![What is Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku)? Requirements, eligible work, and required documents [2026 update]](https://kisaragi-office.com/immigration_journal/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/a-0009-en-v2-1.png)
“Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (技術・人文知識・国際業務, often shortened to “Gijinkoku” (技人国)) is a status of residence for doing professional work such as engineering, interpreting and translation, planning, sales, and office work. For applications made on or after April 15, 2026, companies in Category 3 and 4 (such as small and medium-sized companies and newly established companies) must submit a “Declaration Regarding the Representative of the Affiliated Organization” (所属機関の代表者に関する申告書). If the work mainly involves dealing with people using language, such as interpreting or customer service, documents proving language ability (equivalent to CEFR B2) are also required.
The treatment of people working as dispatched workers also changed for applications made from March 9, 2026.
This article explains in plain terms the requirements for Gijinkoku permission, work you can and cannot do, required documents by company category, and processing times. It sets out the points that companies hiring foreign nationals and foreign nationals themselves should check before the procedures.
An overview of statuses of residence is given in the following article.
What is Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku)?
Gijinkoku is a status of residence for doing work that uses specialized knowledge, based on a contract with a company or other organization in Japan. The Immigration Control Act defines it as activities engaged in work such as the following.
- Work that requires technology or knowledge in the natural sciences, such as science and engineering, or in the humanities, such as law, economics, and sociology (“Engineer/Specialist in Humanities”)
- Work that requires ways of thinking or sensitivity based on a foreign culture (“International Services”)
The Immigration Services Agency gives examples such as engineers in fields like mechanical engineering, interpreters, designers, language teachers at companies, and marketing staff.
A “contract” includes not only employment but also mandates, outsourcing, and part-time commissions (嘱託). However, it must be a continuing contract with a specific company or organization (there may be more than one). The other party to the contract may be a company, the national government or a local government, or a foreign corporation or individual with an office in Japan, among others.
As of the end of 2025, 475,790 people lived in Japan with Gijinkoku status. By status of residence, it is the second most common, after Permanent Resident.
The period of stay is “5 years,” “3 years,” “1 year,” or “3 months.” Which period is granted is decided by looking comprehensively at the planned period of work, the person’s record of activities, whether they have met public obligations such as paying taxes, and the size and track record of the company, among other factors.
The guidelines for Permission for permanent residence (永住許可) were revised on October 1, 2026. The requirements for Permission for permanent residence are explained in the following article.
→ Guidelines for Permission for permanent residence
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency (ISA), “Status of residence: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”, Immigration Services Agency, “Clarification of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence, etc.”, Immigration Services Agency, “Frequently asked questions regarding residence applications for work statuses (Q&A),” Q8 and Q37, Immigration Services Agency, “Number of foreign residents as of the end of Reiwa 7”)
What changed in 2026 (additional documents and treatment of dispatched workers)
In 2026, the documents submitted for Gijinkoku applications changed twice. The changes mainly affect companies in Category 3 and 4 and people working as dispatched workers.
| What changed | From when | Who is affected | What to submit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Declaration regarding the representative | Applications on or after April 15, 2026 | Companies in Category 3 and 4 (certificate, change, acquisition, and extension) | Declaration Regarding the Representative of the Affiliated Organization (reference form) |
| Language ability documents | Applications on or after April 15, 2026 | People at Category 3 and 4 companies who mainly do work dealing with people using language ability, etc. | Documents proving ability equivalent to CEFR B2 in the language used at work |
| Documents for dispatched workers | Applications made from March 9, 2026 | People working as dispatched workers | Written pledges from the dispatching company and the client company, the individual worker dispatch contract, etc. |
Declaration Regarding the Representative of the Affiliated Organization
This is a document declaring information about the company’s representative. If the representative is a Japanese national or a special permanent resident, you only need to tick a box. Otherwise, you write the representative’s name (in Roman letters) and residence card number.
Only employees of that company can prepare it. The form contains a statement that if it includes untrue information, the application may be judged to be a false application.
Documents on language ability (equivalent to CEFR B2)
These are required when the work mainly involves dealing with people using language ability, such as translation and interpreting, or customer service like a hotel front desk. The Immigration Services Agency states that work dealing with people mainly using language ability assumes language ability equivalent to B2. Without that ability, the work is not recognized as the “work of a certain level or higher” that Gijinkoku requires.
