Intra-Company Transferee Visa (Japan)

The Intra-Company Transferee Visa is a work visa that allows employees of multinational companies to be temporarily transferred to their Japan office, subsidiary, or branch.

This visa category is widely used by global companies when they need to move skilled staff from overseas offices to Japan for business operations, management, engineering, or international services.

For companies expanding their presence in Japan, the Intra-Company Transferee Visa Japan is one of the most efficient immigration pathways because it allows the transfer of experienced employees who already understand the company’s internal systems and business culture.

In this comprehensive guide, we explain the eligibility requirements, application process, documents, processing time, and common reasons for visa rejection.

What Is the Intra-Company Transferee Visa in Japan?

The Intra-Company Transferee Visa is a status of residence granted to foreign employees who are transferred from a foreign office of a company to a related office in Japan.

The Japanese immigration system recognizes that multinational corporations often need to move staff between international offices. This visa therefore allows employees to work in Japan without being newly hired by a Japanese employer.

The employee must work in job categories similar to those covered by the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa, but the key difference is that the worker is already employed by the overseas entity of the company.

Typical job roles include:

  • IT engineers

  • system engineers

  • project managers

  • marketing specialists

  • financial analysts

  • overseas business coordinators

  • translators and interpreters

  • international sales representatives

The visa is commonly used by global IT companies, consulting firms, financial institutions, and manufacturing corporations.

Activities

Activities on the part of a personnel who is transferred to a business office in Japan for a limited period of time from a business office established in a foreign country by a public or private organization which has a head office, branch office or other business office in Japan and who engages at this business office in the activities listed in the right-hand column of the “Engineer” and “Specialist in Humanities/International Services” columns of this table.

 

 

Scope of Corporate Affiliation

To obtain an Intra-company Transferee Visa, the companies involved in the transfer must have a recognized corporate relationship. The law defines the scope of transfers that are permitted under this visa category as follows:

①Transfers between a head office and its branches or business offices

②Transfers between a parent company and its subsidiary

③Transfers between a parent company and its sub-subsidiary

④Transfers between a subsidiary and a sub-subsidiary

⑤Transfers between subsidiaries

⑥Transfers between sub-subsidiaries

⑦Transfers to an affiliated company (only between the parent and the affiliate, or between a subsidiary and its affiliated company)

 

When Transferred Between Related Companies Within One Year

One requirement for this visa is at least one continuous year of employment at an overseas affiliated company. What if the employee has been transferred among related companies during that period?

For example, if an employee of a Japanese company with multiple overseas branches worked at Branch A for 4 months and was then transferred to Branch B for 8 months, this would still be considered as continuous employment within affiliated companies. As long as the total employment across affiliated companies adds up to one year, the requirement is considered fulfilled.

If There Is No One-Year Experience at an Overseas Affiliate

In principle, if the foreign employee does not have at least one year of continuous employment at an overseas affiliated company, it becomes difficult to obtain the Intra-company Transferee Visa.

However, if the applicant has relevant academic background or work experience, there is still a chance! That’s because even if they cannot qualify for this visa, they may still be eligible for a “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” visa instead.

Conversely, if a person has been continuously engaged in work at an overseas affiliate for one year in a role that would normally require the Engineer/Humanities/International Services visa in Japan, they might qualify for the Intra-company Transferee Visa even if they don’t meet the usual educational or professional requirements of the other visa.

 Key Requirements for the Intra-Company Transferee Visa

Foreign employees must meet several conditions before they can qualify for this visa.

Employment at an Overseas Office

The applicant must already be working for a company outside Japan that has a head office, branch office, or subsidiary in Japan.

The overseas entity and the Japanese entity must have a clear corporate relationship, such as:

  • parent company and subsidiary

  • branch office

  • affiliated company within the same corporate group

Japanese immigration authorities require proof of this corporate relationship when reviewing the application.

Minimum Work Experience Requirement

The employee must have worked at the overseas office for at least one year continuously before being transferred to Japan.

