How to Get a Work Visa in Japan: The Complete Guide for Foreigners (2026)

Japan has one of the most structured and well-documented immigration systems in the world. For foreigners who want to live and work here legally, that structure is actually a good thing — once you understand how it works, the path from application to approval is predictable and manageable. The confusion mostly comes from not knowing where to start.

This guide walks you through everything: the different types of work visas, who qualifies for each one, exactly how the application process works, what documents you need, and what to expect once you arrive. Whether you are a software engineer, an English teacher, a chef, a nurse, or a business owner, this guide has the visa category and step-by-step process that applies to you.

The Fundamental Rule: You Need a Job Offer First

Before diving into visa types and paperwork, there is one rule that surprises many people new to Japan immigration: you generally cannot apply for a work visa without first securing a job offer from a Japanese employer.

Unlike some countries where skilled worker visas allow you to enter and then look for work, Japan's work visa system is employer-sponsored. The process works in reverse of what many foreigners expect:

1. You find a job in Japan

2. Your Japanese employer applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) on your behalf

3. You use the COE to apply for your work visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country

4. You enter Japan on that visa and begin work

This means job hunting comes first — before any immigration paperwork begins. The only exceptions are a small number of visa categories such as the Digital Nomad Visa, the J-Find (Future Creation Individual) Visa, and the Working Holiday Visa, which allow entry before securing local employment.

Understanding Japan's Work Visa Categories

Japan does not have a single visa called a "work visa." Instead, the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) has established specific statuses of residence — currently 19 work-related categories — each tied to a particular type of professional activity. You must apply for the status that matches the actual work you will be doing. Applying under the wrong category is grounds for rejection.

Here are the most important and most commonly used categories for foreign workers.

1. Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services (技術・人文知識・国際業務)

This is by far the most common work visa for foreign professionals in Japan, and the one that most readers of this guide will be applying for.

Despite the long name, the category covers an enormous range of white-collar professions. It essentially captures any work that requires specialized knowledge in technical fields (engineering, IT, science) or in the humanities (law, economics, business, education), as well as roles that require cross-cultural or international expertise.

Who this covers:

• Software engineers and IT developers

• System architects and IT consultants

• Foreign language instructors and English teachers at private companies (not public schools — that uses a separate designation)

• Translators and interpreters

• Designers, web designers, and UX professionals

• Marketing and international sales professionals

• Finance, accounting, and legal specialists

• International business coordinators

Key requirements:

• A bachelor's degree (or higher) in a field related to your job, OR

• Ten or more years of work experience in the relevant field (for humanities roles, three years of experience suffices for international services work)

• A full-time employment contract with a Japanese company

• The job must genuinely require the specialized knowledge your degree or experience provides

The "relevance" requirement — that your degree relates to your job — is one of the most common reasons applications get rejected. Immigration officers will look closely at whether your academic background logically connects to the role you are being hired for. An IT engineer with a computer science degree is straightforward. A marketing professional who studied economics is also generally fine. But an art history graduate applying for an engineering role will face serious scrutiny.

The initial visa is typically granted for one, three, or five years and can be renewed indefinitely.

2. Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職, HSP)

The Highly Skilled Professional visa is Japan's points-based immigration route, designed to attract top-tier global talent quickly and reward them with a fast track to permanent residency.

Rather than assessing eligibility through a job title or single qualification, HSP uses a scoring table that adds points for education level, work experience, annual income, age, Japanese language proficiency, and additional achievements like patents or publications. The minimum qualifying score is 70 points.

HSP is divided into three tracks:

• HSP (i)(a) — Advanced Academic Research: For researchers, professors, and those engaged in specialized education

• HSP (i)(b) — Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities: For engineers, technical professionals, and private-sector specialists

• HSP (i)(c) — Advanced Business Management: For company executives and business managers (note: stricter requirements apply as of October 2025 — see below)

Why HSP matters:

A score of 70 points qualifies for HSP status and cuts the permanent residency timeline from the standard 10 years down to 3 years. A score of 80 or more reduces it further to just 1 year. For anyone with serious long-term plans in Japan, this is one of the most powerful advantages in the immigration system.

Additional HSP benefits include a five-year residence period from the start, permission for the holder's spouse to work (even outside the HSP holder's field), the ability to bring parents to Japan under certain conditions, and priority processing for immigration procedures.

