Working Visa Options for Bangladeshi Software Engineers in Japan: A Simple Guide

1. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa

Most Common Option
If you have a university degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related subject, this visa is easy to get. It’s the most common visa for software developers in Japan.

You must have:

• A degree from a recognized university or vocational school (junior college or "Senmon Gakkou" in Japan).

• Your degree should be in a technical subject like IT, engineering, or science.

Note: Diplomas or certificates from vocational schools outside Japan are often not accepted.

2. Degree Not Related to IT or Engineering

If your degree is in a non-technical field (like English or Business), you may still qualify, depending on the job. For example, if your role involves communication skills along with tech tasks, it might be accepted under "Humanities" category.

However, this option is more complex. The company must strongly believe in your skills and be willing to adjust the job title and responsibilities.

3. Highly-Skilled Foreign Professional Visa

This visa is based on a points system. You need 70 points to qualify.

Points are given for:

• Degree level

• Years of work experience

• Salary (higher salary = more points)

• Age (younger = more points)

• Japanese language skills (JLPT N1/N2)

Example: If you are under 30, have a bachelor’s degree, 3 years of experience, N2 certification, and a job offer with ¥8 million salary, you can qualify.

This visa is better for experienced professionals rather than freshers.

4. Already Have Engineer/Humanities Visa

If you already live in Japan on this visa (for example, as an English teacher), you can switch to a software engineering job without reapplying for a new visa type.

Immigration mainly checks that you have any degree, not necessarily in a relevant field. So, once you're in Japan, switching jobs is easier.

5. 10 Years of Work Experience

Even without a degree, you can qualify if you have 10 years of software development experience.

You can include:

• Full-time or freelance work

• Part-time jobs

• Education in IT (like diplomas or partial degrees)

You must prove your experience with job letters, contracts, or certificates. Internships usually don’t count.

6. Pass an Approved IT Exam (PhilNITS)

Passing a Japanese government-approved IT exam can replace the need for a degree or 10 years of experience.

PhilNITS Exam (available in Bangladesh)

• Conducted in English

• Covers basic and intermediate IT topics

• Costs around $40

• Held twice a year in Manila, Philippines

Passing this also gives 5 extra points toward the Highly-Skilled Visa.

7. Working Holiday Visa

If you're under 30 and from a country with a Working Holiday agreement with Japan (currently not Bangladesh), you can work in Japan temporarily without a job offer.

Sadly, this is not available for Bangladeshi citizens. But if it ever becomes available, it’s a great entry route for beginners.

8. Graduate of a Top 100 University (J-Find Visa)

If you graduated from a university ranked in the global top 100 in two major rankings, you may apply for the J-Find Visa.

Requirements:

• Graduate within the past 5 years

• At least ¥200,000 for living expenses

This visa lets you stay in Japan while looking for a job.

9. Transferred from a Branch Office (Intra-Company Transferee Visa)

If your current employer has a branch in Japan, you can move there with this visa.

Conditions:

• You must have worked at the company for at least 1 year

• No degree is required

Good for those already working at international companies.

10. Start a Business in Japan (Business Manager Visa)

If you want to open your own tech business in Japan:

• You must invest at least ¥5 million

• Rent an office in Japan

• Create a business plan

It is expensive and requires professional support, but possible.

11. Digital Nomad Visa

New option for remote workers. Allows you to stay in Japan while working for overseas clients.

Good for testing life in Japan before applying for long-term visas. This is not permanent but can be a good short-term option.

Final Tips for Bangladeshi Engineers:

• If you don’t have a related degree, focus on gaining experience or passing the PhilNITS exam.

• Learn basic Japanese (JLPT N5/N4 at least) – it helps!

• When applying for jobs, mention clearly which visa type you’re eligible for.

• Many Japanese companies don’t know all these visa options – you might need to educate them.

If you're serious about moving to Japan as a software engineer, there’s a path for almost every background. Just choose the one that fits your case best and plan accordingly.

Note: Always confirm with a Japanese immigration lawyer or consultant before applying.