Japan wants your talent. And you probably want to hire there, too.
The country actively courts skilled international workers, and for good reason—there’s real demand from Japanese businesses looking to fill positions with global expertise. Meanwhile, international companies see Japan as a key market worth investing in.
So what’s the problem? The visa process.
Between the different visa categories, application requirements, and administrative steps, what should be straightforward hiring becomes a bureaucratic obstacle course. Many companies take one look at the complexity and decide it’s not worth the hassle. Talented professionals who could thrive in Japan never make it past the paperwork stage.
That’s where this gets frustrating—the opportunity is there on both sides, but the process creates unnecessary barriers.
This guide cuts through that complexity. We’ll walk you through Japan’s work visa options, show you exactly what documents you’ll need, and break down the key steps for getting approvals. Most importantly, we’ll explain how working with immigration experts can turn what feels like an impossible process into something manageable.
Because when you’ve found great talent or identified Japan as your next market, visa complications shouldn’t be the thing that stops you. You just need someone who already knows how to navigate the system.
In this guide, we compare Japan’s work visas, list the required documents for applying, and provide key steps for obtaining a work visa. We also outline how working with an immigration expert streamlines the process for global companies looking to hire or relocate talent in Japan.
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 occupations
The Work Visa for Occupations is the standard Japanese work visa. It’s available for a variety of professions, including:
- Professors
- Artists
- Religious activity
- Journalism
- Medical services
- Engineers
- Humanities specialists
- Entertainers
This visa allows expats, or foreign nationals, to work in Japan from three months to five years, depending on the role and individual circumstances.
Specified Skills Visa 1-SSV1
The Japanese government designed the Specified Skills Worker Visa 1-SSV1 to attract highly specialized foreign talent ready to work in specific labor sectors without prior training, such as in construction, aviation, or agriculture.
The primary advantage of the SSV1 visa is the generous support system it offers to its holders. This system assists foreign nationals with relocation matters, such as renting a house, opening a bank account, and signing a mobile phone contract upon arrival.
Applicants must pass a point-based skill standards exam and a language test proving they have an N4 level of Japanese proficiency. The visa is valid for four months to one year and is renewable for up to five years.
Specified Skills Visa 2-SSV2
The SSV2 visa is similar to the SSV1. However, the application process for the SSV2 requires a higher level of specialization and proper certification.
Employees with this visa can bring their immediate family members to Japan and renew their visa indefinitely until they choose to apply for Japanese residency.
Requirements for obtaining a Japanese work visa
Japan’s work visa requirements vary depending on the visa category. However, below is a general list of the required supporting documents for the application:
- Certificate of Eligibility
- Application form, completed and signed
- Applicant’s resume
- Valid passport and photocopies
- Passport-sized photos in line with requirements
- Employment agreement detailing the employee’s position, salary, and work duration
- Academic and professional certificates
- Employer documents, such as the company’s registry certificate, tax withholding report, and recent financial statements
Applicants may also need to provide additional documents upon request from the Japanese embassy or consulate where they apply.
How to get a Japanese work visa and residence card: 6 steps
The Japan work visa application process consists of 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 Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is a document that shows the applicant has approval from the Japanese Immigration Services and that they meet the entry requirements for foreign talent. The sponsoring employer must apply for the COE on the employee’s behalf at the relevant Regional Immigration Bureau.
Below is a nonconclusive list of the required supporting documents for the COE application:
- Completed application form
- 4cm x 3cm photograph
- Return mail envelope with paid postage
- Letter of guarantee
When applying for a specified skills visa, the sponsoring employer must also submit the points calculation from a skills exam with a score of 70+ points, indicating the applicant has sufficient skills for the role.
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
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 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 that 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.
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 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.
Japanese work visa FAQs
What does a Japanese work visa cost?
The visa fees depend on a few factors—what type of visa you’re applying for, where your employee is from, and whether they need a single or multiple entries.
For most work situations, you’re looking at around ¥3,000 (about $22) for a single-entry visa or ¥6,000 (roughly $44) for multiple entries. The good news? You only pay if the application gets approved, and it’s usually paid in cash.
Some countries can now apply through Japan’s eVISA system and pay online with a credit card, which makes the process a bit smoother.
How long do these visas last?
It varies based on the specific visa type and your employee’s situation, but most work visas are valid anywhere from three months to five years. The duration depends on their profession and individual circumstances—highly skilled workers often get longer initial periods.
What happens when the work visa expires?
If your employee still has a valid work contract with you, they can renew their visa at a local immigration office in Japan. Pretty straightforward.
Note that if someone’s employment ends but they want to stay and look for another job, they might qualify for a “designated activity” visa. This gives them six extra months beyond their work visa expiration to find new employment in Japan.
It’s like a grace period for job hunting, which can be a lifesaver if someone’s between positions but wants to stay in the country.
Hire top talent in Japan with Pebl
When you dive into Japanese work visa requirements, you realize you’re looking at months of paperwork, document translations, and immigration procedures that seem designed to test your patience.
But getting work visas for Japan doesn’t have to feel like climbing Mount Fuji in business attire.
Pebl’s Global Immigration Services takes the complexity out of hiring or relocating talent in Japan. As part of our Employer of Record service, we handle all the moving pieces—document collection, translations, administrative filings, and compliance with local immigration laws.
What does this mean for you? Instead of becoming an expert in Japanese visa categories and requirements, you get to focus on onboarding your new team member. We manage the bureaucracy so you can manage your business.
Whether you’re bringing someone from Japan to your home office or hiring them to work remotely, we’ve got the local expertise to make it happen smoothly and legally.
Because when you’ve found great talent, geography shouldn’t be the thing that stops you from building your dream team.
Ready to see how simple international hiring can be? Let’s talk about how we can help you bring your Japanese hire on board.
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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