N2 Required for Engineer/Humanities Visa? Key Points and Responses
On April 15, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan officially revised the screening guidelines for the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" (Gijinkoku) visa. The main change is a new requirement for CEFR B2 (equivalent to JLPT N2) Japanese proficiency proof for applicants engaged in face-to-face work primarily using language skills. However, this applies only to companies in Categories 3 and 4, and only to work such as translation, interpreting, and customer service. Technical roles such as IT engineers are not directly affected. This article summarizes the key points and steps companies should take based on the official guidelines. [Updated April 15, 2026]
Contents
※Please be noted that this blog is translated automatically by AI
Conclusion Summary
What you’ll learn in this article
What was confirmed in the new Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa guidelines, and when the N2 requirement applies
Differences by category (Categories 1 and 2 are excluded)
Why the impact on technical jobs such as IT engineers is limited
Five ways to prove CEFR B2 equivalence (alternatives to N2)
The newly added requirement to submit a “declaration by the organization representative”
Four actions companies should check now
What are the new guidelines for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa?
The "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa (Gijinkoku) is a common status for foreign IT engineers and division specialists in Japan.
On April 15, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan officially revised its examination guidelines. The new criteria apply to all applications filed on or after this date.
The revision introduces two major changes.
Japanese Proficiency Proof Added: Candidates primarily relying on language skills for interpersonal tasks must prove Japanese ability equivalent to CEFR B2.
Representative Decelaration Added: Category 3 and 4 companies must newly submit a declaration form signed by their corporate representative.
Connection between CEFR B2 and JLPT N2
CEFR is an international standard for language proficiency. Level B2 indicates an ability to understand complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in one's field of specialization.
In the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, N2 is equivalent to CEFR B2. N2 indicates an ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations, and to some extent, in a wider range of scenarios.
Under the new guidelines, affected roles will practically require proof of Japanese ability equivalent to JLPT N2. This is a significant change, as previous guidelines lacked explicit Japanese language requirements.
Category Classification — Impact Varies by Company Size
A key aspect of this revision is that rules vary by company category. The new requirements, including N2 proof, only apply to Category 3 and 4 companies.
Category 1: Listed enterprises, mutual insurance companies, administrative agencies, and innovation-promoting entities → Exempt
Category 2: Organizations/individuals with withholding tax of 10 million yen or more in the previous year → Exempt
Category 3: Entities submitting statutory reports (excluding Category 2) → Subject to new rules
Category 4: All other entities not covered above → Subject to new rules
Large and listed businesses (withholding tax of 10 million yen or more) are unaffected. This update primarily targets SME and startup employers under Categories 3 and 4.
Category | Eligible Companies | N2 Requirement | Representative Declaration |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Listed companies, innovation firms, etc. | Not Required | Not Required (Needed for renewals) |
2 | Withholding tax 10M yen or more | Not Required | Not Required (Needed for renewals) |
3 | Submitted statutory reports (excl. Cat 2) | For target duties only | Required |
4 | All other companies | For target duties only | Required |
Applicable / Non-applicable cases
Under the new guideline, Japanese proficiency proof is not required for all Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa applications. Understanding the scope precisely is the starting point for companies’ response decisions.
Cases Covered by the N2 Requirement
According to the official guideline, the N2 requirement applies to cases where a person is mainly engaged in work that uses language ability, such as translation, interpretation, or customer service like hotel front desk work. Specifically, the following jobs fall under it.
Translation and interpretation work
Customer service work such as hotel front desk
Positions where customer support in Japanese is the core of the job
Other positions where language ability is the main tool of the work
Moreover, this requirement applies only to Category 3 and 4 companies.
Cases Exempt from the N2 Requirement
In the following cases, submitting proof of Japanese ability at N2 is not required.
