed while the conditions continue to be met.
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
技術・人文知識・国際業務gijutsu, jinbun chishiki, kokusai gyōmuFor graduate-level work in engineering, IT, business, law, marketing, translation, language teaching in companies and similar fields; usually requires a relevant degree or years of experience.
Intra-company Transferee
For employees transferred from a foreign branch or parent company to its Japanese office.
Highly Skilled Professional
A points-based status with preferential treatment for researchers, specialists and managers.
Business Manager
For those who run or manage a business in Japan, with capital, staff and experience requirements.
Specified Skilled Worker (i) and (ii)
For designated sectors with labour shortages, such as care, construction, food service and manufacturing; requires skills and Japanese tests.
Skilled Labour, Instructor, Professor, Researcher
Separate statuses for chefs of foreign cuisine, school teachers, university staff and researchers.
Certificate of Eligibility
The Certificate of Eligibility confirms in advance that the applicant meets the conditions for a status. It is normally applied for at a regional immigration services bureau by the employer or a representative, with documents about the company, the job and the applicant's qualifications. Processing typically takes one to three months. The certificate can be issued electronically and must be used within its validity.
With the certificate, the applicant applies for a visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in the country of residence. Germans, Austrians and Swiss apply at the Japanese missions in their own countries.
Highly Skilled Professionals
The Highly Skilled Professional status awards points for academic background, professional experience, annual salary, age, research achievements, Japanese ability and other factors. Candidates with 70 points or more qualify. Benefits include a five-year period of stay, permission for a wider range of activities, and a shorter route to permanent residence. A special route, J-Skip, introduced in 2023, grants the status to people with very high income combined with advanced degrees or extensive experience, without the points calculation.
Recent and coming changes
Since 16 October 2025, the Business Manager status requires substantially higher capital, at least one full-time employee, relevant management experience or a relevant degree, and Japanese ability at B2 level held by the applicant or a full-time employee; existing holders have a transition period until October 2028.
Since 15 April 2026, applications for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status must in certain cases include proof of Japanese at JLPT N2 level (CEFR B2): where the work consists mainly of dealing with people in Japanese and the employer belongs to the smaller company categories. From April 2027 the Technical Intern Training programme is to be replaced by a new system, Employment for Skill Development, designed as a route into the Specified Skilled Worker status.
The level named in the 2026 Japanese requirement.
Setting up a business in Japan.
Alternatives for young people and remote workers
Young Germans and Austrians can use the working holiday programme to work in Japan for up to a year without a job offer. Remote workers employed abroad can use the six-month digital nomad status. Neither route requires a Certificate of Eligibility.
For 18- to 30-year-olds from partner countries.
Six months of remote work for foreign employers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I look for a job in Japan on a visa-free stay?
Job interviews and meetings are allowed during a short stay, but paid work is not. If an employer is found, the Certificate of Eligibility is applied for in Japan and the visa usually issued abroad.
Do I need a university degree to work in Japan?
For the Engineer/Specialist status, generally a relevant degree or several years of relevant experience is required. Other statuses, such as Specified Skilled Worker, rely on skills and language tests instead.
Do I need to speak Japanese for a work visa?
Not for every status. Since April 2026, however, some Engineer/Specialist applications for mainly interpersonal work require JLPT N2 level, and Specified Skilled Worker requires a Japanese test.
How long does the process take?
The Certificate of Eligibility typically takes one to three months, followed by a few working days for the visa. Timing varies by bureau and season.
Related
Sources
- 1.Status of Residence – Immigration Services Agency of Japan (opens in a new tab) — 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency)
- 2.在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 (opens in a new tab) — 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency)
- 3.Points-based Preferential Immigration Treatment for Highly-Skilled Foreign Professionals (opens in a new tab) — Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- 4.Specified Skilled Worker (opens in a new tab) — Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- 5.VISA – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (opens in a new tab) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan