In Japan, when engaging in paid activities or conducting activities that differ from those permitted under a short‑term stay, it is necessary to obtain the appropriate residence status. Among the 29 types of residence statuses in Japan, the 24 types of residence status allow foreign national to work in Japan. Among the work‑related categories, the most common statuses of residence are Engineers/specialists in humanities/International services, Intracompany transferees, Business manager and Highly Skilled Professional.

This status of residence permits individuals to engage in activities in Japan for a limited period of time after being assigned from an overseas branch of a public institution or private enterprise that maintains its head office, branch, or other business offices within Japan. The duties performed in Japan must fall within the scope of activities authorized under the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services category.

To qualify, the foreign national must be transferred from a business office located abroad to a corresponding office of the same company in Japan, where they are required to carry out work that demands specialized skills or knowledge relevant to one of the following fields:

• Physical science, engineering or other natural science fields
• Jurisprudence, economics, sociology or other human science fields
• Services that require specific training or sensitivity based on experience with foreign cultures

The main difference between the Intracompany transferee and Engineers/Specialists in humanities/International services status of residence categories is whether or not there is an upper limit on the duration of stay in Japan. However, in reality, the presence or absence of a fixed period of stay carries relatively little significance in the screening process conducted by the Immigration Services Agency.

Transfers within the same corporate group include moves between a parent company and its subsidiary, as well as transfers between group companies that maintain a certain level of financial affiliation with one another. The transferee must have been continuously employed at one of the corporate group outside Japan for at least one year immediately prior to the assignment to Japan.

In addition, the transferee must receive compensation that is at least equivalent to that paid to a Japanese national performing comparable duties. Although the Immigration Services Agency does not disclose a specific salary level satisfying this criterion, current practice indicates that a monthly salary of no less than JPY 200,000 is required.

This status of residence is granted to individuals who intend to engage in services requiring specialized knowledge and/or expertise in one of the following fields:

• The natural sciences (e.g., physical science, engineering) (engineers)
• The humanities (e.g., law, economics, social science) (specialist in humanities)
• Specific ways of thinking or sensitivity acquired through experience with foreign cultures (international services)

The law requires that activities conducted under this status of residence be based on a formal contract with a public institution or private entity in Japan. Accordingly, the individual engaging in such activities must directly conclude an employment agreement, service agreement, consignment agreement, or another form of contract with the relevant organization.

Furthermore, the individual must satisfy one of the following requirements:

• To have graduated from, completed a course at, or received an equivalent education from a university in a field relevant to the skills or knowledge necessary to perform the duties in Japan; or possess at least ten years of professional experience in the relevant field, including any period spent acquiring such skills or knowledge at a university or upper secondary school.
• Alternatively, to hold an information‑processing qualification designated by the Minister of Justice and engage in duties that require skills or knowledge pertaining to information processing.
• If the position requires specialized training or cultural sensitivity derived from experience with foreign cultures, the individual must have a minimum of three years of professional experience in the relevant field. However, this requirement does not apply to those engaged in translation, interpretation, or other language‑related activities.

In addition, the individual must be offered compensation that is at least equivalent to that paid to a Japanese national performing comparable work. Although the Immigration Services Agency does not disclose a specific salary level satisfying this criterion, current practice indicates that a monthly salary of no less than JPY 200,000 is required.

This status of residence is granted to individuals who engage in business management in Japan and a company which the individuals manage or belong to in Japan must meet the requirements outlined below. Please note that these requirements became more stringent following the legal amendment implemented in October 2025; therefore, a comparative table of the former and current requirements is provided.

This status of residence is essentially a regular residence status supplemented with special preferential benefits, and is granted to individuals who score 70 points or higher on the points calculation table provided by the Immigration Services Agency. Notably, individuals engaged in activities under the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” or “Intra-company Transferee” categories who achieve a score of 70 points or more are designated as Highly Skilled Professional (i)(b), while those engaged in “Business Manager” activities are designated as Highly Skilled Professional (i)(c).

Individuals who hold the Highly Skilled Professional (i) status of residence are entitled to the following benefits.:

• Permission to engage in multiple types of activities during their stay in Japan
• A five-year period of stay
• Relaxation of the requirements for granting permission for permanent residence in line with their history of staying in Japan
• Preferential processing of immigration and stay procedures
• Employment permission for their spouse
• Permission to bring their parents into Japan 
• Permission to bring a domestic servant that they employ

Individuals who hold the Highly Skilled Professional (i) status of residence and have resided in Japan for more than three years may apply to change their status of residence to Highly Skilled Professional (ii), which is a resident status that grants conditions nearly equivalent to those of permanent residency.

This status of residence may be applied for by the spouse or child of a foreign national who holds one of the aforementioned work-related residence statuses. The period of stay granted generally corresponds to the period of stay of the principal status holder. It should be noted that the term “spouse” refers to a legally recognized marital relationship under Japanese law. Civil marriages or same-sex marriages, which are not legally recognized as valid marriages in Japan, require special attention, as they do not qualify under this definition.

Additionally, because this status is categorized as a non-working residence status, the individual must obtain separate permission to engage in activities outside the scope of the status (Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted). Once such permission is granted, the individual may work up to a maximum of 28 hours per week.