![Required Documents for Specified Skilled Worker “Nursing Care” | Attachments and Where to Submit for Certificate of Eligibility, Change, and Extension [2026 Edition]](https://kisaragi-office.com/immigration_journal/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/a-0015-en-v2.png)
The documents for a Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) “Nursing Care” (介護) application are decided by combining Table 1 (the applicant), Table 2 (the company), and Table 3 (the nursing care field) of the Immigration Services Agency’s “document checklist” (提出書類一覧表). The checklists were revised on October 1, 2026. In the nursing care field, you first receive the council certificate, and then apply to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau (地方出入国在留管理官署, regional immigration office). There is no fee for a Certificate of Eligibility; for a change or an extension, the fee is 10,000 yen to 75,000 yen depending on the permitted period of stay (when applying at the counter).
The conditions for acceptance and the overall process are explained in the parent article.
→ [2026 Edition Accepting Specified Skilled Workers in the “Nursing Care” Field: Requirements and Process | Tests, the Council, and Home-Visit Care](https://kisaragi-office.com/immigration_journal/en/archives/2886)
The contents of this article were checked against materials from the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁, ISA) and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省, MHLW) on October 10, 2026.
First, check which application is yours (Certificate of Eligibility, change, or extension)
The type of application depends on where the foreign national is now and what status of residence (在留資格) they have. First, check which application applies to you.
- Certificate of Eligibility (Application for Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書交付申請)): When inviting someone who is overseas to Japan
- Change (Application for Permission to change status of residence (在留資格変更許可申請)): When hiring an international student, technical intern trainee, or other person who is in Japan. Hiring a Specified Skilled Worker who works at another company is also an application for a change
- Extension (Application for Permission to extend period of stay (在留期間更新許可申請)): When a Specified Skilled Worker you employ will keep working at the same company
| Item | Certificate of Eligibility | Change | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checklists used | Table 1 + Table 2 + Table 3 | Table 1 + Table 2 + Table 3 | Table 1 + Table 3 (Table 2 not required) |
| Where to submit to immigration | The office with jurisdiction over the planned place of residence, or over the location of the accepting organization, etc. | The office with jurisdiction over the place of residence | The office with jurisdiction over the place of residence |
| Fee | None | 10,000 yen to 75,000 yen depending on the period of stay (at the counter) | 10,000 yen to 75,000 yen depending on the period of stay (at the counter) |
| Standard processing period | 1 to 3 months | 1 to 2 months | 2 weeks to 1 month |
| Online application | Possible | Possible | Possible |
The process for hiring a Specified Skilled Worker from another company is explained in the following article.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Status of Residence ‘Specified Skilled Worker'”, Application for Certificate of Eligibility, Application for Permission to change status of residence, Application for Permission to extend period of stay)
The overall picture: Tables 1, 2, and 3 of the checklist
The document checklist consists of three types of tables. For a Certificate of Eligibility or a change, all three tables are used; for an extension, Table 1 and Table 3 are used.
| Table | What documents | What is used in the nursing care field |
|---|---|---|
| Table 1 | Documents on the applicant (the foreign national) and the employment contract | Table 1 for each application type (including the cover page) |
| Tables 2-1 to 2-3 | Documents on the affiliated organization (所属機関, the accepting organization) | One of Table 2-1 (organizations with a certain track record), 2-2 (corporations), or 2-3 (sole proprietors) |
| Table 3 | Documents for each field | For a Certificate of Eligibility or a change, “Table 3-1 Nursing Care Field”; for an extension, the nursing care column of Table 3-1 common to all fields (excluding agriculture and fishery) |
When Table 2 does not need to be submitted
For a Certificate of Eligibility or a change, an organization that has already accepted a Specified Skilled Worker foreign national in the same fiscal year does not need to submit the Table 2 documents. For an extension, Table 2 is not required in the first place.
Table 2-1 is the table for organizations that have a certain track record and are expected to accept workers properly. Using this table reduces the company documents. It covers organizations that, in the past 3 years, have not been issued a written guidance and recommendation (指導勧告書) or received an improvement order (改善命令), and that have filed their various notifications electronically and made their residence applications online. In addition, the organization must fall under a category such as a listed company, an organization or individual whose withholding tax amount is 10,000,000 yen or more, or a corporation that has accepted Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals for 3 consecutive years and has no excess of liabilities. If you cannot submit the documents in Table 2-1, use Table 2-2 or 2-3.