Category 1 and 2 companies: Listed companies and companies with withholding tax of 10 million yen or more generally do not need to submit the new documents at all
Positions centered on technical work: Development, design, infrastructure building, etc. by IT engineers do not count as "mainly engaging in interpersonal work using language ability"
If the same work continues during extension of residence period: If you have not changed jobs and have continued the same work since before, proof of language ability is not required
Five Ways to Prove CEFR B2 Equivalence
Even if you fall under the N2 requirement, you can prove it in any of the following ways, not only with JLPT N2.
Having obtained JLPT N2 or higher
Having scored 400 or higher on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test
Having resided in Japan for 20 years or more as a mid- to long-term resident
Having graduated from a Japanese university, or completed a college of technology, specialized training college specialized course, or advanced course
Having completed compulsory education in Japan and graduated from high school
The fourth and fifth requirements are worth noting. International students who graduated from a university in Japan are recognized as proof equivalent to B2 even without JLPT N2. Completing an education program in Japan itself is treated as a certain level of Japanese-language proof.
Gray Areas Companies Should Watch
In practice, there are cases that are hard to judge.
Cases where attending internal meetings in Japanese is part of the job, but the main work is technical development
Positions such as sales engineers that handle both technical explanations and customer negotiations
Cases where the job is mainly technical at hire, but a later move into work that includes translation or interpretation is expected
The official guideline states, "Even if the above does not apply and the document was not submitted, we may ask for submission based on the application details." Even if you are formally outside the scope, you may still be asked to submit proof of language ability depending on the contents of the application. Because the description in the job duties statement is the deciding factor, prior confirmation with an expert is important.
Impact on IT engineers — much more limited than initially feared
When the guideline revision was first reported, concerns spread that N2 would become mandatory across the board for Gijinkoku visas. However, the official guideline that was published is much narrower than originally reported.
Why IT engineers are excluded
The official guideline applies to cases where work mainly involves interpersonal duties using language skills. An IT engineer's main duties are technical work such as programming, system design, and infrastructure building. Even if Japanese is used at work, it is outside the N2 requirement as long as it is not the main duty.
Phinx's affiliated administrative scriveners and social insurance labor consultants also agree that the N2 requirement does not apply to IT engineers. Before the guideline was published, the view was already that there was no need to worry too much, and the official guideline confirmed that view.
Cases that need confirmation
Even for IT engineers, caution is needed in the following cases.
When a company in categories 3 or 4 lists Japanese customer support in the job description
Bridge engineer roles that also handle interpretation and translation
When applying under the "Humanities" or "International Services" category rather than "Engineering"
Because the contents of the job description are used in the screening, it is important to clearly state that the main work is technical.
Related articles
When considering hiring Indian IT engineers, the biggest debate is how to set the Japanese language requirement. On April 15, 2026, the screening guidelines for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa were officially revised, and applicants mainly doing language-related work now need proof of CEFR B2 (equivalent to N2). However, it has been officially confirmed that technical roles such as IT engineers are not directly covered. Legal requirements and the Japanese skills actually needed on the job do not always match. This article examines the N2 standard from the perspective of real workplace needs. [Updated April 15, 2026]
Specific impact on hiring foreign talent
Based on the official guidelines, we summarize the impact on companies hiring foreign talent by case.
Cases with little impact
Companies in Categories 1 and 2 hiring IT engineers: The new requirement does not apply. No change from before.
Hiring international students who graduated from a Japanese university: A Japanese university degree serves as proof of B2-level ability, so N2 is not required.
Assigning staff to global teams where English is the company language: Since language ability is not the main job, this is outside the N2 requirement.
Hiring under the Highly Skilled Professional visa: This guideline update targets the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa. It does not directly apply to highly skilled professionals.
Cases with limited impact
Companies in Categories 3 and 4 hiring IT engineers: If the work is mainly technical, the N2 requirement does not apply. However, be careful when describing the job duties.
Preparing the Representative Statement of the Affiliated Organization: Companies in Categories 3 and 4 need extra documents for new applications. The paperwork increases, but the requirement itself is not complicated.
