What are the requirements for a work visa?
A work visa is a qualification required for foreign nationals to work in Japan. We will explain in detail the requirements and points to note in order to be issued a work visa.
What is a work visa?
A visa is a status for foreign nationals to reside in Japan, and is officially called a “status of residence. There are two types of status of residence: “work-related” and “status-related.
A work-related status of residence is a status that allows the holder to work in a specific job or occupation in Japan. This is generally referred to as a “work visa. A status of residence that allows the holder to live with relatives in Japan is called a “status of residence” visa.
What are the requirements for issuance?
The requirements for applying for and being issued a work visa are as follows. The most common type of work visa, “Technical/Humanities/International Services” is used here as an example.
The first is “educational or professional background. For example, in the case of “humanities-related work such as legal, accounting, human resources, general affairs, etc.,” the applicant must have graduated from a university, etc. (including junior college, graduate school, or vocational school) with a major in a specialized field related to the work. In addition, 10 years or more of work experience is required. However, this 10 years or more of work experience includes the period during which you majored at a university or other such institution.
The second requirement is that the foreign national must earn the same or higher remuneration at the company where he/she plans to work as a Japanese national working at the same place of employment. The amount of remuneration varies depending on the region, industry, and nature of the job, but it is generally considered to be at least 180,000 yen per month.
Second, the company where the foreign national will be employed must have stability and continuity. In other words, the company must remain stable and not be in danger of bankruptcy or insolvency after the foreign national is hired.
Finally, the fourth issue is the work environment for the foreign nationals who will be working for the company. For example, there must be a sufficient workload for the foreign nationals, and an appropriate work place, office, etc. must be secured.
Points to note
There is no guarantee that you will be granted a work visa, since the process of “application” is necessary to have a work visa issued. In some cases, the application may not be approved, or may be rejected. There are three main reasons for this.
・The applicant’s studies at the university do not match the nature of the work he or she plans to do.
・The work of the applicant does not correspond to the work visa for which he/she is applying.
・The foreign national’s status of residence up to the time of application is not favorable.
If a work visa application is not approved, the specific reason why the application was not approved must be confirmed. In the event of a denial, the Immigration Bureau will send a notice to the applicant. However, the reason for the denial cannot be ascertained from the letter alone. To confirm the specific reason, you must actually go to the Immigration Office and ask the person in charge about the reason.
Once you know the reason for disapproval, if it is something that can be improved, you can make corrections, repairs, or add documents to be submitted, and then reapply. However, since the reasons for disapproval are not explained to the applicant in detail, it is necessary to scrutinize the application again to see if it meets the requirements for a work visa, either by yourself or by consulting a professional administrative scrivener.
Summary
Requirements for the issuance of a work visa include education and employment history, and the environment and treatment at the company where you plan to work. In addition, if you are denied despite having applied for a work visa, you may confirm the reason for the denial with the Immigration and Residence Office, and then reapply.
