【Work in Japan】How Closely Must Academic Background and Work Experience Align with Job Duties for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa?

For companies hiring foreign nationals under the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa, as well as for foreign nationals seeking employment in Japan, understanding “how closely academic background must relate to job duties during the screening process” is a crucial consideration.

In fact, insufficient alignment between these elements can lead to visa denial, so it is completely understandable to have concerns about this issue.

This article organizes information about the types of work covered under the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa, as well as the required academic credentials and work experience.

Furthermore, we will explain how the relationship between one’s field of study and job duties is evaluated, and provide detailed explanations for each category: university graduates, vocational school graduates, and those with work experience.

Job Duties Under the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa

The term “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” is a collective designation that encompasses three categories: “Engineer,” “Specialist in Humanities,” and “International Services.” These three classifications together form a single residency status.

In the following sections, we will explain the specific job duties covered under each classification.

Engineer

Job duties classified under “Engineer” are those that require technical skills and knowledge acquired through study in science and technology fields such as natural sciences and engineering.

This classification requires the application of academic theories based on natural sciences to practical work, such as system design and manufacturing process management.

Representative occupations include the following:

IT Engineer

Software Developer

Programmer

Mechanical Engineering Engineer

Chemical Engineer

Technical Consultant

Construction Engineer

Technical Customer Service

Specialist in Humanities

Job duties classified under “Specialist in Humanities” are those that require specialized knowledge cultivated through humanities fields such as economics and law.

This classification requires broad knowledge related to the humanities and social sciences that support corporate management and organizational operations.

Representative occupations include the following:

Sales

Administrative positions such as General Affairs, Human Resources, and Accounting

Public Relations and Marketing

Finance, Accounting, and Management Consulting

Customer Relationship Management and Customer Service

International Services

Job duties that fall under “International Services” are those that require thinking and sensibilities grounded in foreign cultures.

This classification expects individuals to utilize their language skills and cross-cultural competencies to facilitate smooth international exchanges and transactions.

Main occupations include the following:

Translation

Interpretation

Language Instruction

International Public Relations and Advertising

International Trade Operations

Fashion Design and Product Development

Interior Design and Product Development

Academic Background and Work Experience Required to Obtain the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa

To obtain the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa, certain standards regarding academic background and work experience have been established.

In the following sections, we will explain the academic requirements and work experience required for each category, divided into “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities” and “International Services.”

Academic Background and Work Experience Required for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities

To perform job duties classified under “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities,” a certain level of academic background or work experience is required.

To receive approval, one of the following requirements must be met:

Graduation from a university (including junior college) with a major in subjects related to the job duties

Completion of a Japanese vocational school with a major in subjects related to the job duties

At least 10 years of work experience

Please note that to obtain this residency status by completing a Japanese vocational school, one must complete a specialized training college professional course and be awarded the title of “Senmonshi” (Advanced Diploma).

Academic Background and Work Experience Required for International Services

To obtain approval for work that falls under “International Services,” one must meet one of the following requirements regarding academic background and work experience.

The specific requirements are as follows:

University graduates (including junior college) engaging in translation, interpretation, or language instruction do not require work experience

University graduates (including junior college) engaging in International Services other than translation, interpretation, or language instruction must have at least 3 years of work experience in related duties

Individuals other than university graduates (including junior college) engaging in International Services must have at least 3 years of work experience in related duties

Please note that when job duties fall under both “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities” and “International Services,” the standards for “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities” take priority.

Therefore, even if a university graduate is handling international trade operations, as long as the content also falls under “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities,” approval may be obtained without requiring work experience.

Academic Background and Work Experience Not Required for Those with IT Certifications

Even for job duties that fall under the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities” field, if one possesses IT-related certifications designated by the Minister of Justice, the normally required academic background and work experience are waived.

This system recognizes not only certifications obtained within Japan but also overseas certifications, making it useful when directly recruiting excellent IT talent from abroad.

