This residency status is one of the most common types, broadly defined to welcome general and highly skilled workers to Japan, regardless of whether they are in humanities or sciences, technical or administrative roles.
The specific character profile is,
- Engineers in electronics, biotechnology, etc.,
- Administrative staff
- Interpreter and Translator
- Language instructor
- Public Relations
- Advertising
- Sales
- International transactions
- Designs pertaining to apparel or interior decoration
- Individuals engaged in tasks such as product development
etc.
To obtain a status of residence, the following requirements must be met.
- meets the specifications and conditions
- Depending on the category to which the Japanese company you plan to work for belongs
- Submit documents
Requirements (Eligibility for Residence Status and Ministerial Ordinance Standards)
Individuals qualifying for the Technical/Humanities/International Services visa are determined by a dual standard: eligibility under the Immigration Control Act and compliance with the Ministerial Ordinance criteria. They must satisfy both sets of requirements. Which items belong to which set of requirements is not fundamentally important; what matters is meeting both sets. The following is a logically consistent interpretation and summary of these dual requirements.
Broadly speaking, it can be divided into two cases.
- For occupations requiring knowledge or skills in the natural sciences or humanities
- For work requiring thinking or sensibilities based on foreign cultures
For occupations requiring knowledge or skills in the natural sciences or humanities
You must meet one of the following criteria.
- Graduated from university with a major in related subjects
- Having completed a specialized course at a Japanese vocational school with a major in a related subject
- Over 10 years of practical experience
- Information Processing Qualifications
Natural Sciences and Humanities
Natural sciences refer to the so-called science disciplines, encompassing all fields of science such as agriculture, medicine, astronomy, physics, mathematics, engineering, chemistry, and so forth.
Humanities refers to the so-called liberal arts disciplines, encompassing all fields of study in the humanities such as literature, sociology, economics, and political science.
For work requiring thinking or sensitivity based on foreign cultures
Both of the following conditions must be met.
- Translation and interpretation, language instruction, public relations, advertising or international business operations, design related to apparel or interior decoration, product development, and other similar activities.
- At least three years of practical experience (Exceptions: University graduates engaged in translation, interpretation, or language instruction)
Common Conditions
Whether the occupation requires knowledge or skills in natural sciences or humanities, or whether the work requires thinking or sensibilities based on foreign cultures, there are common necessary conditions.
- Compensation equivalent to or higher than that of Japanese nationals.
Compensation refers to payments that have the nature of remuneration for labor; anything else does not constitute compensation.
Exceptions to Compensation
- Commuting allowance
- Dependent Allowance
- Housing allowance
Category Classification of Japanese Companies Intended for Employment and Supporting Documentation
The Immigration Control Act classifies companies where foreign nationals plan to work into four tiers based on their credit rating. Depending on this tier, the amount of supporting documentation required for applications is reduced or waived, with higher credit ratings receiving greater reductions. This establishes a uniform, efficient, and effective immigration administration system.
The credit rating level affects the number of documents required for application and influences the difficulty of the application process. However, it does not determine the application outcome on its own; the final decision is made based on the submitted supporting documents and evidence. Therefore, the content of the application itself is by far the most important factor.
You will need documentation proving your eligibility for that category, and in addition to that, separate documents for the residence status application.
――――――――――Corporate Categories――――――――――
――――――――Evidence Demonstrating Relevance to the Category――――――――
Documents required for application
The documents required for application vary depending on the category of the Japanese company you plan to work for, as described above. They also differ based on whether you are applying to obtain a new status of residence (landing permission, issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility, or permission to change status of residence) or whether you currently hold the Technical/Humanities/International Services status of residence and are applying to renew it (renewal permission).
Category 1
- (Landing Permission, Certificate of Eligibility Issuance, Change of Status of Residence Permission)
- (Update Permission)
Category 2
- (Landing Permission, Certificate of Eligibility Issuance, Change of Status of Residence Permission)
- (Update Permission)
Category 3
- (Landing Permission, Certificate of Eligibility Issuance, Change of Status of Residence Permission)
- (Update Permission)
Category 4
- (Landing Permission, Certificate of Eligibility Issuance, Change of Status of Residence Permission)
- (Update Permission)