最終更新日 2023-02-24
If you want to work in Japan, taking advantage of the knowledge acquired at your university, the first choice for a possible status of residence is probably the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” status of residence.
I will give you a general idea of this status of residence, its requirement, and its difference from other statuses of residence.
Table of Contents
- What is the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” status of residence?
- The three categories and typical examples of occupations under each category
- Standards to be met (educational background and practical experiences)
- Some points to note
- Comparison between the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence and other similar statuses of residence
１． What is the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” status of residence?
This is one of the so-called working visas in Japan and is a status of residence generally for white-collar workers. As you can guess from the name, this status of residence covers three categories, i.e., engineer, humanities specialist, and international services. The period of stay to be determined at the time of the grant of the status of residence is five years, three years, one year, or three months. As the name is too long, this status of residence is often called “gi-jin-koku” among professionals in Japan.
According to the official statistics published by the Japanese government statistics site, the number of foreign nationals staying in Japan under this status of residence is 274,740 as of December 31, 2021, the second largest number next to “Technical Intern Training,” numbering 276,123 (this number is significantly low compared with the average years due probably to the Covid-19 pandemic) among the work-related statuses of residence in Japan.
The Japanese Immigration Act stipulates that those having ESI status of residence can conduct the following activities:
“Activities to engage in services which require specialized skills or knowledge pertinent to the field of physical science, engineering or other natural science fields or the field of jurisprudence, economics, sociology or other humanities fields or to engage in services which require specific ways of thinking or sensitivity acquired through experience with a foreign culture (except for the activities listed in the right-hand column of the “Professor,” “Artist” and “Journalist” sections in Table (1), and the activities listed in the right-hand column of the “Business Manager” to “Instructor” sections, “Intra-company Transferee” and “Entertainer” sections in this Table) based on a contract entered into with a public or private organization in Japan.”
The type of contract can be an employment contract, entrustment contract, service contract, or others, as long as a specific public or private organization offers it in Japan continuously.
２． The three categories and typical examples of occupations under each category
（１） Engineer category
Activities to engage in services that require specialized skills or knowledge pertinent to the field of physical science, engineering, or other natural science fields;
Examples: mechanical engineers, system engineers, programmers, web designers, aircraft engineers, and those who engage in product design and development of precision machines or construction machines
（２） Humanities specialist category
Activities to engage in services that require specialized skills or knowledge pertinent to the field of jurisprudence, economics, sociology, or other humanities fields; and
Examples: those in charge of accounting, financing, marketing, corporate legal work or general affairs, etc., consultants
（３） International services category
Activities to engage in services that require specific ways of thinking or sensitivity acquired through experience with a foreign culture.
Examples: translators, interpreters, language instructors, public relations, overseas transactions, fashion or interior designers, product developers
３． Standards to be met (educational background and practical experiences)
The standards to be met differ depending on the category, as shown in the Ministerial Order.
（１） Engineer and humanities specialist categories
You must meet either one of the following conditions:
(i) You are a graduate of a university, junior college, or graduate school, having majored in a subject relating to the corresponding specialized skills or knowledge;
(ii) You are a graduate of a vocational school in Japan, having majored in a subject relating to the corresponding specialized skills or knowledge; or
(iii) You have at least ten years of work experience in the corresponding specialized skills or knowledge.
Suppose you apply for these categories to work in the Information Technology field. In that case, the above requirements will not apply if you pass specific tests or meet certain qualifications that the Justice Minister has designated in a public notice (only available in Japanese). For your information, these tests or qualifications are limited to those taken place or given in Japan, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Singapore, and South Korea.
（２） International services category
You must meet both of the following conditions:
(i) You are going to engage in translation, interpretation, language instruction, public relations, overseas transactions, fashion or interior design, product development, or other similar services; and
(ii) You have at least three years experience in the relevant services; provided, however, that this does not apply if you have graduated from university and are going to engage in translation, interpretation, or language instruction.