Where to get the checklists and forms
Submit the checklist, including its cover page, together with the application documents. Forms common to all fields are in the ISA “List of application and notification forms related to Specified Skilled Worker.” The field reference forms for the nursing care field (No. 1-1 and No. 1-2) are on the ISA “Specified Skilled Worker operational guidelines” page and on the MHLW page “Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Workers in the Nursing Care Field.”
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Status of Residence ‘Specified Skilled Worker'”, Table 2-1 (organizations that have a certain track record and are expected to accept workers properly), Immigration Services Agency, “List of application and notification forms related to Specified Skilled Worker”, Immigration Services Agency, “Specified Skilled Worker operational guidelines”)
Documents submitted only for the nursing care field (Table 3)
Table 3 for the nursing care field has 4 types of documents for a Certificate of Eligibility or a change, and 2 types for an extension. The certificate of council membership is required for all three applications.
| Document | Form / issuer | Certificate of Eligibility / change | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof of skills and Japanese (table below) | － | Submit what applies | No item in the checklist |
| Written pledge on accepting Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals in the nursing care field | Field Reference Form No. 1-1 | Required | No item in the checklist |
| Outline of the facility where nursing care work will be carried out | Field Reference Form No. 1-2 | Required | Required |
| Certificate of council membership | Council | Required | Required |
The council certificate must have the workplace’s facility name, type code, and other details written on the back. The facility outline is written about the facility where the foreign national will actually work.
Proof of skills and Japanese (Certificate of Eligibility / change)
The documents proving skills and Japanese depend on the person’s background. Submit whichever of the following 4 applies.
| The person’s background | Documents to submit |
|---|---|
| Completed a certified care worker training facility | A copy of the graduation certificate from the certified care worker training facility |
| Completed the 4-year period of stay as an EPA certified care worker candidate | A copy of the result notice of the most recent certified care worker national exam |
| Satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii) in the nursing care job category (2 years and 10 months or more) | A copy of the certificate of passing the practical part of the Nursing Care Technical Intern Training Evaluation Test (specialist level), or an evaluation document on the technical intern trainee (Reference Form No. 1-2) |
| None of the above | Copies of the passing certificates of the Nursing Care Skills Evaluation Test and the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test, plus either a passing certificate of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (N4 or above) or a copy of the result notice of the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese |
For EPA certified care worker candidates, the condition is that they scored at least 50% of the passing score in the national exam and scored in all subject groups.
The checklist states that if the evaluation document for technical intern training cannot be obtained, you should consult the regional immigration office before applying. People who satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii) in a job category other than nursing care can omit the documents for the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test or the Test for Basic Japanese. Instead, a document proving that they satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii) is required.
Documents that were submitted in a past residence application, whose contents have not changed, and that are still within their validity period can be omitted.
About the test names
In the checklist, the tests are called “Nursing Care Skills Evaluation Test” and “Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test.” On the MHLW page, from the tests held in April 2026, the names are “Nursing Care Specified Skills Evaluation Test (Skills)” and “Nursing Care Specified Skills Evaluation Test (Japanese).” For the content of the tests and the detailed conditions for exemption, see the parent article and the following article.
(Sources: Table 3-1 Nursing Care Field (for Certificate of Eligibility), Table 3-1 Nursing Care Field (for change), Table 3-1 (for extension, excluding agriculture and fishery), Field Reference Form No. 1-2: Facility outline, MHLW, “Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Workers in the Nursing Care Field”)
Documents common to all fields (Table 1 and Table 2)
The documents common to all fields are easier to prepare if you divide them by “who prepares them.” Here we list only the names of the documents and where to get them.
Documents the company prepares (Table 1)
| Document | Form | Certificate of Eligibility | Change | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copy of the Specified Skilled Worker employment contract | Reference Form No. 1-5 | Required | Required | Required |
| Copy of the written employment conditions and copy of the wage payment | Reference Form No. 1-6 and attachment | Required | Required | Required |
| Support plan for Specified Skilled Worker (i) foreign nationals | Reference Form No. 1-17 | Required | Required | No item in the checklist |
| Explanation of the pay of the Specified Skilled Worker foreign national | Reference Form No. 1-4 | Can be omitted in some cases | Can be omitted in some cases | No item in the checklist |
| Explanation of the circumstances of employment | Reference Form No. 1-16 | Can be omitted in some cases | Can be omitted in some cases | No item in the checklist |
| Explanation of the support entrustment contract with a registered support organization | Reference Form No. 1-25 | When entrusting all support | When entrusting all support | No item in the checklist |
The employment contract, the written employment conditions, and the support plan require the person’s signature and must be written in a language the person fully understands. If you use a 1-year variable working hours system, also submit the annual calendar and a copy of the labor-management agreement.
