Korean IT-certified engineers benefit from special visa privileges when seeking work visas in Japan. Educational and work experience requirements are relaxed, allowing for more flexible career paths.
This article provides detailed practical information from visa requirements to application procedures and key points for job hunting.
- How Korean IT certifications simplify Japanese work visas.
- Step-by-step visa application process for Korean IT engineers.
- Key job hunting strategies for the Japanese IT market.
「ビザや住まいを一人で手配するのは不安…」
「日本語面接で強みを伝え切れるか心配」
このような悩みを、BLOOMTECH Career Globalがワンストップで解決します！
- 外国籍 IT エンジニア“専門”の転職エージェント！
- バイリンガルキャリアアドバイザーが 1:1 伴走！
- ビザ取得・来日後の生活立ち上げまでフルサポート！
- 大手〜急成長スタートアップまで非公開求人多数！
1. Essential Visa Knowledge for Korean IT Engineers Working in Japan
Obtaining an appropriate work visa is essential for working as an IT engineer in Japan.
For Korean IT engineers in particular, understanding the basics of visa acquisition is an important first step for smooth job hunting and stable employment.
What is the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa?
The Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa is the primary work visa for IT engineers in Japan. This visa permits a maximum stay of 5 years and is granted to foreign professionals with advanced expertise and technical skills.
Obtaining this visa allows IT engineers to work within Japan and, under certain conditions, change employers.
Basic Requirements for Obtaining a Work Visa
To obtain a work visa, you must meet educational and work experience requirements.
Generally, graduation from a 4-year university with an IT-related major, completion of a 2-year or longer IT course at a technical school, or 10+ years of practical experience is required.
However, there are special exemptions for holders of IT qualifications certified by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea.
Additional important requirements include securing a job offer from a Japanese company, receiving compensation equal to or greater than that of Japanese nationals, ensuring sufficient work volume, and confirming the company’s stable management foundation.
By comprehensively meeting these conditions, you can apply for a work visa and begin your career as an IT engineer in Japan.
2. Japanese Work Visas Available with Korean IT Qualifications
Holders of Korean IT qualifications can receive special preferential treatment when obtaining work visas in Japan.
This system relaxes the normal educational and work experience requirements, enabling more flexible career paths.
Types and Characteristics of Recognized Korean IT Qualifications
IT qualifications certified by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea) hold significant value for obtaining Japanese work visas.
Specifically, Engineer Information Processing and Industrial Engineer Information Processing are the two recognized qualifications.
These qualifications are administered in Korean and are classified as advanced and intermediate levels respectively.
Reference: IPA: Mutual Recognition Korean Examination System – Human Resources Development Service of Korea
Exemption from Educational and Work Experience Requirements with IT Qualifications
If you hold recognized Korean IT qualifications, the 4-year university graduation requirement, technical school graduation requirement, and practical experience requirements are waived.
This allows visa applications regardless of educational background, enabling smooth entry into the Japanese job market as a new graduate or when changing careers, even without work experience.
However, you must still meet the basic requirements. Meeting the following conditions will ensure more reliable visa acquisition
- The work must be IT-related
- There must be relevance between the qualification and job content
- Sufficient work volume must be secured
- Compensation must be equal to or greater than that of Japanese nationals
3. Important Conditions for Work Visa Applications
Work visa applications require meeting multiple important conditions.
These conditions include not only the applicant’s qualifications and abilities but also the hiring company’s structure and environment, all of which undergo comprehensive evaluation.
Below we explain the specific conditions in detail.
Reference: Immigration Services Agency of Japan: “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services“
Relevance Between IT Qualifications and Job Content
For work visa acquisition, a clear connection between your IT qualifications and actual job duties is necessary.
Recognized specialized IT tasks include system development/programming, network management/construction, database design/management, and system operation/maintenance.
Jobs involving only interpretation/translation, general clerical work, sales positions, or customer service are not recognized as utilizing IT qualifications, even if they are at IT-related companies.
Salary Conditions and Benefits
Salary conditions are an important criterion for work visa acquisition. Compensation equal to or greater than that of Japanese nationals is required, which must conform to standard salary structures for the region and industry.
Additionally, salary settings based on appropriate evaluation of experience and skills are important.
Regarding Salary Calculation and Determination
- Basic salary is the standard
- Commuting allowances, housing allowances, dependent allowances, and other supplementary allowances are not included
Requirements for Companies
Companies must demonstrate stable financial status and appropriate work environments.
