2025-09-21

As the pandemic subsides, many foreign tourists are visiting Japan. Famous tourist spots are facing a severe shortage of tour guides to assist these visitors. Here, we explain the “work visa” required to hire foreigners as tour guides.

What is a Work Visa?

First, let’s explain the “status of residence (work visa)” required for foreigners to work in Japan. “Work visa” is not the name of a specific visa but a general term for multiple statuses of residence allowing foreigners to work in Japan, such as “Engineer, Economist, Specialist in Humanities, or International Services” and “Entertainer.”

The basic conditions for obtaining a work visa include: the activities the foreigner will perform in Japan must fall within the scope of the residence status; the foreigner must have an employment contract with a Japanese company or similar entity; and the foreigner must meet certain standards regarding educational background, work experience, etc.

Japan is currently promoting itself as a tourism-oriented nation, and developing tour guide personnel to accommodate foreign tourists is said to be an urgent priority. Therefore, the next section explains the work visa required for tour guides.

What Work Visa is Required for Tour Guides?

The occupation of tour guide generally falls under the “Technical/Humanities/International Services” residence status. More specifically, interpreting and guiding services in foreign languages, as well as tour guiding duties, are often recognized as “international services” that utilize foreign language ability and cross-cultural understanding.

Furthermore, considering the nationally certified “Interpreter-Guide” qualification and the regionally limited interpreter-guide system, it can be seen as a specialized occupation. A regionally limited interpreter-guide refers to someone who is knowledgeable about the unique history, geography, culture, and other local information of a specific region and has been registered as a “Regional Interpreter-Guide” through training programs implemented by local governments.

To obtain a work visa, the stability of the employing company is essential, but the actual duties performed as a tour guide are also heavily scrutinized. Therefore, if the tour guide work is merely part-time activity or tourist assistance, the work visa application may not be approved.

Points to Note When Applying for a Work Visa

The key points for tour guides applying for a work visa are as follows:

First, it is necessary to provide concrete proof that the requirements for educational background and practical experience are met, that the employing company has obligations regarding social insurance enrollment and proper employment regulations, and that stable employment can be demonstrated during visa renewal.

Furthermore, since the tourism industry has more distinct peak and off-peak seasons compared to other sectors, a full-time employment contract is crucial. This means that obtaining a visa can be difficult for short-term or one-off contracts.

Furthermore, since work visas are granted based on the specific activities the foreign national intends to perform, a change in the nature of the work may necessitate a change in the status of residence. In such cases, consulting an administrative scrivener knowledgeable about residency statuses is recommended.

Summary

To hire a foreign national as a tour guide, you must apply under the “Technical/Humanities/International Services” status of residence. The screening process will verify not only the foreign national’s educational background and practical experience but also the stability of the employing company.