Visa & residencyVisas and renewals
Intra-company transferee visa Japan: 1 year of continuous work abroad, pay equal to Japanese staff, a transfer from an office abroad, and how to switch status.
As of October 2026, Japan's Intra-company Transferee status (企業内転勤) lets an employee of a company with offices abroad and in Japan transfer to the Japanese office for a set period. The Immigration Services Agency's criteria have two tests: one continuous year of specialist work at the office abroad just before the transfer, and pay equal to or above a Japanese employee's. Stays are 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. A new job outside the transfer needs a change of status.
The intra-company transferee visa in Japan (在留資格「企業内転勤」) is for employees moved from a company’s office abroad to its office in Japan for a set period. The Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁, ISA) sets two tests: one continuous year of specialist work at the office abroad just before the transfer, and pay equal to a Japanese employee’s. Stays are 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. This is the position as of October 2026.
The status of residence (在留資格) covers an employee of an organization that has a head office, branch or other office in Japan, transferred for a set period from its office abroad to the office in Japan. ISA’s example is a transferee from a foreign office.
The work you do in Japan must be work of the kind listed under the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status (技術・人文知識・国際業務). It is the same kind of work as that visa, reached through an internal transfer. See the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa guide for what counts.
ISA’s landing criteria (上陸許可基準) have two tests. You must meet both.
| Test | What the criteria say |
|---|---|
| Time abroad | Just before the transfer, you worked at the company’s head office, branch or other office abroad, in work of the kind above, for one year or more without a break |
| Pay | You receive equal to or more than a Japanese person would get for the same work |
Two details from the criteria text:
Your employer, or you, applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書) if you are abroad, or for a change of status if you are already in Japan. See the Certificate of Eligibility guide. Which papers are needed depends on the employer’s category.
| Category | Employer | Papers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Listed companies, governments, public bodies and similar | Generally no other documents |
| 2 | Withholding tax of ¥10 million or more last year, or approved for the online system | Generally no other documents |
| 3 | Filed last year’s withholding summary | A copy of that summary; ISA’s page says other papers are generally not needed (its April 2026 checklist is titled for categories 3 and 4, so confirm) |
| 4 | Everyone else, such as a new company | The full set, plus papers explaining why there is no summary |
For category 4, and per ISA’s checklist for categories 3 and 4 (in operation from April 2026), the papers include:
Documents issued in Japan must be dated within 3 months. Foreign-language documents need a Japanese translation. You may be asked for papers that aren’t on the list.
ISA grants 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. ISA picks the period. The agency’s pages don’t say how.
Yes, they can apply. A spouse or child can use Dependent (家族滞在) status. ISA lists Intra-company Transferee among the statuses that can support dependents. The period is set by ISA, up to 5 years. Expect to show proof of your family relationship, a copy of your residence card or passport, and proof of your job and income. See the dependent visa guide.
The transferee status covers work at the Japanese office you were moved to. If you want to do something else, such as join a different employer, you apply for a change of status of residence (在留資格変更許可申請) before your period of stay ends. ISA says to apply promptly when you are about to do the activities of a new status, and warns that your status can be canceled if you aren’t doing the activities of your current one.
| Item | Detail (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Standard processing | 1 to 2 months |
| Counter fee, 1 year granted | ¥33,000 |
| Counter fee, 3 to under 5 years | ¥64,000 |
| Counter fee, 5 years | ¥75,000 |
| Payment | Revenue stamps (収入印紙) at the counter |
Fees apply to applications received from October 1, 2026. Applications received by September 30, 2026 paid the old ¥6,000. Some applicants qualify for a reduced ¥10,000 fee. You can file yourself or through an authorized agent such as a 行政書士. For the full process, see change of status of residence.
At the counter, say which status you hold and what you want to change to. Ask the staff or a 行政書士 whether a given job fits the status you are applying for.
More guides: visa renewal in Japan, Highly Skilled Professional visa, quitting a job on a work visa.
Two tests in the Immigration Services Agency's criteria: you worked continuously for one year or more, just before the transfer, at the company's office abroad in specialist work, and you will be paid at least what a Japanese employee would get for the work.
5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. The agency decides which one you get.
The agency's published criteria for this status list no degree and no Japanese-language test. They list the one-year rule and the equal-pay rule. The agency may still ask for documents about your duties.
Yes, by applying for a change of status of residence before your period of stay ends. The agency's standard processing period is 1 to 2 months. A new employer or a different kind of job is a reason to ask the agency or a 行政書士 which status fits.
Your spouse and children can apply for Dependent (家族滞在) status. The agency lists Intra-company Transferee among the statuses that can support dependents, for a period of up to 5 years.
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