If You Can No Longer Work in Japan Because Your Company Went Bankrupt or Dismissed You｜Designated Activities (Employment Continuation Support): Eligibility, Requirements, and Application Process

In Japan, there is a status of residence (在留資格) for foreign nationals who can no longer continue working for reasons they are not responsible for, such as their company’s bankruptcy or a dismissal. The Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁, ISA) presents it as “Designated Activities (Employment Continuation Support)” (特定活動（就労継続支援）). People who have searched for 3 months without finding a new employer and have not passed the Specified Skilled Worker tests may be able to work at an accepting organization that meets the requirements until they pass the tests, if they sign an employment contract (雇用契約) with that organization. The period of stay (在留期間) is 1 year, and in certain cases it can be extended up to 2 times.

The contents were checked on October 19, 2026, against the Immigration Services Agency’s web pages and forms. Whether you are actually eligible depends on your individual circumstances, so check with a Regional Immigration Services Bureau (地方出入国在留管理局, regional immigration bureau) or a specialist before applying.

This article explains separately what the foreign national who has left their job needs to check and the requirements that the accepting organization employing that person must meet. The overall picture of changing jobs on Specified Skilled Worker status is covered in the following article.

→ The overall picture of changing jobs on Specified Skilled Worker status

What is Designated Activities (Employment Continuation Support)? A special measure that lets you work at a new accepting organization until you pass the tests

This Designated Activities is a status of residence that lets people who could no longer continue working because of unavoidable circumstances work until they pass the tests, when they aim to move to Specified Skilled Worker (i) (特定技能1号). The workplace is the accepting organization where they plan to work after moving to Specified Skilled Worker (i).

The Immigration Services Agency explains this special measure as follows.

• It is for people who could no longer continue working because of unavoidable circumstances, such as the company’s business reasons or labor-management problems.
• It is a measure that allows people aiming to move to Specified Skilled Worker to work, until they take the skills test or the Japanese language test, at the accepting organization where they plan to work after the move.
• The status of residence is “Designated Activities (work permitted)” (特定活動（就労可）), and you apply for a change from your current status of residence.
• The period of stay is 1 year, and it can be extended up to 2 times only in certain cases.

The overall flow is shown in the diagram below. Steps ① to ③ in the diagram are the stages up to the application, ④ and ⑤ are the period of working under Designated Activities, and ⑥ is the change to Specified Skilled Worker (i). The “3 months” in ② is a condition for Type 1 and Type 2 (people with Technical Intern Training or a working status of residence), and does not apply to Type 3 (such as international students whose job offers were withdrawn) (the types are explained in the next section).

Note that this is a different system from the “employment maintenance support” Designated Activities that existed during the COVID-19 period. Be careful not to confuse it with older explanations.

(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “When It Is Difficult to Continue Activities Due to Unavoidable Circumstances (‘Designated Activities’ (Employment Continuation Support))”, About the Special Measures for Foreign Nationals Who Find It Difficult to Continue Activities Due to Unavoidable Circumstances)

Who is eligible: 3 types and common conditions

Eligible people are those who fall under one of Types 1 to 3 below and who wish to change to Specified Skilled Worker (i) but have not passed the tests.

Common condition: You wish to change to Specified Skilled Worker (i), but at the time of application you have not passed the skills test for the field, the Japanese language test, or both.

The details for each type are as follows.

• Type 1 (technical intern trainees): If there were circumstances in which you avoided receiving support from the supervising organization, for reasons such as human rights violations, you are also eligible if you received support for changing training companies from the Organization for Technical Intern Training (外国人技能実習機構) but none was found after 3 months.
• Type 2 (people with a working status of residence): Diplomat, Official, and Technical Intern Training are excluded. For people with Designated Activities, only those whose Designated Activities permit work are included. People who left their jobs due to bankruptcy or similar reasons and then changed to Designated Activities for job hunting are also included.
• Type 3 (international students): This also includes people with Designated Activities for job hunting after graduation, or for waiting until employment after receiving a job offer, who have similar circumstances (such as a job offer withdrawn for the company’s reasons).

On the other hand, when a person with Specified Skilled Worker (i) changes jobs within the same field in which they have already passed the tests, they do not meet the common condition of not having passed the tests. In that case, the basic approach is to apply for a change to Specified Skilled Worker (i) with the new accepting organization. The Designated Activities for when preparations cannot be completed in time is explained in the following article.

→ What is Designated Activities (Preparation for Transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i))?