The main domestic certifications eligible for this special exemption are as follows:

IT Strategist Examination

Systems Architect Examination

Project Manager Examination

Network Specialist Examination

Database Specialist Examination

Embedded Systems Specialist Examination

IT Service Manager Examination

Systems Auditor Examination

Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination

Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination

Information Security Management Examination

In this way, holding specific certifications allows one to obtain residency status regardless of academic background or work experience, providing companies with a means to expand their talent recruitment options.

There are also many valid IT certifications from outside Japan.
For more details, please refer to the following:

Reference: Immigration Services Agency of Japan | IT Notification
(https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/policies/bill/nyukan_hourei_h09.html)

The Relationship Between Academic Background and Job Duties is Critical for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa

There are multiple criteria for obtaining the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa, but the most important is “the relationship between academic background and the duties to be performed.”

In the following sections, we will organize and explain the evaluation standards for how closely the relationship must align, depending on the type of academic background.

University and Junior College Graduates Are Evaluated with Flexibility Regarding Relationship

For university and junior college graduates, the Immigration Services Agency has indicated a policy of flexibly evaluating the relationship between academic background and the duties to be performed.

The reason for this is that university education serves the purpose of “imparting broad knowledge, cultivating intellectual, moral, and applied abilities, and contributing to societal development by providing these outcomes to society.”

Therefore, approval may be granted even when the courses taken do not necessarily match the duties at the place of employment.

For example, cases where an economics graduate works as an IT engineer or an engineering graduate engages in sales positions may still have the possibility of obtaining the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa.

Vocational School Graduates (Advanced Diploma Holders) Require a Considerable Degree of Relationship

For those who have completed a vocational school (specialized training college professional course), a considerable degree of alignment between their field of study and the duties they plan to perform is required.

This evaluation standard is based on the fact that specialized training colleges are educational institutions aimed at acquiring practical skills necessary for vocations and useful techniques for daily life.

Therefore, if the relationship between the major and job duties is deemed insufficient, approval may not be granted.

Actual cases of denial that have been publicly disclosed include a person who completed a voice acting program applying for interpretation and translation duties as hotel lobby staff, and a person who graduated from an international business program applying for a sales position in real estate.

Work Experience Includes Coursework and Related Duties

The 10 years of work experience required for “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities” is considered to include the period during which one studied related subjects at a university or similar institution.

Additionally, it is not necessary to have spent 10 years performing duties that fall specifically under “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”; experience in related fields is also counted as work experience.

The 3 years of work experience required for “International Services” does not need to be identical to the duties one plans to perform, but it must be work that is substantively related in content.

Furthermore, for university graduates, work experience is not required when engaging in duties such as translation, interpretation, or language instruction.

Summary

In this article, we have organized the classification of job duties under the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa and the evaluation standards for the relationship between academic background and work experience.

We explained that university and junior college graduates are evaluated with flexibility, while vocational school graduates are required to demonstrate a high degree of relationship, and also covered the treatment of IT certifications and work experience.

For companies seeking to hire foreign talent and for foreign nationals aiming to work in Japan, it is essential to understand in advance how closely one’s academic background and experience align with the job duties.

If you have any questions, we recommend consulting with a specialist early on to ensure you can proceed with your application confidently and with proper preparation.

Supervisor’s Comment

When applying for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa, it is important to specifically demonstrate the relationship between job duties and academic background.

This not only makes it easier to obtain approval but also increases the possibility of being granted a longer residency period, such as 3 or 5 years.

Since the “Details of Activities” section on the application form provides only two lines, it is advisable to create and attach supplementary materials that can adequately explain the connection between the job duties and academic background.

Primary Sources Referenced in Article Creation

The primary sources referenced in creating this article are as follows:

e-GOV Laws and Regulations Search | Ministerial Ordinance on Criteria Pursuant to Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act
(https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/402M50000010016/)

Immigration Services Agency of Japan | Residency Status “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”
(https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/gijinkoku.html)

Immigration Services Agency of Japan | Clarification of the Residency Status “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”
(https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001413895.pdf)

Immigration Services Agency of Japan | Examples of Approvals and Denials
(https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001413912.pdf)

Immigration Services Agency of Japan | IT Notification
(https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/policies/bill/nyukan_hourei_h09.html)