What are the educational requirements for Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, and International Services visas? A thorough explanation of the requirements!

The “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa” is one of the residence statuses (work visas) required for foreigners to work in Japan. We will explain in detail the “educational background requirements,” which are a particularly important element of the visa.
In this article, we will introduce the educational background standards required when applying, their relationship with work experience, points to note, and specific measures to pass the screening.

✅ What is a Technical/Humanities Specialist/International Business Visa?
🎓 Educational Requirements for Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, and International Services Visas
📌 “Relevance of academic background to job duties” is an important consideration in the screening process
- ❌ Example: Psychology major → Programmer job → Possibility of being denied
- ✅ Example: Economics major → Marketing job → More likely to be approved
📄 Required documents and points to note
💡 Key points for passing the screening
🔍 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
✅ Summary: Matching your academic background with your job description is the key to obtaining a visa
- Free consultation

✅ What is a Technical/Humanities Specialist/International Business Visa?

The “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa” is a work visa for foreigners who will be engaged in specialized work in Japan . The main occupations are divided as follows:

Technical field (Tech) : System engineer, mechanical design, etc.
Humanities : Business, economics, law, sociology, public relations, etc.
International Services : Translation, interpretation, overseas sales, etc.

To obtain this visa, you will need to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility , and an important screening criterion for this is whether or not you meet the “educational background requirements.”

🎓 Educational Requirements for Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, and International Services Visas

1. University graduation (bachelor’s degree)

Have a bachelor’s degree from a university in Japan or overseas
The field of study must be related to the job content.

Example: IT engineer → Computer Science major　　Overseas sales job → Business Administration/International Relations major

② Graduated from a Japanese vocational school (specialist)

Graduate from a vocational school (specialized course at a vocational school) in Japan and obtain the title of specialist.
There must be a connection between your major and your job

✅ Overseas vocational schools are not eligible

3) Substitution with work experience (if you have no academic background)

Even if you do not meet the educational requirements , you can apply if you have more than 10 years of work experience.
For international business, three or more years of work experience is required.

📌 “Relevance of academic background to job duties” is an important consideration in the screening process

However, simply graduating from university is not enough. The relevance of the field you studied and the work you will be doing will have a major impact on whether or not you pass the screening.

❌ Example: Psychology major → Programmer job → Possibility of being denied

✅ Example: Economics major → Marketing job → More likely to be approved

📄 Required documents and points to note

Major educational documents to be submitted with your application:

document	Content
Graduation certificate	Japanese or English version + translation (if necessary)
Transcript	Submitting this form to confirm your field of study is recommended.
resume	Make your work history, educational background, and work content clear at a glance
Job Description	Prepared by the company. It is important to clearly show the relationship between the job and your academic background.

💡 Key points for passing the screening

Emphasize the match between your major and the job description (your transcript and thesis title are also helpful)
The company’s job description is clear and detailed
Prepare evidence of your past work history and achievements
Proof of Japanese language proficiency (JLPT) may also be eligible for additional points

🔍 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Can I obtain a visa for a university abroad?

A. Yes. Any university that offers a bachelor’s degree equivalent to that offered in Japan is eligible.

Q2. I don’t have any academic background and I haven’t attended any vocational school…

A. If you have more than 10 years of work experience, it is possible to supplement the educational requirements.

Q3. Can I become an engineer even if I have a liberal arts background?

A. If your educational background and job description do not match, your application will most likely be rejected.

✅ Summary: Matching your academic background with your job description is the key to obtaining a visa

The educational requirements for the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa” are not simply about whether or not you have an academic background; what field you studied and how it is related to your current job are extremely important.

Work with the company you plan to work for, gather the necessary documents, and prepare so you can clearly explain your

Free consultation

Our office provides free consultation. First of all, please feel free to apply for a free consultation. We accept applications for consultation from the “Inquiry Page”