Key Points to Note When Changing Status of Residence from “Student” to “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services”

Conclusion first:
This change of status does not mean that “getting a job automatically guarantees approval.”

In the examination process, your academic background × job duties × the actual status of the company are reviewed comprehensively and in combination, not separately.

① The “Relevance” Between Academic Background and Job Duties Is the Most Critical Factor

This is the most common reason for denial.

What Immigration Examines

• What you studied during your time as a student
• What work you will actually perform after employment
• Whether these two points are logically and reasonably connected

🔽 Specific Examples

Academic Background	Job Duties	Assessment
IT / Information Technology	System Development	✅ Acceptable
Economics / Business Administration	Sales Planning / Trade Operations	✅ Acceptable
Japanese Language School Only	Mainly Simple / Manual Tasks	❌ High Risk of Rejection

“Whether the relevance can be clearly explained” is everything.

② Graduating Only from a Japanese Language School Is Generally Not Accepted

Graduation from a Japanese language school alone is, in principle, insufficient to meet the requirements.

General Rule

One of the following is required:

• Graduation from a vocational school in Japan with a Specialist Diploma (Senmonshi)
• Graduation from a university or junior college

Common Practical Exceptions

• The applicant has graduated from a university overseas
• The applicant has 10 or more years of relevant work experience abroad
• The job is specialized in international services (e.g., translation, overseas business, international trade)

Whether an exception is accepted often depends on the quality and persuasiveness of the written explanation (statement of reasons).

③ If the job duties are too “hands-on / manual-work oriented,” it will be rejected.

“Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services” is based on white-collar work.

Job duties that are likely to be NOT approved (NG)

❌ Factory production line work
❌ Cleaning or warehouse labor
❌ Restaurant floor staff or cooking assistant

Job duties that are likely to be approved (OK)

✅ Planning, management, or design roles
✅ Overseas business, interpreting, or translation
✅ Systems work, engineering design, or data analysis

Even if some on-site or hands-on tasks are included,
the application may still be approved if the primary duties are clearly professional or specialized.

④ Employment conditions (salary and type of contract) are also reviewed.

Salary

As a general rule, the salary must be equal to or higher than that of a Japanese employee in a comparable position.
If the salary is extremely low, the application will likely be ❌ rejected.

Employment type

• Full-time (permanent) employee: Most stable and favorable
• Contract employee: Acceptable
  (However, it is necessary to clearly explain contract renewal and employment stability)
• Part-time / temporary work: ❌ Not acceptable

Immigration examines whether the applicant can maintain a stable livelihood and whether the employment is continuous and sustainable.ます。

⑤ The company’s structure and actual business operations are also subject to review.

In many cases, applications are rejected due to the company, not the individual.

Key points that are examined

• Whether the company’s business activities match the job duties
• Whether sales and financial statements show stability
• Whether there is a rational and legitimate reason to employ a foreign national

Newly established companies, in particular, require extra caution, as they tend to be scrutinized more strictly.

⑥ The quality of the Statement of Reasons and the Job Description is critical.

It is no exaggeration to say that about 80% of the decision is determined by the documents.

Essential points

• The relevance between the applicant’s academic background and the job duties
• Why this specific job must be performed at this particular company
• Why it is necessary to hire a foreign national for this position

Vague or emotional explanations are ❌ not acceptable.
The documents must present clear, logical reasoning that convinces any reader.

⑦ Be careful about the application timing if the start date is April 1.

If the planned start date is April 1, it is critically important to complete the change-of-status application by January whenever possible.

Why January is the best timing

From a practical immigration standpoint, the following risks exist:

• February to March is a peak season when student status change and renewal applications surge
• Processing times tend to be longer than usual
• If a request for additional documents or corrections is issued, there is a risk that approval will not be granted in time for April 1

🔽 From a practical, real-world perspective:

Apply in January → Approval by March → Start work on April 1
This is the safest and most reliable timeline.

Summary

✅ For a change to Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, both content and timing are critical.
✅ For an April 1 start date, submitting by January is the safe baseline.
✅ The later the submission, the risk increases exponentially.
✅ If there are any concerns, countermeasures must be taken before filing the application.

For those aiming to obtain a status of residence in Japan!

✅ For visa application support, leave it to the Administrative Scrivener Taro Fujita Office!
✅ We handle a wide range of cases, including work visas, dependent visas, permanent residence applications, and spouse of Japanese national visas.
✅ Free consultations available! We support you for a smooth and reliable visa approval process.