Important 2025 update — HSP (i)(c) / Business Manager:

As of October 16, 2025, the requirements for Business Manager visa holders and those applying for HSP (i)(c) with management activities became significantly stricter. Applicants must now employ at least one full-time worker, maintain capital of ¥30 million or more, demonstrate Japanese language proficiency at approximately JLPT N2 level, and have their business plan certified by a qualified third party. Extended absences from Japan without valid justification can now lead to renewal denial on the grounds that the business is inactive.

Applications submitted before October 15, 2025 continue under the previous rules. Existing holders have a three-year grace period until October 16, 2028 to comply.

3. Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能, SSW)

The Specified Skilled Worker program was introduced in 2019 to address Japan's severe labor shortages in industries that struggle to attract Japanese workers. It is structured differently from other work visas — instead of requiring a degree or prior experience in a white-collar profession, it assesses candidates through skills tests and Japanese language evaluations.

There are two levels:

SSW1 (Specified Skilled Worker Level 1):

For workers in 16 designated industries including construction, food service and hospitality, agriculture, manufacturing, nursing care, and others. Requires passing a Japanese Language Proficiency Test (at least JLPT N4 level or equivalent) and an industry-specific skills evaluation test. Allows up to five years of cumulative stay. Family members cannot accompany the visa holder.

SSW2 (Specified Skilled Worker Level 2):

For 11 of those 16 industries. Requires a higher-level skills test. Allows indefinite renewal and permits family accompaniment. SSW2 holders can essentially remain in Japan long-term without any fixed expiry on their status, making it a viable route to permanent residency for skilled trade workers.

A common pathway is to begin with SSW1 and progress to SSW2 after demonstrating advanced proficiency.

4. Intra-Company Transferee (企業内転勤)

Designed for employees being relocated from an overseas office to a Japanese branch, subsidiary, or parent company of the same corporate group. The employee must have worked at the company continuously for at least one year before the transfer.

This visa is commonly used by multinationals bringing staff to their Tokyo or Osaka offices and by Japanese corporations bringing employees from overseas affiliates.

5. Business Manager (経営・管理)

For foreign nationals who plan to start a business in Japan or manage an existing one. This includes company presidents, directors, and executive managers.

As noted above, requirements became substantially stricter in October 2025. Key thresholds now include a minimum capital of ¥30 million, at least one full-time Japanese employee, a credible business plan verified by a qualified expert (CPA, SME consultant, or similar), and ongoing physical presence in Japan to demonstrate the business is genuinely active.

The previous ¥5 million capital minimum that many guides still reference is no longer sufficient under the revised framework.

6. Professor (教授)

For those engaged in teaching, research guidance, or research at universities, junior colleges, technical colleges, or similar higher education institutions in Japan. Covers both teaching faculty and research-focused academics.

Note that English teachers at private eikaiwa language schools or corporate training programs typically fall under the Engineer/Specialist/International Services category, not this one.

7. Instructor (教育)

For teachers at primary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and special needs schools. This category covers the majority of foreign English teachers working directly for public schools or through programs like the JET Programme (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme).

8. Researcher (研究)

For foreign nationals conducting research at private companies, government agencies, or research institutions. Separate from the Professor visa, which is limited to higher education settings.

9. Legal / Accounting Services (法律・会計業務)

Strictly for professionals licensed in Japan — attorneys (bengoshi), judicial scriveners, public accountants, and tax accountants. Foreign qualifications do not transfer. You must hold a Japanese license to use this status.

10. Skilled Labor (技能)

For workers with advanced, specialized practical skills not commonly available in Japan. Occupations are strictly limited by law and currently include foreign chefs (with a minimum of 10 years of experience in a foreign cuisine), aircraft pilots (with at least 250 flight hours and a valid pilot license), sports instructors, animal trainers, jewelry and precious metal craftspeople, and a small number of other specialists. This is a narrow category with specific documentation requirements.

11. Specified Skilled Worker / Digital Nomad (特定活動: デジタルノマド)

Launched in March 2024, Japan's Digital Nomad Visa allows remote workers employed by companies outside Japan to live in the country for up to six months. Unlike all other work visa categories, this one does not require a Japanese employer sponsor.

