Changing Jobs in Japan: Keep Immigration Notification Separate From Permission

1

Permission

Check whether the new duties are permitted.

2

Notification

Check whether the organisation notification applies.

3

Evidence

Keep dates, submissions and confirmations.

A visual summary of this guide. Read the relevant sections below for conditions and exceptions.

For certain residence statuses, ending an employer contract or making a new one triggers a notification to ISA within 14 days. Sending that notification does not authorize a new job. Check the duties and any required cha

For certain residence statuses, ending an employer contract or making a new one triggers a notification to ISA within 14 days. Sending that notification does not authorize a new job. Check the duties and any required change-of-status procedure before the first day at the new workplace.

ISA lists Highly Skilled Professional No. 1 (i or ro) and No. 2 carrying out the corresponding activities, Researcher, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Nursing Care, Skilled Labor, Specified Skil

ISA lists Highly Skilled Professional No. 1 (i or ro) and No. 2 carrying out the corresponding activities, Researcher, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Nursing Care, Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker, and Entertainer working under a contract with an organisation. These are mid- to long-term residents covered by this particular procedure.

This is not a complete list of all immigration notifications. Other statuses may use the activity-organisation procedure. Students, for example, can have notification duties when changing educational institutions; the absence of Student from the employer-contract list is not an exemption from every notification.

The deadline runs from the relevant event, not your next residence renewal. One job change can involve both termination and a new contract. Use the available form or electronic option that accurately reports both events;

The deadline runs from the relevant event, not your next residence renewal. One job change can involve both termination and a new contract. Use the available form or electronic option that accurately reports both events; do not assume two separate visits are always required.

You can use ISA's electronic notification system after registering, submit at an immigration office, or send the required form and residence-card copy by post. Use the current official instructions for the postal address

You can use ISA's electronic notification system after registering, submit at an immigration office, or send the required form and residence-card copy by post. Use the current official instructions for the postal address and documents. In the online system, keep the submission history and check processing status. For mail, keep the form and delivery record.

Your employer's foreign-worker employment notification is a different process. Do not assume HR's filing completes your own duty. Ask: 「私本人の所属機関の届出と、会社の届出は別ですよね。必要な会社情報を教えてください。」 (“My personal immigration notification and the company's filing are separate, correct? Please give me the employer details I need.”)

A new job under SSW or an employer-specific Highly Skilled Professional status can require a change-of-status application even if the status name appears unchanged. For Engineer/Humanities, compare the new duties with th

A new job under SSW or an employer-specific Highly Skilled Professional status can require a change-of-status application even if the status name appears unchanged. For Engineer/Humanities, compare the new duties with the permitted activities. Where classification is unclear, a certificate of authorised employment can help establish the permitted work, but it is not a substitute for a required status change.

Also ask your insurer and municipality about health-insurance and pension coverage during any gap. Your route depends on age, eligibility and whether you enter another employer's insurance, become a dependant, continue employee health coverage or join municipal coverage. A universal “everyone joins National Health Insurance and National Pension within 14 days” checklist is misleading.

Contact ISA and submit accurate information promptly using its instructions. Keep an explanation of dates and circumstances. Do not backdate documents. This article does not promise that a late notification will be ignor

Contact ISA and submit accurate information promptly using its instructions. Keep an explanation of dates and circumstances. Do not backdate documents. This article does not promise that a late notification will be ignored or predict a renewal decision.

• ISA: contracting-organisation notification

• ISA: contracting-organisation notification

• ISA: notification guide

• ISA: employer and worker procedure comparison

• ISA: immigration Q&A

Use the StayWorksNow resident guides to prepare your contract and insurance questions together.