Types of Japan Work Visas: A Complete Comparison Guide for Expats

A comprehensive comparison of Japan's work-related residence statuses for expats, including the Gijinkoku visa (技術・人文知識・国際業務), Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能), Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職), and intra-company transfer — with eligibility requirements, ideal candidates, application processes, and fees.

Overview of Japan's Work Visa System

To work legally in Japan, foreign nationals must hold a status of residence (在留資格) that permits employment. Japan's Immigration Control Act defines over 30 categories of residence status; approximately 20 allow work in specific occupations. The categories most commonly sought by expats are:

Major Work Residence Status Comparison

Status of Residence	Description	Period	Renewals	Family Residence	Difficulty
Gijinkoku (技術・人文知識・国際業務)	Tech / Humanities / International Business	1, 3, or 5 years	Unlimited	✅	★★☆
Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 (特定技能1号)	Skilled workers in 14 designated industries	Up to 5 years total	Limited	❌	★★☆
Specified Skilled Worker Type 2 (特定技能2号)	Advanced skilled workers	3 or 1 year	Unlimited	✅	★★★
Highly Skilled Professional Type 1/2 (高度専門職)	High-skill talent (point system)	5 years / indefinite	Unlimited (Type 2 → PR eligible)	✅	★★★
Intra-Company Transferee (企業内転勤)	International company secondment	1, 3, or 5 years	Unlimited	✅	★☆☆
Business Manager (経営・管理)	Business management	1, 3, or 5 years	Unlimited	✅	★★★
Nursing Care (介護)	Long-term care	1, 3, or 5 years	Unlimited	✅	★★☆
Working Holiday (ワーキングホリデー)	Working holiday	Up to 1 year	Not renewable	❌	★☆☆

The Three Most Common Work Visas for Expats

1. Gijinkoku (技術・人文知識・国際業務)

The most common white-collar work visa, suitable for expats working in IT, engineering, finance, accounting, translation, design, marketing, and similar fields.

Eligibility requirements:

Education: Bachelor's degree or higher (major should relate to the job)
Experience substitute: 10+ years of relevant work experience in lieu of a degree (3 years for international business roles)
Job content: Must fall under "Technology" (STEM), "Humanities/International Services" (law, finance, translation, etc.), or "International Business" (roles requiring foreign language skills)
Salary: Must not be lower than the equivalent Japanese employee rate — typically ¥200,000–220,000/month minimum

Ideal for:

STEM graduates applying to Japanese IT companies as software engineers
Translators and sales staff at internationally-focused or Japanese companies
White-collar professionals in design, marketing, or finance

Application process:

Obtain an employment contract from a Japanese employer
The employer (or an appointed certified administrative scrivener (行政書士)) applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書) at the local immigration bureau (approximately 1–3 months)
Use the Certificate of Eligibility to apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country (approximately 5 business days)
Enter Japan with the visa and register at the ward office to receive your Residence Card

2. Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能)

Established in 2019, this status was created to address Japan's critical labor shortages. For a detailed application guide, see: Japan's Specified Skilled Worker Visa: A Complete Guide

Ideal for:

Those without a university degree but with skills in specific industries
Those who want to work in one of 14 designated industries including nursing care, construction, agriculture, food manufacturing, and food service
Those who can pass the industry-specific skills test and Japanese language test

3. Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職)

A point-based visa for high-skill professionals. Those who score 70+ points receive preferential status, including: permanent residence eligibility after just 3–5 years, permission for spouses to work, and permission for parents to reside in Japan.

Sample scoring criteria:

Category	Max Points
Doctoral degree	+30
Master's degree	+20
JLPT N1	+15
Annual salary ¥7 million or more	+25
Age under 30	+15
Position at a Japanese research institution	+10

Ideal for highly educated, high-earning expats or those who completed graduate school in Japan — one of the fastest paths to permanent residence.

Intra-Company Transferee (企業内転勤)

If you already work at a company in your home country that has a related entity in Japan (subsidiary, branch), you may be seconded to Japan as an "Intra-Company Transferee."

Requirements:

At least 1 year of employment at the home company
The role in Japan must be managerial, technical, or highly skilled
Salary must not be lower than the Japanese equivalent

This status is employer-driven — the individual needs to do very little paperwork — but it requires working at a multinational company with a Japan presence.

Converting from Working Holiday to Work Visa

Many expats find full-time opportunities during their working holiday and want to transition to an employment residence status.

Feasibility

Theoretically possible, but with important caveats:

Time: You must complete the change-of-status process before your working holiday expires. Start at least 3 months in advance.
Eligibility: The target status must match your qualifications (education, experience, job type). Working holiday work experience can sometimes be used as supporting evidence.
Employer cooperation: You need a Japanese employer willing to hire you and help process the paperwork. Self-sponsored transitions are extremely difficult.
Review time: After submitting a change-of-status application, it typically takes 1–3 months for a decision. Allow sufficient time.

Transition Steps

Obtain a full-time (not part-time) employment contract
Prepare the Application for Change of Status of Residence and supporting documents
Employer or certified administrative scrivener (行政書士) submits to the immigration bureau
Await review
Receive new status certificate and exchange your Residence Card

Employer-Led vs. Self-Applied

Method	Description	Recommendation
Employer-led	Japanese employer or their certified administrative scrivener (行政書士) handles all documents	Most common and reliable
Self-applied	Applicant prepares all documents and submits to the immigration bureau	Difficult; requires knowledge of Japanese immigration law
Via certified scrivener (行政書士)	Applicant engages a licensed administrative scrivener	Suitable for self-applicants unfamiliar with the process

Whenever possible, let your employer handle or at least coordinate the application. If the employer isn't familiar with the process, suggest they engage a certified administrative scrivener (行政書士) (a licensed immigration specialist).

Timeline and Fees

Stage	Time Required	Fee
Certificate of Eligibility application	1–3 months	Free
Visa application at Japanese embassy/consulate	~5 business days	Varies by nationality
Certified administrative scrivener fee (行政書士, if applicable)	—	¥50,000–150,000
Residence Card issuance	Day of entry	Free

Allow 3–4 months of total preparation time from start to entry into Japan.

Statuses That Do NOT Permit Work

The following statuses do not permit paid employment in principle. Working while holding one of these is illegal:

Short-term stay (tourist visa): The most common misunderstanding — no paid work is permitted under a tourist visa
Student (留学): Maximum 28 hours per week (requires Permission for Activity Other than Permitted)
Trainee (研修): Restricted to designated training institution activities

See Immigration Services Agency's official website for full regulations.