Basics– category –

An explanation, based on materials published by the Immigration Services Agency, of the Employment for Skill Development system that replaces Technical Intern Training on April 1, 2027 (April 1, Reiwa 9). Tables summarize the differences from Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker, the 17 fields and expected numbers of workers, the rules for transfers, the Japanese language targets, the transitional measures for current technical intern trainees, and what companies and supervising organizations should prepare before the start.

For foreigners to stay in Japan, they must obtain permission that matches their purpose of stay. This is called a "status of residence," and it is commonly r...

Using Immigration Services Agency materials, this article explains the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku) status of residence: the requirements for permission (education, work experience, and pay), work you can and cannot do, required documents by company category, and processing times. It also covers the declaration regarding the representative and the B2-level language ability documents added for small and medium-sized companies and others from April 15, 2026, and the new treatment of dispatched workers.

From June 14, 2026, residence cards changed to a new style, and the Specified Residence Card, combined with the My Number Card, also started. Using sample images from the Immigration Services Agency, this article explains how to read the front and back, the differences from the old style, the validity period of cards for permanent residents (until the 10th birthday), the deadlines for address changes, loss, and renewal, and how companies should check cards.