Requirements for the Intra-company Transferee Visa
To obtain an Intra-company Transferee Visa, the following requirements must be met:
✅ The transfer must be from an overseas head office, branch, subsidiary, or affiliated company
(The transfer must occur between entities with recognized capital or organizational relationships.)
✅ The applicant must have been continuously employed for at least one year at an overseas affiliated company prior to the transfer
(Continuous work experience within the same corporate group is required.)
✅ The work to be performed in Japan must fall under “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services”
(The duties must require specialized skills or knowledge and must not involve unskilled labor.)
✅ The salary and employment conditions in Japan must be appropriate
(The remuneration must be equal to or higher than that of a Japanese national in a comparable position.)
Processing time for the Intra-company Transferee Visa.
✅ Application for Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (when inviting from overseas): Approximately 2 to 5 months
✅ Application for Change of Status of Residence (when changing the current visa to an Intra-company Transferee Visa): Approximately 2 weeks to 2 months
✅ Application for Extension of Period of Stay (visa renewal): Approximately 2 weeks to 2 months
Required documents for the Intra-company Transferee Visa.
The required documents vary depending on the applicant’s situation and the size of the company, but generally, the following documents are required.
[Documents related to the applicant]
・Application for Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (when applying from overseas) or Application for Change of Status of Residence (when applying within Japan)
・Photograph (4 cm × 3 cm, taken within the last 3 months)
・Copy of passport
・Residence card (if already residing in Japan)
・Resume/CV (including detailed work history)
・Documents certifying employment at the overseas head office or affiliated company (e.g., certificate of employment, salary certificate, etc.)
[Documents prepared by the company]
・Employment contract and assignment letter (transfer order) (to prove the fact of the transfer)
・Certificate of registered matters (company registration details of the receiving entity in Japan)
・Company brochure or a copy of the company website (to explain business activities)
・Copy of financial statements (to demonstrate the company’s financial condition)
・Withholding tax certificates for salary income, etc. (to clarify the company’s scale)
・Company profile of the overseas head office, branch, subsidiary, etc.
Advantages of the Intra-company Transferee Visa.
✅ The visa can be obtained without academic qualifications (a key difference from the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa)
✅ It is possible to work in Japan while maintaining the employment contract in the home country
✅ A Dependent Visa can be applied for together, allowing the applicant to live in Japan with their spouse and children
✅ Enables a smooth transition and immediate start of work after the transfer