ENGINEER VISA

What is the Engineer Visa?

The Engineer Visa is a system that utilizes the National Strategic Special Zones to significantly reduce the processing time for residency permits for foreign IT and semiconductor engineers who wish to work in Japan. Previously, this process could take 1 to 3 months, but with the new system, it can be completed in approximately one month.

By promoting the use of this system among foreign engineers and companies, we aim to realize our vision of Fukuoka as an Engineer-Friendly City, where engineers gather, thrive, and grow.

Regarding Eligibility for This System

Please note that the Engineer Visa is a certification issued by local governments to "companies" where foreign engineers are planning to be employed. The applicant for this certification is the "company," not the "individual" engineer.

Requirements for Companies Eligible for This System

  • Have a place of business within Fukuoka City and employ the foreign national at that place of business.
    However, if the company is engaged in the dispatching of workers, the place of business of the client company must be located within Fukuoka City.

  • Be registered for commercial or corporate registration.

  • Be non-listed.

  • Be a supporting company of Engineer-Friendly City Fukuoka.
    In the case of worker dispatching, the client company must also be a supporting company of Engineer-Friendly City Fukuoka.

  • The company must not be connected to any organized crime groups or their members.

  • The company must not be in arrears with their municipal taxes.

  • The company's business activities must be recognized by Fukuoka City as belonging to one of the following categories.
    ⚠ For details of business content, please refer to Article 4, Paragraph 1, Item (4) of the Outline.

    ① Information and communication industry
    ② Manufacturing related to the semiconductor industry
    ③ Worker dispatching business (limited to cases where foreign engineers are hired for the purpose of dispatching them to companies that fall under categories ① or ②)

Requirements for Engineers Eligible to Enter Japan Under This System

How to apply

1

Apply via email to Fukuoka City

Please email the Application form (Form No. 1) with the following documents attached to the New Industry Promotion Division of Fukuoka City:

① Certificate of all registered matters

② Financial statements (for the past two fiscal periods)

③ Affidavit (Form No. 6)
Affidavit (Form No. 7)⚠ For client companies

④ Consent form (Form No. 1: related to Article 3 of the Outline)

⑤ Company profile

⑥ Other documents as required by Fukuoka City

⚠ Please send the original of the Certificate of all registered matters separately to the
⚠ In the case of applications for worker dispatching businesses, in addition to the above documents for the dispatching company, submit documents ① to ⑥ for the client company.
⚠ For renewals, please submit the Renewal the Renewal Application Form (Form No. 2)with the same documents as above attached.

2

Application is checked by Fukuoka City(Takes 2 weeks up to 1 month)

・Business stability of the company is checked; SME consultants provide opinions based on your application documents.
・Any connections to organized crime groups or their members are checked.
・Municipal tax arrears are checked.

3

Accreditation certificate issued

Fukuoka City issues an accreditation certificate* (Form No. 3) to the company. This accreditation is valid for one year.
*A handling fee of 300 yen is required.

4

Apply to the Fukuoka Regional Immigration Services Bureau

When applying for a Certificate of Eligibility, please attach a copy of your existing certificate.
The screening process at the Immigration Bureau is completed in about one month!

Related Links

Application and Inquiries

New Industry Promotion Section,

New Industry Promotion Department,

Fukuoka City Economy, Tourism & Culture Bureau

14th Floor, Fukuoka City Hall
1-8-1 Tenjin, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka City 〒810-8620

： 092-711-4333
： shinsangyo.EPB@city.fukuoka.lg.jp
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