2025.12.12 | Category: Visa Application/Immigration Services
Conditions for Obtaining a "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" Visa with a Salary of ¥220,000: An Administrative Scrivener's Explanation
Conclusion of this Article
Although permission is possible with a monthly salary of ¥220,000, consistency between "region," "age," and "job description" is essential. Insufficient explanation increases the risk of rejection.
"We want to hire a foreign national, but we are considering a salary of around ¥220,000 per month. Will this be sufficient for visa approval?"
We frequently receive such inquiries from business owners.
In conclusion, it is possible to obtain a "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa with a monthly salary of ¥220,000.
However, simply writing "¥220,000" on the application without careful consideration carries a risk of rejection.
The Immigration Bureau does not only review the "amount." This time, we will explain the inner workings of the review process from the perspective of an administrative scrivener.
1. The Truth Behind the Immigration Bureau's Review Standard: "Equivalent to the Remuneration Received by a Japanese National"
The Immigration Control Act stipulates that foreign nationals must "receive remuneration equal to or greater than the remuneration received when a Japanese national is engaged in the same work."
In other words, the review focuses not on "whether ¥220,000 is high or low," but on "how it compares to Japanese employees working in the same job type at the same company."
- OK Example: Paying a foreign new graduate ¥220,000 at a company where the starting salary for Japanese new graduates is ¥210,000.
- NG Example: Paying only the foreign national ¥220,000 when all Japanese employees receive ¥300,000.
Attempting to hire foreign nationals with the idea that "they can be employed at a lower wage" will run afoul of this "equality standard" and result in rejection.
2. Three Checkpoints for Obtaining Permission
① Compliance with the Minimum Wage is a Prerequisite
Naturally, it is essential to ensure that the salary does not fall below the minimum wage for the region. A monthly salary of ¥220,000 clears the minimum wage in any region nationwide, but caution is advised to ensure that it does not include overtime pay in the calculation.
② Balance Between Regional Market Rate and Age
In metropolitan areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, offering "¥220,000" to mid-career hires with practical experience may be deemed lower than the market rate, and a reasonable explanation may be required.
Conversely, in regional cities, ¥220,000 is more likely to be recognized as a sufficiently reasonable amount for new graduate hires or potential hires without prior experience.
③ Specialization of Job Content
The "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa is for "specialized work." Simple labor (only serving in a hall, only performing factory line work) is not permitted.
The appropriateness of the ¥220,000 amount as compensation for that specialized work (interpretation and translation, engineering, trade administration, etc.) will also be reviewed.
3. Administrative Scrivener's Perspective: How to Explain in the Employment Reason Statement
Isamu's Eye (From the Field)
Based on my experience with over 500 applications annually, the most important aspect when the salary is close to the market rate (¥200,000 to ¥220,000) is creating a compelling narrative in the "Employment Reason Statement."
Instead of simply stating the amount, presenting a concrete career plan, such as "This is the amount due to a lack of experience, but there are salary increase provisions after the trial period or upon obtaining qualifications," will dramatically change the examiner's impression.
When I was stationed in Vietnam, I noticed that local personnel tended to stay longer at companies that offered a clear "future salary increase" path. This is effective not only for visa screening but also as a recruitment strategy.
4. Conclusion: Consult for Free if You Are Uncertain
Applying with a monthly salary of ¥220,000 is not impossible, but the company bears the responsibility to explain "why that amount."
If you are "unsure whether your company's regulations are sufficient" or "don't know how to write the employment contract," we strongly recommend having a professional check before applying.
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