Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa for Sales and Marketing｜Eligibility Under International Services and Tips for Proof
Introduction
Even in sales or marketing roles, it is possible to obtain the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa. However, the word 「sales」 alone is hard to distinguish from simple retail and customer service, and if the description of the duties is insufficient, the application may be denied.
This article explains the way of thinking required for sales and marketing roles to qualify under this visa, along with tips for proof.
This article is based on 「Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services」 in Table 1, Part 2 of the Immigration Control Act, the Ministerial Ordinance on Landing Criteria, and public information from the Immigration Services Agency.
Which Category Does Sales and Marketing Fall Under
This visa is divided into three activity categories. Depending on the content, sales and marketing are filed under one of the following.
| Category | Examples of qualifying sales and marketing |
|---|---|
| Specialist in Humanities | Planning, analysis, and strategy formulation that draw on academic knowledge such as management studies and marketing |
| International Services | Overseas transactions, sales and PR aimed at overseas markets, and external liaison drawing on language skills |
Conversely, duties centered on simple tasks such as in-store retail, cashiering, and product display do not qualify for this visa. Distinguishing and explaining this point is the most important factor.
Two Axes for Demonstrating Eligibility
1. Relevance to Education and Career (for Specialist in Humanities)
Show the connection between a background of studying management studies, commerce, economics, or marketing at a university and the planning and analysis duties. If the link between the major and the duties is weak, there is a risk of being judged as 「no relevance」. For how to address a mismatch between major and duties, 「A Major-Job Mismatch? The Relevance Requirement for This Visa」 is also helpful.
2. The Need for Foreign Background (for International Services)
Show that the work is 「a duty that only a foreign national can carry out」, such as transactions with overseas parties, external liaison using a foreign language, and developing overseas markets. For International Services, a certain amount of practical experience may be required in some cases.
Tips for Proof — Describe the Duties Specifically
Examiners look at the actual content of the duties, not the job title. Making it concrete as follows increases persuasiveness.
| Abstract wording (weak) | Specific wording (strong) |
|---|---|
| 「In charge of sales」 | 「In charge of 〇 client companies in China, conducting business negotiations, contract negotiations, and market analysis in Chinese」 |
| 「Marketing duties」 | 「In charge of social media PR planning for the Southeast Asian market, competitor analysis, and sales strategy formulation」 |
In the letter of reason for employment, consistently explaining the specialized nature of the duties, the need for a foreign background, and the connection to the applicant’s career helps secure approval. For how to write the letter of reason for employment, please see 「How to Write a Letter of Reason for Employment for This Visa」.
Patterns That Tend to Lead to Denial
- The duties are seen as centered on simple tasks such as retail and customer service
- The relevance between education/career and the duties cannot be explained
- Only 「sales」 is written, and the specific content of the duties is unclear
- It is International Services, yet the reason a foreign background is needed is not shown
Note the 2026 Language Requirement as Well
When the work centers on interpersonal duties such as external liaison aimed overseas, it may fall under the CEFR B2 language requirement taking effect in April 2026 (interpersonal duties in Categories 3 and 4, etc.). For details, please check 「This Visa for Interpreting, Translation, and International Services Roles｜The CEFR B2 Interpersonal Duties Requirement」.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does in-store customer service and retail qualify for this visa? A. Simple customer service and retail do not qualify. However, if the work has a specialized nature, such as handling overseas customers or planning and analysis, there is room to qualify depending on the content.
Q. Can a humanities graduate obtain this visa for a sales role? A. It is possible as long as you can show the connection between an education in fields such as management, commerce, or economics and the duties. The relevance between the major and the duties is the key.
Q. Is International Services impossible without practical experience? A. International Services may require a certain amount of practical experience in some cases, but there are also exceptions, such as when a university graduate engages in translation or interpretation. It is judged according to the type of work.
Support from Our Office
For this visa in sales and marketing roles, the explanation of the duties and the proof of relevance determine success or failure. Kaneko Hidetaka Administrative Scrivener Office organizes the actual state of the duties and prepares persuasive application documents.
- A track record of a 98% approval rate
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