“I want to hire an excellent engineer, but he doesn’t have a university degree. Can he get a Japanese visa based solely on practical experience?”
To conclude: Yes, it is possible. Even without a university degree or vocational diploma, you can generally obtain an “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” visa in Japan if you can prove “10 or more years of practical experience.” (*Note: The requirement is 3 years for International Services, such as translation/interpretation).
However, proving this “10 years” is the exact point where Immigration suspects forgery the most. Half-hearted documents will result in an immediate denial. This article explains the precise strategies required to overcome the academic barrier.
1. The “10-Year” Count Rule: Immigration’s Definition of Experience
The “10 years” recognized by Immigration is not simply the total time you have been a working adult. Only “the period engaged in specialized duties related to the work you intend to do in Japan” is counted.
For example, if you intend to work as an IT engineer in Japan, not a single day spent as a “restaurant manager” or doing “factory line work” over the past 10 years will be counted. Furthermore, periods spent at educational institutions majoring in related subjects can be included, but this consistency is also strictly scrutinized.
2. The Absolute Evidence: The Resolution of the “Certificate of Employment”
The single greatest weapon to prove 10 years of experience is the “Certificate of Employment” (在職証明書) issued by past employers. However, simply having the “dates” and a “company seal” is insufficient.
To convince Immigration, the certificate must accurately detail the following:
- Specific Job Duties: It must clearly state that you performed specialized tasks directly related to Japanese visa requirements, such as “System Development” or “Database Design.”
- Exact Period of Employment: If you have moved between multiple companies, falling short of 10 years (120 months) by even a single day will result in a denial.
- Signature and Official Seal of the Issuer: Contact information for the issuing company and the issuer’s title are mandatory to prevent forgery. Immigration often makes direct phone calls to past overseas employers to verify.
3. Alternative Measures When Past Companies are “Bankrupt” or “Uncooperative”
The most difficult practical scenario is when “the old company has already gone bankrupt” or “they refuse to issue a certificate due to a dispute upon resignation.” Periods without a Certificate of Employment are generally excluded from your practical experience.
To overturn this desperate situation, you must use official government records as alternative proof.
- Official Tax and Pension Records: Use public documents to prove that you were definitely enrolled in that company and receiving a salary during that period.
- Employment Contracts and Pay Slips from the Time: Gather any contract documents you have kept personally.
- Attaching a Detailed Letter of Explanation: Logically explain why the certificate cannot be issued and assert the validity of the alternative documents.
[Advice from an Expert]
The “10 years of practical experience” route is an area where Immigration is highly vigilant, noting it as “an area with many forged documents.” If the formats of the certificates submitted from multiple companies look unnaturally similar, or if a company’s website does not exist, the application can easily be treated as fraudulent. Before making a job offer, companies must conduct thorough background checks to ensure the foreign candidate’s past history can be “proven for the full 10 years, without a single month’s gap, using official evidence.”