When you need to submit them depends on the type of application.
- Certificate, change, and acquisition applications: Required if the work mainly uses language ability.
- Extension applications: In principle not required if you are continuing the same work as before. Required if, because of a change of job or work content, work using language ability has become your main work.
- Even in other cases, you may be asked to submit them depending on the content of the application. Companies in Category 1 and 2 may also be asked for them during the examination.
For Japanese, you are regarded as having B2-equivalent ability if any of the following applies.
- Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N2 or higher
- A score of 400 or more on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test
- Having lived in Japan as a mid- to long-term resident for 20 years or more
- Having graduated from a Japanese university, or completed a Japanese college of technology or the specialized course or advanced course of a specialized training college (only when the field of study is related to the work; for those who completed a course certified by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, this is judged flexibly)
- Having completed compulsory education in Japan and graduated from high school
For work using a language other than Japanese (such as English), the decision is based on one of the following.
- The language is the person’s native language or an official language of their country
- A test that shows CEFR levels proves B2 or higher
- If neither of the above applies, explain the reasons why the person clearly has the language ability needed for the work (for example, showing with a graduation certificate or similar that they studied at a university in a country where that language is an official language)
The hiring of interpreters and translators is also explained in the following article.
Working as a dispatched worker
If you will work as a dispatched worker, you cannot receive permission unless the client company (the company you are dispatched to) has been decided at the time of application. The only exception is when the client company cannot be decided until a newly hired person has completed training. In this case, the examination is based on documents such as materials showing the content of the training, a notice of working conditions stating the scope of work at the client company, and 2 types of written pledges from the dispatching company. The written pledge from the client company and the individual contract are prepared after the client company is decided and submitted at the next extension.
In addition, note the following points.
- The period of stay is decided according to the period of the dispatch contract.
- Immigration may check the content of the work and the working conditions directly not only with the dispatching company but also with the client company.
- For extensions, you also submit the dispatching company’s management ledger, the client company’s management ledger, and an employment status report.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Status of residence: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (Notices), Immigration Services Agency, “Declaration Regarding the Representative of the Affiliated Organization (reference form)”, Immigration Services Agency, “Clarification of the status of residence when engaging in work dealing with people using language ability, such as translation and interpreting” (Attachment 4), Immigration Services Agency, “Treatment of working as a dispatched worker” (July, Reiwa 8), Immigration Services Agency Q&A, Q28 and Q29)
Requirements for permission (education, work experience, and pay)
There are 3 main requirements for permission: (1) the work falls under Gijinkoku, (2) the person has the required education or work experience, and (3) the person receives pay equal to or higher than a Japanese national would.
Work as “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities”: education or 10 years of work experience
For work that uses technology or knowledge, one of the following is required.
- Having graduated from a university, majoring in a subject related to the work (including education equivalent to or higher than this; graduating from a Japanese junior college also counts as “graduating from a university”)
- Having completed the specialized course or advanced course of a Japanese specialized training college, majoring in a subject related to the work (there are requirements such as having the title of “Diploma” (専門士) or “Advanced Diploma” (高度専門士))
- Having 10 years or more of work experience (including periods of study in a related subject at a university, college of technology, high school, specialized training college, etc.)
Graduating from a vocational school abroad (a school equivalent to a Japanese vocational school) does not meet this requirement.
For IT work, if you have passed an information technology exam or hold a qualification specified by the Minister of Justice in a public notice, your education and work experience are not questioned. In addition to Japan’s Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination and Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination, exams in China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and other countries are also included.
Relationship between your field of study and the work
The relationship between a university major and the work is judged flexibly (the same applies to universities and colleges of technology abroad). On the other hand, specialized training colleges are schools that develop the skills needed for an occupation, so in principle a considerable relationship between the field of study and the work is required.
However, it is judged flexibly in the following cases.
- People who completed a course certified by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (the career development promotion program for international students)
- Later work by a person who has done work recognized as related for about 3 years
Work as “International Services”: 3 years of work experience
Work that uses ways of thinking or sensitivity based on a foreign culture includes translation, interpreting, language instruction, public relations, advertising, overseas trade, fashion and interior design, and product development. You need 3 years or more of work experience in related work. However, people who graduated from a university do not need work experience if they will do translation, interpreting, or language instruction.
Pay: equal to or higher than a Japanese national
You need pay equal to or higher than what a Japanese national would receive for the same work. Allowances that cover actual expenses, such as commuting allowances, family allowances, and housing allowances (excluding taxable ones), are not included in pay. Among the Immigration Services Agency’s examples is a case that was denied because the foreign national’s monthly salary was 135,000 yen, while the monthly salary of a Japanese new graduate hired at the same time was 180,000 yen.
What does not count as work experience, and other points to check
- Experience gained in Technical Intern Training or Specified Skilled Worker is not treated as “work experience” for Gijinkoku.
- Work recruited with phrases like “No experience needed, you’ll get used to it quickly,” and work that Japanese employees who do not meet the requirements ordinarily do, are not covered.
- While the receiving company (including a client company in dispatch) is suspended from accepting Specified Skilled Workers or Technical Intern Trainees because of acts such as violence against foreign nationals, confiscating residence cards, or not paying wages, it in principle cannot newly accept foreign nationals with Gijinkoku status either.
- In change and extension applications, your conduct and whether you have complied with notification obligations are also examined. For example, if you kept working part-time for more than 28 hours a week while you were a student, your conduct is not regarded as good.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Applicable activities and landing permission criteria”, Immigration Services Agency, “Clarification of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence, etc.,” sections 1, 2, and 3, Immigration Services Agency, “Information technology exams and qualifications (IT public notice)”, same, Attachment 3 (examples of permission and denial), Immigration Services Agency Q&A, Q34, Q35, and Q41)
Work you can and cannot do
Whether work falls under Gijinkoku is judged by looking at the work during the period of stay as a whole. If work falling under Gijinkoku is only a very small part, and the rest is work that needs no special knowledge or work that can be done through repeated training, it does not fall under Gijinkoku.
The main examples from the cases of permission and denial published by the Immigration Services Agency are summarized below.
| Field | Examples permitted | Examples denied |
|---|---|---|
| IT and engineering | Software engineer, system design and testing, CAD system analysis, preparing construction drawings and supervising on-site work for telecommunications equipment construction | Saving data on computers and replacing parts, repairs such as replacing motorcycle tires |
| Languages | Interpreting and translation at an import and sales company, translation of publications, teacher at a language school | “Interpreting” that only involves taking orders in English at a restaurant, interpreting for international student part-timers where the need was not recognized |
| Planning, sales, and office work | Accounting for overseas trade, marketing support, IT consultant | Taking phone reservations and bookkeeping at a restaurant with 12 employees |
| Manufacturing and service sites | Career-track position at a hotel (mainly interpreting and managing reservations at the front desk, etc.) | Packing lunch boxes, processing, assembling, and packing parts at a factory, making Western-style confectionery, cleaning |
When the content of the work needs to be checked more concretely, Immigration may ask for a detailed explanation of the duties or similar. In the case of a staffing company as well, there is an example of a denial because the duties in the contract were “store staff,” while the actual work was sales at a retail store.
Among graduates of specialized training colleges, there are also cases denied because there was no relationship with the field of study. For example, an application by a graduate of a voice acting department to do translation and interpreting at a hotel.
Difference from Designated Activities No. 46 (graduates of universities in Japan)
Gijinkoku does not allow work centered on general service work or manufacturing work. On the other hand, people with high Japanese ability, such as those who graduated from a university in Japan, may be able to work under “Designated Activities” (特定活動) (Public Notice No. 46, graduates of universities in Japan). Under this status, a wide range of work is possible, such as managing a restaurant or customer service that includes interpreting (including serving Japanese customers).
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Clarification of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence, etc.,” section 1 (2), same, Attachment 3 (examples of permission and denial), Immigration Services Agency Q&A, Q22, Q38, and Q39)
How much on-site training right after joining a company (practical training) is allowed
Doing customer service at a store or line work at a factory as training right after joining a company is allowed if certain conditions are met. The conditions are that it is part of training given in the same way to Japanese university graduate employees, and that it does not take up most of the entire period of stay.
The “period of stay” here is not the period set by a single permission. It is the whole period the person is expected to be in Japan with Gijinkoku status, based on the employment contract and the training plan.
- If a person hired as a regular employee with no fixed term receives a period of stay of “1 year,” that whole year may be training.
- An application for 2 years of training from hiring, under a contract of only 3 years with no plan for renewal, will not be allowed.
