Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa

Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) — you are abroad, the employer is in Japan

The employer in Japan files (a staff member, an administrative scrivener (行政書士), or you yourself if you are in Japan). With the CoE you apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy and enter Japan.

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Documents

1. Application for a Certificate of Eligibility 在留資格認定証明書交付申請書The employer fills in part of the form.
2. Photo, 4 × 3 cm 写真
3. Return envelope with your address and a registered-mail stamp 返信用封筒For paper applications.
4. Document proving the employer’s category カテゴリーを証明する文書category 1For example, a copy of the 四季報 company handbook or proof of stock-exchange listing, or the ministry’s permission to establish the organization.list of Category 1 companies · PDF
5. Copy of last year’s withholding-tax summary 前年分の給与所得の源泉徴収票等の法定調書合計表（写し）categories 2, 3Prepared by the employer. For Category 2 it can be replaced by ISA’s letter allowing online applications, if that letter is what places the company in Category 2.
6. Diploma 専門士 or 高度専門士 — for graduates of Japanese vocational colleges (専門学校) 専門士・高度専門士の称号を証明する文書ISA form · PDF
7. If you work through a staffing agency (派遣): written undertakings of the agency and of the client company 派遣労働に関する誓約書Plus copies of the working conditions and the individual dispatch contract (労働者派遣個別契約書).for the agency · Wordfor the client company · Word
8. Working conditions — employment contract or notice of working conditions 労働条件通知書（雇用契約書）categories 3, 4For directors of a Japanese company — the articles of incorporation or the shareholders’ resolution on pay.
9. CV listing employers, duties and dates 履歴書categories 3, 4
10. University diploma or certificates of relevant work experience 卒業証明書・在職証明書categories 3, 4IT specialists can submit a certificate from an exam on the Ministry of Justice list (for example ITPEC) instead of a degree. International services without a degree need 3 years’ experience; university graduates working in translation, interpretation or language teaching need no experience.
11. Company’s certificate of registered matters (commercial register) 登記事項証明書categories 3, 4
12. Company profile: history, management, business, clients 会社案内categories 3, 4
13. Latest financial statements; for a new company — a business plan 直近の決算文書の写し・事業計画書categories 3, 4
14. Declaration about the company’s representative 所属機関の代表者に関する申告書categories 3, 4From 15 April 2026.template · PDF
15. Proof of language ability at CEFR B2 — if the job is mainly dealing with people in a language CEFR B2相当の言語能力を証する資料categories 3, 4From 15 April 2026. For Japanese: JLPT N2 or higher, or BJT 400 points or more. Not needed for graduates of Japanese universities, colleges of technology (高専) and vocational colleges (専門学校), people who completed compulsory and upper-secondary school in Japan, or people who have lived in Japan for 20 years or more.
16. Why there is no tax summary: proof of exemption from withholding, or the notice of opening a salary-paying office plus 3 months of tax payment statements 給与支払事務所等の開設届出書の写し・所得税徴収高計算書category 4Instead of 3 months of statements, the approval to pay withholding tax less often (納期の特例) is accepted.

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply

The regional immigration bureau for the place of work (when the employer files). Not accepted by post.

Fee

Free

Processing time

1–3 months

Online

Yes

Change of status — you are already in Japan, for example after your studies

You file yourself before your current status expires, or a company employee approved by immigration (申請等取次者) or an administrative scrivener (行政書士) files for you. Graduates starting in April usually file between 1 December and the end of January, once they have a job offer.

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Since 1 December 2025, when changing from Student, you can file the reduced Category 2 document set if you graduated from a Japanese university or junior college (短大), from a university ranked in the top 300 of at least two of three world rankings (QS, THE, ARWU), or if your employer already employs someone who changed from Student to a work status and has since extended that status while working there. Not for work through a staffing agency (派遣).

