In December 2024, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan revised its guidelines on the clarification of the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” residence status. In this article, we explain the main changes in this revision and their impact on application practice.
Reference: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Clarification of the ‘Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services’ Residence Status” (revised December 2024)
Background to the Guideline Revision
In recent years the number of Engineer visa applications has continued to increase, and unifying the criteria for judgment in screening had become an issue. In particular, because applicants and companies had voiced concerns that “the judgment is opaque” regarding the eligibility of job duties and the treatment of practical training, this guideline revision was carried out.
Main Changes
1. Clarification of Eligibility Judgments
The revised guidelines set out the eligibility judgment for job duties more concretely.
| Criterion | Before Revision | After Revision |
|---|---|---|
| Job duties | Whether there is expertise as a whole | Whether the principal duties are specialized |
| Incidental duties | No clear standard | Permitted if they are a part of the whole |
| On-site work | In principle not permitted | Permitted on a limited basis where based on a training plan |
Important: It was made clear that where the expertise of the work is recognized in only a part of the duties, the case does not fall under the Engineer visa residence status.
2. Treatment of Practical Training
The treatment of cases where an employee engages in on-site work as new employee training was clarified.
- Submission of a training plan is now required
- The training period is limited to a reasonable scope
- The post-training assignment must be work that falls under the Engineer visa
- Engaging someone in unskilled labour for a long period under the name of training is not permitted
3. Clarification of Hotel and Inn Duties
Along with the increase in inbound demand, the standards for employing foreign nationals at hotels and inns were clarified.
- Front desk duties (foreign language service): may be eligible
- Concierge (foreign language service): may be eligible
- Guest room cleaning and food serving only: not eligible
- Operation of reservation management systems: may be eligible as the engineering field
4. Cool Japan Related Fields
For Cool Japan related fields such as anime, games, and fashion, an approach to eligibility was added.
- Animators, game designers, and the like may be eligible as the engineering field
- Planning and marketing of content for overseas markets may be eligible as humanities knowledge or international services
- Where the work consists only of simple drawing tasks, it may not be eligible
5. Treatment of Graduates of Fashion Design Educational Institutions
For those who have graduated from vocational schools and similar institutions in the field of fashion design, the eligibility of the work was clarified. Where they engage in design work, it may be recognized in the international services field.
6. Treatment of Employment in Dispatch Form
By the notice of February 2026, standards have also been indicated for employment in dispatch form.
- Both the dispatching company and the client company are subject to screening
- An explanation of the specific job duties at the client company is required
- Where the client company changes frequently over short periods, screening is conducted carefully
Impact on Application Practice
As a result of this revision, there is an impact on application practice in the following respects.
- Increased importance of the letter of reason — It is necessary to explain the expertise of the job duties more concretely
- Preparation of a training plan — Where there is new employee training, preparation of a plan is essential
- Accountability on the company side — The accepting company is required to explain the job duties clearly
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