Japan needs many skilled workers right now. Especially in IT jobs in Tokyo and engineering jobs all over the country. The most common work visa for professionals is called “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa”. People just call it the Skilled Worker Visa. This visa is not like a tourist visa. It has two big parts. The most important part is the Certificate of Eligibility (COE). This guide gives you clear, simple steps so you can move to Japan easily with your job offer and get your Residence Card (Zairyu Card).
Finding a Qualified Job: The Essential First Step
Everything starts with a real job offer from a company in Japan. Without a sponsor company, you cannot get this visa.
What Kind of Jobs Can Get This Visa?
This visa is for jobs that need university knowledge or many years of experience.
Here are the main job types:
- Engineering and Science jobs:
- IT jobs in Tokyo (software developer, programmer, cloud engineer, data analyst)
- Mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, chemical engineer
- Factory management or quality control jobs
- Humanities and Business jobs:
- Marketing, sales (especially business-to-business), accounting, human resources (HR), finance jobs in Japan
- International Services jobs:
- Translator, interpreter, foreign language teacher (but normal English teaching usually uses a different visa)
Minimum Salary Requirements Japan
There is no one fixed salary number for everyone. The rule is simple: Your salary must be the same or higher than what a Japanese person gets for the same job.
For example: If Japanese software engineers at the company earn 5 million yen per year, you must get at least 5 million yen too.
Extra Tip: There is a better visa called Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP). It uses a points system (education + experience + salary + age). If you get 70 points or more, you can get this visa. It gives faster permanent residency and many benefits. Ask your company if you can apply for HSP instead.
The COE Process Japan: The Most Important Paper
COE = Certificate of Eligibility. This paper proves you are allowed to work in Japan. You get the real visa later.
Only your company in Japan can apply for the COE. You cannot do it from your home country.
Simple COE Steps Table
| Step | What You Do | What Your Company Does | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Prepare papers | Give your degree, CV, police certificate, signed contract | Company prepares its own papers (company registration, tax papers, financial report) | 1-2 weeks |
| 2. Submit | Nothing | Company takes papers to immigration office in Japan | Same day |
| 3. Wait | Wait and answer questions if immigration asks you | Company answers questions from immigration | 1–3 months |
| 4. Get COE | – | Immigration gives original COE to company | – |
| 5. Receive | You get the original COE by mail (or digital copy) | Company mails it to you | 1 week |
Papers You Must Prepare Early (Before You Leave Your Country)
- Valid passport (must have blank pages)
- Signed job contract from the Japanese company
- University degree and transcript (sometimes need notary or apostille)
- Passport-size photos (4cm × 3cm, white background, taken in last 6 months)
- Police clearance certificate from your country (some countries need it)
Getting the Real Visa at the Japanese Embassy 🇯🇵
When you have the original COE in your hand, now you apply for the visa sticker in your passport. The COE is valid only for 3 months, so move fast!
What to Do at the Embassy/Consulate
- Find the Japanese embassy or consulate in your city.
- Fill the visa application form (download from their website).
- Bring these papers:
- Your passport
- Original COE
- One passport photo
- Completed visa form
- Visa fee (usually 3,000–6,000 yen, paid in your local money; some countries free)
The embassy usually gives the visa in 5 working days.
After You Arrive in Japan
- Fly to Japan before the COE expires (within 3 months).
- At the airport (Narita, Haneda, Kansai, etc.), immigration officer will give you the Residence Card (Zairyu Card).
- Within 14 days after you find a home, go to city hall (shiyakusho or kuyakusho) and register your address. This activates your Residence Card.
Life in Japan: Important Rules and Family
When you start working, these things are automatic:
- Health insurance and pension – money taken from your salary every month
- Income tax – company will register you and take tax every month
- Yearly tax return – you may need to file in March every year
Bringing Your Family Later
After you arrive in Japan and have your Residence Card, you can sponsor your husband/wife and children. This is called Dependent Visa. You apply inside Japan.
Extending Your Visa Later
First visa is usually 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years. Three months before it expires, go to immigration office and apply for extension. If you have good job and follow rules, extension is normally easy.
Call to Action (CTA)
Ready to work in Japan? Step 1: Check if your education and experience match the Skilled Worker Visa or the better Highly Skilled Professional Visa. Step 2: Look for jobs in Tokyo IT companies or engineering companies. Step 3: When you get a job offer, ask the company to start COE right away.
If you already have COE, prepare your passport, photo, and documents and visit the Japanese embassy this week!
Disclaimer:
This guide is only for information. Rules and fees can change anytime. Always check the official website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) or Immigration Services Agency of Japan, or talk to a licensed immigration professional before you apply.