Japanese Work Visas: Types and How to Choose [For HR, 2026 Edition] Comparing Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Highly Skilled Professional, and Specified Skilled Worker Visas
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Supervised by Administrative Scrivener
Created based on official information from the Immigration Services Agency and practical experience. Last updated: April 2026
📋 HR Manager Comparison Guide
Types of Work Visas in Japan and How to Choose Them
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Highly Skilled Professional, and Specified Skilled Worker Visas Thoroughly Compared [2026 Edition]
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Highly Skilled Professional, and Specified Skilled Worker Visas Thoroughly Compared [2026 Edition]
"Which visa does this person need?" — This is the first question HR managers face when hiring foreign nationals. The optimal visa differs depending on the job type, academic background, and employment type. Let's systematically organize this information with this guide.
📖 What you will learn in this article
1. Overall Map of Work Visas
Work visas in Japan are broadly divided into "Specialized/Technical Fields" and "Specific Industry Fields (Specified Skilled Worker)". The main four types of visas that HR managers will deal with are as follows:
| Visa Type | Target Applicant Profile | Work Restrictions | Period of Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services | Specialists such as engineers, marketers, salespersons, interpreters | Only permitted activities | Up to 5 years |
| Highly Skilled Professional | Highly skilled professionals with 70 points or more | Within the scope of permitted activities | Up to 5 years (No. 2 is unlimited) |
| Specified Skilled Worker | 14 specific industrial fields (food and beverage, construction, nursing care, etc.) | Only in specific industrial fields | No. 1: Up to 5 years / No. 2: No limit |
| Intra-company Transferee | Internal transferees from overseas bases | Only activities for transfer purposes | Up to 5 years |
| No Work Restrictions | Permanent residents, spouses of Japanese nationals, long-term residents, etc. | None (same as Japanese nationals) | Depends on residence status |
💡 First check before hiring: If a candidate already holds a "Permanent Resident," "Spouse or Child of Japanese National," or "Long-Term Resident" visa, there are no work restrictions, so no additional visa procedures are required. Please check the type of residence card first.
2. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku)
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Commonly known as "Gijinkoku" — the most common work visa
Most frequently used work visa
Maximum Period of Stay
5 years
Academic Requirements
Generally university graduate or higher
Processing Time (Tokyo)
4〜7 months
Eligible Job Types: All professional duties requiring specialized knowledge and skills, such as IT engineers, software development, system design, marketing, accounting, finance, sales, trade, translation, interpretation, design, public relations.
Academic/Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree (4-year university) or higher, with the assigned duties related to the major.
- Or 10+ years of relevant work experience (3+ years for translation/interpretation).
- Salary must be equivalent to or higher than that of Japanese nationals.
Points for HR Managers to Note:
- The core of the review is the relevance between job duties and academic background/major. "IT graduate → Accounting duties" requires caution.
- Insufficient description in the job description may lead to requests for additional documents.
- Simple tasks or manual labor-intensive jobs are not permitted.
3. Highly Skilled Professional (HSP)
Highly Skilled Professional (No. 1 & No. 2)
Points-based preferential visa — ideal for hiring highly skilled talent
Preferential visa for highly skilled individuals
Required Points
70 points or more
Maximum Period of Stay
5 years (No. 2 is unlimited)
Shortest PR Eligibility
1〜3 years
Main Differences from Gijinkoku (Preferential Treatment):
- Fixed period of stay of "5 years" (Gijinkoku is 1, 3, or 5 years).
- Spouse can work without restrictions (spouse visa has restrictions under Gijinkoku).
- Accompanying parents and domestic helpers are permitted under certain conditions.
- Permanent residency application possible in a minimum of 1 year (80+ points) or 3 years (70+ points).
Main Points for Addition:
- Academic background (Ph.D. 30 points, Master's 20 points)
- Annual income (10 million yen or more 40 points, 8 million yen or more 30 points)
- Work experience (10+ years 20 points, 7+ years 15 points)
- Age (under 30 years 15 points, under 35 years 10 points)
- JLPT N1 acquisition/graduate of Japanese university (+15 points)
💡 Utilize to enhance recruitment competitiveness: The Highly Skilled Professional visa offers significant benefits to employees such as "spouse can work" and "faster permanent residency." Actively informing candidates who meet the requirements can increase recruitment competitiveness.