Specifically, it is preferable for companies to show profitable financial statements and not be in excessive debt. Compliance with labor laws and proper employment management systems are also necessary.
| New Companies | Companies with Deficit |
|---|---|
| Specific business plans | Improvement plans |
| Proof of financial capacity | Proof of recovery possibility |
4. Specific Procedures and Required Documents for Work Visa Applications
The work visa application is an important procedure that goes through multiple steps. Proper preparation and accurate execution of procedures are required from application to acquisition.
Here we explain the specific application procedures and necessary documents.
Timeline from Application to Acquisition
From work visa application to acquisition typically requires 3-6 months. First, obtaining a job offer takes 1-2 months, followed by 2-3 weeks to prepare necessary documents.
Certificate of Eligibility application to acquisition takes 1-3 months, followed by approximately one week for visa application at an overseas diplomatic mission. However, this period may vary depending on the application timing and region.
Preparation of Required Documents and Important Points
Applications require documents from both the applicant and the company. Documents must be submitted in Japanese or English; documents in other languages require attached translations.
- Applicant
Passport copy, certified photo, resume, and IT qualification certificate are the basics. - Company
Employment contract, company registration certificate, financial statements, business description, reason for employment, and salary payment certificate are required.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for Applications
Q: Can only the applicant apply?
A：Applications can be submitted by the company or through a proxy.
Q: How long is the period of stay?
A: The maximum period of stay is 5 years, renewable if requirements are met.
Q: Is there anything to do after applying?
A: During the review period after application, it’s important to respond promptly to any requests for additional documents from the Immigration Bureau.
Q: Are there any important notes regarding application documents?
A: IT qualification certificates require Japanese or English translations, and employment contracts are recommended to be in the form of “conditional contracts”
5. Key Points for Korean IT Engineers’ Job Hunting in Japan
Success in finding employment in Japan’s IT industry requires proper preparation and a strategic approach.
For Korean IT engineers in particular, it’s important to conduct effective job hunting while considering language and cultural differences.
What to Check When Choosing a Company
When choosing a company, it’s important to focus on verifying their track record and systems for employing foreign nationals.
Points to confirm
Important indicators of a company’s readiness to accept foreign talent
- Previous foreign hiring results, number of foreign employees currently working, and retention rates
- Visa support systems (presence of specialized departments, partnerships with administrative scriveners, scope of procedural support)
Points to confirm
From a long-term career development perspective:
- Working hours, vacation systems, employee benefits, career development support systems, and other working conditions
Process from Job Offer to Starting Work
Specific process after receiving a job offer
- Final confirmation of offer conditions, verification of contract details, and determination of start date
- Visa application procedures (collecting necessary documents, applying for Certificate of Eligibility, applying for and obtaining visa)
In parallel, you need to prepare for travel by securing housing, opening a bank account, enrolling in insurance, etc., to establish your foundation for living in Japan.
Important Points After Starting Work
Various procedures and management are necessary when starting work. By properly managing the following elements, you can achieve stable working life in Japan.
Administrative Procedures & Residence Status Management
| Administrative Procedures | Residence Status Management |
|---|---|
| Resident registration, obtaining My Number, national health insurance enrollment, etc. | Obligation to carry residence card, management of period of stay, verification of activities outside scope of status, etc. |
Specific Workplace Points
- Understand the importance of thorough reporting, communication, consultation, business communication in Japanese, and workplace manners in advance.
- For long-term career development, understand the importance of creating skill improvement plans, considering qualification acquisition, and being aware of and preparing for residence period renewal times.
6. How Korean Engineers Can Pursue Visa Acquisition in Japan
To work in Japan using Korean IT qualifications, proper preparation and procedures are essential.
By meeting work visa acquisition requirements and planning systematically from company selection to post-entry life, smooth employment in Japan can be achieved.
We recommend developing your career plan based on the information explained in this article.
「ビザや住まいを一人で手配するのは不安…」
「日本語面接で強みを伝え切れるか心配」
このような悩みを、BLOOMTECH Career Globalがワンストップで解決します！
- 外国籍 IT エンジニア“専門”の転職エージェント！
- バイリンガルキャリアアドバイザーが 1:1 伴走！
- ビザ取得・来日後の生活立ち上げまでフルサポート！
- 大手〜急成長スタートアップまで非公開求人多数！