People who wish to change jobs to a different field and have not passed the tests for that field may be eligible for this Designated Activities if they also meet the unavoidable circumstances and 3-month condition of Type 2. The flow of changing jobs to a different field is covered in the following article.

→ How to change to a different field on Specified Skilled Worker status

(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “When It Is Difficult to Continue Activities Due to Unavoidable Circumstances (‘Designated Activities’ (Employment Continuation Support))”, Explanatory Statement for “Designated Activities (Employment Continuation Support)”)

What are “unavoidable circumstances”?

The Immigration Services Agency’s page gives as examples: dismissal due to the company’s bankruptcy or business reduction, human rights violations such as violence and various forms of harassment, serious and malicious violations of laws or contracts by the company, and withdrawal of a job offer for reasons on the employer’s side.

Cases where you resigned for your own reasons, or where you were dismissed for reasons you are responsible for, are not listed among these examples. The Immigration Services Agency does not clearly state whether such cases are eligible, so if you are unsure whether your circumstances apply, check with a regional immigration bureau before applying. For every type, the circumstances must be explained with documents (explained in “Application steps and documents to submit” below).

How the “3 months” are counted

The “3 months” are counted from the time you could no longer continue working (could no longer continue your current activities). The condition is that you still have not found a new employer after 3 months have passed. For technical intern trainees, the condition is that the supervising organization or others searched for a training company but none was found after 3 months.

Be careful about how your status of residence is treated during these 3 months as well. If you have not carried out the activities corresponding to your status of residence for 3 months or more without a legitimate reason, your status of residence may be subject to revocation. While job hunting, it is reassuring to keep records of your job applications and interviews. You can consult public offices such as Hello Work (ハローワーク) about procedures related to your life while job hunting (such as unemployment benefits).

Also, when you leave your job, you yourself must submit a notification to the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days. How to submit the notification is explained in the parent article’s section “What the worker must do” (“Points to note if you quit first”).

→ The overall picture of changing jobs on Specified Skilled Worker status

(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “When It Is Difficult to Continue Activities Due to Unavoidable Circumstances (‘Designated Activities’ (Employment Continuation Support))”, Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System, Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search))

Scope and period of work: where, in what work, and for how many years

You can work only at the new accepting organization with which you signed an employment contract at the time of application. The work you engage in is work in the field (specified industrial field (特定産業分野)) and job category (業務区分) you are aiming for under Specified Skilled Worker (i). The field and job category are written in the explanatory statement prepared by the accepting organization.

• People moving from Technical Intern Training: In principle, you can work only in a field and job category related to the occupation you engaged in during Technical Intern Training (limited to occupations that can move to Specified Skilled Worker) (except when there are unavoidable circumstances). In addition, you cannot work under this Designated Activities at an accepting organization that accepts technical intern trainees in the same occupation.
• Remuneration: It must be equal to or higher than what a Japanese person would receive for the same work. The accepting organization submits a “Document on Wage Payment” (賃金の支払に関する書面) stating the amounts of the basic salary, allowances, deductions such as taxes and social insurance, and take-home pay.
• Period of stay: 1 year. It can be extended up to 2 times only in certain cases.
• Time limit for people moving from Technical Intern Training: An extension is possible only if the expiration date after the extension does not go beyond the expiration date of the period of stay originally planned up to Technical Intern Training (ii).

Adding 2 extensions to the 1 year, the maximum is roughly 3 years. However, extensions are possible only when the conditions below are met, and for people moving from Technical Intern Training, the period may be shorter.

Conditions for an extension

An extension is possible only when, in addition to the conditions at the time of application, both of the following are met.

1. Your work record at the accepting organization is good
2. It is recognized that you could not pass the skills test or the Japanese language test even though you received sufficient support to pass the tests

For the 2nd extension, you must have passed either the skills test or the Japanese language test. In other words, it is important to pass at least 1 of the tests by the time of the 2nd extension.

Relationship with the “5 years in total” for Specified Skilled Worker (i)

For people who have already worked on Specified Skilled Worker (i), even when they become Specified Skilled Worker (i) in a different field, the period of their previous Specified Skilled Worker (i) is added to the 5 years in total (a note in the explanatory statement prepared by the accepting organization). The Immigration Services Agency asks both the worker and the accepting organization to check the remaining period before applying. Before applying for this Designated Activities, check how many years you have left on Specified Skilled Worker (i).