Documents

1. Application for change of status of residence 在留資格変更許可申請書
2. Photo, 4 × 3 cm 写真
3. Passport and residence card — to show パスポート及び在留カード（提示）
4. Document proving the employer’s category カテゴリーを証明する文書category 1list of Category 1 companies · PDF
5. Copy of last year’s withholding-tax summary 前年分の給与所得の源泉徴収票等の法定調書合計表（写し）categories 2, 3
6. For graduates — an explanation of the reduced document set 提出書類省略に関する説明書category 2For a change from Student to this status.ISA form · Word
7. Diploma 専門士 or 高度専門士 — for graduates of Japanese vocational colleges (専門学校) 専門士・高度専門士の称号を証明する文書ISA form · PDF
8. If you work through a staffing agency (派遣): undertakings and dispatch contracts 派遣労働に関する誓約書・労働者派遣個別契約書for the agency · Wordfor the client company · Word
9. Working conditions — employment contract or notice of working conditions 労働条件通知書（雇用契約書）categories 3, 4
10. CV listing employers, duties and dates 履歴書categories 3, 4
11. Diploma (or certificate of graduation) or certificates of relevant work experience 卒業証明書・在職証明書categories 3, 4
12. Company’s certificate of registered matters (commercial register) 登記事項証明書categories 3, 4
13. Company profile 会社案内categories 3, 4
14. Latest financial statements; for a new company — a business plan 直近の決算文書の写し・事業計画書categories 3, 4
15. Declaration about the company’s representative 所属機関の代表者に関する申告書categories 3, 4template · PDF
16. Proof of language ability at CEFR B2 — if the job is mainly dealing with people in a language CEFR B2相当の言語能力を証する資料categories 3, 4From 15 April 2026. For Japanese: JLPT N2 or higher, or BJT 400 points or more. Not needed for graduates of Japanese universities, colleges of technology (高専) and vocational colleges (専門学校), people who completed compulsory and upper-secondary school in Japan, or people who have lived in Japan for 20 years or more.
17. Why there is no tax summary + 3 months of tax payment statements 給与支払事務所等の開設届出書の写し・所得税徴収高計算書category 4Instead of 3 months of statements, the approval to pay withholding tax less often (納期の特例) is accepted.

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply

The regional immigration bureau for your address

Fee

Paid only after approval. Applications received by 30 September 2026: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500), even if the decision comes later. Received from 1 October 2026: the fee depends on the period granted — from ¥10,000 (up to 3 months) to ¥75,000 (5 years or more); online is cheaper except for periods up to 3 months. It can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued with the permission. Full fee table

Processing time

1–2 months

Online

Yes

Extension of the Engineer / Specialist status

You file yourself no earlier than 3 months before your status expires. If you changed jobs and did not file the 14-day notification about your new employer, file it first.

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Documents

1. Application for extension of period of stay 在留期間更新許可申請書
2. Photo, 4 × 3 cm 写真Not needed when extending for up to 3 months.
3. Passport and residence card — to show パスポート及び在留カード（提示）
4. Document proving the employer’s category カテゴリーを証明する文書category 1
5. Copy of last year’s withholding-tax summary 前年分の給与所得の源泉徴収票等の法定調書合計表（写し）categories 2, 3
6. Declaration about the company’s representative 所属機関の代表者に関する申告書categories 3, 4template · PDF
7. Certificates of local tax assessed and paid for the year 住民税の課税（又は非課税）証明書・納税証明書categories 3, 4From the city office of your address on 1 January.
8. After a job change (first extension with the new employer) — documents about the job and the company 労働条件通知書・登記事項証明書・会社案内・決算文書categories 3, 4Working conditions, commercial register certificate, company profile, financial statements; for language jobs dealing with people — proof of CEFR B2. Category 3 needs only part of them — see the ISA checklist.
9. If you work through a staffing agency (派遣): undertakings, contracts and the records of both companies 誓約書・派遣元管理台帳・派遣先管理台帳・就業状況報告書Including documents for your current period of stay.for the agency · Wordfor the client company · Word
10. Why there is no tax summary + 3 months of tax payment statements 給与支払事務所等の開設届出書の写し・所得税徴収高計算書category 4Instead of 3 months of statements, the approval to pay withholding tax less often (納期の特例) is accepted.

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply

The regional immigration bureau for your address

Fee

Paid only after approval. Applications received by 30 September 2026: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500), even if the decision comes later. Received from 1 October 2026: the fee depends on the period granted — from ¥10,000 (up to 3 months) to ¥75,000 (5 years or more); online is cheaper except for periods up to 3 months. It can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued with the permission. Full fee table

Processing time

2 weeks – 1 month

Online

Yes