Work visa (Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services)
Most IT roles are performed under the “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services” status of residence, which requires a related degree or a certain amount of practical experience. Those who qualify may benefit from the Highly-Skilled Professional points system, with preferential treatment for period of stay and procedures.
How much Japanese do you need?
Development-focused roles are often open from N3–N2, while bridge SE, PM and client-facing roles favour N2–N1. English-only workplaces are increasingly common, but stronger Japanese widens your options and salary.
Salary benchmarks
- Mid-level: roughly ¥6–8M
- Senior: ¥8–11M
- Lead / architect: ¥11M and above (varies by field and company)
How to build your career
- Clarify your specialty (cloud, AI, embedded, etc.)
- Keep learning Japanese to broaden how you can contribute
- Grow upstream — from implementation to bridge, PM and architect roles
How we help
Tech Alliance has bilingual consultants who understand visas, culture and Japanese business customs. We support you from application through onboarding so your strengths shine in the Japanese market.