The construction industry is short not only of tradespeople but also of the engineers who handle construction management, design, cost estimating (積算) and CAD. The status of residence used to hire foreign nationals for this kind of technical work is “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (技術・人文知識・国際業務; hereafter the “Engineer visa”). At construction companies, however, the wish to “have them out on site as well” sometimes leads to applications that go beyond the scope of this status of residence.
In this article, based on the guidelines of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (hereafter the “Immigration Services Agency”) and its published cases of approval and denial, we set out the work for which the Engineer visa can be used, the requirements for the person and for the company, how the procedures differ, and the points where construction companies tend to stumble.
Sources: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “On the Clarification, etc. of the Residence Status of ‘Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services’” (last revised April, Reiwa 8 (2026)) and its Appendix 1 (practical training), Appendix 3 (cases of approval and denial) and Appendix 4 (interpersonal work using language ability) / Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Residence Status: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” / Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Frequently Asked Questions on Residence Applications for Working Statuses (Q&A)” (July, Reiwa 8 (2026)) / e-Gov Law Search, “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act,” Appended Table I (2) and Article 19-16 / “Ministerial Ordinance Providing the Criteria Pursuant to Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act”
One-stop support for construction companies. For the status of residence of construction managers, designers and other engineers, an administrative scrivener (行政書士) prepares the application documents and files them with immigration on the applicant’s behalf. Engineers can also be introduced in cooperation with a cooperative (協同組合) for which our representative serves as an adviser. From construction business licences (建設業許可) to labour, tax and legal matters, we work with partner professionals and receive your consultation at our office as a single point of contact.
The Engineer visa is for “technical work”
The Engineer visa is a status of residence for engaging in work that requires technology or knowledge belonging to the natural sciences, such as science and engineering, or to the humanities, such as law and economics, or work that requires ways of thinking or sensibilities grounded in a foreign culture (Appended Table I (2) of the Immigration Control Act). The period of stay is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months, and it can be extended.
The Immigration Services Agency’s guidelines state that what is covered is “activities requiring specialized ability above a certain level, backed by academic grounding.” They go on to state expressly that work for which a job posting says something like “No experience needed; you’ll get used to it quickly,” and work generally done by Japanese employees who do not meet the education or work-experience requirements, are not covered.
Applied to the work of a construction company, this can be organized as follows.
| Category | Examples of work | Basis (published cases, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| May be covered | Preparing construction drawings; instructing and supervising site tradespeople | A person who studied electrical engineering at a vocational school prepared construction drawings and directed and supervised site tradespeople, among other duties, at a company designing and installing electrical works (approved case) |
| May be covered | Building cost estimating | A graduate of an architectural interior design course engaged in building cost estimating at a company doing architectural design, design supervision and building cost estimating (approved case) |
| May be covered | Structural design and analysis; research and development | A person who studied social infrastructure engineering engaged in research and development, analysis and structural design at a civil engineering and construction consulting firm (approved case) |
| May be covered | Research and surveys on construction technology | A person who majored in architectural engineering engaged in basic and applied research on construction technology and surveys of construction conditions in Japan and abroad, among other duties, at a construction company (approved case) |
| May be covered | Analysis and development using CAD | A person who majored in engineering or a related field engaged in CAD and CAE system analysis and development at an aircraft maintenance company (approved case) |
| Not covered | The formwork, rebar or interior finishing work itself; carrying materials; cleaning | The guidelines’ position that work which can be done after repetitive training is not covered. A case in which an application to do almost the same work as technical intern trainees at a factory was denied |
Whether the status applies is judged by looking at the person’s activities over the period of stay as a whole. Even if the application is made for a construction management position, if in reality most of the person’s time is spent on the same work as the tradespeople, it does not fall under the Engineer visa.
How is a CAD operator assessed?
The Immigration Services Agency’s collection of approved and denied cases does not appear to contain any case under the job title “CAD operator” itself. The approved cases involving CAD concern work that draws on knowledge of design or drafting, such as CAD/CAE system analysis or development, or a vocational school graduate who had taken courses such as CAD practice and strength of materials checking component drawings and writing programs for machining equipment.
The dividing line is not the job title but the content of the work. Work such as preparing and revising drawings based on knowledge of structures or construction, or coordinating with designers and turning their designs into construction drawings, makes it easier to explain the connection with a major in architecture, civil engineering, mechanical engineering and the like. Conversely, if the work consists mainly of entering hand-drawn drawings as they are, and the company also hires its Japanese staff for it on a “no experience needed” basis, there is a risk that it will not be recognized as Engineer visa work.
