Japan intra-company transfer visa

You must have been employed for at least one continuous year, immediately before the transfer, at the foreign head office, branch or affiliate in work covered by the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status. The transfer must be for a limited period, and pay in Japan must be at least what a Japanese employee would receive. No degree is required, which makes this status useful when the employee lacks the education the general work status asks for.

Depending on the company category, the Japanese office submits a transfer order or appointment letter showing position, period and salary, documents proving the capital or business relationship between the foreign and Japanese entities, your employment certificate abroad covering the last year, and the Japanese entity's register and annual accounts. Since 1 April 2026 the ISA uses a revised document list for this status, so check the current checklist.

Mid- to long-term residents receive a residence card at Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai and other major airports (elsewhere it is mailed after address registration). Within 14 days of finding a home you must register your address at the city, ward or town office, which also enrols you in National Health Insurance and the National Pension unless your employer covers you under its schemes.

Changes of employer or school, marriage status and address must be notified to the immigration bureau within 14 days. Leaving Japan for up to one year (or until your status expires, if sooner) is possible without a re-entry permit by ticking the special re-entry box at departure.

Extensions and changes of status are filed at the regional immigration bureau up to three months before expiry, or online. From 1 October 2026 the counter fee depends on the period granted: JPY 33,000 for one year, JPY 48,000 for more than one and less than three years, JPY 64,000 for three to under five years and JPY 75,000 for five years. Applications received by 30 September 2026 still pay the former JPY 6,000. Standard processing is two weeks to one month for extensions and one to two months for changes of status.