Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services Visa

1. Nature and Purpose of the Visa

The Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services status is designed for foreign nationals employed by Japanese companies in positions that require specialized academic knowledge, professional skills, or international expertise.

The Immigration Bureau evaluates applications based on the substance of the job duties, not the job title or industry name.

2. Core Requirements for Status Change

Applicants changing from a Student visa must generally satisfy all of the following:

1. Relevance between academic background and job duties A logical connection between major studies and job responsibilities Explanatory documents are required if the connection is indirect
2. Stability and legitimacy of the employer The company must be legally established and operating Job duties must align with the company’s business activities
3. Appropriate employment conditions Salary must be comparable to Japanese new graduate standards Working conditions must comply with Japanese labor laws

3. Examples of Acceptable Job Categories

Commonly accepted positions include:

• Software engineers, system developers, IT specialists
• Marketing, planning, data analysis, branding roles
• Translation, interpretation, overseas business coordination
• Design, content planning, media-related professions

Positions often subject to rejection:

• Clerical or routine administrative work
• Sales or service roles without professional requirements
• Jobs inconsistent with stated contract duties

4. Key Documents Reviewed by Immigration

Immigration authorities carefully examine:

• Employment contract or job offer letter
• Employer business description and registration documents
• Detailed job description
• Academic transcripts and graduation certificate
• Written explanation of academic–job relevance

5. Common Reasons for Rejection

• Job deemed not to require university-level expertise
• No clear connection between studies and work
• Employer’s business scale inconsistent with position
• Salary significantly below industry norms

6. Recommended Timeline

Preparation should begin 3–6 months before graduation, allowing sufficient time to prepare explanation documents and avoid residency gaps.