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By the amendment enforced on April 15, 2026, some examination procedures for the Status of Residence “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (hereinafter referred to as Gijinkoku) have changed. For applications under Accepting Organization Categories 3 and 4, a “Declaration by Representative of Accepting Organization” is now mandatory, and for occupations primarily involving interpersonal tasks, proof of language proficiency equivalent to CEFR B2 is additionally required. This article, from the perspective of an Administrative Scrivener, organizes key practical points for both foreign nationals and corporate HR professionals.
The Immigration Services Agency enforced a review of operations, including the clarification of the Status of Residence “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services,” on April 15, 2026 (Source: Clarification of the Status of Residence “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” etc.｜Immigration Services Agency). It is more accurate to say that the Status of Residence itself was not abolished or newly established, but rather that the handling of submitted documents was reviewed for applications made by accepting organizations falling under Category 3 and Category 4.
Specifically, the following two points are now additionally required:
💡 Common Misconception: Categories determine when documents must be submitted, not whether the requirement applies. Where the work primarily involves interpersonal tasks that rely on language ability, proficiency equivalent to CEFR B2 is a prerequisite for eligibility for the status of residence regardless of category. Categories 1 and 2 simply do not need to attach the documents at the time of application; they may still be requested during examination. (The Declaration by the Representative of the Accepting Organization is the document targeted at Categories 3 and 4.)
When applying under Categories 3 and 4, in addition to the conventional required documents (application form, photo, passport, certificate of registered matters, labor contract, resume, academic certificates, financial statements, etc.), the following two documents are newly required:
| Additional Document | Content | When Required |
|---|---|---|
| Declaration by Representative of Accepting Organization | A document declaring whether the representative of the accepting organization is a Japanese national or a Special Permanent Resident. If not, it states the representative’s name (in Roman letters) and Residence Card number (it may be prepared only by a staff member of the accepting organization) | All applications under Categories 3 and 4 |
| Language Proficiency Certification Documents | Official documents proving CEFR B2 equivalent proficiency | When primarily engaged in interpersonal tasks (interpretation, customer service, sales, etc.) *The requirement itself applies regardless of category (Categories 1 and 2 simply need not attach it at the time of application) |
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services employment by small and medium-sized enterprises and sole proprietors has entered a phase where it is judged by the quality and consistency of documents.
The scope of “primarily engaged in interpersonal tasks” will be determined on a case-by-case basis, so it is important to check before applying whether there are any discrepancies with the descriptions in the job description and labor contract.
The “Accepting Organization Category” for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services applications is divided into four stages based on the company’s size and financial situation (Source: Status of Residence “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”｜Immigration Services Agency). This is a crucial factor in determining whether additional documents are required after the amendment.
| Category | Overview | Additional Documents After Amendment (When Submitted) |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Listed companies, mutual insurance companies, public organizations, independent administrative agencies, etc. | Attachment at the time of application is generally not required (may still be requested during examination) |
| Category 2 | Organizations or individuals with an amount of withholding tax on salary income for the previous year of 10 million yen or more, etc. | Attachment at the time of application is generally not required (may still be requested during examination) |
| Category 3 | Organizations or individuals who can submit a summary table of statutory records such as withholding tax slips for salary income for the previous fiscal year | Required |
| Category 4 | Organizations or individuals not falling under any of the above (newly established corporations, small-scale businesses, etc.) | Required |
📌 Starting Point for Determination: The presence or absence of the summary table of statutory records and the amount of withholding tax are the basic criteria. Whether you have the previous year’s financial and tax documents on hand is the first checkpoint.In addition, this table sets out when documents must be submitted. The language proficiency requirement itself applies regardless of category (Categories 1 and 2 may also be asked to submit documents during examination).
For Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services applications that primarily involve interpersonal tasks relying on language ability, the applicant is required to have proficiency equivalent to CEFR B2 in the language used for work. The Immigration Services Agency sets out certification methods separately for (1) Japanese language proficiency and (2) proficiency in languages other than Japanese (Source: Appendix 4 “Clarification of the Status of Residence for Those Engaged in Interpersonal Tasks Using Language Ability, such as Translation and Interpretation” | Immigration Services Agency, updated October 14, 2026).
When engaged in interpersonal tasks in Japanese, proficiency equivalent to CEFR B2 is recognized if any of the following applies.
When engaged in interpersonal tasks in a language other than Japanese, such as English, proficiency equivalent to CEFR B2 in that language is recognized if any of the following applies.
⚠️ Note: This requirement is for cases where interpersonal tasks are “primarily” involved. For technical or administrative positions where interpersonal tasks are not central, language proficiency certification is not a mandatory requirement. The description in the job description will be the determining factor.
Those who are newly acquiring the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Status of Residence, or who are facing a renewal, are recommended to perform the following checks early.
If your work primarily involves direct communication with customers or business partners, such as interpretation/translation, customer service, sales, call center, or language instructor, it is highly likely to be considered an interpersonal task. Occupations such as in-house system development, design work, and research and development are generally categorized as not primarily involving interpersonal tasks.
Choose the certification that can be obtained most quickly among the CEFR B2 equivalent proof methods.
In many cases, only HR or accounting personnel know which of Categories 1-4 your employer falls under. A quick confirmation, such as “Could you issue a category certification document?”, can help prevent delays at the start of the application process.
For companies falling under Categories 3 and 4 (small and medium-sized enterprises, sole proprietors, newly established corporations, etc.), the administrative workload for HR professionals will increase. Organizing the following three points within the company early can help minimize confusion on site.