This rule ensures that the employee is genuinely part of the company and not simply hired abroad for the purpose of obtaining a visa.

The experience must involve work similar to the job the employee will perform in Japan.

Job Category in Japan

The employee’s job in Japan must fall within professional categories such as:

  • engineering work

  • international business operations

  • translation or interpretation

  • marketing or overseas sales

  • consulting or planning work

These fields correspond to the same professional categories used in the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa.

However, the employee does not need a university degree if they meet the work experience requirement through intra-company transfer.

Salary Requirement

The salary paid to the transferred employee must be equal to or greater than the salary paid to a Japanese employee in the same position.

Japanese immigration authorities carefully examine salary levels to ensure that foreign employees are not used for low-wage labor.

The salary may be paid by the Japanese company, the overseas company, or a combination of both.

Application Process for the Intra-Company Transferee Visa

The visa application normally involves several steps.

Step 1 – Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

Most applicants first apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

The Japanese office usually submits the application on behalf of the employee.

The COE confirms that the applicant meets immigration requirements before applying for the visa.

Processing time is typically 1 to 3 months.

Step 2 – Visa Application at Japanese Embassy

Once the COE is issued, the employee applies for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate in their country of residence.

Documents typically required include:

  • passport

  • visa application form

  • photograph

  • Certificate of Eligibility

The visa is usually issued within a few days to two weeks.

Step 3 – Entry Into Japan

After arriving in Japan, the employee receives a residence card at the airport.

This card confirms the holder’s immigration status and allows them to legally live and work in Japan.

Required Documents

Typical documents required for the application include:

Employee Documents

  • passport copy

  • resume or CV

  • employment certificate from overseas office

  • proof of employment history

  • educational certificates (if applicable)

Company Documents

  • company registration certificate

  • financial statements

  • explanation of corporate relationship between offices

  • business outline

  • transfer letter or assignment order

Providing clear documentation helps immigration officers confirm that the transfer is legitimate.

Period of Stay

The Intra-Company Transferee Visa is usually granted for:

  • 5 years

  • 3 years

  • 1 year

  • 3 months

The length of stay depends on factors such as:

  • stability of the company

  • duration of the transfer assignment

  • immigration evaluation

The visa can be renewed if the transfer assignment continues.

Can Family Members Accompany the Employee?

Yes. Family members can accompany the employee to Japan.

The spouse and children may apply for a Dependent Visa.

Dependent visa holders are allowed to live in Japan and may also work up to 28 hours per week with immigration permission.

Transition to Other Work Visas

Employees with an Intra-Company Transferee Visa may later switch to other visa types.

For example:

  • Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa

  • Highly Skilled Professional visa

Changing visa status may be beneficial for employees planning long-term residence in Japan.

Common Reasons for Visa Rejection

Although approval rates are generally high, applications may be rejected in certain situations.

Typical reasons include:

  • unclear corporate relationship between companies

  • insufficient proof of overseas employment

  • job duties not matching visa category

  • company financial instability

  • incomplete documentation

Carefully prepared applications significantly reduce the risk of rejection.

Why Companies Use the Intra-Company Transferee Visa

Multinational corporations often use this visa for strategic reasons.

Transferring experienced employees allows companies to:

  • maintain global operational consistency

  • transfer corporate knowledge

  • support expansion into the Japanese market

  • manage international projects efficiently

For many companies, the Intra-Company Transferee Visa is an essential tool for global workforce mobility.

Conclusion

The Intra-Company Transferee Visa Japan provides a practical immigration pathway for multinational companies that need to relocate employees to Japan.

By meeting the requirements for overseas employment, corporate relationship, and professional job duties, foreign workers can legally work in Japan while continuing their career within the same company group.

With proper preparation and documentation, the visa process can be smooth and efficient for both employees and employers.

 

If you are interested in applying for intracompany transferee visa, please contact us for further information.