Shortened Processing Time for IT Engineer Visas
～Residence status obtainable in Japan～
The government has announced that it will shorten the processing time for foreign IT engineers to obtain residence status
in Japan starting from autumn 2023. This will apply to designated National Strategic Special Zones, and the current procedures,
which can take at least three months, may be reduced to as little as one month in some cases.
The residence status for foreign engineers, which falls under the categories of "Technical Activities," "Humanities/International Services,
" has become the second most common after permanent residency. According to statistics from the Ministry of Justice regarding residence application processing times, the current average processing time is 50.2 days for approval.
Hopefully, this will serve as an opportunity to expedite procedures for all types of occupations.
■ Types of Residence Status
Japan has 29 different types of residence statuses, and the type of residence status a foreign national obtains depends on their activities in Japan,
such as studying, working, or marrying a Japanese national. Furthermore, each individual is granted only one residence status,
and the permitted duration of stay and activities vary depending on the specific status.
Among these, the Technical Intern Training Program, which began in 1993 and had accepted approximately 325,000 participants by the end of 2022,
is slated for abolition. Due to significant gaps between the program's intended purpose and its actual implementation,
the government is considering allowing a certain level of job transition, which was generally prohibited under the Technical Intern Training Program.
This aims to facilitate a smooth transition to the Specific Skills Visa program, newly established with the goal of securing foreign labor force.
The government is actively working on the program's design to ensure this transition is seamless.
【Differences Between the Current Technical Intern Training and Specific Skills】
- Occupations: The Technical Intern Training Program covers 85 different occupations, whereas the Specific Skills Visa program includes 14 occupations. The Technical Intern Training Program has a more detailed breakdown of job roles. In contrast, the Specific Skills Visa allows
for a broader range of job responsibilities compared to the Technical Intern Training Program.
- Duration of Stay: Under the Technical Intern Training Program, a participant can stay for a maximum of five years by changing to the "No. 3" status,
but passing the skill assessment test is mandatory. The Specific Skills Visa, on the other hand, can be extended up to five years through residence
status renewal, and transitioning to "No. 2" status removes the maximum stay limit, even allowing for permanent residency acquisition.
This also makes family stay possible.
- Job Transition: The Technical Intern Training Program does not typically allow for job transitions, as the primary purpose is not labor. In contrast,
the Specific Skills Visa is a work-authorized status, allowing job transitions within the same occupation, similar to Japanese nationals.
Details regarding the new Technical Intern Training Program are expected to be finalized this autumn.
For a list of residence statuses, please refer to the table provided by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.