“We want to hire a foreign engineer” “We want to obtain a Technology/Humanities/International Business visa” — Inui Administrative Scrivener Corporation in Tenjinbashi, Osaka, will respond to such requests. We provide comprehensive support for new applications, renewals, and post-job change applications for the residence status “Technology/Humanities/International Business.” The initial consultation is free.
What is the residence status “Technology/Humanities/International Business” (Appended Table I-2 of the Immigration Control Act)?
“Technology/Humanities/International Business” is a residence status granted to foreigners engaged in work requiring specialized knowledge or skills at Japanese companies, etc. (as stipulated in Appended Table I-2 of the Immigration Control Act). Commonly referred to as “Gijinkoku,” it is one of the most frequently obtained residence statuses among foreign Work-related Status of Residences.
| Category | Main Target Occupations |
|---|---|
| Technology | System engineer, programmer, mechanical design, architectural design, and other science and engineering-related work |
| Humanities | Accounting, finance, human resources, legal affairs, marketing, and other humanities-related work |
| International Business | Translation, interpretation, language instruction, overseas business, design, public relations, and other work requiring international sensibilities |
The period of stay is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 3 months (depending on the examination result). If the place of employment changes, it is generally necessary to change the residence status or obtain a Certificate of Authorized Employment.
Requirements for Acquisition, Renewal, and Change
Academic Background or Work Experience
| Category | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Technology/Humanities | Graduated from university (junior college acceptable) or 10 years or more of work experience in the intended work |
| International Business | 3 years or more of work experience in translation, interpretation, or language instruction (exempt for university graduates). 3 years or more of work experience in design, etc. |
Relevance of Job Content to Major/Experience
The most important factor in the examination is the relevance of the job content to the applicant’s major and work experience. For example, there is no issue if a person with a major in computer science takes on a system development job, but an explanation is needed if a person with a major in literature takes on an engineering position.
- Relevance between university major subjects and assigned work (confirmed by syllabus and academic transcript)
- If there is work experience, the relevance of that work content to the current position
- Proof of the specialization of the work through employment contracts and job content descriptions
Stability and Appropriateness of the Employing Company
- Existence of an employment contract (full-time or contract employee)
- Compensation is equal to or greater than that of Japanese nationals (compared to the salary level of Japanese nationals in the same type of work)
- The employing company is real and has stable management (confirmed by registration, financial statements, business plans, etc.)
Do you have any of these concerns?
- Want to hire foreigners but don’t know how to obtain a visa
- Want to confirm if a Gijinkoku visa can be obtained despite different major and job type
- Want to change or renew residence status after changing jobs
- Concerned about hiring foreigners in small businesses or startups
- Want to hire international students after graduation (residence status change)
- Want to employ under a freelance contract
- Want to reapply after a previous denial
Main Required Documents
Documents from the Applicant (Foreigner)
- Application for Certificate of Eligibility (new) or application for change/renewal permission
- Photo (4cm x 3cm)
- Copy of passport and residence card
- Graduation certificate and academic transcript of the highest educational background (with Japanese translation)
- Resume (documents proving experience if based on work experience)
Documents from the Employing Company
- Copy of employment contract or job offer letter
- Certificate of registered matters (corporation) or business opening notification (sole proprietor)
- Most recent financial statements (income statement and balance sheet)
- Company brochure and business content description
- Job content description (explaining the relevance of the assigned duties to the major/experience)
- Summary of statutory documents such as withholding tax slips (for the previous year)
*Required documents vary depending on the category (listed company, small business, newly established company, etc.). Our office will confirm the set of documents according to the company size and situation.
Application Process
Free Consultation (Our Office)
We will ask about the educational background, work history, assigned duties, and company information of the prospective hire and inform you of the possibility of application and required documents. We welcome consultations from both company representatives and the foreign individual.
Collection and Preparation of Documents
We will provide a list of required documents and support the preparation of application forms, job content descriptions, and statements of reasons. We also handle translations of overseas certificates.
Document Review and Final Check
Our office will review the entire set of documents, focusing on the consistency between job content and major/experience. If there are any deficiencies, we will guide you on additional documents.
Application to the Immigration Services Agency
Our office’s application submission proxy administrative scrivener will apply to the Immigration Services Agency (there is generally no need for the company representative or the foreign individual to visit the counter).
Receipt of Examination and Approval Notice
The estimated examination period is about 1 to 3 months. The process is completed upon receipt of the approval notice (Certificate of Eligibility or residence card).