Among the published cases is one in which immigration asked for an explanation of the education, work history and salary of a Japanese employee doing the same work; it turned out that the Japanese employee was a graduate of a faculty of science and engineering, the job posting required education equivalent to a university degree, and the salary was the same as the applicant’s, and permission was granted. It is worth having an explanation ready of the criteria on which you hire Japanese employees for the same work.
How far is on-site training after joining allowed?
“We’d like them to learn the work on site first” is a wish often heard at construction companies. Appendix 1 of the guidelines states that even where a person does work not falling under the Engineer visa during practical training at the start of employment, this is allowed, after an assessment of its appropriateness, if it is part of training given in the same way to Japanese university-graduate employees and others and does not take up most of the person’s entire period of stay. The points to note are as follows.
- Training set only for foreign employees, or training that differs from that for Japanese employees, is not allowed unless there is a reasonable ground, such as Japanese language training.
- If practical training will continue beyond one year from hiring, a training plan will be requested, and the reasonableness of the period will be examined.
- Where there is training, the period of stay will in principle be “1 year.” If the training is still continuing beyond the plan at the time of extension, the extension will not be granted unless there is a reasonable ground.
- The guidelines state expressly that an application such as one where the employment contract is for only 3 years with no plan for renewal, yet the first 2 years from hiring are designated as training, will not be allowed.
Requirements for the person: education, field of study and work experience
For technical work such as construction management, design, cost estimating and CAD, the person must fall under one of the following (Ministerial Ordinance Providing the Criteria Pursuant to Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act; hereafter the “Landing Criteria Ordinance”).
| Route | Content | How the link between field of study and work is viewed |
|---|---|---|
| University / college of technology (高等専門学校) | Graduated having majored in subjects related to the work (overseas universities are assessed on an equivalent basis) | The guidelines say this is “assessed more flexibly than before” |
| Vocational school (専門学校) in Japan | Completed a specialized course, having majored in subjects related to the work, and obtained a title such as Diploma of Specialist (専門士) | In principle a “considerable degree of relevance” is required. Those who completed a course certified by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Career Development Promotion Program for International Students, 外国人留学生キャリア形成促進プログラム) are assessed flexibly |
| Work experience | 10 years or more (including periods spent majoring in related subjects at a university, vocational school, etc.) | Periods in related work count, even if not Engineer visa work itself |
Even for vocational school graduates, where the overall content of their studies shows that they have acquired the knowledge needed for the work, a comprehensive assessment is made; and for those who have worked for about 3 years in work recognized as relevant, the relevance of their subsequent work is assessed flexibly. Graduation from a vocational school outside Japan does not qualify under the vocational school route.
At construction companies, majors such as architecture, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and building services are fields that connect readily to construction management and design. In practice, the connection is shown not just by the name of the major but by the subjects listed on the academic transcript. For how to think about the relationship between field of study and work, see Mismatch Between Your Major and Your Job? Mastering the Engineer Visa Relevance Requirement; if you are applying on the basis of work experience, see also How to Obtain an Engineer Visa Through 10 Years of Work Experience.
In addition, interpreting and translating with overseas partner companies, and overseas trade work, fall under “International Services,” which in principle requires 3 years or more of work experience in related work (not required where a university graduate engages in translation, interpretation or language instruction). For work that mainly involves dealing with people using language ability, a language ability equivalent to CEFR B2 is a prerequisite, and where the company falls under Category 3 or 4, documentary proof of it must be submitted with the application.
Requirements for the company: contract, remuneration and the reality of the business
Remuneration must be equal to or greater than the remuneration a Japanese national would receive for the work. Allowances in the nature of reimbursement of actual expenses, such as commuting, family and housing allowances (excluding those that are taxable), are not counted as remuneration. For details, see Engineer Visa Salary Requirements.
The contract and the reality of the business are also checked. The guidelines require that the activities under the contract be carried out lawfully in Japan and be expected to continue. For a construction company, it is also worth checking that there is no situation such as undertaking works that require a construction business licence without holding one. In addition, a company that is subject to a suspension of acceptance under Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) or Technical Intern Training (技能実習) for reasons such as violence against foreign nationals, confiscation of passports or non-payment of wages cannot, in principle, newly accept foreign nationals on the Engineer visa either during that period.
