Chureito Pagoda overlooking Mount Fuji in Japan at sunset

Japan Visa & Immigration Services

Hudson McKenzie advises individuals, families, professionals and international businesses on Japanese visa and immigration matters, including employment-based residence, intra-company transfers, Highly Skilled Professional applications, J-Skip, J-Find, Business Manager applications, start-up immigration, family residence and permanent residence.

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Japan operates a detailed system of immigration categories known as statuses of residence. The appropriate route depends principally on the activities the individual intends to undertake in Japan, as well as professional background, qualifications, sponsoring organisation or business structure, nationality and intended period of stay.

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For international employers, Japan provides several work-related statuses for professional hires, employee transfers and specialist workers. Separate frameworks exist for highly skilled professionals, exceptionally senior talent, entrepreneurs, recent graduates of leading overseas universities and qualifying remote workers.

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Many longer-term immigration processes also involve a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) before the overseas visa stage, depending on the status being sought and the applicant’s circumstances.

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Whether you are relocating to Japan, transferring employees, establishing a business, joining family or planning longer-term residence, Hudson McKenzie can assess the available immigration routes and coordinate the application strategy and supporting documentation.

Foreign nationals intending to work in Japan generally need a status of residence that permits the activities they will undertake.

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Japan does not operate one generic work visa covering all employment. The correct immigration category is determined primarily by the substance of the proposed work, rather than the job title alone.

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Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services: This is one of Japan’s principal professional work statuses.

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It covers qualifying activities requiring technical or specialised knowledge in the natural sciences or humanities, together with certain activities requiring thought or sensitivity based on a foreign culture.

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Official examples include:

engineers;
interpreters;
designers;
language teachers employed by private companies; and
marketing professionals.

Eligibility depends on the proposed duties, contractual relationship, academic qualifications or professional experience and the applicable immigration criteria. The Immigration Services Agency continues to publish detailed guidance for this status.

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Intra-Company Transferee: This status is designed for qualifying employees being transferred for a specified period from an overseas establishment to a related Japanese office.

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The activities in Japan must generally fall within the professional scope associated with the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services framework.

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This route can therefore be particularly relevant to multinational organisations transferring managers, technical specialists or other professional employees into Japan.

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Specified Skilled Worker: The Specified Skilled Worker framework applies to qualifying foreign nationals working in designated industrial fields covered by the programme.

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Applicants may need to demonstrate prescribed occupational skills and Japanese-language ability, depending on the field and circumstances.

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Specified Skilled Worker should be distinguished from professional statuses such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services and Highly Skilled Professional. The Immigration Services Agency continues to update the designated fields and operational requirements, so employers should confirm the current rules for the occupation concerned.

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Route	Typical Applicant	Core Basis	Main Distinction
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services	Professional hired or employed by a Japanese organisation	Qualifying specialised professional duties and appropriate background	Principal professional employment status
Intra-Company Transferee	Existing overseas employee transferring to a related Japanese entity	Qualifying corporate relationship and professional duties	Designed for international group-company transfers
Specified Skilled Worker	Worker in a designated industrial field	Sector-specific skills and, where required, language criteria	Separate framework for designated industries

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A Certificate of Eligibility is commonly relevant to long-term work applications before the visa stage.

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Hudson McKenzie can review the proposed role, candidate profile, employment arrangements and corporate structure and advise on the appropriate Japanese work status and immigration process.

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Japan operates several immigration frameworks designed to attract highly skilled and internationally mobile talent.

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These include the points-based Highly Skilled Professional system, J-Skip for exceptionally highly qualified professionals and J-Find for qualifying recent graduates of leading overseas universities.

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Highly Skilled Professional: The Highly Skilled Professional system provides preferential immigration treatment to qualifying foreign professionals.

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The system covers three broad activity categories:

advanced academic research;
advanced specialised or technical activities; and
advanced business management activities.

Applicants under the conventional points-based framework are assessed against factors such as qualifications, professional experience, remuneration and other prescribed attributes.

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A total of at least 70 points is required for Highly Skilled Professional status under the points-based system. Highly Skilled Professional (i) is granted a five-year period of stay.

