Imagine you’ve found a software engineer who’s brilliant, experienced, and excited about joining your team in Tokyo. There’s just one small problem. The Japanese work visa system.
What should be straightforward becomes a maze of categories, documents, and bureaucratic steps that can take months to navigate. One wrong form or missing stamp, and your dream hire is stuck in immigration limbo while competitors circle.
The Japanese government genuinely wants skilled foreign talent. They’ve created multiple visa pathways and even streamlined some procedures in recent years. But the application process still feels like it was designed by people who never had to use it.
In this guide, we’ll walk through each visa type, decode the documentation requirements, and map out the steps that get results. We’ll also show you how immigration experts can turn this bureaucratic obstacle course into a manageable process for companies serious about accessing Japan’s talent market.
Types of Japanese work visas
The three main types of Japanese work visas include a standard Work Visa for Occupations and two Specified Skills Visas. We outline each one in detail below.
Work visa for highly skilled professionals
The work visa for highly skilled professionals is the standard Japanese work visa. It’s available for a variety of professions, including:
- Professors
- Artists
- Attorneys
- Religious activity
- Journalism
- Medical services
- Engineers
- Humanities specialists
- Entertainers
- Accountants
- Business managers
This visa allows expat employees, or foreign nationals, to work in Japan from three months to five years, depending on the role and individual circumstances. See a complete list of occupations at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 (SSW1)
Japan created the SSW program to fill critical labor shortages in specific industries. Unlike traditional work visas that focus on white-collar professionals, SSW1 targets skilled workers ready to contribute immediately in hands-on roles.
The program now covers 16 industrial sectors:
- Nursing care
- Building cleaning management
- Manufacturing (machining, electronics assembly, textiles)
- Construction (civil engineering, building, infrastructure)
- Shipbuilding and marine industry
- Automobile maintenance and repair
- Aviation (ground handling, aircraft maintenance)
- Accommodation (hotels, hospitality services)
- Automobile transportation (truck, taxi, bus drivers)
- Railway (track maintenance, rolling stock operations)
- Agriculture (crop cultivation, livestock, fisheries)
- Food and beverage manufacturing
- Food service (restaurants, catering)
- Forestry
- Wood industry
Key requirements include:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Pass a sector-specific skills evaluation test
- Demonstrate Japanese language proficiency (typically N4 level or JFT Basic)
- Secure a job offer from a Japanese employer
- Have no criminal record or immigration violations
The visa allows a maximum stay of five years total. SSW1 holders cannot bring family members to Japan. However, they receive comprehensive support services to help with housing, banking, and other relocation needs.
Specified Skilled Worker Type 2 (SSW2)
SSW2 represents the advanced tier, designed for workers with higher skill levels and more experience. This visa type is available in most SSW sectors except nursing care.
Advanced requirements:
- Complete SSW1 or equivalent experience
- Pass higher-level sector-specific skills tests
- Demonstrate advanced Japanese language proficiency
- Show proven expertise in supervisory or specialized roles
Major advantages:
- Indefinite renewal with no maximum stay limit
- Family members can accompany the visa holder to Japan
- Pathway to permanent residency
- Typically, Initial grants are for three years
These visa categories reflect Japan’s strategic approach to attracting talent at different skill levels. Traditional work visas serve knowledge workers and specialists. The Specified Skilled Worker program addresses labor market gaps while creating structured advancement opportunities for skilled workers ready to build long-term careers in Japan.
Requirements for obtaining a Japan work visa
Japan asks every foreign hire to start with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) issued by the Immigration Services Agency. The embassy will not stamp a work visa until this original document, valid for three months, appears in the file.
Once the COE is ready, most applicants prepare the items below.
Required applicant documents include:
- Job offer or employment contract that states title, pay, and period of stay
- Visa application form, filled out and signed
- Valid passport and one photocopy of the photo page
- One recent 4 cm × 3 cm passport photo on glossy paper
- Resume or CV together with relevant diplomas, licenses, or professional certificates
- Original COE plus one copy
Required employer documents include:
- Company registry certificate (Tokibo Tohon)
- Latest balance sheet, profit-and-loss statement, and withholding tax report
- A letter of guarantee and a formal invitation letter addressed to the applicant
- A list of visa applicants and a short itinerary, if several hires travel together
Embassies may ask for sector-specific items. Examples include skills test scores for SSW visas or point calculations for highly skilled professionals. A tuberculosis screening is required for citizens of six Asian countries as of June 2025.
How to get a Japanese work visa and residence card: 6 steps
Applying for a Japanese work permit visa happens in two stages: getting a Certificate of Eligibility and applying for a work visa. We outline the steps below.
1. Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility
The sponsoring employer asks the Regional Immigration Services Bureau for the COE. Processing normally takes one to three months, and the certificate stays valid for three months.
Required supporting documents for the COE application include:
- Completed the COE application form
- 4cm x 3cm photograph
- Return mail envelope with paid postage
- Letter of guarantee
Digital COEs are now accepted, allowing applicants to print the PDF and attach it to the file. When applying for an SSW1 visa, add the skills-test score sheet (applicants need 70 points or more).
2. Collect the required documents
After receiving the COE, the employer should begin collecting the remaining supporting documents for the visa application. The complete list of documents includes those from the list mentioned above, plus several additional items from the employer, such as:
- Invitation letter
- List of visa applicants
- Detailed itinerary in Japan
- Company registry extract and latest financials if requested.