Cases with major impact
Companies in Categories 3 and 4 hiring for translation or interpretation roles: Proof of N2 equivalence is required. The candidate pool may shrink.
Companies in Categories 3 and 4 hiring for roles that include customer service: This applies not only to hotel front desks, but also to roles where Japanese customer communication is the main duty.
Hiring new candidates from overseas with no Japanese university background for language-related work: JLPT N2 or BJT 400 points or higher is required.
Supplement for companies hiring Indian talent
Phinx supports cross-border hiring of Indian talent, and shares the following points based on that experience.
Among Indian Japanese learners, only a limited number reach N2 level. Programs at Japanese-language schools in India do exist, but they usually take 1.5 to 2 years or more to complete.
Engineers from Tier 1 universities such as IITs tend to have strong technical skills, but many have not been able to spend enough time learning Japanese. With this guideline update, N2 is no longer directly required for IT engineers; however, if you hire them for SE roles that involve client communication in Japanese, or as bridge engineers, they may still fall under the N2 requirement depending on the job duties. It is important to design the role carefully and consult an expert when writing the job description.
How to handle candidates without N2
How should candidates without N2 be handled for positions requiring N2? Here are the options companies should consider.
Using CEFR B2-equivalent proof other than N2
Official guidance allows B2-equivalent proof through methods other than JLPT N2.
BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test: 400 points or above is equivalent to B2. It is held several times a year, so there are more chances to take it than JLPT (twice a year)
Education in Japan: Graduates of Japanese universities, or those who completed a college of technology, vocational school, or specialized training college, are recognized as B2 equivalent
Long-term residence record: 20+ years of residence as a medium- to long-term resident is recognized as B2 equivalent
Since the JLPT N2 exam is offered only twice a year (July and December), opportunities are limited. BJT is a more frequent option and can provide greater scheduling flexibility.
Revising the hiring schedule
For positions subject to the N2 requirement, leave enough time between hiring and start date.
Check JLPT/BJT test schedules when screening candidates: Build the hiring plan by working backward from the next test date and result announcement date
Support N2 acquisition between offer and visa application: Include Japanese-learning support through an agency like Phinx
Shorten the timeline by using BJT: An effective alternative when you cannot wait for the JLPT test date
Responding through job design
Designing the role so it is outside the N2 requirement is another option.
Design the work to focus on technical tasks and make clear that language ability is not the "main" duty
Set up a structure where bridge staff or bilingual members handle client communication in Japanese
State clearly in the job description that the role is centered on technical work and Japanese use is secondary
However, simply stating formally that it is "not a language-related role" is not enough. If there is a mismatch between the actual work and the application, it may become grounds for revocation of residence status, so the role must match the real duties.
Related articles
Success in hiring top talent from India hinges on obtaining a visa post-offer. We explain the practical aspects of the "Technology, Humanities, International Business" visa that HR personnel should understand, including unique degree conditions and essential documents.
Affiliated Institution Representative Declaration — Another New Requirement
In addition to the N2 requirement, another new requirement has been added. Declaration Regarding the Representative of the Affiliated Organization must now be submitted.
When Submission Is Required
New applications for Categories 3 and 4: applications for Certificate of Eligibility issuance, status change permission, and acquisition permission
Status renewals for all categories: submission required for all companies, including Categories 1 and 2
For status renewals, note that submission is required for all companies regardless of category. Even companies in Categories 1 and 2 must submit this declaration when existing holders of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status renew.
What Companies Should Check
The form can be downloaded from the Immigration Services Agency website
Forms differ by application type, so check the correct one
If you have existing holders of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status, check the next renewal schedule and prepare the declaration in advance
Linked to the suspension of acceptance
Regarding this revision of the guidelines, the following changes have also been reported. Companies that have received suspension orders for accepting Technical Intern Training or Specified Skilled Worker trainees will also be barred from accepting workers under the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status during the suspension period.
