Do I meet the basic requirements for relocating to Japan (such as education, professional skills, funds, etc.)?

Relocation RequirementsJapan ImmigrationEducation RequirementsProof of FundsProfessional SkillsRelocating to Japan
Created At: 8/11/2025Updated At: 8/17/2025
Answer (1)

Hello! I see you're interested in the requirements for moving to Japan. That's a great idea and the first step many people take in their planning. Don't worry, it's not as complicated as it might seem. Let me break it down for you so you can see where you stand.

We won't get bogged down in complex legal jargon. Let's focus on the core essentials: education, skills, money, and a hidden bonus – language.

Core Logic: First the "Hole", Then the "Radish"

Before diving into specific requirements, you need to understand a core principle of the Japanese work visa (the "Technical/Humanities/International Services" visa – the most common type for this purpose):

You must first find a job offer from a Japanese company willing to hire you. The company then sponsors your visa application. Only then can you move.

This differs from point-based immigration systems like Canada or Australia. Japan doesn't grant residency just because you meet certain criteria; the job offer is your entry ticket. So, all the conditions we discuss below are aimed at helping you secure that "ticket".

1. Education: Your "Door Opener"

Education is highly valued in the Japanese visa screening process. It directly determines your eligibility for most white-collar jobs.

  • Gold Standard: Bachelor's Degree

    • This is the most stable and universally accepted "hard currency". If you have a full-time bachelor's degree, regardless of your major, you are theoretically eligible to apply for the "Technical/Humanities/International Services" work visa.
    • Example: You studied History but found a company willing to hire you for Marketing. As long as the company can justify why they need you, your bachelor's degree strongly supports your visa application.

  • Alternative: Associate Degree / College Diploma (Called "Senmonshi" in Japan)

    • If you have an associate degree from your home country, it's more complex. Typically, your field of study must be highly relevant to your future job in Japan.
    • If you graduated from a Japanese vocational school ("Senmon Gakko") and earned the "Senmonshi" title, finding a relevant job and getting a visa is relatively straightforward.

  • No University Degree?

    • Don't lose hope; there's still a path. The official requirement is "10+ years of relevant work experience".
    • Example: You don't have a university degree but have worked as a programmer in the IT industry for 10 years. You are then eligible to apply for a visa for an IT job. However, proving this "10 years of experience" requires detailed documentation (employment contracts, separation certificates, social security records, etc.), and the screening process is stricter than for degree holders.
    • Additionally, certain professional IT certifications (like domestic software qualification exams) can sometimes substitute for a degree, but this is a special case.

Education Summary: Bachelor's Degree > Japanese Vocational School Diploma / Highly Relevant Associate Degree > 10 Years Experience. A bachelor's degree gives you the widest range of options.

2. Professional Skills: Your "Rice Bowl"

Education alone isn't enough. You need a reason for a company to hire you. Your professional skills are your "selling point".

  • Skills Must Match the Job

    • Your skills must be relevant to the job offer you receive. Visa officers scrutinize this.
    • Simply put: You can't use an IT Engineer job offer to justify an Early Childhood Education background. While 100% exact match isn't required, the connection must be logical. E.g., Japanese language majors becoming translators or working in international trade; Computer Science majors becoming programmers; Design majors doing UI/UX.

  • Which Skills Are in Demand?

    • IT Industry: Always a "hot commodity". Huge demand for programmers, systems engineers, network engineers, etc. Japanese language requirements can be somewhat more flexible.
    • Manufacturing/Engineering: Engineers, technicians.
    • Marketing/Sales/Trade: Requires good Japanese language skills and cross-cultural communication ability.
    • Tourism/Hospitality/Service: Demand is recovering with tourism, but requires high language proficiency.
    • Design/Copywriting: Creative roles.

Skills Summary: Your skills determine what jobs you can find and must connect logically to your education/work experience.

3. Funds: Your "Startup Capital"

Many misunderstand the financial aspect, thinking it requires millions like investment immigration. For a work visa, it's completely different.

When applying for the visa, you do NOT need to provide proof of large personal savings. Because the company is sponsoring you, they theoretically guarantee your livelihood by paying your salary.

However, you must prepare "landing startup funds". This money covers expenses incurred when you first arrive in Japan, before your first paycheck arrives.

  • What does this money cover?

    • Initial Rental Costs: The biggest chunk. Renting in Japan typically requires a security deposit ("Shikikin"), key money ("Reikin"), agency fees, guarantor company fees, fire insurance, etc., totaling potentially 4-6 months' rent upfront.
    • Essential Purchases: Furniture, appliances, etc.
    • First Month's Living Expenses: Transportation, food, setting up a phone, etc.

  • How much should you prepare?

    • This is a practical question. Generally, for a mid-sized city (e.g., Osaka, Fukuoka), a safe amount is around 500,000 JPY.
    • If moving to Tokyo, with its higher cost of living, preparing 800,000 - 1,000,000 JPY is recommended for peace of mind.

Funds Summary: Not required for the visa itself, but essential for real life. This money is your "safety cushion" for a smooth transition.

The Hidden Factor: Language Ability (Japanese)

While there's no official hard requirement for a specific JLPT level (like N2) to get a work visa, in the real world, language ability is crucial for your quality of life and career ceiling.

  • STEM Fields (Especially IT): Some positions may have lower Japanese requirements (N3 or even N4), as your primary "language" might be code. But for promotion or smooth teamwork, reaching N2 is essential sooner or later.
  • Humanities/Business/Service Fields: Japanese is a hard requirement. Finding decent work without at least N2 is difficult. Roles involving heavy client/colleague interaction often require N1.

Recommendation: Treat learning Japanese as equally important as preparing your other qualifications. It not only helps you find better jobs but also enables faster integration into Japanese society.

Simple Self-Checklist

Score yourself against these questions:

  1. Education: Do I have a full-time bachelor's degree? (Yes, add 3 points; No, but have 10+ years experience, add 2 points; Have associate degree, add 1 point)
  2. Skills: Is my professional skill (IT, engineering, design, trade, etc.) in demand in Japan? (Yes, add 2 points)
  3. Relevance: Does my education/experience match the field I want to work in? (Yes, add 2 points)
  4. Funds: Can I prepare at least 500,000 JPY (approx. 25,000 RMB) in startup funds? (Yes, add 2 points)
  5. Language: Is my Japanese at N2 level? Or am I actively studying? (Reached N2, add 3 points; Actively studying, add 1 point)

A Simple Gauge: If your total score is 8 points or above, your basic conditions are quite solid, and you can start actively preparing your resume and browsing job sites. If your score is lower, identify your weak points and focus on improving them.

Hope this breakdown helps! Moving to Japan is a systematic project, but by tackling these fundamental requirements step-by-step, you're already most of the way there. Best of luck!

Created At: 08-11 12:06:13Updated At: 08-12 02:07:28