The company’s category determines the documents to be submitted. A company that has submitted the previous year’s summary of statutory payment records falls under Category 3 (Category 2 if the withholding tax on employment income is ¥10 million or more), while a newly established company with no record of submission and the like falls under Category 4. For applications filed on or after April 15, Reiwa 8 (2026), Category 3 and 4 companies must also submit the “Declaration Form on the Representative of the Affiliated Organization.” For details, see Requirements and Points to Note for Companies Hiring on an Engineer Visa and New Requirements Under the April 2026 Reform.
After hiring, the company is obliged to file a notification of the employment status of foreign nationals with Hello Work. The full set of notifications is organized in Notification Calendar for Companies Employing Foreign Nationals.
Bringing someone from overseas vs. hiring in Japan
The procedure differs depending on where the person is now and which status of residence they hold.
| Person to be hired | Procedure | Points to note |
|---|---|---|
| Living overseas | Application for a Certificate of Eligibility (a company employee can apply as proxy, or you can ask an administrative scrivener registered as a filing agent (申請取次)) → the person applies for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad → entry into Japan | Allow time to obtain graduation certificates, certificates of employment and the like from overseas |
| International student graduating from a Japanese university or vocational school | Application for change of status of residence | Having worked beyond the limit for activities outside the status (in principle 28 hours per week), among other things, counts against the application |
| Working at another company on the Engineer visa (job change) | If the work is within the scope of the Engineer visa, no change application is needed. The person must file a “Notification on the Contracting Organization” within 14 days (Article 19-16 of the Immigration Control Act) | An application for a Certificate of Authorized Employment (就労資格証明書) can confirm whether the new work qualifies. If the period of stay is about to expire, apply for an extension |
| Holding another status such as Technical Intern Training or Specified Skilled Worker | Application for change of status of residence | The link between education/field of study and the work is examined afresh |
For the flow when bringing someone from overseas, see How to Recruit Foreign Workers from Overseas; for accepting someone changing jobs, see Procedures When Changing Jobs on an Engineer Visa; and for hiring someone who has completed technical intern training into a technical role, see Switching from Technical Intern Training to the Engineer Visa.
Where construction companies tend to stumble (from published cases)
From among the Immigration Services Agency’s cases of approval and denial, here are those worth noting when translated into the hiring situation of a construction company.
- The work is mainly on-site work An application to do almost the same work as technical intern trainees was denied because it was not recognized as work requiring advanced knowledge. If you are hiring for construction management, show in the description of duties that management and design work makes up the bulk of the working day.
- Training is long, or imposed only on foreign nationals In one case, an application planning for the person to serve food and clean as training was denied because past foreign employees had continued the same work far beyond the planned period. Make clear the length of the training and the work the person will do after it.
- Pay lower than Japanese employees An application was denied where a Japanese new graduate hired at the same time for the same kind of work was paid ¥180,000 per month while the applicant was paid ¥135,000 per month.
- Not enough interpreting work There are several denied cases where the application was made for interpreting for foreign staff, but the need for interpreting or the volume of work was not recognized. An application for interpreting and technical instruction for foreign nationals to be accepted in the future, where the plan had not taken concrete shape and the person would do cleaning until then, was also denied. If you are hiring someone to coordinate foreign skilled workers, show concretely the volume of work needed now.
- The vocational school major and the work do not line up For vocational school graduates, the relevance between major and work is examined relatively strictly. Explain by matching the subjects on the transcript with the duties the person will be given.
- Too much part-time work while a student In one case, it came to light that the person had worked part-time continuously for 200 hours or more per month for 1 year or more while a student, the person’s residence record was not recognized as good, and the application was denied. When hiring an international student, also check how they worked while at school.
Choosing between the Engineer visa and Specified Skilled Worker
Even for foreign hires at the same construction company, the status of residence differs according to the work the person will mainly do.
| Item | Engineer visa | Specified Skilled Worker (i) (特定技能1号) (construction field) |
|---|---|---|
| Main work | Technical work such as construction management, design, cost estimating and CAD | Work requiring skills on site |
| Requirements for the person | Education (relevance of field of study) or work experience | Passing a skills test and a Japanese language test, etc. |
| Main requirements for the company | Remuneration equal to or greater than that of Japanese employees, etc. | Construction business licence; registration with the Construction Career Up System; membership of the Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC) or similar; certification of the acceptance plan by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; etc. |
| Support plan | Not required | Required (may be entrusted to a Registered Support Organization (登録支援機関)) |
| Bringing family | Possible (Dependent, 家族滞在) | In principle not possible |
For the full comparison, see Differences Between Specified Skilled Worker and the Engineer Visa; for the requirements of Specified Skilled Worker in construction, see Specified Skilled Worker in the Construction Field; and for outsourcing support, see When Entrusting Support to a Registered Support Organization.
