Introduction

The “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” status of residence (commonly known as “Gijinkoku” visa) is one of the most common work visas for foreign nationals who wish to use their specialized skills and knowledge in Japan. If you do not meet the academic requirements, you can substitute them with 10 years of relevant work experience. However, it is not uncommon to face situations where you cannot obtain all the required work experience certificates. This article explains what to do in such cases, based on the latest official information and practical points.

Requirements and Documents for Work Experience

To apply for the Gijinkoku visa, you must generally have a university or vocational school degree. If you do not meet this requirement, you need to prove “10 years of work experience” (3 years for international services fields). Periods spent studying relevant subjects at high school or vocational school can be included in these 10 years.

The main documents to prove work experience are:

• Certificate of employment (with details of duties, period of employment, and working conditions)
• Career summary
• Letters of recommendation (if necessary)
• Graduation and academic transcripts (if counting school periods as work experience)

Risks When You Can Only Provide Part of the Certificates

If you cannot provide all the necessary certificates, your claim of “10 years of work experience” will not be accepted for the unproven periods. If you cannot prove the full period, your application may be rejected.

Especially if you cannot obtain certificates because your previous employer has closed or cannot be contacted, the Immigration Bureau will not accept your claim without objective evidence.

Solution 1: Collect as Many Certificates as Possible

First, try to obtain certificates from all your previous employers. If you have worked for multiple companies, collect certificates from each and add up the periods to see if you reach 10 years.

The certificates must include:

• Name of the applicant (matching passport in English)
• Period of employment (dates)
• Working conditions (full-time, part-time, etc.)
• Detailed job description
• Company name, representative, address, and contact information

Solution 2: Use Supplementary Documents

If you cannot obtain a certificate, you can submit supplementary documents such as:

• Payslips, tax withholding slips, social insurance records
• Tax returns, employment contracts
• Invoices and work reports with clients
• Letters of recommendation from colleagues or supervisors (notarized if possible)
• Academic transcripts (if counting study periods as work experience)

However, these may not always be sufficient, and the Immigration Bureau will decide on a case-by-case basis. Submit as much supporting evidence as possible.

Solution 3: Consult the Immigration Bureau in Advance

If you cannot provide all certificates, consult your local Immigration Bureau before applying. Ask if your planned documents will be sufficient to meet the requirements.

Solution 4: Consider Other Statuses of Residence

If you cannot gather enough proof, consider applying for other statuses of residence, such as “Designated Activities (No. 46)” visa. This is especially suitable for those who graduated from a Japanese university and have high Japanese language proficiency.

Example

For example, Ms. A (from China, age 35), worked as an IT engineer for three companies in China for a total of 12 years, but one company had closed and she could not get a certificate. She obtained certificates from the other two companies and submitted payslips, tax returns, and a letter of recommendation for the missing period. After consulting the Immigration Bureau, her evidence was deemed sufficient and her Gijinkoku visa was granted.

Conclusion

Objective proof is essential to meet the work experience requirement for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa. If you cannot provide all certificates, use supplementary documents and consult the Immigration Bureau in advance. If it is still difficult, consider other statuses of residence. Always check the latest information and guidelines from the Immigration Services Agency and consult a specialist if necessary.