This working visa (Status of Residence) is for foreign nationals who intend to engage a following activitiy, based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan.
Engineer
In services which require skills or knowledge pertinent to physical science, engineering or other natural science fields
Specialist in Humanities
In services which require knowledge pertinent to jurisprudence, economics, sociology or other human science fields
International Services
In services which require special consideration or sensitivity based on experience with foreign culture
Requirements under “Ministerial Order to Provide for Criteria Pursuant to Article 7, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act“
Requirements for all applicants
The applicant receives no less remuneration than would a Japanese national for comparable work.
Requirements for Engineer / Specialist in Humanities (you need to meet one of the requirements)
(a) The applicant has graduated from university, having majored in a subject relating to the skills or knowledge, or has acquired an education equivalent thereto; or
(b) The applicant has completed a specialized course of study at a vocational school in Japan, majoring in a subject relating to the skills or knowledge (limited to cases where the applicant has fulfilled the requirements designated in a public notice by the Minister of Justice relating to the completion); or
(c) The applicant has at least 10 years’ practical experience (including the period during which the applicant majored in a subject relating to the skills or knowledge at a university, technical school, senior high school, a course of study in the second half of a course of study at a school for secondary education or a specialized course of study at a vocational school).
Requirements for International Services (you need to meet every requirements)
(a) The applicant engages in translation, interpretation, language instruction, public relations, overseas transactions, fashion or interior design, product development, or other similar services; and
(b) The applicant has at least 3 years’ experience in the relevant services; provided, however, that this does not apply if the applicant who has graduated from university is to engage in translation, interpretation, or language instruction.
Essential documents to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for “Engineer/ Specialist in Humanities/ International Services” visa (status of residence)
Organization Categories
Required documents for application depends on which category his/her organization belongs to. There are four categories as follows.
Category 1
Companies listed on Japanese securities, mutual companies engaging in insurance business, foreign national or local governments, and public interest corporations approved by the national or local governments of Japan.
Category 2
Organizations and individuals whose amount of withholding tax stated in the table of the total table (records of withholding for employment income, etc) for the previous year is 15 million yen or more.
Category 3
Organizations and individuals which have submitted the information returns for total table (records of withholding for employment income, etc) for employees for the previous year (excluding those falling under Category 2).
Category 4
Organizations and individuals which do not fall under any of Categories 1 to 3.
The following documentation is generally needed when applying for a Certificate of Eligibility:
< Categories 1 to 4 >
1. Application for Certificate of Eligibility
2. One full-face photograph
(4 cm in height x 3 cm in width)
3. Return-mail envelope
(with postage affixed)
4. Documents show which category an organisation belongs to
- If an affiliated organization is a listed company, a copy of “Shikihou (Japan Company Handobook)”,etc.
- If an affiliated organization is not a listed company, a copy of the total lists of withholding statement, etc. for the previous year.
５. Certificate / Diploma of completion of vocational study
(in case of the applicant who has completed a specialized course of study at a vocational school in Japan which designated in a public notice by the Minister of Justice relating to the completion.)
< Categories 3 and 4 >
6. Documents providing a detail of applicant’s business activity
(employment/contract agreement, letter of appointment, etc.)
7. Documents certifying applicant’s academic and career history
(certificate of academic qualification form the university, certificate of employment from past employers, etc.)
8. Certificate of Registered Matters
9. Details of organization/company
(including history of them, list of executive board members, organization chart, major clients/partners and business transaction with them, etc.)
<Category 3 only>
10. A copy of Financial Statements for the latest financial year
<Category 4 only>
10. A copy of Financial Statements for the latest financial year
(Or a business plan stating the cash flow forecast in case of newly established organization)
11. Documents explaining the reason why organizations/individuals could not submit the information returns for total table (records of withholding for employment income, etc) for employees for the previous year
- If the organization is exempted from withholding at source, certificate on the foreign corporation’s exemption from withholding at source or other document stating that the organization does not require withholding at source.
- If the organization is not exempted from withholding at source, a copy of Notification on the Establishment of a Salary-Paying Office and
- A Statement of Collected Income Tax on employment income and retirement income of the last three months (a copy of the document with receipt date stamp), or
- if the organization is subject to special provisions regarding due dates, a document stating the approval for that.
(Source: Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO))
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