Estimated Period and Fees
| Application Type | Government Fee | Our Fee (Estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Eligibility Application | Free | 132,000円〜 |
| Period of Stay Renewal Application | ¥5,500 | 88,000円〜 |
| Change of Status Application | ¥5,500 | 132,000円〜 |
※The above fees are estimates only and may vary depending on case complexity and individual circumstances. See fee schedule or free consultation for details.
*We cannot guarantee “approval.” For details, please check the price list or free consultation.
Three Reasons to Choose Our Office
1. Expertise in Preparing Job Content Descriptions and Statements of Reasons
The core of the Gijinkoku visa examination is the “consistency between job content and major/experience.” Our office accurately verbalizes the company’s job content and creates persuasive job content descriptions and statements of reasons for the examiner.
2. Support from Both the Company and Foreigner’s Perspectives
We provide consistent support from document preparation support for company representatives to translation and acquisition support for the foreign individual’s academic certificates. We can communicate directly with the foreign individual as we support five languages.
3. No Need for Window Correspondence with Application Submission Proxy
As an application submission proxy administrative scrivener, we apply to the Immigration Services Agency on behalf of the company representative and the foreign individual. Busy company representatives can save the hassle of visiting the counter.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Requirements and Eligibility
- Can I be hired as an IT engineer with a humanities degree?
- Even with a humanities degree, if you have taken programming, information processing, etc., at university or have more than 10 years of work experience in the IT field, there may be a possibility of approval. However, the greater the gap between the major and the job type, the stricter the examination will be. It is important to prove the completion of work-related subjects with a syllabus or academic transcript. Please consult us for details.
- Can a newly established company hire foreigners?
- It is possible, but the examination will be stricter for newly established companies without financial statements. Submitting supplementary documents such as business plans, order contracts, capital status, and the representative’s background can lead to approval. Our office has experience with applications for newly established companies, so please consult us.
- Can a Gijinkoku visa be obtained under a freelance contract?
- Obtaining a Gijinkoku visa under a freelance contract is currently difficult. Immigration emphasizes “employment relationships,” and it is considered difficult to recognize stable compensation with only a freelance contract. However, if there are stable freelance contracts with multiple companies, individual judgments may be made. Please consult us for details.
- I want to hire an international student immediately after graduation. When should I start the procedure?
- We recommend starting the preparation for the application for permission to change residence status about three months before the expected graduation date. Since the examination takes 1 to 3 months, it is important to proceed early to be able to work immediately after graduation. Please consult us as soon as you receive a job offer.
About Job Change and Change
- Is it necessary to take procedures for residence status if I change jobs?
- Within 14 days after changing jobs, a “notification concerning the contract organization” must be submitted to the Immigration Services Agency (Article 19-16 of the Immigration Control Act). If the job content at the new job is within the scope of the current residence status, no procedure is required, but if the industry or job type changes significantly, consider changing the residence status or obtaining a Certificate of Authorized Employment.
- What is a Certificate of Authorized Employment? Should I obtain it?
- A Certificate of Authorized Employment is a certificate to confirm in advance that the work at the new job is within the scope of the current residence status. It is not a legal obligation, but if there is concern about the consistency between the job content at the new job and the residence status, it is reassuring to obtain it. It will make the next renewal smoother.
- I was denied in the past. Can I reapply?
- Reapplication is possible. By analyzing the reason for the denial and reinforcing the documents, there are cases where approval is obtained upon reapplication. Please bring the denial notice, and we will propose countermeasures after confirming the reason.
About Residence and Compensation
- How much compensation is required?
- Specific monetary standards are not disclosed by law. The requirement is that it is “equal to or greater than the compensation for Japanese nationals engaged in the same type of work.” Practically, around ¥200,000 per month is said to be a guideline, but it varies depending on the industry, region, and company size.
Related Visas and Services
- Business Management Visa — Residence status for foreigners managing or operating a company
- Highly Skilled Professional — Advanced human resources visa superior to Gijinkoku
- Permanent Residency Application — Step from Gijinkoku to permanent residency
- Dependent Visa — Residence status for dependents of Gijinkoku holders
- Work-related Status of Residence and Foreign Employment — Comprehensive information on hiring foreigners
- Application Process — From request to completion at our office
Contact and Free Consultation
The key to the Gijinkoku visa examination is the consistency between job content and educational background/experience. Feel free to consult us even if you are at the stage of “not sure if you can hire” or “worried about document preparation.” The initial consultation is free.
| Phone | 06-6949-8756 |
| Business Hours | Weekdays 9:00-17:00 (Thursday 9:00-13:00) |
| Closed | Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays |
| Location | 〒530-0041 201 Fuji Heights, 1-6-6 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka |
The information on this page is as of May 2026. Laws and operations may change. For the latest information, please contact the Immigration Services Agency or our office.