Work visa holders, get certificate of authorized employment when changing jobs

photo by startupdonut

While working in Japan, sometimes you have a chance to change jobs. Or, you may be in the middle of job hunting right now. Foreign nationals working in Japan is allowed to change jobs within the bound of activities permitted under their status of residence. In late years, a residence card is commonly used to prove the visa holder’s qualification to work in Japan as his/her status of residence is printed on the card. However, if you are a work visa holder and have recently changed jobs, you should obtain a certificate of authorized employment as soon as possible.

What is the certificate of authorized employment?

A certificate of authorized employment is issued by the Minister of Legal Affair to prove the holder’s eligibility to engage in activities related to the management of business involving income or activities for which he receives remuneration, and details of permitted activities are described on it. The certificate is used to help employers know whether applicants hold appropriate authorizations to work in Japan, and also prevent illegal employments. Note that this certificate is issued upon the visa holder’s request in order to prove his/her qualification to work in Japan and it is not a permit to allow the visa holder to work in Japan. Foreign nationals are allowed to work in Japan without this certificate as long as they have appropriate type of status of residence for some reason.

Why you should obtain a certificate of authorized employment after changing jobs

Working visas allow foreign nationals to work in Japan by using their special expertise or skills. There are restrictions under each status of residence thus holders are not permitted to engage in activities that involve income or remuneration other than permitted under their status of residence. However, the holders are free to change their employers as long as activities they engage in match the conditions of their status of residence.

Before foreign nationals are newly granted their status of residence, business descriptions of their employers and applicants’ skills are assessed whether they match appropriately. However, there is no such mandatory assessments over job changes during the period of stay granted. Next occasion working visa holders’ employment conditions are assessed is when they apply for extension of period of stay. If it turns out that their status of residence is inappropriate for the activities they engage in at the time of assessment, their application for extension of period of stay is likely to be declined.

To avoid such a trouble, it is recommended to obtain a certificate of authorized employment as soon as you start working for a new employer. During the course of issuance of the certificate, whether your status of residence is appropriate for your current job will be examined. Even though it turns out that your current activity fails to meet the conditions of your status of residence, you may be able to spare some time to consider the best course of action, only if you applied for this certificate immediately while there still is enough time before the visa expiry date.

How to apply

A certificate of authorized employment can be applied at the nearest regional immigration office. Bring the completed application form and a certificate for payment of fee with 900yen worth revenue stamp attached with you and submit them at the counter. An application form and a certificate for payment of fee can be obtained from a regional immigration office or downloaded from the Ministry of Justice website. Revenue stamps can be purchased from a regional immigration office.

What to bring

Application form
Permit to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted (if any)
Residence card or special permanent resident certificate
Passport
Photo ID of agent (if an agent is applying on behalf of applicant)

※General processing times are 1-3 months

Changing jobs? Check job description carefully

As long as you keep staying in Japan with working visa, you have to apply for extension of period of stay every few years. It would be everyone’s nightmare if your application is declined due to engaging in an inappropriate activity. But you can check if your current activity is permitted under your status of residence by applying for a certificate of authorized employment. Even if it turns out that your current job doesn’t suit your visa conditions, you still can do something if there are plenty of time before the visa expiry date. So, don’t forget to apply for this certificate if you are thinking about a job change.