(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “When It Is Difficult to Continue Activities Due to Unavoidable Circumstances (‘Designated Activities’ (Employment Continuation Support))”, Explanatory Statement for “Designated Activities (Employment Continuation Support)”, Document on Wage Payment for “Designated Activities (Employment Continuation Support)”)

Requirements for accepting organizations (for staff at accepting organizations)

The organizations that can accept foreign nationals under this Designated Activities are limited. The most important requirement is that the organization has a record of accepting Specified Skilled Workers for a total of 1 year or more and is currently able to accept Specified Skilled Workers. In the explanatory statement, the organization writes the information (employment period, etc.) of 1 Specified Skilled Worker it has accepted in the past.

The other requirements are as follows.

• Intention to develop and guidance: Employ the person after confirming that they intend to acquire skills, and provide the necessary guidance and advice.
• Compliance with laws: Comply with labor, social insurance, and tax laws. There are requirements such as: the accepting organization and its officers have not been sentenced for violating laws, have no connection with organized crime groups, have not had Technical Intern Training certification revoked, and have not engaged in fraud or seriously improper acts under immigration or labor laws within the past 5 years.
• Support: Appoint a person in charge of support from among officers or employees, and provide support for working life and daily life. Support can also be entrusted to a registered support organization (登録支援機関).
• Travel expenses for returning home: If the person cannot pay the travel expenses for returning home, the accepting organization pays them and makes sure the person can leave Japan smoothly.
• Reports: If it becomes difficult to continue accepting the person, promptly report this to the regional immigration bureau with jurisdiction over the location of the head office.
• When accepting technical intern trainees: Do not accept technical intern trainees in the same occupation, and have the person engage in work in a job category related to the training occupation.

The details of the support are checked with the check items in the explanatory statement. The main items are as follows.

• Explanation of the employment contract, conditions of stay, etc.
• Pick-up and drop-off at airports and ports
• Securing housing, and support with contracts for bank accounts and mobile phones
• Life orientation (administrative procedures, medical care, disaster prevention, etc.) and accompanying the person to relevant organizations
• Providing opportunities to learn Japanese
• Responding to consultations and complaints
• Promoting interaction with Japanese people
• Job change support when the employment contract is terminated for reasons the person is not responsible for
• Regular interviews, and reporting when a violation of laws becomes known

(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “When It Is Difficult to Continue Activities Due to Unavoidable Circumstances (‘Designated Activities’ (Employment Continuation Support))”, Explanatory Statement for “Designated Activities (Employment Continuation Support)”)

Application steps and documents to submit: who prepares what

The application is submitted to the regional immigration bureau with jurisdiction over the worker’s place of residence (住居地), as an application for Permission to change status of residence (在留資格の変更許可). The worker is the applicant, but the new accepting organization prepares many of the documents. The documents and who prepares them are shown in the table below.

The Immigration Services Agency’s page does not say who prepares the documents for Type 3. Check with a regional immigration bureau which of the documents you have, such as a letter notifying you of the withdrawal of the job offer, can be submitted.

If you cannot contact your former workplace

The “documents showing the circumstances, such as a dismissal” for Type 2 are prepared by your former workplace or others. If your former workplace went bankrupt and you cannot contact it, the Immigration Services Agency advises submitting documents that objectively show those circumstances. What documents are sufficient depends on the circumstances, so keep the documents you have without throwing them away, and consult a regional immigration bureau or a specialist.

Points to note when applying

• If the documents are incomplete, the examination may be significantly delayed or the result may be unfavorable.
• Certificates issued in Japan must be submitted within 3 months of their date of issue.
• Attach a Japanese translation to documents in foreign languages.
• You may be asked for other documents during the examination.
• Questions about how to fill in the application form and about documents are handled by the Immigration Services Agency’s Foreign Residents Support Information Center (外国人在留総合インフォメーションセンター) (0570-013904; from IP phones and overseas, 03-5796-7112).

Fees

The fee for a change of status of residence or an extension of the period of stay with a period of stay of 1 year is 33,000 yen at the counter and 27,000 yen online, for applications received on or after October 1, 2026. Check the Immigration Services Agency’s guidance on whether this Designated Activities can be applied for online.

(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “When It Is Difficult to Continue Activities Due to Unavoidable Circumstances (‘Designated Activities’ (Employment Continuation Support))”, Immigration Services Agency, “About the Revision of Fees”)

After permission: preparing for extensions, and notifications by the accepting organization and the worker

After permission is granted, 3 things are important: the worker’s notifications, the accepting organization’s reports, and preparing for extensions.

