Philippines → Japan: the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa (Gijinkoku, 技術・人文知識・国際業務) roadmap
The Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status (informally "Gijinkoku") is Japan's primary employer-sponsored work visa for skilled non-resident professionals in IT, engineering, finance, marketing, design, translation, and similar white-collar roles. It is the most common skilled-worker status, accounting for roughly 86% of student-to-work visa conversions; it requires a confirmed job offer from a Japanese employer in a field matching the applicant's degree, plus salary parity with Japanese nationals. The visa itself carries no direct path to permanent residence or citizenship, but time held counts toward both; note that Japan tightened naturalization to require about 10 years of residence effective April 1, 2026, and a separate FY2026 increase to several immigration/visa government fees has been announced but, as of mid-2026, the exact rates and effective date were not yet officially confirmed (confidence on fee figures is therefore medium).
Moving from Philippines
- You apply for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa (Gijinkoku, 技術・人文知識・国際業務) at the Japan consulate, embassy, or visa application centre that serves Philippines, confirm the office and the current appointment wait for your region.
- Qualifications and work experience earned in Philippines usually need a credential assessment or recognition before they count toward Japan's requirements.
- Budget for certified translation and apostille or legalisation of your Philippines documents (degree, police certificate, civil records).
- Check whether a Philippines passport needs a short-stay visa for any in-person biometrics or interview steps.
General guidance for any Philippines to Japan applicant; the eligibility and fees below are set by Japan.
At a glance
Who qualifies
- Confirmed job offer (employment contract) from a Japanese employer for a role in engineering/natural sciences, humanities/social sciences, or international services
- Relevant bachelor's degree (or Japanese vocational diploma); alternatively 10 years of relevant work experience (3 years for International Services roles such as translation/teaching)
- Job duties must match the applicant's academic field or experience
- Salary at least equal to a Japanese national doing the same work
- Employer able and willing to sponsor and file the Certificate of Eligibility
- From April 15, 2026: CEFR B2 / JLPT N2 Japanese for customer-facing roles at smaller employers
Your step-by-step roadmap
Secure job offer and Certificate of Eligibility (CoE)
- Obtain a job offer and signed employment contract from a Japanese employer
- Employer (or proxy) files the CoE application at the regional Immigration Services Agency in Japan
- Await CoE issuance (typically 1-3 months)
Apply for the visa abroad
- Submit the CoE, passport, photo, and application form to a Japanese embassy/consulate in your country
- Pay the visa fee and collect the visa (about 5-7 business days)
Enter Japan and obtain residence card
- Travel to Japan and receive the Residence Card (Zairyu Card) at the port of entry
- Complete municipal residency registration and enroll in pension and health insurance
Maintain and renew status
- Renew the residence status before expiry (1/3/5-year terms)
- Keep full tax and social-insurance payment records, which are required for later PR/naturalization
Pursue long-term status (optional)
- After ~10 years (or via Highly Skilled Professional fast-track at 1-3 years), apply for permanent residence
- Alternatively, after ~10 years residence (from April 2026), apply for naturalization, renouncing original nationality
Government fees
Timeline & path to citizenship
Timeline: From a confirmed job offer, expect roughly 1-3 months for the Certificate of Eligibility plus about 5-7 business days for the consulate visa, so most applicants are ready to enter Japan within 2-4 months.
Citizenship: There is no PR or citizenship granted by this visa directly, but time on it counts: permanent residence typically needs about 10 years of residence (1 year with 80+ points or 3 years with 70+ points under the Highly Skilled Professional fast-track), while naturalization requires about 10 years of continuous residence as of the April 1, 2026 tightening (up from 5) and renunciation of original nationality, since Japan does not permit dual citizenship for adults.
This is general information to help you plan, not legal advice. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration professional.