If training will continue for more than 1 year after hiring, you submit a training plan, and whether the period is reasonable is examined. Training set up only for foreign nationals, or training that differs from that for Japanese employees, is not allowed unless there is a reasonable reason, such as Japanese language training.
When there is training, the period of stay is in principle “1 year.” If training will continue longer than planned at the time of extension, you need to explain the circumstances. Without a reasonable reason, the extension will not be allowed. You must not hide the fact that there is training in your application in order to get a longer period of stay.
In the Immigration Services Agency’s examples, a plan was permitted in which a graduate of a faculty of letters, hired on a career track with no fixed term, would train at a supermarket for 2 years in the same way as Japanese university graduates and then work at the head office. On the other hand, a plan in which only selected people would move to head office work after customer service and cooking at stores for an unknown number of years was denied.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Practical training allowed under the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence” (Attachment 1), same, Attachment 3 (examples of permission and denial), Immigration Services Agency Q&A, Q36)
How to tell a company’s category (1 to 4)
The Immigration Services Agency divides companies and other organizations into 4 categories according to their size. Companies in Category 1 and 2 submit fewer documents.
| Category | Main companies and organizations |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | Companies listed on a Japanese stock exchange, mutual companies in the insurance business, the national government and local governments, incorporated administrative agencies, special corporations and authorized corporations, public interest corporations, public corporations listed in Appended Table 1 of the Corporation Tax Act, innovation-creating companies, and companies meeting certain conditions (such as Kurumin certification, Eruboshi certification, and Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations) |
| Category 2 | Organizations or individuals whose withholding tax on employment income for the previous year was 10,000,000 yen or more, and organizations that submitted category examination documents and whose request to use the online residence application system was approved |
| Category 3 | Organizations or individuals that submitted the summary table of legal records, such as withholding slips for employment income, for the previous year (excluding Category 2) |
| Category 4 | Organizations or individuals that do not fall under any of the above (such as newly established companies) |
If you cannot submit documents proving the category, you are treated as Category 4. If the summary table of legal records for the previous year has not yet been prepared, you submit the one for the year before that.
In applications to change from Student to Gijinkoku, people who graduated (including those expected to graduate) from a Japanese graduate school, university, or junior college, among others, are also placed in Category 2.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Status of residence: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (category table), Immigration Services Agency, “Companies meeting certain conditions”, Immigration Services Agency Q&A, Q11 and Q12)
Required documents (certificate, change, extension)
Companies in Category 1 and 2 in principle only need the common documents, such as the application form, photo, and documents proving the category, and no other materials. Companies in Category 3 and 4 need materials explaining the content of the work and the company’s business.
| Document | Certificate, change, acquisition | Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Application form, photo, documents proving the category | All categories | All categories |
| Showing your passport and residence card | Change (passport for acquisition) | All categories |
| Return envelope | Certificate | ― |
| Proof of the “Diploma” or “Advanced Diploma” title (for vocational school graduates) | Applicable persons | ― |
| Written pledges, notice of working conditions, and individual contract for dispatched workers | Applicable persons | Applicable persons (plus management ledgers and employment status report) |
| Materials showing the content of the work, such as a notice of working conditions | Category 3 and 4 | First extension after changing jobs (Category 3 and 4) |
| Résumé, proof of education and work history | Category 3 and 4 | ― |
| Certificate of registered matters, materials on the business, latest financial statements (business plan for a new business) | Category 3 and 4 | First extension after changing jobs (Category 3 and 4) |
| Declaration Regarding the Representative of the Affiliated Organization | Category 3 and 4 | Category 3 and 4 |
| Documents on language ability (equivalent to B2) | Category 3 and 4, work dealing with people mainly using language ability | When the work became dealing with people because of a change of job or duties |
| Resident tax certificate of taxation (or non-taxation) and tax payment certificate | ― | Category 3 and 4 |
| Materials explaining why the summary table of legal records cannot be submitted | Category 4 | First extension after changing jobs (Category 4) |
For change, extension, and acquisition, a photo is required for persons aged 1 or older on the day the residence card is issued (until June 13, 2026, it was persons aged 16 or older). Certificates issued by Japanese government offices and similar must be submitted within 3 months of the date of issue. Attach a Japanese translation to documents in foreign languages. During the examination, you may be asked for materials not listed here.
