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What is the “Intra-Company Transferee” Residence Status? Overview and Application Process
The “Intra-Company Transferee” visa is a residence status required when transferring employees from an overseas parent or affiliate company to a branch or office in Japan. This visa enables foreign nationals to legally reside and work in Japan while receiving compensation. Below, we explain the basics of the visa, eligibility criteria, and the required documentation.
What is an Intra-Company Transferee Visa?
An Intra-Company Transferee Visa is a residence status obtained by foreign employees dispatched from overseas affiliate companies to a business location in Japan. With this visa, individuals are allowed to work in Japan and receive compensation.
Eligible Activities
- Tasks related to “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services,” such as IT engineering, accounting, legal affairs, and marketing.
- Translation, interpretation, and work related to overseas transactions.
Relationship Between the Transferor and Transferee Companies
- Transfers involving a parent company, subsidiary, affiliated company, or within the same corporate entity are eligible.
Duration of Stay
- 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 3 months. The Immigration Services Agency will determine the duration based on the application details and the length of the transfer.
Conditions for Applying for an Intra-Company Transferee Visa
To obtain this visa, the following conditions must be met.
Relationship Between the Transferor and Transferee Companies
- The transferor must be a parent company, subsidiary, or a business location within the same corporate entity as the transferee.
- A clear capital or management relationship must be established.
Nature of Work
- The tasks to be performed in Japan must fall under the category of “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.”
Work Experience
- The applicant must have engaged in relevant work at the overseas business location for at least one year before the transfer.
Compensation
- Compensation must be equal to or greater than that of Japanese employees performing similar tasks.
Required Documents for the Intra-Company Transferee Visa
The required documents vary depending on the organization’s category, known as “Categories.”
Category Classification
Category 1
- Publicly listed companies in Japan
- Mutual insurance companies
- National or local government entities
- Independent administrative agencies, special corporations, corporations established under specific laws, or public corporations approved by national or local government authorities
- Public corporations listed in Table 1 of the Corporation Tax Act
Category 2
- Organizations or individuals with documented evidence, such as a total statutory report of income tax withholding for the previous year, showing withholding tax of at least 15 million yen.
Category 3
- Organizations or individuals not falling under Categories 1 or 2 but who have submitted a total statutory report of income tax withholding for the previous year.
Category 4
- Organizations or individuals that do not fall under any of the above categories.
Required Documents
Required documents differ for each category. For specific details, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan’s official page on the “Intra-Company Transferee” residence status.
If you are unsure about the specific documents needed, consult your company’s representative or contact the relevant support service for guidance.
Summary
The Intra-Company Transferee Visa is an essential residence status for foreign employees wishing to transfer from an overseas affiliate company to a business location in Japan. When applying, it is crucial to thoroughly verify the relationship between the transferor and transferee companies, the nature of the work, prior work experience, and to prepare the required documents accordingly.
It is recommended to seek advice from your company’s HR department or specialists during the application process. Additionally, staying updated with the latest procedures by referring to official information from the Immigration Services Agency is vital. If there are any concerns, consult early to ensure a smooth application process.