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.

In recent years, an increasing number of foreign workers have been obtaining the Specified Skilled Worker residence status to work in Japan’s caregiving sect...

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.

Labor shortages in the nursing and welfare sectors have become increasingly severe, and the acceptance of foreign workers is growing each year.However, not a...

Recently, it has become increasingly common to see international students working part-time at convenience stores and restaurants throughout Japan. Unlike ot...

As Japan’s caregiving industry faces a growing labor shortage, more companies are beginning to focus not only on hiring foreign workers, but also on developi...