Please check the latest documents with the Immigration Services Agency’s document checklists. For certificate and change, there are checklists common to all categories and checklists for Category 3 and 4; for extension, there is a common checklist.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Status of residence: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (documents to submit and notes on applying), Immigration Services Agency, “Document checklist (certificate, Category 3 and 4 only)”, Immigration Services Agency, “Document checklist (change, Category 3 and 4 only)”, Immigration Services Agency, “Document checklist (extension)”)
Application process and processing time
The procedures needed differ depending on how the person is hired.
Bringing someone from abroad
An employee of the company acts as the agent and applies for a “Certificate of Eligibility” (在留資格認定証明書) at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau with jurisdiction over the company’s location. Once it is issued, it is sent to the person, who applies for a visa at a Japanese embassy or similar. After receiving landing permission at an airport in Japan, the person can live in Japan with Gijinkoku status.
Hiring someone in Japan who is changing jobs
If a person who already has Gijinkoku status will continue doing Gijinkoku work after changing jobs, no change of status of residence is needed. The person submits a “notification regarding the contracting organization” within 14 days from the day the contract ended or the day the new contract was made. If the period of stay is about to expire, an extension application is also needed.
Hiring international students as new graduates
The person applies for Permission to change status of residence (在留資格の変更許可) from “Student” to Gijinkoku. Company employees can also submit the application on the person’s behalf if they have approval as an application agent and have been asked by the person. Companies approved for online applications can also apply online.
Change applications for students graduating in March are usually accepted from December. You apply with a certificate of expected graduation, and after graduating you submit your graduation certificate and then receive the result.
Even before permission is granted, you can attend the company’s entrance ceremony and unpaid training. You can start paid work only after receiving permission for the change.
Even if the period of stay for Student expires during the examination, you can stay in Japan in the “special period” until the result is issued (at most until 2 months after the expiration date). However, during the special period you can only do the activities of your previous status of residence, and you cannot do Gijinkoku work.
Typical processing time
The Immigration Services Agency’s standard processing periods are 1 to 3 months for certificates, 1 to 2 months for changes, and 2 weeks to 1 month for extensions.
The actual number of days (average) for cases permitted in July 2026 is as follows.
| Application | Average days until permission | Of which, until the examination is completed |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Eligibility | 49.8 days | ― |
| Extension of period of stay | 40.8 days | 31.1 days |
| Change of status of residence | 72.9 days | 63.3 days |
These numbers include the days until additional materials are submitted, and do not include denials or withdrawn applications. According to the Immigration Services Agency, applications increase each year ahead of the April hiring season, and examination periods for work statuses tend to become longer.
The fees for change and extension became amounts based on the permitted period of stay for applications accepted on or after October 1, 2026. Applications accepted by September 30, 2026 are charged the amounts before the revision, even if permission is granted in October or later. Please check the amounts in the following article.
→ Fees for residence procedures
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency Q&A, Q2, Q5 to Q7, Q13, and Q17, Immigration Services Agency, “Processing period for residence examinations (cases permitted in July, Reiwa 8)”, Immigration Services Agency, “Notification regarding the affiliated (contracting) organization”, Immigration Services Agency, “Special period when applying by the expiration date of the period of stay”)
Points for hiring companies (people changing jobs, transfers, notifications)
Gijinkoku permission is granted based on the person’s education and background and the content of the work at the company. When hiring someone who is changing jobs, or when work changes because of a transfer, check whether the new work falls under Gijinkoku and whether it is related to the person’s field of study. If the person keeps doing work that does not fit, the next extension may be denied.
If you are worried, you can have the work examined in advance with a Certificate of Authorized Employment
Applying for a “Certificate of Authorized Employment” (就労資格証明書) is optional, and it is not something you must submit whenever you change jobs. If you are worried whether the new work falls under Gijinkoku, you can apply for the issuance of a Certificate of Authorized Employment and have it examined in advance whether that work fits your current status of residence. You apply at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau with jurisdiction over the person’s place of residence. The fee is 2,000 yen (1,600 yen for an online application), the amount checked on the Immigration Services Agency’s page on October 9, 2026. The standard processing period is the same day, but it takes 1 to 3 months in cases such as when you have changed workplaces.
Note that a Certificate of Authorized Employment is not a permit to work. Whether you can work is decided by your status of residence and permission to engage in activity other than that permitted.
