Each time a person with Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) status moves to a different company, an Application for Permission to change status of residence (在留資格変更許可申請) is required. You cannot change jobs with a notification alone. Until permission is granted, you cannot work at the new company. The standard processing period for the examination is 1 to 2 months. The fee depends on the permitted period of stay; for 1 year, it is 33,000 yen at the counter (for applications accepted on or after October 1, 2026).
This article sets out, step by step, what each party needs to do (applications, notifications, and points to watch): the new company and the registered support organization, the former company, and the worker.
The contents of this article were checked against materials from the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) on October 7, 2026.
Conclusion: changing jobs on Specified Skilled Worker status requires Permission to change status of residence
When a person with Specified Skilled Worker status changes companies, they must obtain Permission to change status of residence (在留資格の変更許可). This is the same for both Specified Skilled Worker (i) (特定技能1号) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii) (特定技能2号).
The reason lies in the “designation document” (指定書) issued together with the residence card. The designation document states the name and address of the company you are allowed to work for (the affiliated organization, 所属機関) and the field (specified industrial field). To change the company or the field, you need permission to change this designation.
This is where it differs from other work statuses of residence. For example, with Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, a notification may be enough even when you change companies (see the existing explanation (Japanese) Changing jobs and notifications for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services). With Specified Skilled Worker, permission is needed every time you change companies.
If you stay at the same company but change the content of your work, the treatment is different.
- Changing work within the same field: notification of a change to the employment contract
- Changing to work in a different field: Application for Permission to change status of residence
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Operational Guidelines for Accepting Specified Skilled Foreign Workers,” pp. 11–13 and 107, Immigration Services Agency, “Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System,” Q13, Q36, and Q42, Immigration Services Agency, “List of documents to be submitted for ‘Specified Skilled Worker'”)
Will this job change be allowed? How fields, job categories, and exams work
A job change is allowed when it can be confirmed that you have the skills needed for the new work. Within each field there are finer divisions called “job categories” (業務区分), and each category has its own exam. Under the government’s basic policy, job changes are allowed “within the same job category” or “between job categories confirmed through exams or other means to share a common skill level.”
| Type of job change | Skill confirmation | Procedure |
|---|---|---|
| To a company in the same field and the same job category | No additional exam needed | Application for Permission to change status of residence |
| To a company in the same field but a different job category | Passing the skills exam for the new job category, or the categories are confirmed to share a common skill level | Application for Permission to change status of residence |
| To a company in a different field | Passing the skills exam for the new field, and proof of the Japanese language ability required by that field (see the explanation below for exemption conditions) | Application for Permission to change status of residence |
People who have satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii) may be exempt from the exams. The skills exam is exempted when the job type and work of Technical Intern Training (ii) are related to the new work. The Japanese language exam may be exempted even when they are not related. For example, in fields and categories where the required Japanese level is the “Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese” or the “Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (N4 or higher),” the exam is in principle exempted regardless of the job type and work.
The names of job categories and the exams are set out in the operational guidelines for each field (separate volumes). Please check for each field which case your own job change falls under. If you are unsure, please consult a specialist.
The new company also has standards it must meet, such as paying remuneration equal to or higher than that of Japanese employees and joining the council for its field. These points will be explained together in the application guide for Specified Skilled Worker (i).
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System,” Q13, Q25–Q27, Q50, and Q60, Immigration Services Agency, “Operational guidelines for Specified Skilled Worker”)
Can you change jobs in the food service industry?
Yes. In the food service industry field, because the number of residents was expected to exceed the projected number of acceptances (the acceptance cap), applications for a “change from outside the food service industry” accepted on or after April 13, 2026 (Reiwa 8) are in principle not permitted. However, applications accompanying a job change or similar by people already staying in the food service industry field with Specified Skilled Worker (i) are examined as usual.
The examination status posted by the Immigration Services Agency on September 10, 2026 also states that “job changes within the food service industry field” have no restriction by acceptance date (all applications are covered) and are being permitted as usual once the examination is complete. Examination results are decided application by application. The situation may change, so please check the Immigration Services Agency’s page before applying.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Operation of the acceptance cap in the Specified Skilled Worker ‘food service industry field'”, Immigration Services Agency, “Examination status of residence applications for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (food service industry field)”)
Time spent looking for a new job counts toward the 5-year total
The period you can stay in Japan with Specified Skilled Worker (i) is in principle up to 5 years in total. These 5 years include periods when you are not working (unemployed) and the special period while an application is pending. If preparing for a job change takes time, your remaining period decreases by that amount.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Operational Guidelines for Accepting Specified Skilled Foreign Workers,” p. 25, Immigration Services Agency, “Total period of stay”)
The job change process: timeline from leaving your job to joining the new company
The basic way to avoid a gap is to “apply for change of status permission while still working at your current company.” Even while the application is pending, you can work at your current company as long as your employment contract with it continues.