Requirements:

• Citizenship of a country with a visa-exempt agreement and a bilateral tax treaty with Japan

• Minimum annual income of ¥10 million from overseas employment or client contracts

• Valid private health insurance that covers medical treatment in Japan

• Local employment and working for Japanese companies is not permitted

• The visa is non-renewable and cannot be extended beyond six months

For freelancers and remote workers who meet the income threshold, this is a compelling option to spend an extended period in Japan without committing to the full work visa process.

12. J-Find Visa (未来創造人材 / Future Creation Individual)

The J-Find visa is aimed at high-achieving graduates from top-ranked global universities who want to come to Japan to explore job opportunities or develop startup ideas. It grants up to two years of residence to search for work or build a business — effectively allowing job hunting from inside Japan rather than from abroad.

Eligibility is restricted to graduates of universities listed on specific international rankings (such as QS World University Rankings or Times Higher Education). Part-time work is permitted up to 28 hours per week while on this visa.

The Certificate of Eligibility (COE): The Key to the Entire Process

The Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書, zairyū shikaku nintei shōmeisho) is the document that makes Japan's work visa system function. Understanding what it is and how it works will clarify the entire process.

A COE is an official document issued by a regional immigration bureau in Japan that confirms an applicant meets the requirements for a specific status of residence. It is not a visa itself — it is the pre-approval that makes obtaining the visa at a Japanese consulate or embassy significantly faster and more reliable.

Why COE matters:

Without a COE, a consular officer would need to independently assess all of your documents and determine your eligibility from scratch. With a COE, that work has already been done by the immigration authorities in Japan. Consular processing times drop from months to days when a valid COE is presented.

Who applies for the COE:

Your Japanese employer (the sponsor) applies to the regional immigration bureau covering their area on your behalf. You do not submit the COE application yourself. This is one of the core reasons why having a committed job offer before starting the visa process is so important — your employer must actively participate in your application.

Timeline:

COE processing typically takes between one and three months, though it can vary based on the immigration bureau's current workload and the complexity of your application. Tokyo Immigration Bureau tends to have longer processing times than regional bureaus. Planning a start date three to four months out from the time your employer submits the COE application is advisable.

Validity:

Once issued, the COE is valid for three months. You must apply for your visa and enter Japan within that window.

Step-by-Step: The Complete Work Visa Application Process

Step 1: Secure a Job Offer

Your employer must be a legitimate Japanese organization (company, university, research institution, etc.) willing to sponsor your visa. Before any immigration paperwork can begin, you need a formal offer in writing — typically an employment contract or signed offer letter detailing your role, start date, and salary.

Step 2: Your Employer Applies for the COE

With your documents in hand, your employer — or an immigration lawyer (gyōsei shoshi) acting as their agent — submits the COE application to the regional immigration bureau covering the employer's business address. The application includes documents from both the employer and you as the applicant.

Documents typically required from the employer:

• Completed COE application form (available from the ISA website)

• Recent corporate registration certificate (登記事項証明書)

• Proof of financial stability (balance sheet, profit and loss statement)

• Overview of the company's business activities

• Employment contract or offer letter

• Description of the applicant's specific duties

Documents typically required from you:

• Passport copy

• Photograph (4cm × 3cm, white background, taken within the last three months)

• Academic credentials (university degree, transcripts)

• CV or resume

• Professional certificates or licenses (if applicable)

• Evidence of relevant work experience (employment records, reference letters)

The COE application form itself is straightforward. The preparation of supporting documents — particularly the description of job duties and the employer materials — is where errors and delays most often occur.

Step 3: Receive the COE

Once the immigration bureau approves the application, the COE is mailed to the employer in Japan. The employer then forwards it to you overseas. This is the most time-consuming step. Keep your original planned start date flexible until you have the COE in hand.

Step 4: Apply for Your Visa at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate

Take the COE — along with your other required documents — to the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country. The required documents for this step are:

• Original COE document

• Valid passport (with at least 6 months of validity beyond your planned entry date)

• Completed visa application form (downloadable from the consulate's website)

• One passport-style photograph (meeting the specific consulate's requirements)

• Any additional documents required by that specific consulate

Visa application fees are typically ¥3,000 for a single-entry visa and ¥6,000 for a multiple-entry visa, though fees vary by nationality and consulate. Processing at this stage is usually three to five business days when a valid COE is presented.

Step 5: Enter Japan

Once your visa is stamped in your passport, you can enter Japan. Arrive before your COE's three-month validity window closes. At immigration, you will receive your Residence Card (在留カード, zairyū kādo) — the primary ID document you will use throughout your time in Japan. It is issued at major international airports directly at the immigration counter.