However, as of April 15, 2026, no specific wording could be confirmed on the published guideline page. Since it may be set out in a separate notice or directive, the following is based on media reports.
Specific impact (based on reports)
Companies suspended for 5 years for cases such as violence or unpaid wages in Technical Intern Training
No new hires under Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visas until the suspension ends
No direct impact on existing holders, but new hiring stops completely
What companies should check
If your company or group has accepted Technical Intern Training or Specified Skilled Worker, check past suspension history
Whether a subsidiary's or affiliate's suspension affects the parent company must be confirmed in the official notice and judged case by case
Even companies with no suspension history will need to improve future management systems
4 Things Companies Should Check Now
1. Check Your Company Category
First, check whether your company falls into Category 1-4. If you are in Category 1 or 2, the impact of these new requirements is limited (only the employer declaration at residence period renewal).
Listed companies, public corporations, etc. → Category 1
Previous year withholding tax of 10 million yen or more → Category 2
Filed the statutory report summary and do not fit above → Category 3
None of the above → Category 4
2. Organize the Job Duties
Companies in Categories 3 and 4 should check the duties of the planned hire position.
Main duties are language work such as translation, interpreting, or customer service → subject to the N2 requirement
Main duties are technical work (development, design, infrastructure, etc.) → not subject to the N2 requirement
Does the job description match the actual work? → recommend advance review by an expert
3. Check the Candidate’s Japanese Level and Visa Schedule
If you have candidates for positions subject to the N2 requirement, check the following.
Candidate’s JLPT status (already has N2?)
Whether they graduated from a Japanese university (if yes, recognized as equivalent to B2)
Available dates for alternative tests such as BJT
Processing time from visa application to approval (usually 1–3 months)
4. Prepare the Employer Declaration
Companies in Categories 3 and 4 must submit the employer declaration when applying for the first time. It is also required for all categories when renewing residence status.
Download the relevant form from the Immigration Services Agency website
If you already have existing Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa holders, check their next renewal schedule
Related articles
When hiring new graduates from India, the process design for obtaining a engineer/specialist Visa is critical to success. It is important to understand that in addition to company size and category classification, the level of congestion at immigration also affects the examination period.
Summary
On April 15, 2026, the screening guidelines for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa were officially revised. Proof of CEFR B2 (equivalent to JLPT N2) is required for cases involving interpersonal work mainly using language skills.
This requirement applies only to Categories 3 and 4 companies. It does not apply to listed companies or companies with withholding tax of 10 million yen or more (Categories 1 and 2).
Covered duties include translation, interpretation, and customer service. Technical roles such as IT engineers are not directly covered.
A Japanese university degree is accepted as proof equivalent to B2. International students who graduate from a university in Japan do not need to obtain N2.
Even if you fall under the N2 requirement, alternative proof such as JLPT N2 or BJT 400 points or more can be used.
You must also submit a new "Statement by the Representative of the Affiliated Organization" (at renewal, this applies to all categories).
Concerns from early reports about the impact on IT engineers have now been confirmed to be limited in the official guidelines.
This article is based on the official guidelines announced on April 15, 2026. Interpretations may change as operational notices and screening cases accumulate. For difficult cases, such as whether your company falls under the N2 requirement or how it affects candidates you are hiring, we recommend checking with a specialist familiar with visa practice. Phinx works with administrative scriveners and labor and social security attorneys to support visa procedures tailored to each company's situation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Sources
Immigration Services Agency of Japan "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa page https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/gijinkoku.html
JLPT official website https://www.jlpt.jp/
Relationship between CEFR and JLPT https://www.jlpt.jp/about/levelsummary.html
Note: This article is based on the official guidelines as of April 15, 2026. The first edition (April 9, 2026) was based on pre-release reporting, but it has been fully updated in response to the publication of the official guidelines. Because interpretations may change as operational notices and screening cases accumulate, please check the latest information on the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website.
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