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Working in Japan as a graduate on the Gijinkoku visa: requirements, pay and visa

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by Kaiser Khan (editor), Updated and verified

Open Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku)

Open. Since 15 April 2026, category 3 and 4 employers must attach proof of CEFR B2-level language ability if your job mainly uses language to serve people.

Status as of 7 October 2026 Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁)

Summary

  • Gijinkoku (技術・人文知識・国際業務) is Japan's status of residence for engineering, humanities and foreign-culture-based work.
  • Engineering or humanities jobs require a university degree in a related field or at least 10 years of work experience.
  • University graduates working as translators, interpreters or language teachers do not need the 3 years of experience.
  • Pay must be equal to or higher than what a Japanese worker receives for the same work.
  • The period of stay granted is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months, and it can be renewed.
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On this page
  1. What are the requirements?
  2. What does it cost and who pays?
  3. How much does it pay?
  4. Which visa is used?
  5. What are the steps?
  6. Which schools or training lead to Japan?
  7. What degree or experience does the Gijinkoku status require?
  8. What about the Highly Skilled Professional status?
  9. Which documents do you need?
  10. What are the warning signs of offers to Japan through this route?
Official routes, who runs them, and their legal basis
Route Run by Official link Who pays placement costs Legal basis
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku) 技術・人文知識・国際業務 · Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Independent PMI (no agency), legal-entity employer; Through a licensed P3MI agency Immigration Services Agency of Japan Official source Through a P3MI, the employer bears placement costs; worker costs must be written and itemised in the Placement Agreement. Independent applications follow this route’s specific cost rules. See the cost rules Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)

See this route in the comparison table

What do you need to work in Japan through Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku)?

Placement channels from Indonesia for working in Japan through Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku): Independent PMI (no agency), legal-entity employer; Through a licensed P3MI agency. Language tests asked for: Proof of working-language ability (category 3 and 4 employers, jobs mainly using language): CEFR B2 equivalent; for Japanese, JLPT N2 or higher counts.

Placement channels from Indonesia
Independent PMI (no agency), legal-entity employer; Through a licensed P3MI agency An independent migrant worker goes without an agency, only to a legal-entity employer, and must report to the labour office and the Indonesian mission. This is not the same as an individual employer (a household), or an individual who places migrant workers, which is banned.
Job types
Engineers, for example in mechanical engineering, Translators and interpreters, Designers, Language teachers at private companies, Marketing, Information technology
Language tests
TestLevelCEFR equivalent
Proof of working-language ability (category 3 and 4 employers, jobs mainly using language)CEFR B2 equivalent; for Japanese, JLPT N2 or higher countsB2

What does working in Japan through Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku) cost, and who pays?

For placement through a P3MI on the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku) route to Japan, the employer bears placement costs; any costs charged to the worker must be written and itemised in the Placement Agreement. Independent applications follow the route-specific cost rules below.

  1. Law 18/2017 Article 30(1): Indonesian migrant workers may not be charged placement costs. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
  2. Ministerial Regulation P2MI 17/2025: the employer bears placement costs. A worker may be charged only costs that are written and itemised in the Placement Agreement. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
  3. Any request for money outside that document, in cash or to a personal account, is a red flag.

Cost rules for this route

  • Costs charged to you through a P3MI: If you go through a P3MI, every cost charged to you must be listed with its amount in the Placement Agreement. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
  • E-KPMI card: Issuing and extending the E-KPMI is free of charge under Ministerial Regulation P2MI 34/2025 Article 10. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)

What is the minimum pay for working in Japan through Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku)?

The official minimum wage in Japan differs by area: lowest JPY 1,023 per hour in Miyazaki and highest JPY 1,280 per hour in Tokyo (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (厚生労働省)). These are floors, not offered wages; the rate where you work applies.

Official floor
Area or group Official floor Approximate rupiah value
Miyazaki Applies to: Regional hourly minimum wage of Miyazaki prefecture for fiscal year 2026 JPY 1,085 per hour JPY 1,023 still applies before 24 October 2026 In force from about IDR 122,702 rate as of 8 October 2026
Tokyo Applies to: Regional hourly minimum wage of Tokyo prefecture for fiscal year 2026 JPY 1,280 per hour In force from about IDR 144,755 rate as of 8 October 2026

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (厚生労働省)

Which visa do you need to work in Japan through Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku)?

技術・人文知識・国際業務 (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services): a status of residence for engineering, humanities or foreign-culture-based work under a contract with an organisation in Japan. Periods of stay are 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. Official source

What are the steps to work in Japan through Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku)?