Step 6: Register Your Address

Within 14 days of moving into your home in Japan, you must register your address at your local ward or city office (市区町村役所). Your employer may help arrange temporary accommodation for the first few weeks if you are relocating from abroad.

Applying from Inside Japan: Changing Your Status of Residence

If you are already in Japan — for example, on a student visa, a working holiday visa, or a designated activities visa for job hunting — you do not need to return to your home country to get a work visa. You can apply for a Change of Status of Residence (在留資格変更許可申請) at your local regional immigration bureau.

The process is similar in document requirements to the COE route, but instead of obtaining a COE and going to a consulate, you and your employer submit the change of status application directly to the immigration bureau in Japan. Processing times vary but are typically one to three months.

Important for students graduating in Japan:

International students changing from a student visa to a work visa need to time their application carefully. In Japan, most companies hire graduates starting April 1. The change of status must be completed and the new residence card received before employment begins. Applications typically need to be submitted in February or March at the latest for an April start date. Missing this timing can mean either delaying your start date or entering a short-gap status.

Renewing Your Work Visa

Work visas in Japan are not permanent — they have fixed validity periods of one, three, or five years depending on the visa type and your circumstances. Renewal (在留期間更新許可申請) must be applied for before your current status expires.

When to apply: You can begin the renewal process up to three months before your current visa expires. Do not wait until the last few weeks. Immigration bureaus can be slow, and working past your visa expiry — even by a day — is a serious violation with potentially severe consequences.

What affects your renewal:

• Consistent tax and social insurance payments

• No violations of your visa conditions (working only in permitted activities, maintaining your registered address)

• Continued employment with a qualifying employer

• No criminal record or immigration violations

Most straightforward renewals are approved without issue. Problems arise when people have gaps in social insurance payments, worked outside the scope of their visa, or changed jobs without notifying the immigration bureau.

Changing Jobs on a Work Visa

Changing employers while on a work visa is permitted in Japan, but it comes with important steps you cannot skip.

Notify the immigration bureau within 14 days of leaving your old employer and again within 14 days of starting your new one. This is done using the employment change notification form submitted at a regional immigration bureau or online via the Immigration Services Agency portal.

If your new job is in the same occupational category as your current visa, you generally do not need to change your visa status — only notify the bureau. If your new role falls under a different visa category, you will need to apply for a change of status.

Note for highly skilled professionals: Under HSP status, changing employers technically requires re-approval of your HSP status for the new employer, since HSP is tied to both the activity type and the specific organization.

The Points-Based Fast Track to Permanent Residency

For foreign workers with ambitions of long-term residence in Japan, the Highly Skilled Professional points system offers the most efficient path to permanent residency (PR).

Here is how the timeline works under the HSP framework:

The points are calculated from:

• Education — Points for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees; bonuses for graduating from designated top global universities

• Work experience — Points scale with years of relevant professional experience

• Annual income — Higher salary scores more points, starting from around ¥3 million per year

• Age — Younger applicants score more points (up to 35 for those under 30)

• Japanese language proficiency — JLPT N1 scores higher than N2; BJT equivalencies are accepted

• Research achievements — Patents, published papers, and awarded research grants add bonus points

• Innovation-related bonuses — Working for government-designated growth companies, J-Startup certified firms, or certain research institutions

Even if you are currently on an Engineer/Specialist/International Services visa and not holding formal HSP status, you can still use the HSP points calculation to qualify for the accelerated PR pathway — you do not need to formally change your visa status to HSP first. This is a commonly misunderstood point that allows many standard work visa holders to pursue PR on an accelerated timeline without an additional visa change procedure.

Visa Conditions and What You Cannot Do

Every work visa in Japan comes with conditions. Violating them — even unknowingly — can lead to visa revocation, departure orders, or bans on re-entry. The most important rules to understand:

You may only work in activities permitted by your visa. An Engineer/Specialist visa holder cannot legally take on a full-time role as a restaurant manager. A Professor visa holder cannot run a private business on the side without specific approval. Your status of residence defines the scope of your permitted activities.

Part-time work requires permission. Many work visa holders want to supplement their income with a side job. This is possible but requires a Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Status of Residence (資格外活動許可). Apply at your regional immigration bureau. Without this permission, any paid work outside your primary job is illegal, even a few hours a week.