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One important advantage is accelerated eligibility for permanent residence in qualifying cases. An applicant who satisfies the relevant 70-point requirements may potentially qualify after 3 years, while a person meeting the applicable 80-point requirements may potentially qualify after 1 year, subject to all other permanent-residence conditions.

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J-Skip — Special Highly Skilled Professional: J-Skip provides an alternative to the conventional points-based assessment for exceptionally highly qualified foreign professionals.

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For advanced academic research and advanced specialised or technical activities, current criteria include either:

a Master’s degree or higher together with annual income of at least ¥20 million; or
at least 10 years of relevant professional experience together with annual income of at least ¥20 million.

For advanced business management activities, the published criteria include at least 5 years of relevant management experience together with annual income of at least ¥40 million.

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J-Skip applicants can benefit from enhanced immigration treatment available to Special Highly Skilled Professionals.

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J-Find — Future Creation Individual: J-Find provides a route for qualifying recent graduates of leading overseas universities to undertake job-search or entrepreneurial preparation activities in Japan.

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Applicants receive Designated Activities status and can remain in Japan for up to 2 years.

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Current eligibility includes:

graduation from, or completion of postgraduate study at, an eligible university ranked within the global top 100 in at least 2 of 3 specified major world university rankings;
graduation or completion generally within the preceding 5 years; and
satisfaction of the applicable financial and other requirements.

The current programme requires at least ¥200,000 in savings at the time of application for initial living expenses.

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Route	Primary Purpose	Main Eligibility Basis	Maximum / Key Residence Position
Highly Skilled Professional	Highly skilled employment, research or business management	Points-based assessment, generally 70+ points	HSP (i): 5 years
J-Skip	Exceptionally highly qualified senior professionals	Prescribed qualifications or experience plus high income	Enhanced Highly Skilled Professional treatment
J-Find	Job search or business preparation	Recent graduate of qualifying leading overseas university	Up to 2 years

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The appropriate route depends on the applicant’s qualifications, professional profile, remuneration, proposed activity and longer-term residence objectives.

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Hudson McKenzie can undertake an initial route comparison, review HSP points, assess J-Skip or J-Find eligibility and advise on the supporting evidence required.

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Foreign nationals who establish a qualifying long-term residence history in Japan may eventually consider permanent residence or Japanese citizenship.

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These are separate legal processes with different eligibility criteria and legal consequences.

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Permanent Residence: Under the general rule, an applicant for Japanese permanent residence is normally expected to have resided continuously in Japan for at least 10 years.

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Within that period, the applicant generally needs at least 5 years under a qualifying work or residence status, together with satisfaction of the other permanent-residence requirements.

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These include considerations such as conduct, financial stability, tax and other public obligations and whether granting permanent residence is considered to be in Japan’s national interest.

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Important exceptions can reduce the general residence period for specific applicants, including certain spouses and children, Long-Term Residents and qualifying highly skilled foreign professionals.

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Accelerated Permanent Residence for Highly Skilled Professionals: Japan provides particularly important concessions for qualifying highly skilled foreign nationals.

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An applicant meeting the relevant 70-point Highly Skilled Professional criteria may potentially qualify after 3 years, while an applicant satisfying the 80-point threshold may potentially qualify after 1 year.

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The reduced period does not make permanent residence automatic. All remaining permanent-residence requirements must still be satisfied.

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Japanese Citizenship by Naturalisation: Naturalisation is governed separately by Japan’s nationality legislation.

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Under the general conditions, a person applying for naturalisation normally needs to have been domiciled in Japan continuously for 5 years or more with valid immigration status throughout the relevant period.

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Other statutory requirements include matters relating to age and legal capacity, conduct, livelihood and nationality. Meeting the minimum statutory conditions does not itself guarantee that naturalisation will be approved.

