Fukuoka City has granted approval for the use of the “Engineer Visa” system to the Japanese subsidiary of U.S.-based semiconductor back-end processing giant Amkor Technology. This initiative enables the city to partially handle residence status screening for foreign IT engineers, significantly shortening processing times. Amkor plans to establish an R&D center in Fukuoka by April 2025, aiming to attract engineers from overseas offices.
Previously limited to IT firms, the visa system expanded to include semiconductor-related companies in December 2024, with Amkor as the first approved applicant. Introduced in November 2023, the program reduces visa screening times from over three months to approximately one month, with 12 companies employing over 30 engineers under the system to date. Neighboring Kitakyushu City also began accepting applications for this system on January 15.
Amkor Technology, the world’s second-largest OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test) company, operates across eight countries, with its global R&D base in South Korea. Source: Fukuoka City
Photo by Vishnu Mohanan on Unsplash
Stay informed with the latest Fukuoka & Kyushu news and events in English. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter today and never miss a beat. Opt out anytime, your privacy is our priority. Get the inside scoop with The Now
Summaries based on public content, errors may occur during translation. Images credited independently. Send feedback using this form.