  1. Make sure the job falls under this status, for example engineering, IT, translation, design or marketing, and that you meet the degree or experience rules.
  2. Sign an employment contract with a company or organisation in Japan. Pay must be equal to or higher than a Japanese worker doing the same work.
  3. Apply to Japanese immigration for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) through the employer or its proxy. Once issued, apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate.
  4. If you go without a P3MI, you go as an independent migrant worker and must report to the labour office and the Indonesian mission (Law 18/2017 Article 63).
  5. On arrival, report to the Indonesian embassy or consulate through Portal Peduli WNI.

The order and timings are editor estimates, not promises.

Which schools or training lead to Japan?

The education and training routes linked to working in Japan through Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku): Bachelor's degree (S1) in Indonesia, D3 vocational diploma in Indonesia, Language tests for working abroad.

What degree or experience does the Gijinkoku status require?

It depends on the type of work. According to the landing criteria published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, engineering or humanities work requires a related university degree or 10 years of experience, while work based on foreign culture requires 3 years of experience. In every case the pay must be equal to or higher than a Japanese worker's.

Gijinkoku requirements by type of work
Type of workEducation or experience required
Engineering or natural sciences, for example mechanical engineeringA related university degree, a related course at a senmon gakko in Japan, or at least 10 years of work experience
Information technologyAs above, or passing a designated IT exam or holding a designated IT qualification
Humanities, for example law, economics or marketingA related university degree, a related course at a senmon gakko in Japan, or at least 10 years of work experience
Foreign-culture-based work, for example translation, language teaching, PR or designAt least 3 years of related experience, except university graduates working as translators, interpreters or language teachers

What about the Highly Skilled Professional status?

Japan also has a Highly Skilled Professional status for highly skilled people assessed under a points system. It is separate from Gijinkoku and its bar is higher. Check the official Immigration Services Agency of Japan pages before you apply.

Which documents do you need?

Prepare your passport, diploma and transcript, proof of work experience if you rely on it, and the employment contract from the organisation in Japan. Since 15 April 2026, if your employer is in category 3 or 4 and your job mainly uses language to serve people, prepare proof of CEFR B2-level language ability. Guides to getting a passport, a police clearance (SKCK) and visas are in the Related guides section below.

What are the warning signs of offers to Japan through this route?

How to check a P3MI agency in 5 steps Learn the signs of trafficking through job offers

KarirAman is 100% free. We never ask for money. Our no-fee policy

Not legal advice. Always check SISKOP2MI before you sign up.

Frequently asked questions

Can an SMK vocational graduate use the Gijinkoku status?

For engineering or humanities work, you need a university degree in a related field, a related course at a specialised training college (senmon gakko) in Japan, or at least 10 years of experience, which may include time spent studying the subject. There is an exception for IT work for holders of IT qualifications designated by Japan.

Can I go without an agency?

Yes, because a Gijinkoku employer is a legal entity in Japan. Indonesia's Law 18/2017 Article 63 lets independent migrant workers work for legal-entity employers, provided they report to the labour office and the Indonesian mission. You carry your own employment risks, so read the contract carefully.

Can factory jobs use the Gijinkoku visa?

No. This status is for work that needs engineering or humanities knowledge, or work based on foreign culture such as translation and design. Production-line jobs in Japan use other routes such as SSW or technical intern training.

Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published Updated

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: .

Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

  1. 在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁) · accessed
  2. 技術・人文知識・国際業務: 該当する活動・上陸許可基準 Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁) · accessed
  3. Initiatives to Accept Foreign Nationals and for the Realization of Society of Harmonious Coexistence: Specified Skilled Worker System (explanatory material) Immigration Services Agency of Japan · accessed
  4. 令和8年度 地域別最低賃金 全国一覧 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (厚生労働省) · accessed
  5. Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed
  6. Peraturan Menteri P2MI/Kepala BP2MI Nomor 17 Tahun 2025 tentang Biaya Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permen P2MI 17/2025 · accessed
  7. Peraturan Menteri P2MI/Kepala BP2MI Nomor 34 Tahun 2025 tentang Kartu Pekerja Migran Indonesia Elektronik Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permen P2MI 34/2025 · accessed
  8. Portal Peduli WNI: pelayanan dan pelindungan WNI di luar negeri Kementerian Luar Negeri RI · accessed
  9. Safe Travel Kemlu: tips bekerja di luar negeri Kementerian Luar Negeri RI · accessed
How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Working in Japan as a graduate on the Gijinkoku visa: requirements, pay and visa. Updated 7 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/japan/engineer-specialist-visa/

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