Has a Japanese Language Requirement Been Added to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services? April 2026 Update
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services
From April 15, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan clarified situations where evidence of language ability may be required in applications for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. However, this does not mean that every Gijinkoku application now requires a Japanese language test.
The practical focus is on Category 3 or Category 4 sponsoring organizations, especially where the applicant will mainly engage in customer-facing work that uses language ability, such as translation, interpretation, foreign-language customer service, or similar duties. In such cases, employers may need to provide objective evidence showing that the applicant has CEFR B2-equivalent ability in the language used for the work.
1. What changed from April 15, 2026?
The Immigration Services Agency’s page for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services now provides additional document guidance for applications filed on or after April 15, 2026, when the sponsoring organization falls under Category 3 or Category 4.
In particular, where the applicant will mainly engage in customer-facing work that uses language ability, the guidance refers to documents proving CEFR B2-equivalent ability in the language used for the work. For Japanese, the guidance also indicates examples where the applicant is deemed to have CEFR B2-equivalent Japanese ability, such as having passed JLPT N2 or higher.
This change does not mean that every Gijinkoku applicant must now pass a Japanese language test. For engineers, system developers, designers, overseas trading staff, specialist office workers, and other professional roles, Japanese language ability may not necessarily be the core of the job. The important question is what language is actually used in the specific duties and how important that language ability is for the position.
2. What types of cases require particular attention?
The cases that require particular attention are those involving customer-facing work that depends heavily on language ability. Examples include hotel and ryokan front desk work, tourism-related work, customer support, translation and interpretation, foreign resident support desks, sales support, or workplace roles involving communication with foreign customers or staff.
In these cases, it may not be enough to simply state that the applicant “speaks Japanese” or “can use English.” The application should be supported by objective test results, educational background, work history, previous practical experience, and a clear explanation of the actual job duties.
| Category | Examples requiring caution | Documents and explanations to check |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels and ryokan | Front desk duties, reservation handling, foreign guest support, interpretation-like customer service | Japanese or foreign-language ability evidence, job description, work schedule, training details |
| Translation and interpretation | Interpretation, translation, foreign resident support, internal or external language support | JLPT, BJT, TOEIC, educational background, work history, translation or interpretation experience |
| Sales and customer support | Customer negotiations, inquiries, sales support using a foreign language | Specific job scope, professional nature of the work, language-use situations, difference from simple customer service |
| Category 3/4 employers | Small or medium-sized companies, newly established companies, companies with limited document preparation | Company explanation, employment contract, representative declaration, actual acceptance structure |
3. What does CEFR B2-equivalent ability mean?
CEFR B2 is generally understood as an “independent user” level. In practical terms, it may indicate the ability to communicate, explain, negotiate, respond to customers, and understand certain professional content in the language used for the work.
For Japanese, the Immigration Services Agency’s guidance refers to examples such as JLPT N2 or higher as evidence for being deemed to have CEFR B2-equivalent Japanese ability. However, in practice, test results alone are not the whole issue. The key is whether the level of language ability is actually connected to the job duties described in the application.
Having JLPT N2 does not automatically guarantee approval, and not having N2 does not automatically mean refusal. Immigration screening looks at the actual duties, how much Japanese or another language is used in the role, how the company will assign the applicant, and whether the applicant’s education and experience are connected to the proposed work.
4. Be careful when saying “a Japanese language requirement was added”
News articles and social media posts may briefly say that “a Japanese language requirement has been added to Gijinkoku.” However, from an immigration practice perspective, that expression is too broad.
A more accurate explanation is that additional documentation has been clarified for Category 3 and Category 4 sponsoring organizations, and that evidence of language ability has been clarified or strengthened for certain customer-facing work that mainly uses language ability.
The key point is that if language ability is central to the job, the applicant and employer should be prepared to explain it with objective evidence. On the other hand, it is not accurate to understand the change as a blanket Japanese test requirement for all professional Gijinkoku work.
5. Category 3 and Category 4 employers should be especially careful
Category 3 and Category 4 employers are often required to provide more detailed explanations than large listed companies or public institutions. Under the April 2026 update, language ability evidence is not the only issue. The representative declaration for the sponsoring organization may also become relevant.
In other words, future Gijinkoku applications may require a more careful explanation not only of the applicant’s education and work experience, but also of what duties the company will assign, what language ability is required for those duties, and whether the employment contract, statement of reasons, job description, and related documents are consistent.
6. Checklist before filing a Gijinkoku application
Employers hiring foreign nationals under Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services should check at least the following points before filing.
- Does the applicant’s work fall within professional activities covered by Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services?
- Is the main work not biased toward simple customer service, sales, or simple labor?
- Does the role involve customer-facing work using language ability, such as translation, interpretation, hotel work, or customer support?
- Is there evidence to explain CEFR B2-equivalent ability in the language used for the work?
- Have JLPT N2, BJT, other test results, education, work history, and practical experience been organized?
- If the employer is Category 3 or Category 4, have the additional document requirements been checked?
- Are the employment contract, working conditions notice, job description, and statement of reasons consistent?
- Is the representative declaration consistent with the actual acceptance structure of the company?
7. Our view
This update should be understood not as a complete change to the Gijinkoku system, but as part of a broader trend toward more concrete review of the gap between the actual job duties and the explanation provided in the application documents.
In particular, for hotels, tourism, translation, interpretation, foreign resident support, and customer-facing roles, it is now more important to explain the relationship between the applicant’s language ability and the proposed job duties. For Category 3 and Category 4 employers, the company-side explanation also becomes more important.
It is risky to assume that an application is safe simply because the applicant has JLPT N2, can speak Japanese, or the company wants to hire them. In Gijinkoku applications, Immigration reviews the applicant’s ability, education and experience, the company’s business, the proposed duties, salary level, and consistency of documents as a whole. Language evidence should be understood as one important part of that overall review.
Need support with a Gijinkoku application or foreign employee hiring in Japan?
Tommy’s Legal Service supports applications for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, renewals, changes of status, job description review, statement of reasons preparation, and document checks for foreign employee hiring in Japan. Early review is especially important for Category 3/4 employers, hotels, translation/interpretation roles, and customer-facing duties involving language ability.
Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Status of Residence “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”
Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Clarification of the Status of Residence “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”
This article is based on publicly available information as of April 2026 and summarizes practical immigration points. The conclusion may differ depending on the job duties, employer category, applicant’s background, and documents submitted in each individual case.
