[Must-See for HR and Reception Managers] How to Choose the Right Residence Status for Foreign Human Resources? A Comprehensive Guide to the Differences Between "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" and "Specified Skilled Worker (i) & (ii)"

Against the backdrop of a worsening labor shortage, a growing number of companies are getting serious about hiring and utilizing foreign human resources. When accepting foreign talent, the most critical and careful judgment required is "which residency status (visa) they should be hired and allowed to work under."

"Technology, Humanities, International Services" (hereinafter referred to as "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services"), which is a representative work-related residence statusand in recent years, the target fields and operations have been expandingEven though "Specified Skilled Worker (i and ii)" may seem to allow working in similar industries,The required qualifications (educational background, work history, and exams), the scope of duties that can be performed, and future career paths differ significantly..

In this column, based on comparative materials from the Immigration Services Agency, we will easily explain the respective features and differences, as well as the specific operational differences in each field..

1. Basic comparison of three statuses of residence

First, let's organize the differences in "scope of activities" and "permission criteria (requirements)" among the three residence statuses..

Item	Specified Skills 1	Specified Skills No. 2	Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Activities	in specific industrial fieldsSkills requiring a considerable degree of knowledge and experienceoperations requiring	in specific industrial fieldsskilled techniquetasks requiring (supervision, management, etc.)	Knowledge and technology in the natural and human sciencesOperations requiring, orWork requiring ways of thinking and sensitivities based on foreign cultures (international operations)
Skills and Work History Requirements	・Passing the Specified Skilled Worker (i) Evaluation Test, etc.	- Passing the Specified Skilled Worker (ii) evaluation exam, etc.	University graduate level or 10+ years of practical experience * For international operations, 3 or more years of practical experience required.
Japanese language proficiency requirement	- Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 or higher, etc. *N3 or higher required depending on the field	- N3 level or higher required depending on the field (e.g., fisheries, restaurant industry)	- There are no clear statutory standards for passing the exam, but the level required for job performance is expected.

point

• Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visaCentering on "white-collar / professional / positions utilizing language and international awareness" that make use of specialized knowledge studied at universities, etc. Educational background and practical experience are emphasized.
• Specified Skills 1The target is immediate-potency talent who will handle "hands-on work" in fields facing labor shortages. Educational background is not required, and passing an evaluation test in each field and a Japanese language test (N4 level or higher, etc.) are the basic requirements.
• Specified Skills No. 2This applies to "skilled workers (at the leader/manager level)" who have gained on-site experience under Visa Category 1 and passed the examination. Long-term retention is expected, as restrictions on bringing family members and renewing the period of stay are eased.

2. By Industry: Differences in Expected Activities (Job Duties)

Even within the same industry, the scope of duties that can be assigned is clearly divided by status of residence.Let's look at five representative fields as examples..

(1) Accommodation industry (hotels and Japanese inns)

• Specified Skills 1You can engage in overall on-site practical work, including front desk, planning and public relations, as well as customer service and restaurant service operations.
• Specified Skills No. 2In addition to on-site practical work, you are required to "carry out your duties while guiding and managing multiple employees."
• Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visaThis applies to roles utilizing language skills and specialized knowledge, such as front desk operations, planning, and public relations (*as a rule, exclusively on-site duties such as simple cleaning or food serving are not permitted).

(2) Food service industry (restaurants)

• Specified Skills 1Food and beverage preparation, customer service, store management, and all other general on-site operations within the store.
• Specified Skills No. 2In addition to on-site cooking, customer service, and store management, more advanced management tasks such as "store ownership."
• Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visaComprehensive and planning roles, such as "multi-store management and supervision (such as an SV)," "store management and marketing," and "planning operations for new menus and store openings," rather than on-site cooking and customer service.

(3) Industrial Product Manufacturing Industry

• Specified Skills 1Work practice in manufacturing lines and assembly processes.
• Specified Skills No. 2Manufacturing and assembly work while instructing workers, as well as process management.
• Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visaAdvanced technical tasks such as product design, programming, technology development, and quality control system design.

(4) Automobile maintenance industry

• Specified Skills 1Basic maintenance operations such as daily inspections and servicing.
• Specified Skills No. 2Routine maintenance work such as daily checks, performed while supervising other maintenance personnel.
• Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visaSupervisory work for mechanics and maintenance workers, automobile inspection supervisors, etc.

(5) Construction industry

• Specified Skills 1On-site civil engineering and other practical work carried out under the direction and supervision of a leader.
• Specified Skills No. 2Civil engineering work and progress management performed while instructing multiple construction skilled workers.
• Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visaTechnical professionals such as architectural design, construction supervision, and architectural estimation.

3. Tips for choosing when accepting them in-house

When proceeding with the recruitment of foreign human resources, it is smooth to consider the following steps.

1. Is the work you want to delegate "on-site practical work" or "planning, design, and management"?
   • If hands-on work is the main focus—such as restaurant floor service and cooking, hotel multitasking, or factory production lines—the "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" status is suitable.
   • For system development, design, headquarters marketing, and multilingual planning operations, the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa is suitable.
2. Confirm the foreign worker's "educational and work history" and "qualifications held"
   • If you have majored in a related field at a university (including junior college) or have sufficient practical experience, applying for a "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa comes into view.
   • Even if you do not meet the educational background requirements, you can work under the "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" status as long as you pass the skill evaluation test for your specific field and a Japanese language proficiency test (such as N4 or higher).
3. Map out a medium- to long-term career path
   • Workers who have established a foundation on-site under Specified Skilled Worker (i) can pass a skill exam (such as the exam for (ii)) to step up to "Specified Skilled Worker (ii)," opening the path for long-term success as leaders and managers.

summary

Choosing the wrong residence status can lead to risks such as the "crime of promoting illegal employment" or visa denial. Clarifying the job duties for the position your company requires (whether hands-on operational work, specialized/planning work, or managerial work) and selecting the optimal residence status by comparing them with the candidate's educational background and qualification requirements is the first step toward the successful utilization of foreign human resources..