4. Specified Skilled Worker (No. 1 & No. 2)
Specified Skilled Worker (No. 1 & No. 2)
Limited to 14 specific industrial fields — manufacturing, food & beverage, construction, nursing care, etc.
For specific industrial fields
Eligible Industries
14 fields
No. 1 Maximum
5 years (non-renewable)
No. 2 Period of Stay
No limit
14 Eligible Fields: Nursing care, building cleaning, industrial materials, industrial machinery manufacturing, electric/electronic information-related manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding, automobile maintenance, aviation, lodging, agriculture, fisheries, food and beverage manufacturing, food service industry.
Main Differences from Gijinkoku:
- No academic background/major requirements (skill test + Japanese language test pass required).
- "On-site work" not covered by Gijinkoku is also possible.
- No. 1 cannot bring family, No. 2 can bring family.
- Contract with a registered support organization is mandatory for No. 1 (some companies can provide in-house support).
⚠️ IT and office work positions require Gijinkoku
The Specified Skilled Worker visa is strictly limited to the 14 specific industrial fields. It cannot be used for engineers, marketers, or administrative positions. Please be aware of the common misconception that "if there's no academic background, a Specified Skilled Worker visa will do."
5. Intra-company Transferee
Intra-company Transferee
Internal transfer from an overseas base to Japan
For global companies
Previous Employment Requirement
1 year or more
Maximum Period of Stay
5 years
Target
Managers/Technical staff
This visa is for foreign employees who are transferred from an overseas parent company, subsidiary, or affiliated company to a Japanese entity.
- Must have been continuously employed for 1 year or more at the company before the transfer.
- Duties in Japan must be managerial or specialized/technical.
- The Japanese entity and the overseas entity must have a capital relationship (parent-child, sibling company, etc.).
6. Visa Type Comparison Chart
| Comparison Item | Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services | Highly Skilled Professional | Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 | Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 | Intra-company Transferee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Requirements | Generally university graduate or higher | Depends on points | None (replaced by test) | None (replaced by test) | 1 year or more of practical experience |
| Job Type Restrictions | Specialized duties only | Within permitted scope | 14 fields only | 14 fields only | Managerial/Professional staff |
| Maximum Period of Stay | 5 years | 5 years (No. 2 unlimited) | Total 5 years | No limit | 5 years |
| Family Accompanying | ✅ Permitted | ✅ Permitted (with preferential treatment) | ❌ Not permitted | ✅ Permitted | ✅ Permitted |
| Spouse Work | Permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence required | ✅ No restrictions | ❌ Not permitted | ✅ Permitted | Permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence required |
| Path to Permanent Residency | Generally 10 years | 1-3 years (shortest) | No track record → via No. 2 | Depends on requirements | Generally 10 years |
| Support Organization | Not required | Not required | Required (some companies can provide in-house support) | Not required | Not required |
7. Visa Selection Flowchart for HR Managers
🔍 Which visa is needed for the person you want to hire?
①
→
Already holds a "Permanent Resident," "Spouse or Child of Japanese National," or "Long-Term Resident" visaNo visa procedure needed
②
→
For IT, office, or professional roles, with a university degree or higher, or 10+ years of practical experienceEngineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
③
→
Meets condition ② and scores 70 points or more in the points calculationConsider Highly Skilled Professional
④
→
Working in one of the 14 fields (manufacturing, food & beverage, construction, nursing care, etc.) and has passed the skills testSpecified Skilled Worker
⑤
→
Has worked for an overseas affiliated company for 1 year or more and is being transferred to a Japanese entityIntra-company Transferee
⑥
→
The foreign national will manage or operate a companyBusiness Manager visa
🚨 "Any visa will do" is dangerous
If you apply for the wrong type of visa, it may not only be denied, but your entire hiring schedule could be delayed by several months. If in doubt, always consult an administrative scrivener before applying.
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