In Japan, companies that accept foreign nationals as Specified Skilled Workers (特定技能) in the construction field must belong to JAC (Japan Association for Construction Human Resources, a general incorporated association; 建設技能人材機構). There are 2 ways to belong: join a construction industry organization that is a full member of JAC, or become a supporting member of JAC. The annual fee for supporting members is 240,000 yen, and when you accept a foreign national as Specified Skilled Worker (i) (特定技能1号), an acceptance fee of 12,500 yen per person per month applies on either route.
The application for the Acceptance Plan (MLIT’s “Construction Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Plan”) requires a membership certificate of JAC, etc. It can take time for the membership certificate to be issued, so it is important to prepare early.
What you will learn in this article:
- What JAC is, and why membership is required only in the construction field
- The differences between the 2 routes (costs, how to pay, who issues the membership certificate)
- The amounts of the annual fee and the acceptance fee, and how to count the acceptance fee
- The steps to become a supporting member, and the schedule until the membership certificate is issued
- Points where the Acceptance Plan application often stalls because of the membership certificate
- Changing information, changing organizations, and withdrawing after joining
The contents were checked on October 17, 2026 against JAC’s official pages, MLIT’s application guide, and the operational guidelines (construction field). The overall flow of the Acceptance Plan is explained in the following article.
What is JAC (Japan Association for Construction Human Resources): a membership rule that exists only in the construction field
JAC is a “Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Program Implementing Corporation” (特定技能外国人受入事業実施法人) registered by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Companies that accept Specified Skilled Workers in the construction field must belong to JAC directly or indirectly and follow the code of conduct set by JAC. This rule exists only in the construction field.
The operational guidelines (construction field) show 2 ways to belong: join indirectly through a construction industry organization that is a full member of JAC, or join JAC directly as a supporting member. JAC states that it was registered by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on April 1, 2019.
Companies that accept foreign nationals as Specified Skilled Worker (ii) (特定技能2号) are also required to belong to JAC (or a construction industry organization that is a member of JAC) and follow the code of conduct. The rule is not only for (i).
What JAC does
According to the operational guidelines and JAC’s information, JAC mainly does the following.
- Creates and operates the code of conduct to be followed in the construction industry
- Conducts skills evaluation tests and education and training
- Supports people who passed the tests, etc. in finding jobs and changing jobs
- Provides patrol guidance to accepting companies and (i) foreign workers, and consultation in their native languages
How JAC differs from a registered support organization
A registered support organization (登録支援機関) is a system common to all fields. It provides support such as daily life support for foreign nationals, on commission from the company. JAC explains that commissioning a registered support organization is optional.
On the other hand, belonging to JAC is required of companies that accept workers in the construction field. Even if you commission support to a registered support organization, the company itself must belong to JAC directly or indirectly. Whether a registered support organization joins JAC is optional.
Documents common to all fields, such as the support plan, are explained in the following article.
(Sources: Operational guidelines (construction field), MLIT, “Overview and related materials [Specified Skilled Worker System (Construction Field)”](https://www.mlit.go.jp/tochi_fudousan_kensetsugyo/tochi_fudousan_kensetsugyo_tk3_000001_00003.html), JAC Foreign Worker Acceptance Manual, Chapter 2-02, JAC Q&A 10)
The 2 routes to membership: join a full-member organization or become a supporting member
There are 2 routes to becoming a member of JAC. Either one meets the membership condition required for accepting Specified Skilled Workers.
| Item | (1) Become a member of a full-member organization | (2) Become a supporting member of JAC |
|---|---|---|
| How to join | Join a construction industry organization that is a full member of JAC (indirect membership) | Join JAC directly |
| Annual fee to JAC | None | 240,000 yen (no admission fee) |
| Organization’s membership fee | Set by the organization (the amount differs by organization) | None |
| Acceptance fee (per (i) worker) | 12,500 yen per month | 12,500 yen per month |
| How to pay | Differs by organization | Direct debit from a bank account |
| Who issues the membership certificate | The organization you belong to (apply to the organization for issue) | JAC (issued when membership is approved) |
| Review | Each organization’s membership requirements | Membership review and approval by the board of directors |
(1) Become a member of a full-member organization
If you are a member of a construction industry organization that is a full member of JAC, you are regarded as an indirect member of JAC. In principle, the same applies if you belong to a branch of the organization. However, depending on the branch or type of membership, you may not be regarded as a member. This depends on each organization’s internal rules. Check with the organization.
