Parent / subsidiary
One entity owns more than 50% of the other, or controls it through voting rights, board seats, or management contracts. Most multinational structures fall here.
Intra-company Transferee (企業内転勤) Visa
The work visa for employees transferred from a foreign affiliated entity (parent / subsidiary / branch / sister company) into the same corporate group's Japanese entity. Bypasses the degree-alignment test of 技人国 in exchange for 1+ year of proven tenure at the foreign group entity. The natural choice for multinational rotation programs.
Eligibility checker
Who this visa is for
Roles and candidates that fit ICT
The 企業内転勤 visa is the natural choice for multinational corporate groups rotating employees in and out of their Japanese entities. The program assumes the candidate has already been performing work for the group abroad. The 1-year tenure check substitutes for the academic-alignment review that drives 技人国 decisions.
Common scenarios
- Multinational engineer rotation. A senior engineer at a US / EU / SEA office is rotated into the Japanese subsidiary for a 2-3 year assignment. ICT bypasses the 技人国 degree-alignment test.
- Country-manager bench rotation. A regional manager from headquarters is seconded to lead the Japan branch. ICT handles this cleanly; HSP 1号ハ may also apply if points are sufficient.
- Group-wide leadership program. Companies with formal leadership-development programs use ICT to move high-potentials through the Japan office on defined-period assignments.
- Senior technical specialist transfer. A specialist (semiconductors, pharma, AI) is moved to the Japanese R&D arm. ICT works whether they have a degree in the field or not.
- Post-acquisition integration. After the Japan parent acquires a foreign subsidiary, ICT enables key personnel from the acquired entity to relocate to Japan for integration work.
Who ICT is NOT for
ICT does not work for: (1) candidates joining an unaffiliated Japanese employer (use 技人国 instead), (2) clerical-only or manual-trade roles (different visa categories), (3) candidates whose foreign-entity tenure is under 1 year, (4) franchise or licensee relationships even if branded as one group, and (5) pure investment relationships under 50% ownership.
Group relationship
What counts as a qualifying corporate group
The corporate-relationship check is the gating requirement for ICT. Immigration looks at legal ownership and control, not branding or business cooperation. These are the recognized relationships:
Head office / branch
The same legal entity operating across borders (no separate legal entity in Japan). The Japan branch is a registered business presence of the foreign parent.
Sister companies
Two entities both owned by a common parent. Common in conglomerate structures and in M&A-formed groups.
Minority investment
Investment of 50% or under, without controlling rights. Even if substantial, minority investment without control does not establish the corporate-group relationship.
Franchise / licensee
Franchise networks and licensee relationships, however tightly branded, do not establish a group relationship for ICT purposes. Each franchisee is an independent legal entity.
JV without majority control
50/50 joint ventures and other arrangements without one party holding majority control. Even active operational partnerships are not group relationships.
The CoE filing must include documentation of the relationship: organizational chart of the corporate group, articles or share registers showing ownership, and a covering letter explaining the structure. For complex structures (recent M&A, multiple holding-company layers), expect additional Q&A from Immigration.
ICT vs 技人国
Choosing between ICT and Engineer/Specialist (技人国)
For multinational employees coming to Japan, ICT and 技人国 cover overlapping ground. The choice usually depends on whether the candidate is an existing group employee (ICT) or joining a new employer (技人国), but borderline cases are common. For example, a non-degreed long-tenure group employee can only realistically file under ICT.
| Dimension | 技人国 (Engineer/Specialist) | ICT (企業内転勤) |
|---|---|---|
| Open to | Anyone (with degree-aligned job) | Group transferees only |
| Degree alignment | Required (#1 rejection cause) | Not required |
| Prior employment | Not required | 1+ year with foreign group entity required |
| Job scope | Tech / humanities / international | Same |
| Salary parity | Required | Required |
| Family | 家族滞在 (28 hr/week spouse work) | 家族滞在 (28 hr/week spouse work) |
| Initial period | 1 / 3 / 5 years | 1 / 3 / 5 years |
| Switching employers | Within scope, with notification | Only within group; outside group requires status change |
| Path to PR | Standard (10 yr) or HSP (1-3 yr) | Same |
Common transition: a candidate enters Japan on ICT for an assignment, then switches to 技人国 if they leave the group and join an unaffiliated Japanese employer. The degree-alignment test then becomes the gate. Candidates without a degree in their work field should be cautious about this transition. They may need the experience path of 技人国 (10 years for engineering / humanities, 3 years for international services) to qualify.
Documents
Required documents (candidate + Japanese entity + group)
The ICT package is heavier on the corporate-group side than 技人国 because the group relationship and the candidate's foreign-entity tenure both need documentary proof. The candidate side, by contrast, is lighter. No degree certificates / transcripts needed unless the role itself somehow requires them.