（３） All of the three categories
Your remuneration or salary must be equivalent to or more than that to be paid to a Japanese national for comparable work.
４． Some points to note
- Check whether your educational background meets the required standards
Your country’s school system may differ from the one in Japan. To ensure that the school you graduated from meets the required academic career under this status of residence, if you have any doubt, you should consult with an expert such as a Gyoseishoshi in Japan in advance. - Ensure that your major at your university, college, or Japanese vocational school relates to the work you will engage in
If your educational background does not relate to the work you will engage in in Japan, your application will be denied. In case of a Japanese vocational school, the degree of the required relatedness is higher. - Confirm that you always comply with the laws in Japan during your stay
If you are already living in Japan, for example, as an international student, and considering changing the current status of residence to this one to work for a company in Japan, your residential records will also be closely examined. If you have any uncertainties, you should consult with an expert such as a Gyoseishoshi. - Choose an appropriate employer
You need to confirm that your employer can continuously provide you with work that matches the abovementioned activities set out in the law throughout your stay. During the examination of your status of residence application, your employer will also be examined in terms of its proper business operations, stability, and continuity based on the documents submitted in your application. - Changing your job within the three categories under this status of residence
After you start working in Japan under this status of residence, if you change your job for the work within the three categories under this status of residence, for example, if you change your job from one under the International Services category to one under the Specialist in Humanities category, you do not need to apply for Permission to Change of Status of Residence. However, to make sure that your new job falls under the Specialist in Humanities category, it is recommended that you apply for a Certificate of Authorized Employment. For more information about the Certificate of Authorized Employment, please visit the webpage of the Immigration Office titled “Certificate of Authorized Employment (Immigration Control Act, Article 19-2).” For the required procedure, please visit the webpage titled “Application for issuance of a Certificate of Authorized Employment.” - Do not engage in extra-status activities
With this status of residence, you cannot work part-time for additional income, for example, at a convenience store or a cafeteria, because it is deemed unskilled labor, and therefore, you cannot obtain a permission for extra-status activities.
５． Comparison between the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence and other similar statuses of residence
The activities under this residence status partially overlap with those under other residence statuses, such as Professor, Artist, Journalist, Business Manager, Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Researcher, Instructor, Intra-company Transferee, Nursing Care, and Entertainer.
The following are examples of possible options to consider. However, please keep in mind that it is necessary to consider individual circumstances in detail to choose an appropriate status of residence.
- “Business Manager”
Management and operating a business require knowledge of natural science and humanities. If your proposed activities are mainly business management or operation and you meet the criteria required under the Business Manager status of residence, you will be eligible for the Business Manager status of residence instead of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence. - “Entertainer”
The Entertainer status of residence applies to foreign nationals who engage in activities that are indispensable to the work in the entertainment industry. They include sports team coaches, trainers, and audio-visual recording engineers requiring natural science and humanities techniques and knowledge. The Entertainer residence status will apply if you engage in these activities. - “Legal/Accounting Services”
If you are registered by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations as a foreign lawyer and engage in activities permitted only to licensed professionals, you will be eligible for the Legal/Accounting Services status of residence. If you are a foreign lawyer without such registration and work for a company in Japan as a legal staff, you will be eligible for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence. - “Professor” and “Instructor”
If you teach English at a university in Japan or its equivalence, you will be eligible for the Professor status of residence. If you teach English at an elementary, junior high, or high school in Japan, you will qualify for the Instructor status of residence. If you teach English at a private institute or company, you will be eligible for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence.
You may get a rough idea of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence. If you want to work in Japan, taking advantage of the knowledge acquired at your university, this status of residence is probably the first choice. However, please consider the requirements in detail and other possible options. If you have any uncertainties, please do not hesitate to contact an immigration expert like Gyoseishoshi.
To learn about the benefits of hiring a Gyoseishoshi, please read my blog post, “Five reasons why you should hire a Gyoseishoshi for your immigration applications.”