Working beyond permitted hours is a violation. If you hold permission for supplementary work, it is capped at 28 hours per week during regular periods (and up to full-time during extended vacation periods for students).

Address changes must be reported within 14 days. Every time you move within Japan, update your registered address at the ward office and ensure the immigration bureau's records are current.

Re-entry requires a re-entry permit for extended absences. If you leave Japan for more than one year without a re-entry permit, your residence status will be revoked automatically on departure. For trips under one year, a special re-entry permit (みなし再入国, deemed re-entry) is automatically granted at the border when you leave, as long as your residence card is valid. For longer absences, apply for a re-entry permit before departing.

Common Reasons Work Visa Applications Are Rejected

Understanding why applications fail is as important as knowing how to apply.

Degree irrelevance. The most common rejection for Engineer/Specialist applications is that the applicant's academic background does not logically connect to the job role. If you studied literature but are applying for an IT engineering position, the application needs to carefully explain the connection — or it will likely be denied.

Insufficient company documentation. Small or newly established companies sometimes struggle to provide the financial stability documents immigration requires. If your prospective employer is a startup or a very small firm, it is worth discussing this with an immigration specialist before the COE is submitted.

Unclear job description. A vague description of duties — "various administrative tasks" or "assist in business operations" — does not give immigration officers enough information to confirm the role qualifies under the requested status. Specific, detailed job duty descriptions dramatically improve approval rates.

False or inconsistent documents. Any discrepancy between documents — different salary figures in different forms, or employment dates that do not align — will trigger additional scrutiny. Review all documents carefully before submission.

Business Manager visa non-compliance (post-October 2025). Applications for business manager status that do not meet the new capital, employee, and business verification requirements will be rejected under the revised standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work in Japan without a visa? No. Working in Japan without a valid work authorization is illegal, regardless of your nationality or visa type. Even citizens of visa-exempt countries need proper work authorization before starting employment.

Can I change jobs without getting a new visa? If your new job falls within the same visa category, you do not need a new visa — only notify the immigration bureau. If your new job falls under a different category, you must apply for a change of status.

What happens if my visa expires while my renewal is being processed? If you applied for renewal before expiry, you can continue living and working in Japan during the processing period, even after your current period of stay ends. Your residence card remains valid for up to two months past expiry while under review.

Does working for a foreign company remotely require a Japan work visa? If you live in Japan and work remotely for a company based entirely outside Japan — earning income only from that foreign employer — you may not require a standard employer-sponsored work visa. However, you still need a valid status of residence that permits your lifestyle in Japan. Options include the Digital Nomad Visa (for eligible nationalities with qualifying income), HSP status in some configurations, or a spouse visa if applicable. This is a nuanced area where consulting an immigration specialist is strongly recommended.

How long does the entire process take from job offer to arrival in Japan? Realistically, plan for three to five months from receiving your job offer to arriving in Japan. The COE alone takes one to three months. Adding the employer's document preparation time, postal delivery, and consular processing, a three-month timeline is tight. Four months is more comfortable.

Do I need to speak Japanese to get a work visa? For most standard work visas (Engineer/Specialist/International Services, for example), Japanese language proficiency is not a legal requirement. Many foreign professionals work in Japan entirely in English. However, Japanese language ability significantly boosts your score for HSP status and is now required at B2/JLPT N2 level for certain Business Manager visa applications under the October 2025 revisions.

Quick Reference: Japan Work Visa Types at a Glance

Japan's work visa system rewards preparation and planning far more than speed. The most successful applications are those where both the employer and the applicant understand exactly which category applies, have their documents in order from the start, and give themselves enough lead time for the COE process. Find your category, get your job offer, and let the process do the rest. Japan's immigration system is demanding, but it is also genuinely designed to bring skilled people in — if you meet the requirements, approval is the expected outcome.

Related Posts:

• How to Renew a Work Visa in Japan (2026 Guide)

• What to Do If Your Visa Renewal Is Rejected in Japan (2026 Guide)

• Can Foreigners Work Freelance in Japan?

• How to Change Jobs on a Work Visa in Japan

• Can You Change Employers Without Changing Your Visa in Japan?

Tools you can use for check:

• Do I Risk Visa Rejection?

• Can I Change Jobs on My Visa?

• Am I Close to Permanent Residency?

• Can I Apply for a Japanese Visa?

• Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Points Calculator

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