Candidate documents
- CoE application form (在留資格認定証明書交付申請書) Filled out by the Japanese receiving entity
- Photo (40 × 30mm) Passport-style, within the last 3 months, plain background
- Passport copy Photo page; full passport needed for embassy stamp later
- Employment certificate from foreign entity (在職証明書) Must show 1+ year continuous tenure, role description, dates of employment
- CV / Resume Detailed work history at the group, including any prior rotations
- Foreign-entity payslips (recent 3 months) Confirms continuous active employment up to the transfer date
Japan-side documents
- Company registration extract (履歴事項全部証明書) From the Legal Affairs Bureau, issued within last 3 months
- Most recent financial statements (決算書) Annual report + balance sheet + P&L; Category 3-4 only
- Japan-side employment contract (雇用契約書) Specifies the Japan-side role, duties, salary (parity-compliant), term
- Detailed job description for the Japan role Must demonstrate fit with technical / humanities / international scope
- Reason for transfer letter (転勤理由書) Why this candidate, why this role, planned assignment length
Group-relationship documents
- Organizational chart of the corporate group Shows the relationship between foreign and Japanese entities
- Articles of incorporation / share registers Documentary proof of ownership percentages and control
- Board / shareholder resolution authorizing the transfer For senior transfers; demonstrates the formal corporate decision
- Group-relationship covering letter Explains the structure, particularly for complex / recently-acquired entities
- Foreign entity registration / equivalent Proves the foreign entity exists and is operationally active
- Annual report of the group (where available) Public-company annual reports streamline the relationship review
Timeline
Process and timeline (typical 2-4 months)
Day 1
Confirm gating eligibility
Verify the corporate-group relationship is one of the recognized types, the candidate has 1+ year continuous tenure with the foreign entity, and the Japan role fits the 技人国 scope.
Week 1-3
Compile group + candidate docs
Organizational chart, share registers, foreign-entity employment certificate, Japan employment contract, transfer reason letter.
1-3 months
CoE issuance
Japanese entity files at Immigration. Group-relationship review is the heaviest part. For complex structures (post-M&A, multiple holding layers), expect Q&A.
5-10 days
Embassy visa stamp
Candidate applies at the Japanese embassy in their home country with the original CoE.
Within 14 days
Address registration
City office: address registration, MyNumber, pension and health insurance enrollment. Family members on dependent visas register at the same time.
Costs
What it costs to file an ICT application
Estimated cost breakdown
企業内転勤 (ICT)
CoE application fee
Free at filing. ¥4,000 stamp duty for in-Japan status changes¥0 – ¥4,000
Embassy visa stamp
Single-entry ¥3,000 / multiple-entry ¥6,000 (varies by embassy)¥3,000 – ¥6,000
Document translation / certification
Foreign-entity registrations, employment certificates, share registers if not in EN/JP¥30,000 – ¥80,000
Gyoseishoshi support
Most multinational employers retain local counsel; group-structure documentation is the time-consuming part¥150,000 – ¥300,000
Apostille / legalization (overseas docs)
Some embassies require apostilled corporate documents for the foreign-entity proof¥10,000 – ¥30,000
Rejection reasons
Most common ICT rejection causes
Per ISA published guidance and gyoseishoshi practice patterns, these are the leading rejection triggers for ICT filings. Each is preventable with proper preparation.
Group relationship not documented
Organizational chart missing or unclear. Ownership percentages not shown. Recent M&A creating a relationship that isn't yet reflected in registered articles. The single largest ICT rejection cause.
Tenure under 1 year
Continuous employment with the foreign group entity is less than 12 months immediately before the transfer. Periods at a different group entity do not aggregate. Unpaid leave doesn't count.
Japan duties don't fit 技人国 scope
Japan-side role described as primarily clerical, manual, or trade-skilled. ICT inherits the 技人国 activity restriction. Group-employee status doesn't override the scope check.
Salary below Japanese parity
Japan-side compensation set near the foreign-side level rather than Japanese market rate for the equivalent local role. Standard work-visa rule, automatic rejection.
Non-qualifying relationship type
Franchise / licensee / minority-investment / non-controlling JV relationships do not establish the corporate group required for ICT. These cases should be filed as 技人国 (with degree alignment) instead.
Foreign entity not operationally active
The foreign group entity is dormant, in liquidation, or otherwise not actively operating. Immigration's view: a transfer requires a real foreign role being left behind.
Renewal & PR
Renewal cycle and the path beyond ICT
Renewal cycle
ICT renewals follow the same 1 / 3 / 5 year pattern as 技人国. Renewal eligibility depends on continued employment with the same group entity (or a permitted move within the group). Workers leaving the group must change status to a different visa category.
Status change to 技人国
The most common transition. When a transferee leaves the group and joins an unaffiliated Japanese employer, they file a status change to 技人国. The degree-alignment test then becomes the gate. Candidates without a degree in their work field should plan ahead. They may need the experience path of 技人国 (10 years for engineering / humanities, 3 years for international services) to qualify.
Status change to 高度専門職 (HSP)
Senior ICT transferees often qualify for HSP via the points table. HSP unlocks the 5-year visa, full-time spouse work permission, and the fast PR pathway (1-3 years instead of 10). Use the HSP Points Calculator to check whether you qualify.
Path to permanent residence (永住)
Time on ICT counts toward the standard 10-year PR residency requirement (5 working years). Most ICT holders who stay long-term in Japan transition to 高度専門職 to accelerate the PR clock to 1-3 years.
