While both are work-based residence statuses, there are clear distinctions in the permitted job functions and required skills. Making incorrect assumptions about these differences can significantly impact hiring plans and career development.
This article organizes the work scope of both the Engineering visa and Specified Skills visa, providing detailed explanations of the differences and similarities between these two residence status systems.
Additionally, we will address the risks that arise when work activities exceed the permitted scope, offering valuable insights that are useful for both employers and workers in an easy-to-understand manner.
Table of Contents
Work Scope of Engineering and Specified Skills Visas
The Engineering visa is a residence status designed for employment that leverages specialized knowledge and skills based on educational background or practical work experience.In contrast, the Specified Skills visa is designed with the premise that foreign workers who meet certain skill standards will work as immediate assets in specific industry sectors facing serious labor shortages.
Since both systems have fundamentally different mechanisms, the permitted work scope also differs between them.
However, in practical applications, there are job functions where the boundaries can be unclear, so we will organize and explain the specific details.
Engineering Visa Job Functions
Job functions permitted under the Engineering visa are broadly categorized into “work requiring academic knowledge in science and humanities” and “work requiring thinking and sensitivity based on foreign culture.”Specifically, this includes corporate sales and administrative work, system development, as well as interpretation, translation, and foreign language education.
The scope of work covered by the Engineering visa is extensive, making it a residence status that can be utilized across diverse fields by leveraging specialized expertise.
However, since this visa assumes advanced specialization, jobs centered on simple tasks or manual labor are not permitted.
Therefore, a key characteristic is that workers cannot engage in tasks that inexperienced individuals could master through short-term training, and are limited to work requiring specialized knowledge and skills.
Specified Skills Type 1 Job Functions
As of September 2025, Specified Skills Type 1 job functions are limited to 16 industry sectors facing serious labor shortages, targeting work that requires skills and knowledge above a certain standard.Specifically, detailed job descriptions are established for each sector, including care services, food service, and construction. Foreign workers are expected to work as immediate assets by utilizing abilities they have demonstrated through examinations and other assessments.
The primary duties involve on-site work in each respective field, though it is also possible to take on managerial roles such as instructing other employees as related duties.
However, since engaging solely in related duties is not permitted, workers must primarily focus on on-site operations.
Specified Skills Type 2 Job Functions
The Specified Skills Type 2 residence status is established in 11 sectors including construction and shipbuilding, targeting work that requires skilled expertise.To obtain this residence status, practical work experience for a certain period or longer is required in principle, and workers must not only engage in on-site operations but also take on responsible roles such as employee instruction and work process management.
Therefore, more advanced skills and experience are required compared to Specified Skills Type 1, and long-term employment is also permitted.
Are There Overlapping Areas in Work Scope?
The Immigration Services Agency has not established clear criteria regarding whether the permitted scope of Engineering and Specified Skills visas overlap.However, in actual workplace situations, there are cases where the job functions of both systems come close to each other, creating situations where boundaries can be unclear.
From here, we will examine representative examples and explain in what circumstances job functions may potentially overlap.
1. Hotel Front Desk Operations and Customer Management
Job functions such as customer information management and reservation handling performed at hotel front desks may fall under either Engineering or Specified Skills residence statuses.In particular, customer service utilizing foreign language abilities may be recognized as Engineering visa work, while simultaneously being included in Specified Skills work in the accommodation sector.
However, under the Engineering visa, engaging in guest services outside of front desk operations, such as housekeeping or restaurant service, is not permitted.
Additionally, in the Specified Skills “Accommodation” sector, engaging in diverse duties within accommodation facilities is a requirement, so working exclusively in front desk operations throughout the entire residence period is not permitted for either Type 1 or Type 2.
2. Employee Career Guidance and Related Duties
Employee career guidance is considered one of the job functions that may potentially span both Engineering and Specified Skills visas.For example, when providing education and advice for employee career development in the food service industry, this may fall within the Engineering visa work scope that requires advanced specialization, while simultaneously potentially corresponding to management duties under Specified Skills “Food Service.”
However, what is permitted under the Engineering visa is work related to human resource development and management, and workers cannot engage in store operational tasks such as cooking or customer service.
On the other hand, Specified Skills requires employment at actual service-providing locations such as restaurants, so roles like headquarters staff that do not involve cooking or customer service are not permitted under either Type 1 or Type 2.
Does Exceeding Work Scope Result in Illegal Employment?
Working beyond the scope permitted by one’s residence status constitutes illegal employment, which has serious consequences for both employers and workers.Here, we will organize and explain the differences between two types of illegal employment: “non-exclusive unauthorized activities” and “exclusive unauthorized activities.”
Partial Deviations Result in Non-Exclusive Unauthorized Activities
Even minor deviations from activities permitted under one’s residence status constitute illegal employment, but in such cases, they are likely to be classified as “non-exclusive unauthorized activities.”For example, if a foreign worker on an Engineering visa engages in their primary specialized duties while also handling cleaning tasks for about one hour daily, this may be considered non-exclusive unauthorized activity.
Similarly, if a foreign worker with Specified Skills “Food Service” permission works as headquarters staff in restaurant management duties for a certain period, this may also be deemed as working outside the permitted scope and could constitute non-exclusive unauthorized activity.
While non-exclusive unauthorized activities do not immediately result in deportation, they carry a high risk of permit denial during renewal reviews and may negatively impact continued residence, requiring careful attention.
Exclusive Engagement May Result in Deportation
When clearly engaging exclusively in work activities outside the permitted scope, this is considered “exclusive unauthorized activities” and may result in deportation orders (forced repatriation).For example, if a foreign worker residing on an Engineering visa does not perform their originally permitted duties and instead engages in on-site work throughout the day, this is highly likely to constitute exclusive unauthorized activity violations.
Similarly, foreign workers holding Specified Skills residence status may also be subject to deportation if they engage long-term in work unrelated to their permitted sector, as this would be considered exclusive unauthorized activity.
Summary
This article has organized the differences in work scope between Engineering and Specified Skills visas, explaining the system designs of both and potential overlapping scenarios with specific examples.Furthermore, we have addressed the risks of exceeding work scope, including the possibilities of non-exclusive unauthorized activities and deportation, explaining key points that should be understood.
For business managers hiring foreign workers and foreign nationals seeking employment in Japan, insufficient understanding of these systems leads to significant risks.
We recommend properly organizing which job functions are permitted under which residence status, and when uncertain, confirming information with the Immigration Services Agency and consulting with specialists before proceeding with hiring or career decisions.
Expert Commentary
While the work scope permitted under Engineering and Specified Skills visas may have some overlapping areas, making intuitive judgments is extremely difficult.When it becomes necessary to actually determine these boundaries, the safest approach is to accurately and specifically describe the job functions in documentation such as reason statements submitted during residence status change or renewal applications, and then engage in work only after obtaining permission based on that content.
Primary Sources Referenced in Article Creation
The primary sources referenced in creating this article are as follows:e-GOV Legal Search: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act
(https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/326CO0000000319)
Immigration Services Agency | Residence Status “Engineer/Humanities/International Services”
(https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/gijinkoku.html)
Immigration Services Agency | Job Descriptions for Each Sector of Specified Skills Type 1
(https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/ssw/10_00179.html)
Immigration Services Agency | Job Descriptions for Each Sector of Specified Skills Type 2
(https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/ssw/10_00180.html)
Immigration Services Agency | Specified Skills Operational Guidelines
(https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/ssw/nyuukokukanri07_00201.html)
This article is a translation of the original Japanese version.
