Can You Get a Work Visa Without a Degree? Explaining Education, Experience, and Salary Requirements in Japan

Introduction｜How Important Is “Education” for a Japanese Work Visa?

When applying for a work visa in Japan (such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services), education, work experience, and salary level are the three key pillars that determine eligibility.

Many applicants ask questions like:

“Is a university degree required?”
“Can vocational school or high school graduates apply?”

These are among the most common—and most misunderstood—topics in immigration practice.
In this article, based on the official Ministerial Ordinance No. 131 and practical immigration procedures, we explain how educational and work experience requirements are evaluated, and how vocational or high school graduates can still successfully obtain a work visa.

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Chapter 1｜Three Core Factors: Education, Experience, and Salary

Work visa eligibility is determined by a comprehensive evaluation of three factors — education, work experience, and salary.
Even if one factor is weaker, the others can often compensate.

Factor	Role in Screening	How to Compensate if Weak
Education	Demonstrates professional background	Compensate with work experience
Work Experience	Substitutes for lack of formal education	Provide employment records or letters of recommendation
Salary	Ensures equal treatment with Japanese employees	Submit salary statements or job offer details

👉 In other words, a degree is not strictly required if sufficient work experience and appropriate salary can support your application.

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Chapter 2｜Degree, Vocational School, and High School: What’s the Difference?

The requirements for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa are defined under Ministerial Ordinance No. 131 by the Ministry of Justice.

Education Level	Requirement	Typical Job Examples
University graduate	Major field must match job duties	Interpreter, sales, engineer
Vocational school graduate	“Senmonshi” title + field-related studies	Design, IT, culinary arts
High school graduate	No degree required; at least 3 years of relevant work experience	Customer service, sales, translation support

Source: Ministry of Justice, Ordinance No. 131
Even vocational school graduates (senmonshi) are eligible if their studies are related to the intended job field.

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Chapter 3｜Defining and Proving “3 Years of Work Experience”

Applicants without a qualifying degree—such as high school graduates—can substitute at least three years of relevant professional experience.
However, casual or part-time work does not count. The experience must involve specialized or technical duties in the same field.

✅ Examples of acceptable experience

• Continuous full-time work in a relevant field (employee or contractor)
• Duties requiring specialized knowledge or technical skills

📄 Supporting documents to submit

• Detailed resume and job description
• Certificate of employment (with duration and duties clearly stated)
• Letter of recommendation from a supervisor
• Proof of payment or tax records

It’s not about length alone — the content of the work must align with the visa category.

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Chapter 4｜Salary Standards: Equal to Japanese Employees

Salary is a key factor in demonstrating fairness and stability.
Immigration examines whether your pay level is equal to or higher than that of Japanese employees in the same role.

Screening Point	How Immigration Evaluates It
Salary level	Compared to Japanese new graduates or peers
Bonuses & allowances	May be included in total compensation
Social insurance	Lack of coverage is a negative factor
Dispatch/SES cases	Contract rate and payment structure are reviewed

👉 Even if your education or experience is limited, a sufficiently high salary can strengthen your case.

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Chapter 5｜Practical Tips for Vocational and High School Graduates

If you are not a university graduate, focus on documentary reinforcement.

✅ For vocational school graduates

• Submit a diploma showing the “Senmonshi” title
• Include a course syllabus showing relation to your job duties

✅ For high school graduates with experience

• Obtain employment certificates detailing duties and salary
• Provide an employment contract specifying position and pay
• Add recommendation letters or portfolios as evidence of skill

✅ For employers

• Attach a “Reason for Hiring” statement or “Work Structure Explanation”
• Mention prior experience hiring foreign employees, if applicable

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Chapter 6｜Practical Trends: The Osaka Immigration Office Case

In Osaka, the Immigration Bureau tends to be relatively flexible when evaluating applications based on professional experience rather than formal education.
However, cases involving vague job titles (such as “assistant” or “general office work”) are scrutinized more carefully.

To help the examiner understand the applicant’s expertise, attach translated job descriptions, examples of tasks, and relevant work materials whenever possible.

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Conclusion｜“No Degree” Does Not Mean “No Visa”

The immigration bureau evaluates education, work experience, and salary as a whole.
Even vocational or high school graduates can qualify if:

• Their job duties are specialized
• Their experience is well-documented
• Their salary level is reasonable

With proper documentation and explanation, obtaining a work visa without a university degree is entirely possible.
If you are uncertain, consult an administrative scrivener (Gyoseishoshi) for advice on presenting your background and preparing supporting documents effectively.

Ishinagi Administrative Scrivener Office

If you would like to renew or change your work visa quickly and reliably, or if you feel uncertain about the application process, please feel free to consult with our office in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka. We provide support for clients from all over Japan, making use of our extensive experience in dealing with the Immigration Bureau.

If you wish to proceed with your work visa renewal or change of status smoothly and with confidence, please do not hesitate to contact us.

▶ Click here to see our fee schedule

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