Frequently asked
Intra-company Transferee (企業内転勤) FAQ
What is the Intra-company Transferee (企業内転勤) visa?
Japan's work visa for employees transferred from a foreign affiliated entity (parent / subsidiary / branch / sister company) to a Japanese affiliated entity within the same corporate group. Unlike 技人国, there is no degree-alignment requirement: the candidate's prior tenure at the foreign group entity substitutes for that test. The trade-off: 1+ year of continuous employment with the foreign group entity is mandatory before the transfer.
How is ICT different from the Engineer/Specialist (技人国) visa?
技人国 is open to any candidate with a degree-aligned job at a Japanese employer. No prior-employment requirement, but degree alignment is the central rejection cause. ICT is restricted to group-company transferees and requires 1+ year of prior tenure at the foreign group entity, but waives the degree-alignment test. Activity scope (technical / humanities / international services) is the same. Family rights, salary parity, and initial-period grants are also the same.
What counts as a qualifying corporate-group relationship?
Recognized: parent / subsidiary (>50% ownership or control), head office / branch (same legal entity), sister companies (common parent). NOT recognized: minority investment under 50%, franchise / license / distribution partnerships, JVs without majority control, ad hoc business partnerships.
How long is the 1-year prior-employment requirement?
Continuous employment for at least 1 year with the foreign affiliated entity, immediately before the transfer. Time spent on unpaid leave, parental leave, or extended sabbatical does NOT count. Periods at a different employer (even if also a group entity) do not aggregate; the 1 year must be with one entity in the group.
Do I need a degree for ICT?
No. The degree-alignment test that drives 技人国 does not apply to ICT. The assumption is that the candidate's tenure at the foreign group entity has demonstrated they can perform the work. This is the headline ICT advantage for non-degreed long-tenured employees and for graduates whose degree subject doesn't match their current role.
What activities can I do on ICT?
The activity scope mirrors 技人国: technical work (engineering, IT, sciences), humanities knowledge work (finance, marketing, HR, sales analysis, consulting), and international services (translation, interpretation, foreign-cultural design). Clerical-only roles, manual work, and skilled trades are NOT permitted under ICT. They require different visa categories.
Can I bring my family?
Yes. Spouse and children apply for the standard dependent visa (家族滞在). Spouse can work up to 28 hours per week with 資格外活動 permission. For full-time spouse work, the principal would need to qualify for 高度専門職 (HSP), a frequent upgrade path for senior ICT transferees.
How long is the initial visa period?
1, 3, or 5 years, mirroring 技人国. The actual grant is at Immigration's discretion based on the employer's category, the candidate's profile, and the planned assignment length. Most multinational transferees from established Japanese subsidiaries receive 3 years initially.
What is the salary requirement?
Standard work-visa rule: compensation must be no less than what a Japanese national would receive for equivalent work. Below-parity wages are an automatic rejection cause. The Japan-side employment contract. Not the foreign-side compensation. Is what's reviewed for parity.
Can I switch from ICT to a different visa later?
Yes. Common upgrade paths: (1) 技人国 if the transferee leaves the group and joins an unaffiliated Japanese employer (degree-alignment becomes the gate); (2) 高度専門職 if the transferee accumulates 70+ HSP points (typical for senior managers); (3) permanent residence after 10 years residence (5 working) under standard rules, or 1-3 years under HSP.
Does ICT lead to permanent residence?
Yes. Time on ICT counts toward the standard 10-year PR residency requirement (5 working years). Workers who reach 70+ HSP points can apply for PR after just 1 or 3 years. Many ICT holders accumulate HSP points (especially via salary growth and Japanese language) and switch to 高度専門職 before applying for PR.
Can I switch employers within Japan on ICT?
Switching to a non-group employer requires a status change (typically to 技人国 or HSP); the ICT visa itself only authorizes work at the receiving group entity. Switching to a different Japanese subsidiary within the same group is permitted with a 14-day notification, provided the role still fits the activity scope.
What if my application is rejected?
Most ICT rejections trace to (1) corporate-group relationship not clearly documented (organizational chart missing, ownership percentage unclear), (2) prior-employment tenure under 1 year or with a different entity, or (3) Japan-side duties not fitting the 技人国 scope. There is no formal appeal: fix the gap and re-file. For complex group structures (joint ventures, recent M&A), a 行政書士 specializing in corporate ICT cases is the most efficient remedy.
Sources
- 出入国在留管理庁. 在留資格一覧 Official ISA index of all residence statuses. The 企業内転勤 entry covers qualifying corporate-group relationships and the 1-year prior-employment rule.
- e-Gov 法令検索. 上陸基準省令 Statutory basis for ICT salary parity and the activity-scope mirror with 技人国.
Important. This page provides general information based on Immigration Services Agency published guidance for the 企業内転勤 program. It does not constitute legal advice. For complex group structures (recent M&A, multiple holding-company layers, joint ventures, post-acquisition reorganizations), retain a licensed gyoseishoshi (行政書士) familiar with corporate ICT cases.