The full-member organizations are listed in JAC’s “List of full members and supporting members” (63 organizations as of October 2, 2026).
(2) Become a supporting member of JAC
Companies that do not belong to a full-member organization join JAC directly as supporting members. You submit documents such as a certificate of all registered matters and a certificate of the registered seal, pay the annual fee, and receive approval from JAC’s board of directors.
The type of work and the type of organization do not have to match
MLIT’s guide says that the work assigned to the foreign national does not have to match the category of the organization you join. However, each organization has its own membership requirements, and there are organizations you cannot join even if you want to.
Which to choose
Which route is better depends on the company. It is a good idea to compare the following points before deciding.
- Whether you already belong to a full-member organization
- Which fits your budget better: the organization’s membership fee or the supporting member annual fee of 240,000 yen
- The organization’s membership requirements, and how long it takes until the membership certificate is issued
- Whether you want to receive information and support from an organization
If you are unsure, consult JAC or a professional.
(Sources: JAC, “Membership information”, JAC, “Annual fees and acceptance fees”, JAC Foreign Worker Acceptance Manual, Chapter 2-02, JAC, “List of full members and supporting members”, Guide for new applications)
Costs: the annual fee and the acceptance fee
There are 2 costs: the “annual fee (or the organization’s membership fee)” and the “acceptance fee.”
| Category | Annual fee | Acceptance fee |
|---|---|---|
| Member of a full-member organization | No annual fee to JAC (pay the organization’s membership fee to the organization) | 12,500 yen per month per (i) worker (reference: 150,000 yen per year) |
| Supporting member (company) | 240,000 yen | 12,500 yen per month per (i) worker (reference: 150,000 yen per year) |
For example, if a supporting member accepts 1 foreign national as Specified Skilled Worker (i) for 1 year, the estimate is the annual fee of 240,000 yen plus the acceptance fee of 150,000 yen, for a total of 390,000 yen.
How to count the acceptance fee
The acceptance fee is charged every month for each (i) foreign worker. It is counted as follows.
- It is not prorated by day
- The month of the issue date on the residence card “Specified Skilled Worker (i)” is the 1st month
- The month in which the employment contract ends or the worker resigns is the last month
For example, if the residence card was issued on October 20 and the worker resigned on March 5 of the following year, the fee is for 6 months, from October to March. 12,500 yen × 6 months gives an estimate of 75,000 yen.
Sources: Prepared by the editorial team (based on JAC Foreign Worker Acceptance Manual, Chapter 2-03)
The red frames in the figure are the 1st month and the last month. Even if the worker starts or leaves in the middle of a month, that month is counted as 1 month.
Points to note
- Specified Skilled Worker (ii) foreign nationals are not subject to the acceptance fee
- You must not make the (i) foreign worker bear the acceptance fee, either directly or indirectly
- The acceptance fee is a transaction not subject to consumption tax
The acceptance fee is used for JAC’s programs, such as education and training, skills evaluation tests, job and job-change support, patrol guidance, consultation in native languages, and acceptance support services.
Some articles online may still show the old amounts. When making a budget, check the latest amounts on JAC’s official pages.
Supporting member fees for registered support organizations
When a registered support organization joins JAC (optional), the annual fee is 240,000 yen. However, it is 120,000 yen if the number of construction companies it has contracts with is fewer than 20, 60,000 yen if fewer than 10, and 30,000 yen if fewer than 5.
(Sources: JAC, “Annual fees and acceptance fees”, JAC Foreign Worker Acceptance Manual, Chapter 2-03, JAC Q&A 04)
How to pay, and when billing starts
How you pay depends on the route.
- Member of a full-member organization: it differs by organization. In many cases, the organization collects the acceptance fee. In some cases, you pay JAC directly by bank transfer (direct debit). Tell the organization that you will use the Specified Skilled Worker system, and check how to pay
- Supporting member: both the annual fee and the acceptance fee are paid by direct debit. The annual fee is debited on the 26th of the month after the month the membership certificate is issued (the next business day if it falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday)
When billing starts and stops
Billing of the acceptance fee starts after the acceptance report to MLIT.
| Membership | Billing starts | Billing stops |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting member, or an organization that does not collect fees on JAC’s behalf | 1 to 2 months after the acceptance report | 1 to 2 months after the resignation report |
| An organization that collects fees on JAC’s behalf | 2 to 3 months or more after the acceptance report | 2 to 3 months after the resignation report |
If you have overpaid, supporting members and others have the amount deducted from the following month onward (it may also be refunded by bank transfer). For organizations that collect fees on JAC’s behalf, it depends on the organization’s practice.