Notifications
- The person: notification regarding the contracting organization (within 14 days of the end of a contract or a new contract)
- The company: notification of the employment status of foreign nationals to Hello Work (when hiring and when the person leaves; for people who become insured under employment insurance, submitting the notification of acquisition or loss of insured status counts as making this notification)
- The company: “notification regarding the acceptance of mid- to long-term residents” to immigration (when hiring and when employment ends; companies are expected to make efforts to submit it)
It is also important to check the status of residence, the expiration date of the period of stay, and whether there are work restrictions on the residence card.
If you have someone do work that does not fall under Gijinkoku
If a company has someone do work that does not fall under Gijinkoku, the company may be charged with the “crime of facilitating illegal work.” The current penalty is imprisonment (拘禁刑) of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 3,000,000 yen, or both. From April 1, 2027, these maximums will be raised to imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of up to 5,000,000 yen, respectively.
In dispatch, the Immigration Services Agency explains that if a person is made to do work that does not fall under Gijinkoku at the client company, both the dispatching company and the client company may be guilty of the crime of facilitating illegal work. The dispatching company should also explain to the client company the scope of work that can be done with Gijinkoku status.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Application for a Certificate of Authorized Employment”, Immigration Services Agency, “Certificate of Authorized Employment (Article 19-2 of the Immigration Control Act)”, Immigration Services Agency Q&A, Q1 to Q4, Q42, and Q43, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Notification of the employment status of foreign nationals”, e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act” (Articles 19-16 and 73-2))
When you may do work other than your main work (permission to engage in activity other than that permitted)
For a person with Gijinkoku status to earn remuneration from work that does not fall under Gijinkoku, “permission to engage in activity other than that permitted” (資格外活動許可) is in principle required.
For people with Gijinkoku status who have an employment contract with a local government or similar, a Ministry of Justice ordinance sets out a form of permission that allows “Instructor,” “Gijinkoku,” and “Skilled Labor (limited to sports coaching)” activities based on an employment contract with a local government or similar, within 28 hours per week. In other cases, to do work that does not fall under Gijinkoku, you receive individual permission that specifies the workplace, the content of the work, and so on.
How far helping with other tasks temporarily in between your main work is allowed has no clear standard in the Immigration Services Agency’s published materials. Be careful that your main work does not become tasks that do not fall under Gijinkoku, and if you are unsure, consult a specialist.
If a foreign employee is promoted to an executive and managing or administering the company becomes their main work, consider changing to the “Business Manager” (経営・管理) status of residence. The timing and procedures depend on individual circumstances, so we recommend consulting a specialist.
(Sources: e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Regulation for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act” (Article 19, Paragraph 5), e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act” (Article 19 and Appended Table I (2)), Immigration Services Agency, “Clarification of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence, etc.,” section 1 (2) (c))
Relationship with other statuses of residence
Gijinkoku covers a wide range of work, so it can overlap with other statuses of residence. The main ones are summarized in the table below.
| Status of residence | Relationship with Gijinkoku |
|---|---|
| Business Manager | Work managing or administering a company falls under “Business Manager,” so it is outside the scope of Gijinkoku |
| Intra-company Transferee | The content of the work is the same as Gijinkoku. It covers people transferred for a fixed period from a head office or similar abroad, and requires that, immediately before the transfer, the person has continuously done work falling under Gijinkoku at the office abroad for 1 year or more. Long stays of more than 5 years are examined carefully for their necessity |
| Nursing Care | A status of residence for people with a certified care worker qualification to do care work. Even with a certified care worker qualification, you cannot do care work with Gijinkoku status |
| Medical Services, Legal/Accounting Services | When qualified people such as doctors, lawyers, and tax accountants do work that requires their qualification, each has its own status of residence. There is an example where assisting lawyers at a law firm was permitted under Gijinkoku |
| Instructor | Teaching at educational institutions such as elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools is “Instructor.” Language instruction at companies and similar may fall under Gijinkoku |
| Designated Activities No. 46 | Requires graduation from a university in Japan or similar and high Japanese ability, and allows a wide range of work including customer service (see the previous chapter) |
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Applicable activities and landing permission criteria” (Appended Table I (2) of the Immigration Control Act), e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act” (Appended Table I), e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Ministerial Ordinance to Provide for the Criteria Pursuant to Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act” (section on Intra-company Transferee), Immigration Services Agency, “Clarification of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence, etc.,” Attachment 3, Immigration Services Agency Q&A, Q39 and Q44)
Frequently asked questions
Q1. We are a small or medium-sized company. What was added from April 2026?
