The first thing to check when applying for an Engineer visa is “which category does your company fall under?” The category significantly affects the volume of required documents and the focus of screening. This article covers category determination, required documents, and changes from the 2026 reform.
Reference: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” Document List
Category Overview
| Category | Eligible Companies | Document Volume | Screening Tendency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Listed companies, etc. | Minimum | Relatively smooth |
| Category 2 | Withholding tax ≥ ¥10M | Few | Relatively smooth |
| Category 3 | Filed statutory payment records | Moderate | Standard screening |
| Category 4 | All others | Maximum | Careful screening |
Point: Category 1 & 2 companies have their credibility guaranteed by listing or tax standards, so required documents are significantly simplified. SMEs in Category 3 & 4 need more documents to prove reliability.
Category 1: Listed Companies & Public Organizations
Eligible Organizations
- Companies listed on Japanese stock exchanges
- Mutual insurance companies
- National or local governments (Japan or foreign)
- Independent administrative agencies
- Special corporations and authorized corporations
- Public interest corporations recognized by Japanese national/local government
- Public corporations under the Corporate Tax Act
Required Documents
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Application form | Common |
| Photo | Common |
| Return envelope | For Certificate of Eligibility applications |
| Copy of Shikiho (securities report) or certificate from supervising ministry | Proves Category 1 |
Category 2: Withholding Tax ≥ ¥10 Million
Eligible Companies
Companies whose withholding tax amount on the statutory payment record summary for the previous year is ¥10 million or more.
Approximate Company Size
| Condition | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Average annual salary ¥4M | ~50-70 employees |
| Average annual salary ¥5M | ~40-60 employees |
| Average annual salary ¥6M | ~30-50 employees |
Category 3: Companies That Filed Statutory Payment Records
Eligible Companies
Companies that have filed statutory payment record summaries with the tax office but have withholding tax under ¥10 million. Most SMEs fall here.
Required Documents
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Application form | Common |
| Photo | Common |
| Statutory payment record summary | Proves Category 3 |
| Employment contract | Confirms compensation and job duties |
| Reason for employment letter | Explains relationship between job and academic background |
| Certificate of registered matters | Confirms corporate existence |
| Company brochure or website | Confirms business activities |
| Financial statements | Confirms financial status |
| Applicant’s graduation/transcript certificates | Confirms education |
| Declaration on representative | New from April 2026 |
| CEFR B2 language certification (for client-facing work) | New from April 2026 |
Category 4: All Others
Eligible Companies
- Newly established companies (no statutory payment record history)
- Companies with no or very few employees
- Sole proprietors
- NPOs without statutory payment record filing obligations
Additional Documents Beyond Category 3
| Additional Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Business plan | Confirm future business outlook |
| Tax office notification of payroll office establishment | Confirm employment structure |
| Last 3 months’ income tax calculation sheets | Confirm actual payroll |
| Tax payment certificate (Form 3-3) | Confirm no unpaid taxes |
Category Determination Flowchart
- Listed company or public organization? → Yes → Category 1
- Withholding tax ≥ ¥10 million? → Yes → Category 2
- Filed statutory payment records? → Yes → Category 3
- None of the above → Category 4
Impact of the April 2026 Reform
Documents Added for Category 3 & 4
| New Document | Target |
|---|---|
| Declaration on representative of affiliated organization | All Category 3 & 4 applications |
| CEFR B2 language proficiency certification | Category 3 & 4 with client-facing work |
Impact on Category 1 & 2
No major changes for Category 1 & 2, but the extension application checklist has been updated — please use the latest version.
Our Support
From category determination to document preparation, trust Kaneko Hidetaka Administrative Scrivener Office for Engineer visa applications.
- 98% approval rate
- Languages: Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese
- Free initial consultation
- Serving Chiba, Tokyo, and nationwide (online consultation available)