The explanation of pay and the explanation of the circumstances of employment can be omitted by, for example, organizations that have already accepted Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals in the same fiscal year.
Documents the person prepares (Table 1)
- Photo attached to the application form (taken within 6 months before the application, 4 cm tall × 3 cm wide)
- Individual health check form (Reference Form No. 1-3) and the examinee’s declaration: required for a Certificate of Eligibility or a change. If they are written in a foreign language, also attach a Japanese translation
- Tax payment certificate and taxation certificate for resident tax (municipal office), and a copy of the withholding tax slip for employment income: submitted for a change or an extension
- National Health Insurance documents (municipal office) and National Pension documents (Japan Pension Service or a pension office): submitted for a change or an extension by people enrolled at the time of the application
Tax and insurance documents can be omitted if they were submitted in a residence application within the past year and their contents have not changed. If there are unpaid amounts, a written pledge on fulfilling public obligations (Reference Form No. 1-26) is also required.
Table 1 for an extension mainly consists of the employment contract, the written employment conditions, and the person’s tax and insurance documents. Table 1 for an extension revised on October 1, 2026 has no items for the individual health check form or the support plan.
Company certificates obtained from public offices (Table 2-2: corporations)
| Document | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Certificate of registered matters | Legal Affairs Bureau |
| Copy of the residence certificate of officers involved in executing business (without My Number, with the registered domicile) | Municipal office |
| Certificate of payment of labor insurance premiums, etc. (certificate of no unpaid amounts) | Labor Bureau |
| Response form on the payment status of social insurance premiums (or copies of 24 months of premium receipts) | Japan Pension Service or a pension office |
| Tax payment certificate (Part 3) | Tax office |
| Tax payment certificates for corporate resident tax for the last 2 fiscal years | Municipal office |
In addition, an outline of the specified skilled worker affiliated organization (Reference Form No. 1-11-1), prepared by the company, is required. If you do not entrust all support to a registered support organization, also submit documents showing your support system (such as the résumés of the person responsible for support and the support staff). Sole proprietors use Table 2-3.
Documents for people of certain nationalities
For some nationalities, documents for procedures set by bilateral agreements are required. As of October 2026, these are Cambodia and Vietnam for a Certificate of Eligibility, and Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam for a change.
How to fill in each of these documents is not covered in this article.
(Sources: Table 1 (for Certificate of Eligibility, revised October 1, Reiwa 8), Table 1 (for change, revised October 1, Reiwa 8), Table 1 (for extension, revised October 1, Reiwa 8), Table 2-2 (corporations), Table 2-3 (sole proprietors))
Where to submit (1): the council (before immigration)
In the nursing care field, before applying to immigration, the organization becomes a member of the MHLW council. It then receives a membership certificate in which the accepting facility is registered. From June 15, 2024, the council certificate must be submitted with residence applications.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| How to apply | Online only, through the council application system (no fax or mail) |
| Documents for joining | A “notice of designation” for each facility planning to accept workers |
| Time until issuance | Usually about 2 weeks after the secretariat finishes its check |
| Validity of the certificate | 1 year the first time, 4 years after renewal |
| Renewal procedure | Possible from 4 months before the expiration date |
When the worker will work at a facility not on the certificate, including transfers, apply with the facility’s information in advance. Within 4 months from the date of acceptance, register the foreign national’s information in the council application system. For this, use copies of the latest written employment conditions and support plan submitted to immigration, and a copy of the residence card.
For the detailed procedure for joining the council, see the parent article and the following article.
(Sources: MHLW, “Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Workers in the Nursing Care Field”, Specified Skilled Worker Council in the Nursing Care Field: flow of procedures (September 1, Reiwa 8), Supplementary guidelines (nursing care field))
Where to submit (2): immigration (Regional Immigration Services Bureau / online)
Applications to immigration are submitted at the counter of the regional immigration office with jurisdiction, or online. Applications for a Certificate of Eligibility are not accepted by mail.