📢 Important Point from a Corporate Perspective: Additional documents required by this amendment may also be necessary when applying for an Application for Extension of Period of Stay for existing Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services holders. For employees whose Period of Stay expires on or after April 15, 2026, it is recommended to prepare documents systematically 3 to 6 months in advance. However, documents proving language proficiency are not required for an extension if the person has been continuously engaged in the same or similar duties as before (they may still be requested during examination). If the person newly becomes primarily engaged in interpersonal tasks using language due to a change of duties or a job change, the documents must be submitted at the extension for Categories 3 and 4.
A. No — the requirement itself does apply. Where the work primarily involves interpersonal tasks relying on language ability, having proficiency equivalent to CEFR B2 is a prerequisite for eligibility for the status of residence regardless of category; without it, the applicant is not recognized as engaging in work “at or above a certain level.” What differs by category is when the documents must be submitted: Categories 3 and 4 must submit the supporting documents at the time of application, while Categories 1 and 2 simply need not attach them then — they may still be requested during examination. Note also that the Declaration by the Representative of the Accepting Organization is a document targeted at Categories 3 and 4.
A. Among the certification methods equivalent to CEFR B2, proof by academic background refers to universities, colleges of technology, and professional training colleges (specialized/advanced courses) in Japan, and is limited to cases where relevance is recognized between the field of study and the job duties. Accordingly, graduation from a university in your home country alone does not certify CEFR B2 equivalent Japanese language proficiency, and in that case certification by passing an exam such as JLPT N2 or BJT 400 points is a realistic option. However, if you are engaged in interpersonal tasks in a language other than Japanese, study abroad experience at a university in a country where that language is an official language, evidenced by a graduation certificate or similar, may be evaluated as a reasonable explanation.
A. JLPT N2 is generally known for comprehensive measurement of Japanese language ability, while BJT is specialized for business situations. It is realistic to choose based on your learning style, number of attempts, and convenience of test venues.
A. There are no explicit changes to the standard processing period itself (approximately 2 weeks to 1 month for Certificate of Eligibility and change of Status of Residence, and 2 weeks to 1 month for Application for Extension of Period of Stay), but it cannot be denied that the review may take longer due to the confirmation of additional documents. We recommend scheduling with ample time.
A. Reference forms are published as separate documents on the Immigration Services Agency’s information page for the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” Status of Residence (reference URL at the end of this article). Please download and use the latest form each time.
This amendment, effective April 15, 2026, is not a change to the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Status of Residence itself, but rather an operational change that clarifies how eligibility for the status of residence is assessed and organizes, by category, when supporting documents must be submitted. Given the current increase in foreign national employment by small and medium-sized enterprises and sole proprietors, this is positioned as an operational review aimed at enhancing the transparency of administrative screening standards.
For foreign nationals, promptly confirming “whether their work is interpersonal” and “how to prove CEFR B2 equivalent proficiency in the language used for work” is key. For company representatives, organizing “their company’s category,” “Representative’s Declaration Form,” and “Job Description” early will ensure a smooth application process.
Our office provides consultations to both foreign nationals and accepting companies, based on the latest institutional trends.
Please feel free to use our free consultation service first.
Before you submit, let us take a look.
Free Immigration Pre-Submission Check ›
For those who will apply for a status of residence at the Immigration Services Bureau by themselves. Before you submit, we check your application form and supporting documents and tell you about any missing documents and points to watch. We accept checks online (Google Meet, about 20 minutes) or via LINE.
・Eligible: applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence and extension of period of stay (applications for permanent residence are accepted only from residents of Miyazaki Prefecture). Naturalization is not covered.
・Online (Google Meet): once per application. Replies via LINE: available for the same application until you submit it.
・Our guideline for replies via LINE is, in principle, within 2 business days (we are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays; replies may take longer when we are busy).
・Please send copies of your documents by LINE or email. For your residence card, send the front side only; please do not send the side showing your My Number.
・What we tell you is our office’s opinion. It does not guarantee approval; the outcome depends on the decision of the Immigration Services Bureau.
・We only point out missing documents and points to watch. We do not prepare or rewrite your application documents for you or draft text for them, and we do not tell you whether your application is likely to be approved (if you would like to engage us, we will introduce the Self-Prep Course, the Light Plan and the Standard Plan).
・If we find that a document contains information that is not true, or that the application is not your own (or a family member’s), we will decline the check.
This article is written based on publicly available information as of August 2026. Details of the system and implementation dates may change in the future. For actual applications, please confirm with official information from the Immigration Services Agency or our office.
[Correction / Addendum] August 21, 2026: Based on the original text of Appendix 4 “Clarification of the Status of Residence for Those Engaged in Interpersonal Tasks Using Language Ability, such as Translation and Interpretation” (Immigration Services Agency), the following three points were added or corrected: (1) the language proficiency requirement is a prerequisite for eligibility for the status of residence regardless of the category of the accepting organization (categories determine when documents are submitted); (2) certification methods for proficiency in languages other than Japanese; and (3) the scope of certification by academic background and the proviso on “relevance between the field of study and the job duties.”
October 21, 2026: Based on the Immigration Services Agency’s reference form “Declaration Regarding the Representative of the Accepting Organization,” Appendix 4 (updated October 14, 2026), and Notes 2 and 3 on the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” page, the following were corrected or added: (1) the description of the Declaration by Representative of Accepting Organization; (2) the Japanese language conditions (two items: the EJU and the JPT); (3) the note on anti-fraud measures for examinations; and (4) the handling of language proficiency documents at extension of period of stay.
Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Satoshi Nakayama
Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office
Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture
