Report your employment change
Understand distinct contract-ending and new-contract notifications and the 14-day time limit.
Japan Work Visa After Changing Jobs
Japan Work Visa After Changing Jobs: Notifications & Renewal
Changed employers while holding a Japanese Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services residence status? Changing companies does not automatically mean you need a new work visa, but there are essential checks. Contract termination and a new contract generally trigger 14-day notifications, the new duties must fit your existing status, and your next renewal may require substantial new employer documents. We support foreign workers and Japanese companies with these procedures.
Certificate of Authorized Employment application · Professional fee, tax included From ¥88,000 Actual costs and statutory fees are separate
Standard Engineer/Specialist extension · Professional fee, tax included From ¥44,000 Standard cases; complex matters individually quoted
English enquiries throughout Japan and overseas · Telephone 9:00–18:00 JST · Sagae, Yamagata Prefecture
Check the new job duties
Identify whether your existing Engineer/Specialist status covers the actual new work.
Prepare for the next renewal
Understand company-category records and explanations for job or salary changes.
Do You Need a New Japan Work Visa When Changing Employers?
For ordinary Engineer/Specialist residence status, the permitted category of activities is generally not tied to a single named employer in the same way as some other statuses. If the new job remains within your authorized activities, changing employers does not by itself mean a change-of-status application is mandatory. However, the new company, work and employment terms should meet the applicable criteria.
| New job situation | Practical next step |
|---|---|
| Software engineer → software engineer, similar specialist work | Check duties and remuneration; generally notify relevant contracts and prepare for renewal. |
| Accountant → qualified marketing analyst | Confirm both specialist roles fit the current category and the personal qualification basis; optional employment certificate may help. |
| Engineer → ordinary shop assistant or warehouse labor | Do not assume Engineer/Specialist status authorizes routine duties. Another immigration status may be needed. |
| Current Engineer/Specialist → restaurant owner/manager | A change of status may be required because genuine management is a separate category. |
| Residence period is close to expiry | File an appropriate extension or change before expiry, depending on actual future activities. |
The Immigration Services Agency Q&A explains that when new activities do not change the existing status category, the usual response at expiry is extension; if they change category, consider change of status.
The 14-Day Notification Rule After Leaving and Joining a Company
For an Engineer/Specialist mid-to-long-term resident, ending a contract and entering a new contract are each reportable events under the contracting-organization notification rules. The resident must generally report within 14 days of the relevant event. There may be two different dates and notices when leaving one employer and joining another.
Record the date the previous employment contract actually ended.
Submit the report of termination within 14 days, where applicable.
Record when the new contracting agreement was actually concluded; do not substitute an unrelated future start date.
Submit the new-contract notification within 14 days, where applicable.
Keep evidence of electronic submission or other receipt.
Check whether company renaming, address changes or dissolution also trigger a notification.
Not the same as the employer's report: Companies can have their own labor/immigration reporting duties. A company HR filing does not automatically remove the resident's personal contracting-organization notification obligation.
Special procedure: The ISA Q&A explains that notification is still required when an extension is approved at the time of changing employers; however, when a change-of-status permission is granted at the same time as the transfer, the job-change notification is not required. Check the actual procedure rather than assuming the rule is identical for every case. Notifications are submitted after the reportable event occurs, not in advance for future dates.
A late report is not automatically cured by pretending a different date. Make an accurate filing and prepare an explanation if the authority requests one.
Should You Apply for a Certificate of Authorized Employment?
The Certificate of Authorized Employment (就労資格証明書) is a document issued by the Immigration Services Agency to confirm work activities that are permitted under the applicant's existing residence status. It can be particularly useful when an Engineer/Specialist resident changes company or work type and wants official confirmation before a later renewal.
| Situation | Why it may help |
|---|---|
| Same specialist duties at another company | Sometimes unnecessary if eligibility is clear, but may still support employer confidence. |
| New specialist occupation under same broad status | More useful to assess the connection between studies/career and new duties. |
| Newly established or smaller employer | Can clarify the role and supporting evidence before the next extension. |
| Employer asking for "permission to work" | A certificate may confirm authorized work, but is not a new residence status or mandatory work permit. |
| Changing to activities outside existing residence category | A certificate cannot authorize unrelated work; investigate a change of status. |
The official standard processing period is often the same day for simple cases, but one to three months may be needed when the employer has changed. Processing is not guaranteed and depends on the actual filing.
Our published professional fee for a post-transfer Certificate of Authorized Employment application starts from ¥88,000, tax included. The separate government issuance fee is ¥2,000 at a counter or ¥1,600 online plus a ¥220 online payment charge under the October 2026 procedure. See the Japanese service guide and official online fee guidance.
What Documents Does the New Employer Need?
| Applicant information | New Japanese organization |
|---|---|
| Current residence card, passport and work history. | New contract or working conditions notice including salary and actual duties. |
| Degree / course or verifiable career evidence relevant to the new role. | Category 1–4 classification evidence and business details. |
| Date of previous employment ending and new contract beginning. | Company registry and financial/business records where required by category. |
| Existing job-related certificates and employment history. | Detailed job description, work site, employment model, and dispatch records if applicable. |
| Official notification receipt(s). | Relevant category 3/4 representative declaration from April 15, 2026 where required. |
A change-of-employer extension can require more materials than an otherwise unchanged renewal. In particular, the official Engineer/Specialist checklist lists additional documents for the first renewal after moving to a category 3 or category 4 company; for category 3, the list expressly exempts one of the additional items. Prior approvals were based on an earlier contract and company; the new employer is assessed on its own facts.
What If You Have a Gap Between Employers?
A period without qualifying activities should not be ignored. Immigration law includes grounds under which a status may be revoked when a person does not engage in the authorized activities for three months or more without a justifiable reason, among other legal conditions. Revocation is not automatic exactly on day 91. Genuine job-search activity, illness and other particular circumstances require proper factual assessment.
Short transition
Keep resignation, applications, interviews, offers and start-date evidence.
Several months between jobs
Prepare a timeline and documents showing reasonable reasons and actual activity.
Employment ends near expiry
Review lawful status and the correct next application without assuming an indefinite job-search extension.
We offer a separate Japanese-language unemployment-gap explanation-document service from ¥33,000 (tax included). This service does not independently extend the residence period.
Transferring With a Salary Increase or Decrease
A salary change does not automatically mean a work visa is invalid. However, the new compensation should meet the requirement for comparable Japanese employees, and the contract and nature of the specialist work must remain appropriate. A very large pay cut or reduced working hours may require an explanation at renewal.
Record old and new annual / monthly salary and all regular components.
Verify actual hours, duties and whether the job is still substantially specialized.
Check Japanese comparable-position pay.
Explain temporary reductions or nonstandard compensation with documents.
Preserve payslips, employment contracts and tax records.
Do not confuse Engineer/Specialist rules with separate Highly Skilled Professional point calculations.
The salary comparison is substantive, not a uniform ¥3 million threshold. Separate rules apply to some other residence categories.
How to Renew After You Have Changed Jobs
Confirm your current status and expiry
Check the residence card and whether the new job remains within Engineer/Specialist.
Check mandatory 14-day reports
Confirm termination and new-contract notifications, keeping submission evidence.
Review the new position
Examine specialist duties, degree/career relationship and Japanese-equivalent pay.
Determine the new company category
Collect the current organization's documents and any 2026 additional forms.
Choose an optional employment certificate if useful
Consider early confirmation of the new activity, especially where work has changed.
Submit the appropriate extension or change
File by the current residence deadline and answer any document request accurately.
Changed jobs and concerned about your next renewal?
Tell us your old and new job duties, dates, current residence expiry and salary. We can explain your reporting obligations and appropriate application support.
Request an English ConsultationWhen Your New Job Falls Outside Engineer/Specialist Status
Routine production or service
Principal non-specialist duties are not authorized merely because the previous job was technical.
Owner-manager role
Running your own company may call for Business Manager status and its current separate requirements.
Work under a different regulated status
Research, education, skilled labor, accommodation SSW or another status may require its own qualification test.
A Certificate of Authorized Employment is a confirmation of permissible work under existing status, not permission to do unrelated activities. Obtain status guidance before undertaking a materially different occupation.
Our Professional Fees
| Service | Professional fee (tax included) | Scope / exclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Post-transfer Certificate of Authorized Employment | From ¥88,000 | Optional application to confirm the new work activities. |
| Standard Engineer/Specialist extension | From ¥44,000 | Ordinary continuation; a new employer may require additional work. |
| Job-change duty and reason statement only | From ¥44,000 | Document-only; not a full extension or status-change filing. |
| Unemployment gap statement only | From ¥33,000 | Separate explanation service if suitable. |
| Change of residence status | From ¥110,000 | If new work falls under another eligible status; case-specific. |
These are starting professional fees. Government permission charges if applicable, translations, certificate procurement, postage, travel and extra supporting materials are separate. A COE application ordinarily has no immigration filing fee. Where a matter falls outside administrative scrivener scope, a separately qualified professional may be required. We provide a quotation before engagement.
Permission to enter or remain in Japan is determined by the authorities. No immigration outcome or processing time can be guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a new work visa every time I change company?