Where to submit for each type of application
- Certificate of Eligibility: When the person applies, the office with jurisdiction over the planned place of residence. When an agent or an application agent applies, the office with jurisdiction over the location of the accepting organization, etc.
- Change / extension: The office with jurisdiction over the place of residence. At the time of the application, show the passport and the residence card
Reception hours are 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. You can check the office with jurisdiction on the ISA “Regional Immigration Services Bureaus” page or at the Immigration Information Center (外国人在留総合インフォメーションセンター).
Who can submit
For a Certificate of Eligibility, an agent such as an employee of the accepting organization can submit the application. For a change or an extension, in addition to the person, a company employee or other person who has received approval as an application agent can submit on the person’s behalf. Lawyers and gyoseishoshi lawyers (administrative scriveners) who have notified the Regional Immigration Services Bureau (地方出入国在留管理局) can also act as agents.
→ How to get and renew the Application Agent Certificate | Application form, required documents, and what registered support organizations can submit [Updated for the revised Gyoseishoshi Lawyer Act](https://kisaragi-office.com/immigration_journal/en/archives/4582)
Online application
The online residence application system (在留申請オンラインシステム) can be used by employees of the affiliated organization, lawyers and gyoseishoshi lawyers, employees of registered support organizations, the foreign national themselves, and others. Employees of the affiliated organization must have received approval as an application agent or meet the requirements for that approval. You cannot apply online on the day the period of stay (在留期間) expires.
To omit company documents using Table 2-1, one of the conditions is that the organization makes its residence applications online and files its various notifications electronically.
(Sources: Application for Certificate of Eligibility, Application for Permission to change status of residence, Application for Permission to extend period of stay, Immigration Services Agency, “Online procedures for residence applications”, Immigration Services Agency, “Status of Residence ‘Specified Skilled Worker'”)
Fees and guide to processing time
Fees are charged for a change and an extension. There is no fee for a Certificate of Eligibility.
- Certificate of Eligibility: No fee. The standard processing period is 1 to 3 months
- Change: 10,000 yen to 75,000 yen depending on the permitted period of stay (at the counter). The standard processing period is 1 to 2 months. Apply between the time the reason for the change arises and the day the period of stay expires
- Extension: The same fee as for a change. The standard processing period is 2 weeks to 1 month. People with a period of stay of 6 months or more can apply from 3 months before the expiration date
The fee for an online application is a different amount from the counter (for example, 65,000 yen for permission of 5 years or more; a separate transaction fee is charged). For applications received by September 30, 2026, the fee before the revision (6,000 yen at the counter, 5,500 yen online) applies, even if permission is granted on or after October 1.
The fee table and how to pay are explained in the following article.
→ [From October 2026 Visa extension and change fees rise to up to 75,000 yen | New fee table and how to pay](https://kisaragi-office.com/immigration_journal/en/archives/4367)
How the period of stay permitted at extension is decided is explained in the following article.
(Sources: Application for Certificate of Eligibility, Application for Permission to change status of residence, Application for Permission to extend period of stay, Immigration Services Agency, “Fee amounts and fee payment methods for online applications”, Immigration Services Agency, “Revision of residence permission fees” leaflet)
Common sticking points with documents
In nursing care field applications, watch out for the council certificate and mismatches in facility information.
- Expiration of the council certificate: The first validity period is 1 year. Before applying for an extension, check that it has not expired
- Workplace on the back of the certificate: Check that the facility where the person currently works is listed on the back. Before transferring the person, register the facility with the council (a notification of change in the Specified Skilled Worker employment contract to immigration is also required)
- Facility outline: Write about the facility where the person will actually work. How to count the headcount limit is explained in the parent article
- The person’s signature and language: The employment contract, the written employment conditions, and the support plan require the person’s signature and must be written in a language the person fully understands
- Outdated explanations: Some explanations used to say that “the council certificate is not required for a first-time acceptance.” From June 15, 2024, the certificate must be submitted with residence applications
- Revisions of the checklists: The checklists are revised from time to time (most recently on October 1, 2026). Just before applying, use the latest version from the ISA page
The documents to submit may change depending on the circumstances of the person or the company. If you are unsure, consult the regional immigration office where you will submit, or a specialist such as a gyoseishoshi lawyer.