If you are a Category 3 or 4 company, the “Declaration Regarding the Representative of the Affiliated Organization” is required for all applications. If the work mainly deals with people using language ability, documents on language ability (equivalent to B2) are also required.
Q2. Do engineers also need proof of a Japanese-Language Proficiency Test result?
In principle not, unless the work mainly involves dealing with people using language ability. However, you may be asked to submit it depending on the content of the application.
Q3. Is proof of Japanese ability also needed at extension?
In principle not, if you are continuing the same work as before. It is required if, because of a change of job or work content, work using language ability has become your main work.
Q4. Does experience working as a Specified Skilled Worker count as work experience for Gijinkoku?
No. Experience in Technical Intern Training or Specified Skilled Worker alone is not treated as “work experience” for Gijinkoku.
Q5. I graduated from a vocational school abroad. Can I get Gijinkoku status?
Graduating from a vocational school abroad does not meet the education requirement. Check whether you meet other requirements, such as graduating from a university or having 10 years or more of work experience. The conclusion can change depending on individual circumstances, so we recommend consulting a specialist.
Q6. Can I bring my family to Japan?
People with Gijinkoku status may be able to bring a spouse and children they support with “Dependent” (家族滞在) status.
→ Bringing family on a Dependent visa
Q7. What should I watch out for when working as a dispatched worker?
It is a precondition that the client company has been decided at the time of application. The period of stay is decided according to the period of the dispatch contract.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Status of residence: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”, Immigration Services Agency Q&A, Q28, Q29, Q35, Q41, and Q42, Immigration Services Agency, “Status of residence: Dependent”, Immigration Services Agency, “Treatment of working as a dispatched worker”)
Summary
- Gijinkoku is a status of residence for work that uses specialized knowledge or sensitivity based on a foreign culture. The period of stay is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 3 months.
- The requirements are (1) the work falls under Gijinkoku, (2) related education or work experience (10 years for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities, 3 years for International Services), and (3) pay equal to or higher than a Japanese national.
- For applications on or after April 15, 2026, companies in Category 3 and 4 need the declaration regarding the representative. If the work mainly deals with people using language ability, documents showing B2-equivalent language ability are also required.
- If you will work as a dispatched worker, it is a precondition that the client company has been decided at the time of application.
- The examination for a change takes 72.9 days on average (cases permitted in July 2026). If the person will join the company in April, prepare early.
- If you are unsure what to submit based on your company’s category and the content of the work, consult a Regional Immigration Services Bureau or a specialist.
Primary Sources Referenced in Article Creation
- Immigration Services Agency, “Status of residence: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Declaration Regarding the Representative of the Affiliated Organization (reference form)”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Document checklist (certificate, Category 3 and 4 only)”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Document checklist (change, Category 3 and 4 only)”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Document checklist (extension)”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Treatment of working as a dispatched worker with the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence” (July, Reiwa 8)
- Immigration Services Agency, “Applicable activities and landing permission criteria”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Clarification of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence, etc.” (last revised April, Reiwa 8)
- Main text, Attachment 1 (practical training), Attachment 3 (examples of permission and denial), Attachment 4 (work dealing with people using language ability)
- Immigration Services Agency, “Frequently asked questions regarding residence applications for work statuses (Q&A)” (July, Reiwa 8)
- Immigration Services Agency, “Companies meeting certain conditions”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Information technology exams and qualifications (IT public notice)”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Number of foreign residents as of the end of Reiwa 7”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Processing period for residence examinations (cases permitted in July, Reiwa 8)”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Application for a Certificate of Authorized Employment”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Certificate of Authorized Employment (Article 19-2 of the Immigration Control Act)”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Notification regarding the affiliated (contracting) organization”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Special period when applying by the expiration date of the period of stay”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Status of residence: Dependent”
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Notification of the employment status of foreign nationals”
- e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act”
- e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Regulation for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act”
- e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Ministerial Ordinance to Provide for the Criteria Pursuant to Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act”
This article is a translation of the original Japanese version.
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