What the worker must do

• If you change your place of residence, submit a notification of your place of residence.
• If any item on your residence card other than your place of residence (such as your name) changes, submit a notification of the change.
• Take the skills test and the Japanese language test, and be ready to show the results at the time of extension.

What the accepting organization must do

• When it becomes difficult to continue accepting the person (such as for business reasons or when the person goes missing), report to the regional immigration bureau using the “Report on Difficulty of Acceptance” (受入れ困難に係る報告書) (for Employment Continuation Support). This report includes the field and job category the person planned to move to and the reasons why acceptance became difficult.
• Continue the support promised in the explanatory statement.

What to record in preparation for extensions

For an extension, the “Report on Work Status, etc. for Employment Continuation Support” is submitted. This report has spaces to fill in the following items.

• The number of days worked, attendance rate, number of days absent, and number of days of paid leave for each month
• The names of the skills test and Japanese language test, the test dates, the results, and the details of the support provided by the accepting organization
• If you failed, the plans for future tests and the plans for support. If you have not taken the tests, the reasons
• Comments by the accepting organization and the person in charge of support (progress in skills and Japanese, how the person is doing in daily life, etc.)

For this reason, it is a good idea for the accepting organization to keep records of test applications, support for Japanese language learning, interviews, and so on as a matter of routine. Keeping records is not itself a requirement of the Immigration Services Agency, but it helps in filling in the report accurately.

Once you pass both tests, proceed to the application for a change to Specified Skilled Worker (i). The flow of the procedure is explained in the following article.

→ The procedure for changing jobs on Specified Skilled Worker status

(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “When It Is Difficult to Continue Activities Due to Unavoidable Circumstances (‘Designated Activities’ (Employment Continuation Support))”, Report on Difficulty of Acceptance (for “Designated Activities (Employment Continuation Support)”))

Differences from a similar Designated Activities (comparison with preparation for transition)

Among the Designated Activities related to Specified Skilled Worker (i), there is one more: the Designated Activities for “preparation for transition.” The biggest difference is whether you have passed the tests.

We could not confirm on the Immigration Services Agency’s pages or in the Operational Guidelines whether the period of Employment Continuation Support is included in the 5 years in total. Because it affects the number of years you have left, check with a regional immigration bureau if you are concerned. The detailed conditions of the Designated Activities for preparation for transition are covered in the following article.

→ What is Designated Activities (Preparation for Transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i))?

(Sources: Immigration Services Agency, “Designated Activities Related to Specified Skilled Worker (When Wishing to Move to ‘Specified Skilled Worker (i)’)”, Immigration Services Agency, “When It Is Difficult to Continue Activities Due to Unavoidable Circumstances (‘Designated Activities’ (Employment Continuation Support))”, Operational Guidelines on the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Workers)

Summary

• The worker: Check these 3 things: ① you could no longer continue working because of unavoidable circumstances, ② you still have no new employer after 3 months, and ③ you have not passed the tests. Keep the documents showing your circumstances without throwing them away, and look for an accepting organization that meets the requirements.
• The accepting organization: Check that you have a record of accepting Specified Skilled Workers for a total of 1 year or more and a support system. Prepare the explanatory statement and the Document on Wage Payment, and after accepting the person, provide test support and keep records, and report when acceptance becomes difficult.
• Period: The period of stay is 1 year, and in certain cases it can be extended up to 2 times. For the 2nd extension, you must have passed one of the tests.

Whether you are eligible and what documents you should submit depend on your individual circumstances. If you are unsure, consult a regional immigration bureau or a specialist.

Primary Sources Referenced in Article Creation

• Immigration Services Agency, “When It Is Difficult to Continue Activities Due to Unavoidable Circumstances (‘Designated Activities’ (Employment Continuation Support))”
• Immigration Services Agency, “About the Special Measures for Foreign Nationals Who Find It Difficult to Continue Activities Due to Unavoidable Circumstances”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Explanatory Statement for ‘Designated Activities (Employment Continuation Support)’ (Application for Change of Status of Residence)”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Document on Wage Payment for ‘Designated Activities (Employment Continuation Support)'”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Report on Difficulty of Acceptance (for ‘Designated Activities (Employment Continuation Support)’)”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Designated Activities Related to Specified Skilled Worker (When Wishing to Move to ‘Specified Skilled Worker (i)’)”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Operational Guidelines on the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Workers”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System”
• Immigration Services Agency, “About the Revision of Fees”
• Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search)