Who this is for
- Restaurants inviting chefs of foreign cuisine to Japan
- Foreign nationals seeking to change to or renew the Skilled Labor status of residence
- Companies hiring workers with skills specific to foreign countries
Main application and consultation offices:Regional Immigration Services Bureaus and other offices. Jurisdiction is confirmed based on factors such as the location of the accepting organization for Certificate of Eligibility applications, and the applicant’s place of residence for changes and renewals.
Eligible Activities and Requirements
“Skilled Labor” is a status of residence for work requiring proficient skills in a specialized industrial field, based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan. Eligible occupations include cooks specializing in foreign cuisine; workers skilled in foreign-specific architecture or product manufacturing; artisans who process precious stones or precious metals; animal trainers; aircraft pilots; sports instructors; and sommeliers. Confirm whether the actual duties qualify, not just the job title.
Under the landing permission criteria, applicants must meet the requirements for the relevant occupation and receive remuneration equal to or greater than that paid to a Japanese national for the same work. The period of stay is five years, three years, one year, or three months. The period requested is not necessarily granted.
The experience required varies by occupation. For example, sports instructors are generally subject to a criterion such as at least three years of practical experience, with a separate criterion based on participation as an athlete in an international competition. Sommeliers need at least five years of practical experience as well as specified competition results or qualifications. The same number of years required for cooks cannot be applied to all skilled occupations.
How Experience as a Cook Is Verified
As a general rule, at least 10 years of practical experience is required in cooking or food manufacturing skills for cuisine devised abroad and considered specialized in Japan. Periods of study in relevant cooking or food-manufacturing subjects at an educational institution abroad are also included. It is important to document the duties and periods of work related to the skill for which the application is being made, rather than simply counting the years worked at restaurants.
Cooks covered by the Japan-Thailand EPA are treated differently. The official document guide specifies at least five years of experience as a Thai cook, proof of a skill level of at least beginner, and proof that the applicant received reasonable remuneration as a Thai cook in Thailand during the year immediately preceding the application. In some cases, periods of education to obtain the prescribed skills certification may be included, but the five-year criterion is not available to everyone who works at a Thai restaurant.
Organize the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of previous employers, duties performed, and periods of employment, and cross-check them against the resume and supporting certificates. Do not rely on a cook’s license or qualification certificate alone to explain the required work history.
COE, Change, and Renewal: Employer Categories
When recruiting someone from overseas, apply for a Certificate of Eligibility. When changing from another status of residence while in Japan to Skilled Labor, apply for permission to change status of residence. To continue activities under Skilled Labor, apply for permission to extend the period of stay. For a change, first confirm whether the new work is permitted under the current status of residence.
Required documents also vary according to the employer’s category, from 1 to 4. Category 2 includes organizations and individuals whose withholding tax on employment income shown in the previous year’s annual statutory payment record summary is at least ¥10 million. Category 3 includes organizations and individuals that submitted that summary, except those in Category 2. Category 4 includes organizations and individuals that do not fall into another category. Category 1 comprises designated organizations such as listed companies. Whether documents may be omitted is a separate issue from whether the applicant meets the eligibility requirements.
From April 15, 2026, a declaration concerning the representative of the affiliated organization is an additional requirement for Categories 3 and 4. For renewals, resident tax documents for these categories are also checked. In addition, the first renewal after changing jobs to an employer in Category 3 or 4 requires additional documents, such as the new contract terms and business materials. The list below covers major documents; it is not a complete list of mandatory documents that applies to everyone.
Checking required documents and where to obtain them
The documents listed are representative examples. Required materials vary depending on the type of application, such as an application for a Certificate of Eligibility, change, or extension, as well as your current status of residence, affiliated organization, nationality, and family relationships. Additional materials may be requested for individual cases.
Main Documents to Be Prepared by the Applicant and Previous Employers
Application form, photograph, and identity documents
- Purpose
- To confirm the type of application and the applicant’s information.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Official Immigration Services Agency forms, and the applicant’s passport and residence card.
- Points to check
- The application form differs for Certificate of Eligibility, change, and renewal applications. For mailed delivery of a Certificate of Eligibility, a return envelope is indicated; for change and renewal applications, the passport and residence card must be presented. Also confirm whether a photograph is required and its specifications.
Resume of Work in Skilled Labor Activities
- Purpose
- To show, in chronological order, the organizations where the applicant worked, duties performed, and periods of employment.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Prepared by the applicant based on past employment records and other information.
- Points to check
- Common documents for Categories 1 to 4 for Certificate of Eligibility and change applications. This differs from the common list for regular renewals.
Employment Certificates, Education Documents, and Occupation-Specific Skills Certificates
- Purpose
- To provide objective evidence of the required experience and skills.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Previous employers, foreign educational institutions, qualification-certifying organizations, and others.
- Points to check
- Primarily for Categories 3 and 4 in Certificate of Eligibility and change applications. Select documents relevant to the occupation: for Chinese cooks, household registration books and occupational qualification certificates; for pilots, flight records; and for sports instructors, coaching experience or participation in international competitions, for example.
