Switching from Technical Intern Training to Engineer Visa | Requirements & Process

For those who have completed Technical Intern Training and wish to continue working in Japan, the Engineer visa is a strong option. However, the two residence statuses are fundamentally different, creating several hurdles for the switch.

Reference: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Change of Status of Residence”

Key Differences

Item	Technical Intern Training	Engineer Visa
Purpose	Skills transfer (international contribution)	Specialized work
Duration	Max 5 years	No limit (renewable)
Job changes	Not allowed in principle	Allowed
Education requirement	None	University degree or 10 years experience
Family	Not allowed	Allowed (Dependent visa)

Requirements for the Switch

Critical Point: Education or Work Experience

Home country university degree in a field related to the Engineer visa work
OR 10+ years of work experience (Technical Intern Training period does NOT count)
For International Services: 3+ years of work experience

Job Content Must Be Specialized

The post-switch work must require specialized knowledge or skills — NOT a continuation of the same intern training work.

Comparison with Specified Skilled Worker

Item	Engineer Visa	Specified Skilled Worker 1	Specified Skilled Worker 2
Education required	Yes	No	No
Exam required	No	Exempt if completed Training Type 2	Yes
Duration	Unlimited	Max 5 years	Unlimited
Family	Allowed	Not allowed	Allowed

Decision guide: If you have a home country university degree and want specialized work → Engineer visa. If you lack formal education and want to continue in the same field → Specified Skilled Worker.

Our Support

For switching from Technical Intern Training to an Engineer visa, trust Kaneko Hidetaka Administrative Scrivener Office.

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Languages: Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese
Free initial consultation
Serving Chiba, Tokyo, and nationwide (online consultation available)