If you do not submit the acceptance report or the resignation report, billing and settlement will not proceed. The timing of the acceptance report is explained in the following article.
(Sources: JAC Foreign Worker Acceptance Manual, Chapter 2-03, JAC, “Membership information”)
Steps to become a supporting member: from requesting materials to the membership certificate
Becoming a supporting member proceeds in the following 5 stages. There is a review.
- Fill in the materials request form, and download the materials from the URL in the email you receive
- Apply for membership using the entry form in the email
- Fill in and send the documents listed in the materials
- Undergo the membership review
- Once approved, complete the procedure to have the membership certificate issued
The materials request must be entered by the joining company itself. A registered support organization or a gyoseishoshi lawyer cannot apply on your behalf.
Sources: Prepared by the editorial team (based on JAC, “Membership information” and MLIT’s guide for new applications)
Step (4) in the figure (red frame) is the membership review, which determines the schedule.
Membership review deadline
The membership review covers applications completed by “12:00 a.m.” (午前12時) on the 25th of each month (the next business day if it falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday). (This is the wording on JAC’s page. If you are unsure what time it means, check with JAC.) “Completed” means that the documents you sent have arrived at JAC. Applications covered are approved on the 2nd business day of the following month.
If you miss the deadline, approval comes one month later. It is important to send the documents early.
Receiving the membership certificate
Once approved, you receive an email with instructions on the procedure for issuing the membership certificate. The company also needs to complete a procedure to confirm the membership certificate through CloudSign. The membership certificate confirmation URL in the email is valid for 10 days. Complete the procedure within that period.
For the full-member organization route
On the full-member organization route, you first join the organization. You then apply to the organization for the issue of a membership certificate. The required documents and time differ by organization, so contact the organization.
(Sources: JAC, “Membership information”, JAC Foreign Worker Acceptance Manual, Chapter 2-02)
The membership certificate and the Acceptance Plan application: points where it often stalls
The Acceptance Plan application requires a membership certificate of JAC, etc. MLIT’s guide asks you to note the following points.
- Apply after the membership certificate has been issued. You cannot apply with a membership application form or a receipt of the membership application
- Each organization has a set format for the membership certificate submitted to MLIT. MLIT cannot approve the plan unless the membership certificate is in the format the organization registered with MLIT in advance
- Before applying, check with the organization whether your membership certificate can be used for the Specified Skilled Worker application. There are more and more cases of attaching a membership certificate of a subordinate organization that cannot be used
- Depending on the organization, it can take several months to half a year from application to the issue of the membership certificate
MLIT also recommends starting the membership procedure early once you decide to use the Specified Skilled Worker system.
The membership certificate is attached in the Foreign Worker Management System as attachment No. 5 of the Acceptance Plan, “document certifying membership in a Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Program Implementing Corporation.” All the attachments are summarized in a table in the following article.
(Sources: Guide for new applications, JAC Foreign Worker Acceptance Manual, Chapter 2-02)
After joining: changing information, changing organizations, and withdrawing
Even after joining, there are situations that require procedures.
When a supporting member’s registered information changes
If your company name, address, etc. change, apply through JAC’s “Member information change form.” For information that cannot be changed with the form, contact JAC through the inquiry form. Also change the registered information in the Foreign Worker Management System.
When changing the organization you belong to
When you change where you belong, such as moving from supporting membership to a full-member organization, the order is important.
- Join the new organization and receive its membership certificate
- In the Foreign Worker Management System, file a change application to change the organization in the Acceptance Plan (attach the new membership certificate)
- After MLIT’s approval, withdraw from the previous organization
MLIT’s guide asks that you not withdraw before applying.