| Stage | Former company | New company / registered support organization | Worker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Discussing the job change | Discusses the leaving date with the worker | Checks the job category and whether exams are needed | Checks exam certificates and the residence card |
| 2 Employment contract | ― | Concludes a specified skilled worker employment contract and prepares a support plan | Understands and signs the contract. Notification of the new contract (within 14 days) |
| 3 Preparing documents | Cooperates as needed, such as with a certificate of employment | Gathers documents using the list and checklist of documents to be submitted | Gathers the worker’s own documents |
| 4 Applying for change permission | ― | Staff approved as application agents may also apply | Applies to the immigration office with jurisdiction over the place of residence |
| 5 During the examination | The worker keeps working at the current company if the contract continues | Does not let the worker work until permission is granted | Does not work at the new company |
| 6 Permission | ― | Confirms the notice of permission with the worker | Receives the new residence card and designation document |
| 7 Leaving and joining | Notification of the end of the contract (within 14 days) | The worker joins. From then on, the company makes notifications and provides support as the affiliated organization | Notification of the end of the contract (within 14 days) |
Decide the leaving date and the start date allowing for the processing time. If you leave before permission is granted, you will have no income until permission.
If you have already left your job, be careful about the following points.
- You cannot work at the new company until permission is granted.
- If you have not carried out Specified Skilled Worker activities for 3 months or more without a justifiable reason, your status of residence may be subject to revocation.
- Periods when you are not working also count toward the 5-year total.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Operational Guidelines for Accepting Specified Skilled Foreign Workers,” pp. 12, 106–108, and 118, Immigration Services Agency, “Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System,” Q38, e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act,” Article 22-4)
Who applies, and where
The application is made by the worker to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau (地方出入国在留管理官署) with jurisdiction over their place of residence. Besides the worker, the following people can also submit the application on their behalf.
- Staff of the affiliated organization or of a registered support organization who have been approved as application agents
- Gyoseishoshi lawyers (administrative scriveners) and attorneys who have notified the Regional Immigration Services Bureau
Even when an agent applies, the worker must be in Japan. Online application is also possible.
→ How to obtain and renew an application agent certificate
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Application for Permission to change status of residence”, Immigration Services Agency, “Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System,” Q22)
Required documents
Check the required documents in the Immigration Services Agency’s “List and checklist of documents to be submitted for residence applications for Specified Skilled Foreign Workers.” There are also documents specific to each field. Companies that have already accepted Specified Skilled Foreign Workers within the same fiscal year do not need to submit some of the documents concerning the affiliated organization.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “List of documents to be submitted for ‘Specified Skilled Worker'”)
Processing time: how long does it take?
The standard processing period for an Application for Permission to change status of residence is 1 to 2 months. Set the start date with plenty of time to spare, leaving at least 2 months or more after the application. As the published figures below show, it takes about 2 months even on average, and it can take longer depending on the time of year.
The Immigration Services Agency publishes processing periods for each status of residence every month. In the latest figures as of October 7, 2026 (cases permitted in July, Reiwa 8), changes of status to Specified Skilled Worker (i) were as follows.
| Category (cases permitted in July, Reiwa 8) | Average number of days |
|---|---|
| Until the examination is complete | 44.0 days |
| Until the disposition (notice of permission) | 59.5 days |
Note the following points about these figures.
- They are calculated excluding applications in the food service industry field.
- They include not only job changes but also changes to Specified Skilled Worker (i) from Technical Intern Training and other statuses.
- If additional materials are requested, the days until they are submitted are also included.
- The agency notes that applications tend to increase every year ahead of the April hiring season, and examinations for work statuses of residence tend to take longer.
In addition, the Immigration Services Agency asks people moving from Technical Intern Training to Specified Skilled Worker to apply at least 2 months before their planned start date. This is not an official guideline for job changes, but it is a useful reference for applying with time to spare.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Application for Permission to change status of residence”, Immigration Services Agency, “Processing period for residence examinations”, Immigration Services Agency, “Processing period for residence examinations (number of days), cases permitted in July, Reiwa 8”, Immigration Services Agency, “Cases where technical intern trainees cannot work after applying for Permission to change status of residence to ‘Specified Skilled Worker'”)
If your period of stay expires during the examination
If the result has not come out by the expiration date of your period of stay, you can remain in Japan during the “special period” (特例期間). The special period lasts until the result comes out or until the end of the day on which 2 months have passed since the expiration date, whichever is earlier. During the special period, you can only carry out your previous activities (work at your current company). You cannot work at the new company.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “What is the special period?”)
