“I want to hire a foreigner, but will our company’s job duties qualify for a working visa?”
“I want to work in Japan, but does the job I want fall under the ‘Gijinkoku’ visa category?”
When foreigners work as company employees in Japan, the most commonly used visa is the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (commonly known as Gijinkoku) visa. However, you cannot do just any job simply by joining a Japanese company.
In this article, we thoroughly explain the types of jobs permitted under the Gijinkoku visa with an extensive list of examples, as well as the boundary lines of “unpermitted jobs” (simple labor) that must be avoided.
1. Examples of Professions Permitted by the Working Visa [By Field]
The Gijinkoku visa is broadly divided into three categories: “Engineer (Science/IT)”, “Specialist in Humanities (Liberal Arts)”, and “International Services (Language/Cross-cultural)”. Here is a list of representative professions permitted in each field.
① “Engineer” Field Job List (Science, IT, etc.)
Tasks requiring knowledge of science, engineering, or other natural sciences.
- IT Engineers (Programmers, System Engineers, Infrastructure Engineers, etc.)
- Mechanical/Electronic Device Design & Development Engineers
- Architectural/Civil Designers, Construction Managers (excluding manual labor)
- CAD Operators
- AI Engineers, Data Scientists
- Automobile or Aircraft Design/Analysis Technicians
- Research & Development (R&D) at Chemical/Materials Manufacturers
- Quality Control/Product Development Technicians at Food Manufacturers
② “Specialist in Humanities” Field Job List (Liberal Arts, Back Office, etc.)
Tasks requiring knowledge of humanities such as economics, law, or sociology. Most corporate office jobs fall here.
- Corporate Sales (B2B Sales, requiring specialized product knowledge)
- Marketing, Market Research, Data Analysis
- Accounting, Finance
- Human Resources (HR), Labor Management, General Affairs
- Legal Affairs, Compliance Management
- Corporate Planning, Business Strategy Consultants
- Trade Office Work, Supply Chain Management (SCM)
③ “International Services” Field Job List (Language, Design, etc.)
Tasks utilizing foreign language skills or sensibilities based on foreign cultures.
- Translators / Interpreters (Manual translation, conference interpretation, etc.)
- Language Instructors at Language Schools (e.g., teaching native language)
- Inbound Tourism Planning & Promotion
- Customer Support for Overseas Clients (Advanced language skills required)
- Fashion Designers, Interior Designers
- Overseas Copywriters, Game Localization
2. [Warning] “Simple Labor” is NEVER Permitted
The most important point to remember about the working visa is that “simple labor” (manual or operational tasks) is strictly prohibited. For example, if the main duties consist of the following, the visa will be rejected:
- Hall staff or kitchen assistants at restaurants
- Cashiers or shelf stockers at convenience stores/supermarkets
- Line work, inspection, or packing on a factory floor
- Hotel room cleaning, bed making, or carrying luggage
- Civil engineering labor or physical work at construction sites
Positions like “Hotel Front Desk” or “Restaurant Manager” may be permitted, but they strongly require elements of customer service utilizing foreign languages or business management. If deemed merely a floor worker, the application will be denied.
3. Even if on the list, a “Mismatch with Major” means NG
Finally, there is a very critical point. “Just because ‘Programmer’ is a permitted job doesn’t mean anyone can become a programmer.”
During immigration screening, examiners strictly check whether the “subjects majored in at university or vocational school (academic background)” logically match the “actual job duties.” It is extremely difficult for an Economics graduate with no experience to suddenly get a visa as an IT Engineer.
Judging whether a company’s job duties qualify for a working visa and whether they match the candidate’s educational background requires a deep understanding of immigration law and past screening practices. Careful verification and legal scrutiny beforehand are necessary to avoid the trouble of “hiring someone who cannot work because their visa was rejected.”