Not necessarily under ordinary Engineer/Specialist status if the new duties remain in the same authorized category. Mandatory notifications and future extension considerations still apply.
Do I have to notify immigration within 14 days?
Yes, termination of the prior contract and conclusion of a new qualifying contract are generally separate notifiable events, each with the corresponding 14-day period.
Will my new employer automatically file the notification for me?
Not necessarily. The resident's reporting obligation is separate from employer-side reports. Keep evidence of your own submission.
Do I have to notify immigration if I change status at the same time?
The ISA explains that a change-of-status permission granted together with the job change generally removes the separate job-change notification requirement. In contrast, approval of an extension at the time of a transfer does not remove that duty. Confirm the circumstances and filing type.
Can I submit the organization notification online?
Yes. The Immigration Services Agency provides an online contracting-organization notification service subject to account procedures.
Is the Certificate of Authorized Employment mandatory?
No, not for every job change. It may be particularly helpful if duties or employer circumstances changed and an early eligibility confirmation is needed.
Does the certificate itself let me work outside my visa category?
No. It certifies permitted work under an existing residence status, not a new permission for other activities.
What if my salary is lower at the new company?
A reduction alone is not automatic refusal. It remains important that pay is appropriate compared with Japanese workers in similar duties and the work continues to qualify.
What happens if I am unemployed for more than three months?
There can be revocation concerns for extended non-engagement without justifiable reasons, but revocation is not automatic on a fixed day. Keep legitimate job-search and circumstance evidence.
Do I need a new COE while already in Japan?
Ordinarily a resident uses the applicable in-country procedure rather than a new overseas-entry COE. The right route depends on status and actual activities.
Can I change from IT engineering to a hotel reception role?
The new duties may differ significantly. Assess the correct specialist/other residence status, actual work and 2026 language proof rules before starting.
Will immigration check my new employer only at the next renewal?
A renewal may examine the new company and actual activities; you can also consider an optional Certificate of Authorized Employment earlier.
When should I apply for extension after changing jobs?
Generally within the normal application window before your status expires. If the activities have moved outside the current category, a change may be needed instead.
What documents prove my gap between jobs?
Resignation and start dates, job applications, interviews, offers and reasons for any unemployment can help provide an accurate history.
Does a five-year residence card remain valid after resignation?
Resignation does not automatically cause instant cancellation, but you must comply with notification duties and ongoing authorized-activity conditions. Revocation issues can arise depending on circumstances.
Is a work visa guaranteed if I have a job offer?
No. The actual specialized work, your academic or qualifying career background, the Japanese contracting organization and appropriate remuneration must meet immigration requirements.
How much does your office charge for a COE or change?
Our Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services professional fee starts from ¥110,000, including tax. Government charges where relevant and out-of-pocket expenses are separate.
Is there one mandatory annual salary for all Engineer visa holders?
No universal fixed annual salary applies to every Engineer/Specialist position. In general, remuneration must be at least equivalent to a Japanese national doing comparable work.
Can I apply from outside Japan?
A qualifying Japan-side organization can generally prepare a COE application for an overseas candidate. Visa issuance by the relevant consulate, if applicable, is a separate process.
Consult a Licensed Administrative Scrivener
Kawagoe Masanobu Administrative Scrivener Office is based in Sagae, Yamagata Prefecture. We assist applicants and Japanese hiring organizations with immigration application documents and authorized filing-intermediary services. We support English enquiries from across Japan and abroad.
Masanobu Kawagoe
Licensed Administrative Scrivener / Immigration Application Intermediary
Sagae, Yamagata, Japan
Telephone: +81 237-86-7198
The correct application procedure, documents and scope of service are assessed individually.
Related Guidance and Services
Official Immigration Services Agency Guidance
The Immigration Services Agency and the competent regional immigration office decide status eligibility, documents and immigration outcomes. Check the latest application instructions for the specific employment and organizational category.
ISA: Contracting Organization Notification (14 Days) ISA: Certificate of Authorized Employment Immigration Services Agency: Engineer / Specialist Residence Status ISA: Notification Q&A, Including Extension and Change Exceptions ISA: Online Application and Certificate Issuance Fees (2026) ISA: Clarification and Case Examples ISA: Immigration and Residence Examination Q&A
Changed Jobs While Holding a Japan Work Visa?
Send your old and new contract dates, actual job duties, salary and residence expiry. We can help identify the required notifications, whether the new work fits your status and the documents for a certificate or future renewal.
9:00–18:00 Japan time · Immigration applications are assessed individually · Nationwide and overseas enquiries welcome