Can you work at the new company while your application is pending? A common misunderstanding
No, you cannot. The Immigration Services Agency’s operational guidelines state that while an application for Permission to change status of residence is pending, you are not allowed to work at the workplace you plan to change to. You also cannot work there as a “part-timer” before joining. It is also stated that people with Specified Skilled Worker status cannot do part-time work at other companies.
If you work at the new company without permission, you may be subject to revocation of your status of residence or deportation. The company that let you work may also be charged with the crime of facilitating illegal employment. The statutory penalty for facilitating illegal employment is imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to 3,000,000 yen (or both). From April 1, 2027, it will be raised to imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 5,000,000 yen (or both).
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Operational Guidelines for Accepting Specified Skilled Foreign Workers,” pp. 12 and 118, Immigration Services Agency, “Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System,” Q54, e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act,” Article 73-2)
Special treatment for people who lost their job due to the company’s circumstances
There is special treatment for people who became unable to work due to unavoidable circumstances, such as dismissal because of the company’s bankruptcy or downsizing, or harassment. If the conditions are met, they can change to “Designated Activities (Employment Continuation Support)” (特定活動（就労継続支援）) and work at the company they plan to move to until they pass the exams.
The main conditions are as follows.
- More than 3 months have passed since they became unable to work, and they have not found a new employer
- They need to pass a skills exam or Japanese language exam to move to Specified Skilled Worker (i)
- The receiving company has a track record of accepting Specified Skilled Foreign Workers for a total of 1 year or more
The period of stay is 1 year, and it can be extended up to 2 times only in certain cases. Please check the detailed requirements on the Immigration Services Agency’s page.
Notifications made by companies: the former company and the new company
The former company and the new company each need to make notifications to immigration. In both cases, the deadline is within 14 days from the date the event occurred.
Former company
- When the employment contract ends: notification of the end of the specified skilled worker employment contract (Reference Form No. 3-1-2)
- When ending the contract for the company’s own reasons: a prior notification of difficulty in accepting the worker (Reference Form No. 3-4). Not needed if the worker leaves voluntarily for their own reasons
- If all support was entrusted to a registered support organization: also write the end of the entrustment contract on the same notification form
When the contract ends for reasons that are not the worker’s responsibility, the former company has obligations. It must confirm whether the worker wants to keep working and, if so, support the job change, for example by referring them to Hello Work (the public employment service). The details of the job change support are also written in the explanatory document (Reference Form No. 5-11) attached to the notification of difficulty in accepting the worker.
How the job change support is reported afterwards depends on who provides the support.
- If the company provides support itself: it submits the notification of difficulty in implementing the support plan (Reference Form No. 3-7) with a job change support implementation report (Reference Form No. 5-12) attached.
- If all support is entrusted to a registered support organization: the company does not need to make a notification, and the registered support organization submits a report (Reference Form No. 4-3).
New company
Once permission is granted and acceptance begins, the new company becomes a specified skilled worker affiliated organization. From then on, it makes ad hoc and periodic notifications and provides support to Specified Skilled Workers (i) (including entrusting support to a registered support organization).
Even when the affiliated organization changes due to a company merger, split, or incorporation, an Application for Permission to change status of residence is required. In this case, the notification of the end of the contract is not needed.
→ Annual guide to Specified Skilled Worker notifications
What the worker needs to do
These are the things you must do yourself when changing jobs while working with Specified Skilled Worker status.
- Do not work at the new company until permission is granted. You cannot do part-time work there either.
- Make notifications to immigration. When your contract with your current company ends and when you sign a contract with the new company, make a notification within 14 days for each. Your own notification is required separately from the company’s notification. You can make it through the electronic notification system, at the counter, or by mail.
- Be careful about periods when you are not working. If you have not done Specified Skilled Worker work for 3 months or more without a justifiable reason, your status of residence may be revoked. Periods when you are not working also count toward the 5-year total.
- After permission, check the new residence card and designation document. Check that the new company’s name is written on the designation document.
