With the recovery of inbound tourism, hotels and tourism companies are increasingly hiring foreign workers. However, the boundary between approved and denied work is a particular issue in this industry.
Reference: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Clarification of Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Residence Status”
Approved Work
| Work | Reason | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Front desk (primarily foreign language) | Specialized language-based service | International Services |
| Foreign language concierge | Requires advanced language skills | International Services |
| Interpretation / Translation | Language-based specialized work | International Services |
| International marketing | Specialized planning work | Humanities |
| Overseas travel agency negotiations | Language-based sales | International Services |
Denied Work
| Work | Reason |
|---|---|
| Room cleaning | No specialized knowledge required |
| Bed making | Learnable through short training |
| Restaurant serving (hall service) | Simple labor |
| Cooking assistance | No specialized knowledge required |
| Luggage handling (bellboy) | Simple labor |
Important: Room cleaning and bed making can be handled under the “Specified Skilled Worker (Accommodation)” visa instead.
Comparison with Specified Skilled Worker (Accommodation)
| Item | Engineer Visa | Specified Skilled Worker |
|---|---|---|
| Target work | Specialized work (foreign language front desk, etc.) | All accommodation work (including cleaning) |
| Education requirement | University degree or 10 years experience | None (exam required) |
| Duration limit | No limit (renewable) | Type 1: max 5 years |
| Family | Allowed (Dependent visa) | Type 1: Not allowed |
Our Support
For Engineer visa applications in the hospitality industry, trust Kaneko Hidetaka Administrative Scrivener Office.
- 98% approval rate
- Languages: Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese
- Free initial consultation
- Serving Chiba, Tokyo, and nationwide (online consultation available)