[Urgent Explanation: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa] Is Japanese Language Ability “N2” Required? Key Points for Changing Jobs and Renewals Explained Based on the Latest Immigration Services Agency Guidelines!

[Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa] Is Japanese Language Ability “N2” Mandatory? Points to Watch When Changing Jobs or Renewing, Explained Based on the Latest Immigration Services Agency Guidelines!

Hello! This is Legal Gate Immigration Lawyer Office (Oita VISA Support Center) in Oita Prefecture.

When hiring foreign workers, the most popular work visa is “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (commonly called “Gijinkoku”). Recently, we have frequently received inquiries from corporate hiring managers and foreign nationals such as **”Is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) ‘N2’ absolutely required to obtain the Gijinkoku visa?” and “Is proof of N2 also required when changing jobs or renewing the visa?”**
We also receive inquiries from foreign nationals asking, “When I renew my visa next time, will I have to return home if I don’t get N2?”

In fact, regarding this “N2 requirement” — this time, based on the Immigration Services Agency guidelines and supplementary notes, we will clearly explain how “N2” is treated for the Gijinkoku visa, and the points to watch when renewing or changing jobs!

1. Is “N2” really mandatory for the Gijinkoku (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services) visa?

To put the conclusion first, N2 is not mandatory for everyone. The significance of N2 changes greatly depending on whether your final educational background is “university graduate” or “graduate of a vocational school in Japan.” It also differs depending on the work you will be in charge of, as to whether it is necessary or not.

Pattern A: [If you graduated from a Japanese university, graduate school, or vocational school]

➡ N2 is “not mandatory.” In the above case, “Japanese language ability” is not included in the legal requirements. As long as the field of study at school is related to the job duties at the company, there is a high likelihood the visa will be approved even without having taken a Japanese language test.
(※Of course, if the job type requires Japanese communication as an essential part of the work, practical ability will be examined.)

Pattern B: [If you graduated from an overseas university or graduate school]

➡ If “Japanese is used in the work,” N2 is required. The anticipated jobs include interpreting or front desk work at hotels, interpretation and translation, corporate sales, and similar duties.

Points of concern

At present, no specific examples have been announced by the Immigration Bureau regarding what constitutes “using Japanese in the work.” For example, is it required when a construction engineer performs construction management on site? What about when a person works in sales for foreign clients at a company managed by a foreign national?

We expect that the Immigration Bureau will announce specific examples in the future, and we will publish them together with cases from our own office.

[Reference Links] ▶ Regarding the clarification of the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” status of residence (Immigration Services Agency guidelines)

▶ Regarding the review of operations to promote employment of international students (Immigration Services Agency)

2. [At renewal] Is proof of passing N2 required every time?

So, after successfully obtaining the Gijinkoku visa, how is it handled when the time comes to “renew” the period of stay?

• If already submitted, resubmission is not required

• If you submitted an N2 certificate of passing at the time of the initial application and were approved, you will not be told at renewal to “take N2 again and submit the certificate.” (This is because JLPT certification has no expiration date.)

• What matters is your “current job duties” What is scrutinized most strictly at renewal is whether you are “continuing to perform specialized work appropriate for the Gijinkoku visa.” Even if you hold N2, if after joining the company you are only made to do cashier work or simple factory tasks, the renewal will result in “denial.”

3. [When changing jobs] Points to watch and pitfalls of the N2 requirement

When a foreign national “changes jobs” to another company, this N2 requirement can become an unexpected pitfall.

① Job change for graduates of Japanese universities

Since N2 is not mandatory for university graduates in the first place, there is no problem as long as the job duties at the new company match their university major.

② Job change for graduates of Japanese vocational schools

At the new employer as well, the job duties must necessarily make use of “specialized/technical knowledge” or “culture and language unique to foreign nationals (interpretation, translation, etc.).” If you are performing simple labor, renewal of the period of stay may not be approved.

③[Caution required] Job change for graduates of overseas universities

In the case of graduates of overseas universities, sufficient caution is required. In particular, if you entered Japan before the new rules and then changed jobs, strict examination is anticipated.
Specifically, this applies to cases such as graduating from an overseas university and working at a Japanese company in charge of trade, and then changing jobs to a hotel and working at the front desk. In such cases, renewal may not be approved unless you have obtained N2.

Cases that pose no problem include continuing to work at a hotel under the Gijinkoku visa and changing to another hotel, or working as an interpreter at a Supervising Organization and then working as an interpreter at another Supervising Organization. The key point is not the place of work, but that the content of the work does not change.

💡 We strongly recommend obtaining a Certificate of Authorized Employment when changing jobs!

It is extremely difficult for a layperson to judge whether the job duties at the new employer truly fall within the scope permitted under the current Gijinkoku visa. To prevent the worst-case scenario of casually changing jobs thinking “I have N2, so it should be fine,” only to be denied at the next visa renewal with “the visa cannot be renewed with these job duties” and having to tearfully return home, we strongly recommend filing an “Application for a Certificate of Authorized Employment” with the Immigration Bureau once your job change is decided, in order to obtain approval in advance.

A Certificate of Authorized Employment is a procedure in which the Immigration Bureau judges in advance, before the job change, whether the person’s background matches the job duties at the new employer. Doing this can prevent cases where job duties become an issue at the time of renewal after changing jobs.

[Reference Link] ▶ Application for Certificate of Authorized Employment (Immigration Services Agency)

Determining the requirements for the Gijinkoku visa (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services) is highly complex depending on the company’s circumstances and the individual’s background. If you are unsure, please consult Legal Gate Immigration Lawyer Office. Based on the latest Immigration Bureau guidelines, we will propose the safest and most reliable hiring and employment route!

■ Areas We Serve (We handle applications to Regional Immigration Services Bureaus nationwide)

Our office serves not only Oita Prefecture but, by making use of online applications and postal applications, we accept requests from all areas throughout Japan. (※Through prior online consultations and similar means, it is possible to complete procedures without visiting our office, even for clients located far away.)

We support visa applications and immigration procedures in all prefectures under the jurisdiction of the following Regional Immigration Services Bureaus.