Japan Engineer Visa for Indians: Degree, Experience and Pay Rules

This is one of the working statuses listed by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), alongside Professor, Researcher, Business manager and others. It covers technical roles such as engineering and IT, and jobs that draw on foreign culture: translation, interpretation, language teaching, PR, overseas trade, design and product development. The rules below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For tourist and business visas, see our Japan visa guide for Indians.

Does your degree have to match the job?

Yes, in principle. The landing criteria want a university degree, or equivalent education, in a subject related to the work you will do in Japan. In practice, your field of study should connect clearly to the duties in your job offer, so ask your employer to check that link before it files for the Certificate of Eligibility.

Two alternatives exist. A related course completed at a Japanese vocational school also qualifies. And IT workers who hold a designated IT qualification are exempt from the education and experience requirement altogether. Your employer's immigration contact can confirm whether your certification is on the designated list.

How many years of experience do you need?

It depends on your education and the kind of job. The table summarises the landing criteria as set out by the Immigration Services Agency.

Paperwork follows the same logic. The Delhi VFS checklist for a long-term visa with a COE asks working applicants for an experience certificate and an educational certificate. Mumbai's November 2025 checklist adds a CV and a copy of the contract with the Japanese employer. Bengaluru accepts an employment certificate, a relieving or resignation letter, or a degree certificate if you have just finished studying.

Is there a minimum salary in yen?

No fixed figure appears in the criteria. The test is comparative: your pay must be at least equal to what a Japanese national would receive for the same work. An offer pitched well below local pay for the role can fail this condition even if every other document is in order.

The landing criteria also contain no age requirement. Education, experience and pay are the three conditions that matter.

What changed on 15 April 2026?

From 15 April 2026, applications where the employer is in Category 3 or 4 must include a declaration about the employer's representative. If the job mainly uses language skills, such as translation or hotel front-desk work, you must also prove CEFR B2-level ability in the working language. For Japanese, JLPT N2 or above counts. The notice is on the Immigration Services Agency status page (in Japanese). Ask your employer which category it falls under before you plan your language tests.

How do you apply from India once the job is offered?

The process runs in two stages. First, your employer or another proxy in Japan applies to a regional immigration office for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). The Immigration Services Agency's standard processing period is 1 to 3 months, and there is no fee. A COE does not guarantee the visa. Applying without one is possible, but it needs a large set of documents and can take several months.

Second, you apply for the visa at the VFS Japan centre for your state with your passport, one application form, one photo and the COE (original or copy; an e-COE printout is accepted). Indian nationals pay a visa fee of INR 500, plus the INR 800 VFS service charge per application. Indicative visa-stage times after the COE is issued:

Each consulate decides only applications from residents of its jurisdiction. If your passport was issued in another state, carry address proof.

How long can you stay, and is permanent residence possible?

The status is granted for 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. Permanent residence is decided in Japan, not from India. Under the Immigration Services Agency guidelines revised on 24 February 2026, it normally needs 10 or more years of continuous residence, including at least 5 years on a working status, with taxes, pension and health insurance premiums paid properly. Highly skilled professionals can qualify sooner: with 70 points after 3 years or 80 points after 1 year.

For scale, MOFA issued 265,882 visas of all types to Indian nationals across its missions worldwide in calendar year 2025, the fourth-highest nationality. That count covers every visa category and is not an Engineer-visa figure; MOFA publishes no refusal rate for Indian applicants.

Before you apply: mistakes to avoid

• Assuming any degree works. The subject has to relate to the job.
• Accepting an offer before checking the pay against what a Japanese employee earns in the same role.
• Missing the 15 April 2026 language proof for translation or front-desk roles at Category 3 or 4 employers.
• Using the wrong photo size: Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata ask for 45mm x 35mm, while Mumbai and Chennai state 2 x 2 inch.
• Reapplying too soon. After a refusal, a new application for the same purpose is not accepted within six months unless circumstances change significantly.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares cover letters, flight reservations, hotel bookings and itineraries for visa files, including for family members visiting you later on short-term visas. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set with a cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for a Japan Engineer visa without a Certificate of Eligibility?

MOFA says it is possible, but a large amount of verification documents is needed and processing can take several months. Most applicants wait for the employer to obtain the COE in Japan, which normally takes 1 to 3 months.

Does a Certificate of Eligibility guarantee the Japanese work visa?

No. MOFA states that a COE does not guarantee that the visa will be issued. The consulate still examines your passport, form, photo and supporting documents when you apply at VFS.

Can Indian graduates use Japan's J-Find visa to look for engineering jobs instead?

Only graduates of universities on the Immigration Services Agency's eligible list can use J-Find, and that list (as of January 2026) includes no university in India. It also requires savings of approximately 200,000 yen and a degree awarded within the last 5 years.

Which VFS checklist applies to a Japan work visa in Bengaluru?

The Bengaluru long-term checklist asks working applicants for the form with photo, original passport, covering letter, the COE (original and a copy) and an employment certificate, relieving or resignation letter, or a degree certificate if studies were just completed. Passports issued outside Karnataka need residence proof.