When withdrawing from supporting membership
You can withdraw from supporting membership only if one of the following 3 applies. What you need to do before applying to withdraw depends on the reason and the status of the Acceptance Plan.
| Reason for withdrawal | What to do before applying to withdraw (in the Foreign Worker Management System) |
|---|---|
| Joined a full-member organization | Acceptance Plan not yet applied for: nothing in particular. Under application: if the organization in the plan is still JAC, pull back the application, correct the organization, and apply again. Approved: file a change application for the organization and receive MLIT’s approval |
| The foreign worker resigned | If you have not yet filed the resignation report, file it first |
| You no longer plan to accept workers | Acceptance Plan not yet applied for: nothing in particular. Under application: withdraw the new application. Approved: withdraw the foreign national |
If you pull back a plan under application and apply again, the order of review may change.
Supporting member fees already paid are, in principle, not refunded. They are refunded only if you apply to withdraw before the debit date and meet the requirements for withdrawal.
(Sources: JAC, “Supporting member withdrawal application”, JAC Q&A 04, Guide for change applications and notifications)
Frequently asked questions
Q If we accept only Specified Skilled Worker (ii) workers, do we still join JAC? A Yes. Companies that accept (ii) workers are also required to belong to JAC (or a construction industry organization that is a member of JAC). However, the acceptance fee does not apply to (ii) workers.
Q If we ask a registered support organization, can it also handle the JAC membership procedure for us? A The materials request for supporting membership must be entered by the joining company itself. A registered support organization or a gyoseishoshi lawyer cannot apply on your behalf. Also, agents who can make the online application for the Acceptance Plan on your behalf are limited to attorneys (or law firms) and gyoseishoshi lawyers (or gyoseishoshi corporations).
Q Can we deduct the acceptance fee from the foreign worker’s salary? A No. JAC states that you must not make the (i) foreign worker bear the acceptance fee, either directly or indirectly.
Q We already belong to an industry organization. Do we also need to become a supporting member? A If that organization is a full member of JAC and you are regarded as an indirect member, including your branch and type of membership, you do not need to become a supporting member. Check with the organization whether your membership certificate can be used for the Specified Skilled Worker application.
Q Where can we make inquiries? A JAC (0120-220-353, weekdays 9:00 to 17:30). For membership fees and membership certificates on the full-member organization route, contact each organization.
(Sources: Operational guidelines (construction field), JAC, “Membership information”, JAC Foreign Worker Acceptance Manual, Chapter 2-03, MLIT, “Foreign Worker Management System [Specified Skilled Worker System (Construction Field)”](https://www.mlit.go.jp/tochi_fudousan_kensetsugyo/tochi_fudousan_kensetsugyo_tk3_000001_00007.html))
Summary
- To accept Specified Skilled Workers in the construction field, the company belongs to JAC directly (as a supporting member) or indirectly (as a member of a full-member organization).
- The annual fee for supporting members is 240,000 yen. On either route, an acceptance fee of 12,500 yen per month applies for each (i) foreign worker (not prorated by day; (ii) workers are not covered).
- The order of preparation is “choose a route → join → membership certificate is issued → apply for the Acceptance Plan.” Supporting members should aim for the deadline on the 25th of each month, and on the organization route you should assume it may take several months to half a year to get the membership certificate. Start early.
The route and schedule you choose will vary depending on your company’s situation. If you are unsure, consult a professional.
Primary Sources Referenced in Article Creation
- Operational guidelines on accepting Specified Skilled Workers in specific fields: standards for the construction field
- MLIT, “Overview and related materials [Specified Skilled Worker System (Construction Field)”](https://www.mlit.go.jp/tochi_fudousan_kensetsugyo/tochi_fudousan_kensetsugyo_tk3_000001_00003.html)
- MLIT, “Online application for the Construction Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Plan [New” (April 4, 2025)](https://www.mlit.go.jp/tochi_fudousan_kensetsugyo/content/001603430.pdf)
- MLIT, “Online application for the Construction Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Plan [Change application and notification” (April 4, 2025)](https://www.mlit.go.jp/tochi_fudousan_kensetsugyo/content/001603432.pdf)
- Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), “Annual fees and acceptance fees”
- Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), “Membership information”
- Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), “List of full members and supporting members”
- Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), Foreign Worker Acceptance Manual, Chapter 2, 02. What does it mean to become a JAC member?
- Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), Foreign Worker Acceptance Manual, Chapter 2, 03. Costs of acceptance
- Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), Q&A 04. About the Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Program Implementing Corporation
- Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), Q&A 10. Other frequently asked questions
- Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), “Supporting member withdrawal application”
This article is a translation of the original Japanese version.
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