For how to make notifications, the existing explanation (Japanese) Changing jobs and notifications for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services is also helpful.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Notifications regarding the affiliated (contracting) organization”, e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act,” Article 19-16, Immigration Services Agency, “Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System,” Q38)
Costs, and the typical period of stay you receive after changing jobs
For change permissions accepted on or after October 1, 2026, the fee depends on the “permitted period of stay.” For applications accepted by September 30, 2026, the fee is the pre-revision 6,000 yen, even if permission is granted in October or later.
The period of stay granted with a job change (change of status) for Specified Skilled Worker (i) is said to be up to 2 years or up to 1 year, depending on factors such as the company’s category (Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines (入国・在留審査要領)). Since extensions allow up to 3 years, the period at the time of a job change tends to be shorter. The fees for the main categories are as follows.
| Permitted period of stay | At the counter | Online |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 33,000 yen | 27,000 yen |
| More than 1 year and less than 3 years | 48,000 yen | 42,000 yen |
For example, permission for 2 years falls under “more than 1 year and less than 3 years.” People with little time left in their 5-year total may receive an even shorter period. It is also said that people who have not made notifications under the Immigration Control Act (such as notifications of place of residence or affiliated organization) may be granted 4 months. Make your notifications within the deadlines.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Application for Permission to change status of residence”, Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines, Part 12 (Reiwa 8 edition, materials disclosed through an information disclosure request))
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Do I need to apply when moving to another company in the same group?
The designation document states the company’s name and address. Even within a group, if the company (legal entity) you sign the employment contract with changes, the affiliated organization changes, so an Application for Permission to change status of residence is considered necessary. For individual cases, please check with the Regional Immigration Services Bureau or a specialist.
Q2. Can I quit before my new job is decided?
Quitting itself is possible. However, you cannot work at the new company until permission is granted. If you stay without work for 3 months or more, your status of residence may be revoked. That period also counts toward the 5-year total.
Q3. Is it no longer possible to change jobs in the food service industry?
Job changes within the food service industry field are being examined as usual (examination status posted on September 10, 2026). Changes from outside the food service industry to the food service industry are in principle not permitted for applications accepted on or after April 13, 2026.
Q4. What happens if my application is denied?
If your employment contract with your current company continues and your period of stay has not expired, you can keep working at your current company. On the other hand, if your period of stay had expired during the examination (you were in the special period), the special period ends when the result comes out. In that case, or if your period of stay is about to expire, please consult a specialist right away.
Q5. Do I need to apply with Specified Skilled Worker (ii) as well?
Yes. With Specified Skilled Worker (ii) as well, you must obtain Permission to change status of residence when changing companies or fields.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Operational Guidelines for Accepting Specified Skilled Foreign Workers,” pp. 11–13, Immigration Services Agency, “Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System,” Q38, Immigration Services Agency, “Examination status of residence applications for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (food service industry field)”, Immigration Services Agency, “What is the special period?”)
Summary
- Each time a person with Specified Skilled Worker status changes companies, an Application for Permission to change status of residence is required. You cannot change jobs with a notification alone.
- You cannot work at the new company until permission is granted. The basic approach is to apply while working at your current company.
- The standard processing period for the examination is 1 to 2 months. Set your start date at least 2 months or more after the application.
- The former company, the new company, and the worker each need to make notifications within 14 days.
- If you are unsure whether your job change will be allowed or when to apply, please consult a specialist.
Primary Sources Referenced in Article Creation
- Immigration Services Agency, “Operational Guidelines for Accepting Specified Skilled Foreign Workers” (August, Reiwa 8)
- Immigration Services Agency, “Operational guidelines for Specified Skilled Worker”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System”
- Immigration Services Agency, “List of documents to be submitted for ‘Specified Skilled Worker'”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Application for Permission to change status of residence”
- Immigration Services Agency, “What is the special period?”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Processing period for residence examinations”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Processing period for residence examinations (number of days), cases permitted in July, Reiwa 8”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Total period of stay”
- Immigration Services Agency, “When it is difficult to continue activities due to unavoidable circumstances (‘Designated Activities’ (Employment Continuation Support))”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Operation of the acceptance cap in the Specified Skilled Worker ‘food service industry field'” (March 27, Reiwa 8)
- Immigration Services Agency, “Examination status of residence applications for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (food service industry field)” (posted September 10, 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency, “Cases where technical intern trainees cannot work after applying for Permission to change status of residence to ‘Specified Skilled Worker'”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Notifications regarding the affiliated (contracting) organization”
- e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act”
- Immigration and Residence Examination Guidelines, Part 12 (Reiwa 8 edition, materials disclosed through an information disclosure request)
This article is a translation of the original Japanese version.
