Was a Japanese Language Requirement Added to the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa from April 15, 2026? — Not Across the Board, but Proof Has Tightened for Language-Based Interpersonal Work
From applications filed on or after April 15, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan has begun requiring an additional document called the “Declaration Regarding the Representative of the Affiliated Organization” for certain statuses of residence. The impact is especially significant for Category 3 and Category 4 organizations in cases involving Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, Business Manager, and Researcher. The official website also shows additional filing notices for Nursing Care, Skilled Labor (at least on the page for activities as a cook), and certain Designated Activities categories, suggesting that the sponsoring organization’s responsibility and credibility are now being reviewed more closely.
日本語版はこちら：
What has changed?
As of April 15, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency’s application pages now indicate that an additional document called the “Declaration Regarding the Representative of the Affiliated Organization” must be submitted in certain cases.
At least on the official website, this additional filing can be confirmed for pages such as:
- Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services (Category 3 and 4 cases)
- Business Manager (Category 3 and 4 cases)
- Researcher (Category 3 and 4 cases)
- Nursing Care
- Skilled Labor (at least on the page for activities as a cook)
- Certain Designated Activities categories, such as graduates of Japanese universities and their spouses, and spouses of Highly Skilled Professionals who engage in work
In practice, the biggest impact is likely to be on Category 3 and 4 cases involving Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, Business Manager, and Researcher. This is especially true for small and mid-sized companies, newly established entities, and organizations whose internal compliance and documentation systems are still developing.
This is more than just one more form
This new declaration should not be viewed as a minor supplemental document. It appears designed to make the sponsoring organization more clearly responsible for the truthfulness and consistency of the application.
The reference form itself includes a warning that if the submitted information is not true, the case may be regarded as a false application. It also requires the name of the person preparing the declaration. In other words, this change points toward a system in which the company side is expected to understand and stand behind the contents of the application more directly.
Why was this introduced now?
The Immigration Services Agency has not published a single simple notice fully explaining the policy reason behind this new declaration. However, when we look at the materials released around the same date, this change appears to be part of a broader tightening of review regarding the actual work content, the accepting organization, and the credibility of the explanation provided by the employer.
On the same date, April 15, 2026, the Agency also released a new appendix in its clarification materials for Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services. That appendix addresses cases involving customer-facing work requiring language ability, such as work at hotels and ryokan. Related materials also indicate that, in such cases, documents proving language ability at approximately CEFR B2 level may be required.
This suggests that the authorities are looking more closely than before at what work the applicant will actually perform, whether the applicant truly has the skills needed for that work, and whether the sponsoring organization properly understands the contents of the application.
In addition, publicly available Immigration Services Agency materials suggest that among foreign nationals residing under Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, a certain number are working through worker dispatch arrangements, and that this number may be increasing. Seen in that broader context, the new declaration is easier to understand as an operational measure intended to reduce gaps between the application and the actual working arrangement.
Particularly important for Category 3 and 4 organizations
For Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, Business Manager, and Researcher, the required supporting documents vary depending on the category of the sponsoring organization. In general, Categories 1 and 2 include listed companies and certain larger organizations, while Categories 3 and 4 more often include ordinary private companies, smaller businesses, and newly established entities.
As a result, this change is likely to affect small and medium-sized companies, recently established businesses, and organizations with still-developing internal systems more strongly than larger, more established institutions.
Practical points to check from now on
Going forward, the authorities are likely to examine not only the applicant’s academic background, work history, and language ability, but also the consistency of the employer-side explanation materials. In particular, the following points deserve close attention:
- Whether the representative correctly understands the applicant’s actual duties
- Whether the employment contract, notice of working conditions, job description, and explanatory letters are fully consistent with each other
- Whether the actual work falls within the professional or managerial scope permitted under the intended status of residence
- Whether language ability is properly documented where customer-facing or communication-heavy work is involved
- Whether dispatch, secondment, on-site placement, or similar working arrangements match what is described in the application documents
In other words, it is becoming increasingly important not to “just file and see what happens,” but to organize the company’s acceptance structure and supporting explanation materials before submitting the application.
Our practical view
This change is more than just one extra form. It appears to reflect a stronger expectation that the sponsoring organization itself must stand behind the reality and consistency of the application.
In particular, for Category 3 and 4 cases involving Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, Business Manager, and Researcher, employers should review job descriptions, company materials, business contents, the representative’s understanding of the case, and the consistency of all supporting documents before filing. Even in Nursing Care, Skilled Labor, and certain Designated Activities cases, once an additional declaration is requested, consistency between the actual work arrangement and the submitted explanation becomes more important than ever.
At Tommy’s Legal Service, we do not simply prepare application forms. We also review the overall consistency of the employer-side explanation materials in light of operational changes like this one. If you are planning a work-related or business-related immigration application, please feel free to contact us.
投稿者プロフィール
- 行政書士 (Immigration Lawyer)
-
日系理化学機器輸入商社、日系センサーメーカー、外資系真空機器メーカー、外資系化学装置メーカーでの国内外業務を経て、令和2年度行政書士試験に合格。令和3年4月、トミーズリーガルサービス行政書士事務所を開業。
現在は入管業務（VISA・在留資格）を中心とした専門事務所として、外国人の雇用・受け入れ、企業の国際人材戦略、在留手続のオンライン申請支援を行う。
企業・個人いずれのクライアントにも寄り添い、迅速・丁寧で負担の少ない手続きをモットーとする。
また、国際業務の経験を生かし、英語での各種案内・申請支援にも対応。
趣味： バイク（CB1300SB）、ツーリング、テニス、ゴルフ
English:
After working in Japanese and foreign-affiliated companies in the fields of scientific instruments, sensors, vacuum equipment, and chemical processing machinery, I passed the national Administrative Scrivener examination in 2020 and founded Tommy’s Legal Service Administrative Scrivener Office in April 2021.
My practice is specialized in immigration procedures—visa applications, extensions, changes of status, and online filings for both companies and individuals. I support employers and foreign nationals with fast, accurate, and stress-free application processes.
English guidance and bilingual documentation are also available.
Hobbies: Motorcycles (Honda CB1300SB), touring, tennis, golf
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