What Is the Intra-Company Transferee Visa? Conditions and Required Documents for Transferring from an Overseas Office to Japan
Explanation of Japan's Intra-Company Transferee visa for employees transferred from overseas group companies to a Japanese office.
What You Will Learn from This Article - Definition of the Intra-Company Transferee visa and eligible persons - Specific requirements for obtaining the status (prior employment, corporate relationship, job content) - List of required documents - Differences from the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa - Common reasons for denial
Conclusion The "Intra-Company Transferee" residence status is used when transferring a foreign national employee who has worked continuously for 1 year or more at an overseas group company to a Japanese head office or affiliate for a fixed term. A key advantage is that there is no academic background requirement, making it easier to place experienced personnel in Japan. However, it is essential to confirm 1 year or more of continuous employment at the transfer origin, the corporate relationship, and that the job content in Japan is equivalent to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.
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What Is an Intra-Company Transferee?
The "Intra-Company Transferee" residence status is for employees of overseas business offices of public or private organizations with head offices, branches, or other business offices in Japan, who transfer for a fixed term to a business office in Japan and engage in activities corresponding to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.
It is used by globally operating companies to utilize talent from overseas offices for business, training, or management in Japan for a certain period.
Main Requirements for Intra-Company Transferee
| Requirement | Content |
|---|---|
| Employment period before transfer | Must have worked continuously for 1 year or more at the same corporate group immediately before the transfer |
| Corporate relationship | The transfer origin (overseas) and transfer destination (Japan) must be in the same corporate group (parent company, subsidiary, affiliate, etc.) |
| Job content in Japan | Must be work equivalent to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (manufacturing line work, simple labor, etc. is not eligible) |
| Equivalence of compensation to Japanese nationals | Compensation must be equal to or greater than that of Japanese employees |
| Stability of the receiving company | Financial stability of the receiving company must be confirmable |
Required Documents
| Document | Content |
|---|---|
| Application for Certificate of Eligibility | — |
| Applicant (employee)'s passport | — |
| Certificate of employment at the transfer origin company | Proving 1+ year of continuous employment immediately before the transfer |
| Documents showing the relationship between the companies | Corporate group organizational chart, shareholder composition, etc. |
| Certificate of registration of the Japanese receiving company | — |
| Employment contract / letter of appointment | Documents related to the transfer |
| Job description at the transfer destination | Clearly stating the specific work content in Japan |
| Documents related to the business content of the transfer origin company | — |
Confirming the Corporate Relationship
The Intra-Company Transferee visa is premised on "transfer within the same group." It is necessary to prove that the transfer origin and transfer destination have a relationship such as the following:
| Relationship | Example |
|---|---|
| Parent company and subsidiary | From overseas parent company to Japanese subsidiary |
| Same group company | From overseas entity to Japanese entity within the same group |
| Branch and head office | From overseas branch to Japanese head office |
It is important to specifically prepare documents demonstrating the relationship through capital, management, or contractual ties.
Common Reasons for Denial
| Cause | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year of employment before transfer | 1+ year of continuous employment immediately before is required; less than 1 year results in denial |
| Unclear corporate relationship | Proof of capital or management ties is thin |
| Job content falls outside the criteria | Simple work or manufacturing line work does not qualify as Engineer/Specialist-equivalent |
| Inappropriate compensation | If compensation is not equal to or greater than that of Japanese employees |
| Unclear stability of the receiving company | Cases such as recently established or continuously in deficit |
FAQ
Q1. Can a locally hired employee at an overseas company be brought to Japan under Intra-Company Transferee? Since 1+ year of continuous employment immediately before the transfer is a requirement, an employee immediately after hiring does not qualify. The application would be made after the employee has worked for 1 year or more.
Q2. Can a manufacturing line leader be brought under Intra-Company Transferee? Manufacturing line work does not qualify as Engineer/Specialist-equivalent work. Note that the "Intra-Company Transferee 2" residence status established by the 2024 Immigration Control Act amendment is intended for receiving group company employees for short-term skill development purposes, with a scheduled effective date of April 1, 2027. Please check the latest information from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan for details.
Q3. Can an employee without an academic background obtain Intra-Company Transferee status? There is no academic background requirement like Engineer/Specialist for Intra-Company Transferee. An application can be made if the 1+ year continuous employment and job content requirements are met. This is one of the major advantages of Intra-Company Transferee.
Q4. Can a person who came to Japan on an Intra-Company Transferee visa change jobs? Since Intra-Company Transferee is premised on activities within a specific corporate group, moving to a company outside the group requires an Application for Change of Status of Residence.
Q5. What is the period of stay? One of 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 3 months will be designated. The application is made based on the expected transfer period.
Key Points of This Article
- Intra-Company Transferee is a residence status used for transfers from an overseas group company to Japan
- 1+ year of continuous employment immediately before the transfer is mandatory
- No academic background requirement, but the job in Japan must be equivalent to Engineer/Specialist
- Documents proving the capital and management relationship between the companies are central to screening
- Manufacturing work and simple labor are not eligible
Considering a Consultation?
If you want to bring an overseas group company employee to Japan, or want to determine whether Intra-Company Transferee or an Engineer/Specialist visa is appropriate, please feel free to contact us. Arch Administrative Scrivener Office is based in Osaka City and serves clients nationwide online. We support foreign national employment and visa applications. Consultations are available in Japanese, English, and Chinese.
📩 Contact form / LINE / WeChat / Phone consultations available.
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