If you engage our office
Hiring an engineer does not end with the residence status paperwork. It runs from finding the person, through the notifications after permission, to the company’s licences and labour matters. At Kaneko Hidetaka Administrative Scrivener Office, our office takes on all of these concerns of construction companies on a one-stop basis.
What we can do as administrative scriveners
Only administrative scriveners and attorneys may prepare residence status application documents for a fee (Article 1-3 and Article 19, paragraph 1 of the Administrative Scriveners Act). The Immigration Services Agency also cautions that anyone other than an attorney or administrative scrivener preparing, as a business and for a fee, applications and other documents to be submitted to government offices may be in violation of the Administrative Scriveners Act.
Our representative is an administrative scrivener who has filed notification as a filing agent. We take on everything from organizing the job content and preparing the application documents to filing with immigration and collecting the residence card, so in principle neither the company’s staff nor the person needs to go to the immigration counter.
- A 98% approval rate
- We organize the job content before applying Can the construction management, design or CAD work be explained in a way that falls under the Engineer visa? We work through this with you, including the length and content of any training and the criteria for hiring Japanese employees for the same work, and prepare an explanatory statement.
- Engineers can also be introduced Construction management, design and other engineers can be introduced in cooperation with a cooperative for which our representative serves as an adviser.
- Handled by a representative who knows acceptance on the ground Our representative previously served as chairman of a cooperative (a supervising organization (監理団体) and Registered Support Organization), working on the front line of accepting technical intern trainees and Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals and of their procedures and support. At the Chiba Public Employment Security Office (Hello Work Chiba), our representative served as a counsellor on the employment of foreign nationals and advised many companies hiring foreign nationals for the first time.
On-site workers and company procedures, also one-stop
| What you need | How our office helps |
|---|---|
| Hiring and applications for engineers (Engineer visa) | An administrative scrivener prepares the application documents and files them with immigration. Engineers can also be introduced in cooperation with the cooperative |
| On-site skilled workers (Specified Skilled Worker) | Our office provides support as a Registered Support Organization. We act as agent for the application to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) for certification of the Construction Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Plan (建設特定技能受入計画) and for the reports after acceptance, and prepare the notification documents the company submits to immigration. We handle registration with the Construction Career Up System (CCUS) on your behalf and can also assist with joining JAC. For recruitment, we work together with the company on job postings with Hello Work, JAC’s job listings and the like |
| On-site skilled workers (Employment for Skill Development (育成就労); currently Technical Intern Training) | We work in cooperation with the cooperative (supervising organization) for which our representative serves as an adviser |
| Construction business licence, company formation | Handled by our office |
| Labour and social insurance, financial statements and tax returns, legal issues | Handled in cooperation with partner labour and social security attorneys (社会保険労務士), certified tax accountants (税理士) and attorneys, with our office as the point of contact. Bookkeeping is handled by our office |
The first consultation is free for 60 minutes. Online consultations are also available, and we can consult with you in Japanese or Chinese. Our office is a 4-minute walk from the South Exit of JR Chiba Station.
Summary
- When hiring foreign nationals for technical work such as construction management, design, cost estimating and CAD, the main status of residence is the Engineer visa. On-site work itself is not covered.
- The published cases include approvals for preparing construction drawings and directing and supervising tradespeople by a person who studied electrical engineering at a vocational school, for building cost estimating, and for structural design. A CAD operator is assessed not by job title but by whether the work draws on knowledge of design and drafting.
- The person needs to have graduated from a university or vocational school with a major related to the work, or to have 10 years or more of work experience. For vocational schools, a considerable degree of relevance is required in principle.
- Remuneration must be equal to or greater than that of Japanese employees. On-site training after joining is limited to training given in the same way as to Japanese employees that does not take up most of the period of stay.
- The procedure differs: a Certificate of Eligibility when bringing someone from overseas, a change application for an international student, and a notification by the person for someone changing jobs on the Engineer visa (eligibility can also be confirmed with a Certificate of Authorized Employment).
- For hiring mainly for on-site work, consider Specified Skilled Worker (construction field).
This article is based on information published as of October 2026. Screening practice and required documents may change, so please check the latest information on the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.