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Status / Route	General Residence Position	Important Point
Permanent Residence — General Rule	Normally 10 years, including qualifying work/residence history	Other conduct, financial and public-obligation requirements apply
Highly Skilled — 70 Points	Potentially after 3 years	Accelerated PR only where all applicable conditions are satisfied
Highly Skilled — 80 Points	Potentially after 1 year	Accelerated PR only where all applicable conditions are satisfied
Naturalisation	Generally 5 years’ continuous domicile	Separate nationality process with additional statutory requirements

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Hudson McKenzie can review immigration and residence history, Highly Skilled Professional points and longer-term objectives and advise on immigration considerations relevant to permanent residence and naturalisation planning.

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Other Japan Immigration Routes

Short-Stay Business & Visitor Travel: Foreign nationals travelling to Japan for a short stay may be able to enter as a Temporary Visitor depending on nationality, passport, purpose of travel and applicable visa-exemption arrangements.

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Permitted temporary business activities can include, depending on the circumstances:

meetings;
commercial discussions and negotiations;
conferences and seminars;
market research;
liaison activities; and
trade fairs and exhibitions.

Temporary Visitor status should not be treated as unrestricted permission to undertake employment or productive work in Japan.

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Where the proposed activity falls within a work-related status of residence, the appropriate immigration route should be established before travel.

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Japan Digital Nomad Visa: Japan provides a Digital Nomad route under the Designated Activities framework for qualifying foreign nationals undertaking international remote work.

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Current requirements include:

nationality or citizenship of an eligible country or region;
qualifying international remote work;
annual income of at least ¥10 million at the time of application; and
qualifying private medical insurance covering the stay.

The permitted stay is 6 months, and no extension is granted under this status.

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The applicant cannot use Digital Nomad status to work under an employment contract with a Japanese public or private organisation.

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Qualifying spouses and children can also potentially accompany the principal applicant under the associated Designated Activities framework, subject to the applicable requirements.

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For broader international remote-working options, see Hudson McKenzie’s Digital Nomad Visas and Remote Working Visas.

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International Students: Foreign nationals undertaking qualifying education in Japan may require Student status of residence.

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The route covers qualifying study at universities, colleges, schools and other eligible educational institutions.

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Student status does not itself permit unrestricted paid employment. A student who wants to undertake qualifying part-time work generally needs permission to engage in activities outside their existing status.

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Where comprehensive permission is granted, the usual limit is up to 28 hours per week during term time, with different limits potentially applying during recognised long school holidays.

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Students seeking to remain in Japan after graduation should assess the appropriate work, J-Find, business or other immigration route according to their circumstances.

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Why Choose Hudson McKenzie for Japan Immigration?

Hudson McKenzie advises individuals, families, entrepreneurs, professionals and international businesses on Japanese immigration and global mobility matters.

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Our team can assist with:

Japan work visa and employment-based applications;
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services cases;
intra-company transfers;
Specified Skilled Worker assessments;
Highly Skilled Professional applications and points assessments;
J-Skip applications;
J-Find applications;
Business Manager immigration;
Start-up Visa matters;
Digital Nomad applications;
family and dependant applications;
Certificate of Eligibility procedures;
student immigration;
permanent-residence planning;
corporate immigration and international employee transfers;
consular application preparation;
document review and immigration strategy; and
apostille, legalisation and translation support.

For businesses, Hudson McKenzie can coordinate Japanese immigration requirements for international assignments, employee transfers, overseas recruitment and senior executive mobility.

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For professionals, we can compare standard professional work status, Intra-Company Transferee, Highly Skilled Professional, J-Skip and other relevant categories according to the proposed role and applicant profile.

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For entrepreneurs and private clients, we can assess Business Manager, Start-up, Digital Nomad, family and longer-term residence options based on business plans, professional background and individual objectives.

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Japan’s immigration system is highly category-specific, so selecting the appropriate status at the outset can be important for immediate eligibility as well as future employment flexibility, family arrangements and permanent-residence planning.

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Planning to work, establish a business, relocate, study or join family in Japan? Contact Hudson McKenzie to discuss the immigration options relevant to your circumstances.

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Japanese immigration and nationality laws, statuses of residence, eligibility criteria, financial requirements, application procedures and supporting-document requirements are subject to change. Requirements can vary according to nationality, individual circumstances, sponsoring organisation and the immigration or consular authority handling the application. Please contact Hudson McKenzie for advice tailored to your specific circumstances.

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