Documents for Cooks under the Japan-Thailand EPA
- Purpose
- To demonstrate that the applicant qualifies for the special treatment for cooks.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Proof of skill level from Thailand’s Ministry of Labour, and proof of experience and remuneration from previous employers, among other documents.
- Points to check
- When using the special treatment, confirm at least five years of experience, a skill level of at least beginner, and remuneration in Thailand during the year immediately preceding the application. Keep these separate from the experience documents for general cooks.
Main Documents to Be Prepared by the Employer in Japan
Documents Certifying the Employer Category
- Purpose
- To confirm which category of supporting documents applies.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The employer’s annual statutory payment record summary, listing certificate, and other documents held by the employer.
- Points to check
- Checked for Certificate of Eligibility, change, and renewal applications. If no document certifying a category can be submitted, classify the employer as Category 4.
Documents Certifying Job Duties, Written Notice of Employment Conditions, and Other Documents
- Purpose
- To show the actual duties and contract terms, including remuneration.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Prepared and issued by the accepting organization.
- Points to check
- For Certificate of Eligibility and change applications, a document certifying job duties is a common document. Employment condition documents are submitted for Categories 3 and 4, among others; for officers, use minutes or similar documents specifying remuneration. For dispatched workers, documents concerning activities at the client company are also required.
Business Information, Certificate of Registered Matters, Financial Statements, and Other Documents
- Purpose
- To explain the employer’s business activities and financial position.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The employer; certificates of registered matters are obtained from the Legal Affairs Bureau.
- Points to check
- Applicable to Certificate of Eligibility and change applications for Categories 3 and 4, and to the first renewal after changing jobs to an employer in these categories, among other cases. Prepare business activity documents from the options in the official guidance. For a new business, prepare a business plan in place of financial statements.
Declaration concerning the representative of the affiliated organization
- Purpose
- To declare the prescribed information concerning the representative.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Prepared by the affiliated organization using the Immigration Services Agency’s reference form.
- Points to check
- An additional document for Category 3 and 4 applications from April 15, 2026. It is also required for renewals.
Supplementary Documents Related to Withholding Tax
- Purpose
- To explain why the annual statutory payment record summary cannot be submitted.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The employer’s tax filings, payment records, and other documents.
- Points to check
- For Category 4 applications for a Certificate of Eligibility or change of status, and for the first renewal after changing jobs, etc., the relevant grounds are verified. This may involve a copy of the business commencement notification and payment records, or documents showing exemption from withholding tax, for example.
Main documents to check at renewal
Certificate of residence tax (taxable or non-taxable) and certificate of tax payment
- Purpose
- To verify total income for one year and the status of residence tax payments.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Municipal office for the address as of January 1.
- Points to check
- Submitted for renewals in Categories 3 and 4. If one document includes both types of information, only one is needed. If the documents cannot be issued, such as immediately after entering Japan, check with Immigration.
Consultation and application preparation process
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Points to check before applying
- Attach a Japanese translation to any documents submitted in a foreign language. As a general rule, certificates issued in Japan should have been issued within the past three months. If you wish to have returned an original that would be difficult to obtain again, request this at the time of application.
- Required documents vary depending on the occupation, employer category, type of application, and job-change history. Additional documents beyond the official list may also be requested. Having all the documents does not guarantee permission or a particular screening period.
This page provides general information about the system and does not determine individual cases or guarantee permission or approval. Required documents and requirements vary depending on individual circumstances. When applying, check the latest official information and consult an administrative scrivener about the procedures suited to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to work as a chef if I have worked for 10 years?
The number of years alone is not enough to determine eligibility. We check whether the experience relates to skills in the relevant foreign cuisine or other qualifying area, as well as the actual duties, contract, and remuneration. If a period of study is to be counted, it must also be substantiated.
If I change jobs, are the usual renewal documents enough?
For the first renewal after changing to an employer in Category 3 or 4, additional documents are required, including contract terms, business details, and financial statements. Do not prepare only the same list of documents as for a standard renewal.
Are Skilled Labor and Specified Skilled Worker the same status?
They are separate statuses of residence. Skilled Labor, as discussed on this page, covers specialized, highly skilled work such as chefs specializing in foreign cuisine. The examinations and support system for Specified Skilled Worker cannot simply be used as the application requirements for Skilled Labor.
Official Immigration and Legal Affairs Sources
Check the following official pages for application forms and the latest required submission materials. Official materials are displayed in Japanese or other languages provided by each organization.
- [1] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Status of Residence “Skilled Labor”
- [2] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Documents to submit for Certificate of Eligibility, change of status, renewal, etc. for Skilled Labor—Chefs
- [3] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Documents to submit for Certificate of Eligibility, change of status, renewal, etc. for Skilled Labor—occupations other than chefs
- [4] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Activities covered by Status of Residence “Skilled Labor” and landing permission criteria (Categories 1–9)