3. Apply for a work visa at a nearby Japanese consulate
Applicants may submit their visa application at the nearest Japanese consulate or embassy in one of four ways:
- In-person
- By writing a proxy letter and sending a representative to the Japanese consulate
- Via an accredited travel agent approved by the Japanese consulate
- Via the JAPAN eVISA website
Depending on the circumstances in the foreign national’s home country or region, they may need to submit their documents in person or through an accredited travel agent.
The applicant may also need to return for an interview or provide additional documents at the consulate’s request.
4. Return to the consulate to retrieve the approved work visa
Upon receiving a notification that the visa is approved, the applicant should return to the embassy or consulate to collect their passport and visa.
5. Enter Japan
Upon receiving the visa, the applicant must travel to Japan within three months.
6. Obtain a landing permit and residence card at the airport
Upon arrival at the port of entry in Japan, immigration officers will review the work permit visa and supporting documents and affix a landing permit to the foreign national’s passport. The landing permit replaces the visa and allows them entry into Japan.
Depending on the airport through which the foreign national enters, they will either receive a residence card upon arrival or have to apply for one at the local municipal office within 14 days of establishing residence in Japan.
The U.S. Embassy in Japan mandates foreign nationals carry their up-to-date residence card with them at all times, as not having it with them violates local law.
Considerations before obtaining a Japan work visa
A unique consideration for global companies interested in hiring foreign talent in Japan is that every international applicant requires sponsorship from a locally incorporated legal entity. This requirement discourages many foreign companies without a local entity in Japan from doing business there.
Gabriel Ostrad, Tokyo-based entrepreneur, also warns employers that “You’ll have to deal with a lot of paperwork because you’ll regularly have to submit detailed business plans, progress reports, and even application forms which have to adhere to the very strict requirements and regulations of Japanese immigration and the Japanese government.”
A simple workaround is to partner with an employer of record (EOR). An EOR is an organization that serves as the legal employer of your global workforce, allowing you to easily reap the benefits of global mobility by hiring or relocating talent abroad without establishing a local entity.
An EOR in Japan handles everything from hiring and onboarding to immigration requirements and compliance. This option allows you to test the Japanese market and quickly hire expats or locals without violating Japanese employment and immigration laws.
Learn more: What Is an Employer of Record (EOR)?
Easily hire or relocate talent in Japan with Pebl
Obtaining Japanese work permit visas for distributed teams takes a lot of work. Eliminate the headache by partnering with Pebl (previously Velocity Global).
Pebl (previously Velocity Global)’s integrated Global Immigration services simplify visa acquisition for distributed teams in Japan and beyond. As part of our global EOR services, we handle document collection, translation, and administration while ensuring compliance with local immigration laws so you can hire or relocate talent worldwide with ease.
Get in touch with Pebl (previously Velocity Global) today to learn how to simplify global immigration and quickly hire top talent in Japan and beyond.
Japan work visa FAQs
Below are answers to commonly asked questions about Japanese work visas.
What is the cost of obtaining a Japanese work visa?
Japan sets its visa fees each April. For 2025-2026, the government charges ¥3,000 (about $20–$25) for a single-entry work visa and ¥6,000 (about $40–$45) for multiple entry. Certain nationalities, such as India, many developing nations, and some Pacific islands, pay reduced or zero fees. Applicants who file online sometimes save ¥500 compared with in-person submissions.
Those fees only cover the consular stamp. You’ll also want to budget for local service costs such as courier delivery, VFS processing in countries that use outsourcing, or a demand-draft bank fee. Employers typically absorb the ¥1,600–¥2,000 Immigration Bureau charge if they request a Certificate of Authorized Employment or change a staff member’s status once the hire is inside Japan.
How long does a work visa last in Japan?
Most employment statuses of residence (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Instructor, Business Manager, etc.) are issued for 1-, 3-, or 5-year periods. Immigration decides the length on a case-by-case basis. A senior executive at a profitable firm often receives five years, while a first-time hire on a short contract may start with one.
Specified Skilled Worker visas follow different rules. SSW1 is granted in blocks of four months, six months, or one year and can be renewed until the worker reaches a five-year cumulative stay. SSW2 is approved for three years at a time and can be renewed without an overall limit, creating a pathway to permanent residence.
How can I extend a Japanese work visa?
File an “Extension of Period of Stay” at the regional Immigration Services Bureau 90 days before your current visa expires. Bring:
- Completed extension form
- Passport and Residence Card
- One 4 cm × 3 cm photo
- Proof of continued employment: updated contract, employer letter, latest pay slips, and the company’s tax certificate
- For SSW categories, add the new skills-test certificate or proof of supervisory promotion for SSW2.
Most renewals take two to four weeks. If approved, you receive a new Residence Card with an updated expiry date; your status of residence remains the same, so no fresh visa stamp is needed. Keep working uninterrupted while the application is in process by retaining the application receipt (it serves as temporary permission to stay).
This information does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or tax advice and is for general informational purposes only. The intent of this document is solely to provide general and preliminary information for private use. Do not rely on it as an alternative to legal, financial, taxation, or accountancy advice from an appropriately qualified professional. The content in this guide is provided “as is,” and no representations are made that the content is error-free.
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