Immigration procedures for changing jobs

Immigration Procedures for Changing Job

Q: I am a foreigner residing in Japan with a residence status that allows me to work. I am planning to change jobs at another company. Are there any precautions I need to take?

A: Depending on the type of work you will be doing after changing jobs and your period of stay, you will need to follow one of the following procedures.

1. If the type of work you do after changing jobs changes from your previous job;

If the type of work changes from your previous job, such as from translation/interpreting to computer software development, apply for permission to change your status of residence. Apply for permission to change your status of residence as soon as possible, even if your current period of stay remains.

It is necessary to decide which status of residence to apply for after detailed and comprehensive consideration of (1) academic and professional background, (2) the nature of the business of the new company, etc. and (3) the nature of the work the foreigner will be responsible for.

2. When the new job position is the same as the previous one and the period of stay is not imminent;

If the position after changing jobs is the same as the previous one and there is more than one year until the expiry date of the visa at the time of the change of employment, it is recommended to obtain a certificate of employment status. This is not necessarily a legal obligation, but a certificate of entitlement to work proves that you can legally work for the new company. It also makes the next renewal easier.

3. If the new job is the same as the previous one and the expiry date is approaching;

If, at the time of the change of employment, less than three months remain before the expiry date of the period of stay, an application for permission to extend the period of stay is filed. You can apply for permission to extend your period of stay up to three months before the expiry of your period of stay, so it is advisable to apply as soon as possible.

Other Questions

The Immigration Office has asked me to submit a certificate of resignation from the company I worked for before changing jobs, but I cannot obtain it. What should I do?

A resignation certificate issued by your former company is required for immigration procedures when you have changed jobs. If, for some reason, a resignation certificate cannot be issued, you can submit a letter of explanation clarifying the circumstances under which you were unable to obtain a resignation certificate.

I have been looking for work for a long time after resigning.

If you do not continuously engage in employment activities that are relevant to your status of residence for more than three months without justifiable reasons, your status of residence may be cancelled.
If your job-seeking activities are prolonged, it is important to keep documents that prove that you were actually engaged in job-seeking activities, such as documents proving that you registered at Hello Work and received employment insurance benefits, or rejection letters when you were interviewed for a job.

I heard that if I leave a company or start a new job, I need to submit a notification regarding the organisation I belong to, but do I also need to do this if I change jobs?

According to the new residency management system, you have to make a ‘notification regarding the organisation you belong to’ within 14 days of the termination of your employment contract and the conclusion of your employment contract, respectively.
Please note that the above notification is not required if you apply for permission to change your status of residence when you change jobs, but if you only apply for the issue of a work qualification certificate, you must also submit the above notification.

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