(Sources: Table 3-1 Nursing Care Field (for Certificate of Eligibility), Table 1 (for Certificate of Eligibility, revised October 1, Reiwa 8), Supplementary guidelines (nursing care field), MHLW, “Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Workers in the Nursing Care Field”)
Frequently asked questions
Q Do we submit all the same documents again for the second and later workers? A For a Certificate of Eligibility or a change, an organization that has already accepted a Specified Skilled Worker foreign national in the same fiscal year does not need to submit the Table 2 documents. The explanation of pay and the explanation of the circumstances of employment can also be omitted. When applying for several people at the same time, attach a list of applicants.
Q Is the council certificate required for an extension too? A Yes. Table 3 for an extension also requires the facility outline and the council certificate.
Q Can application documents be sent by mail? A Applications for a Certificate of Eligibility are not accepted by mail. For a change or an extension, submit to the office with jurisdiction over the place of residence, or apply online.
Q When changing from Technical Intern Training (ii) in the nursing care job category, are test passing certificates required? A Submit the certificate of passing the practical part of the Nursing Care Technical Intern Training Evaluation Test (specialist level), or the evaluation document on the technical intern trainee. These can be omitted if the same company accepted the person as a trainee and has not received an improvement order or similar in the past year.
Q What if we hire a Specified Skilled Worker (Nursing Care) who works at another company? A Because the affiliated organization changes, apply for Permission to change status of residence. Use the checklist for a change.
(Sources: Table 1 (for Certificate of Eligibility, revised October 1, Reiwa 8), Table 2-2 (corporations), Table 3-1 Nursing Care Field (for Certificate of Eligibility), Table 3-1 (for extension, excluding agriculture and fishery), Application for Certificate of Eligibility, Immigration Services Agency, “Status of Residence ‘Specified Skilled Worker'”)
Summary
- The documents are decided by combining Tables 1, 2, and 3 of the checklist. Table 2 is not required for an extension.
- In the nursing care field, receive the council certificate before applying to immigration. It is required for all of the Certificate of Eligibility, change, and extension applications.
- Where to submit to immigration: for a Certificate of Eligibility, the office with jurisdiction over the planned place of residence or the location of the accepting organization, etc.; for a change or an extension, the office with jurisdiction over the place of residence. You can also apply online.
→ [2026 Edition Accepting Specified Skilled Workers in the “Nursing Care” Field: Requirements and Process | Tests, the Council, and Home-Visit Care](https://kisaragi-office.com/immigration_journal/en/archives/2886)
Notifications to immigration after the worker is granted permission and starts working are explained in the following article.
Primary Sources Referenced in Article Creation
- Immigration Services Agency, “Status of Residence ‘Specified Skilled Worker'”
- Document checklist for “Specified Skilled Worker (i)” (for Application for Certificate of Eligibility), Table 1 (revised October 1, Reiwa 8)
- Document checklist for “Specified Skilled Worker (i)” (for Application for Permission to change status of residence), Table 1 (revised October 1, Reiwa 8)
- Document checklist for “Specified Skilled Worker (i)” (for Application for Permission to extend period of stay), Table 1 (revised October 1, Reiwa 8)
- Table 2-1 (organizations that have a certain track record and are expected to accept workers properly)
- Table 2-2 (corporations)
- Table 2-3 (sole proprietors)
- Table 3-1 Required documents for the nursing care field (for Certificate of Eligibility)
- Table 3-1 Required documents for the nursing care field (for change)
- Table 3-1 Required documents for each field (for extension, excluding agriculture and fishery)
- Immigration Services Agency, “Specified Skilled Worker operational guidelines” (field reference forms for nursing care, No. 1-1 and No. 1-2)
- Field Reference Form No. 1-2: Outline of the facility where nursing care work will be carried out
- Immigration Services Agency, “List of application and notification forms related to Specified Skilled Worker”
- Application for Certificate of Eligibility
- Application for Permission to change status of residence
- Application for Permission to extend period of stay
- Immigration Services Agency, “Online procedures for residence applications”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Fee amounts and fee payment methods for online applications”
- Immigration Services Agency, “Revision of residence permission fees” leaflet
- MHLW, “Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Workers in the Nursing Care Field”
- Specified Skilled Worker Council in the Nursing Care Field: flow of procedures (September 1, Reiwa 8)
- MHLW, “Supplementary guidelines for specific fields (nursing care field)”
This article is a translation of the original Japanese version.
