Skilled Labor - Required Documents
The Skilled Labor status of residence is for activities involving work requiring skilled techniques in special industrial fields, based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan.
| Applicable activities | Activities involving work requiring skilled techniques in special industrial fields, based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan |
|---|---|
| Period of stay | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 3 months |
Applicable Fields
- Cook/Chef - Cooking or food manufacturing of foreign cuisine (10+ years of practical experience)
- Construction technician - Foreign-style construction or civil engineering (10+ years of practical experience)
- Foreign product manufacturing/repair - Manufacturing or repairing products unique to a foreign country (10+ years of practical experience)
- Gemstone, precious metal, and fur processing - Processing of gemstones, precious metals, and fur (10+ years of practical experience)
- Animal trainer - Animal training (10+ years of practical experience)
- Oil/geothermal drilling - Oil exploration, geothermal drilling, etc. (10+ years of practical experience)
- Aircraft pilot - Aircraft piloting (250+ hours of flight experience)
- Sports instructor - Sports coaching (3+ years of practical experience or participation in international competitions)
- Sommelier - Wine tasting, etc. (5+ years of practical experience, placement in international competitions, etc.)
Category Classification of the Affiliated Organization
Required documents vary by category. Please confirm your applicable category before submitting documents.
| Category | Applicable organizations |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | Listed companies, mutual companies engaged in the insurance business, national/local governments, independent administrative agencies, special corporations/authorized corporations, innovation-creating enterprises, companies meeting certain conditions, etc. |
| Category 2 | Organizations or individuals whose total withholding tax on employees’ salary income for the previous year is 10 million yen or more |
| Category 3 | Organizations or individuals that have submitted a statutory record summary table of withholding tax slips for employees’ salary income for the previous year (excluding Category 2) |
| Category 4 | Organizations or individuals not falling under Categories 1 to 3 |
Required Documents by Application Type
- Application for Certificate of Eligibility (New)
- Application for Change of Status of Residence
- Application for Extension of Period of Stay
Notes Before Applying
- For questions about how to fill out application forms or required documents, please contact the Immigration Information Center. (TEL: 0570-013904)
- If the application is submitted with incomplete documents, the examination may be significantly delayed or the application may be denied.
- All certificates issued in Japan must be submitted within 3 months of the date of issuance.
- Documents written in a foreign language must be accompanied by a Japanese translation.
Application for Certificate of Eligibility (New)
Common Documents (All Categories)
1. One copy of the Application for Certificate of Eligibility
2. One photograph
4 cm (height) x 3 cm (width), taken within 6 months before the application, front-facing, without hat, plain background, and clear. Write the applicant’s name on the back of the photo and attach it to the photo section of the application form.
3. One return envelope
Write the recipient’s address on a standard envelope and affix stamps for simplified registered mail. This will be used for returning the application result (Certificate of Eligibility, etc.).
4. Documents proving the applicable category
Submit documents proving the category to which the affiliated organization belongs. If no submittable documents are available, the organization falls under Category 4. (Check category classification)
Category 1
Submit any of the following documents that are available.
- Copy of the Shikiho (Japan Company Handbook) or a copy of a document proving listing on a Japanese stock exchange
- Copy of a document proving that establishment approval was obtained from the competent authority
- Document proving the company is an innovation-creating enterprise (copy of subsidy grant decision notice, etc.)
- Document proving the company meets certain conditions (copy of certification, etc.)
Category 2
Copy of the statutory record summary table of withholding tax slips for employees’ salary income for the previous year
Category 3
Copy of the statutory record summary table of withholding tax slips for employees’ salary income for the previous year
5. Document from the affiliated organization proving the content of work to be performed
6. Resume specifying the organizations, content, and period of engagement in work related to the applicable skill
7. In the case of employment through a dispatch contract (if applicable)
If the applicant is a dispatched worker, materials clarifying the content of activities at the dispatch destination (copy of labor conditions notification (employment contract), etc.).
Additional Documents for Categories 3 and 4
8. Documents proving the applicant’s work history
Requirements vary by field.
For cooks/chefs (excluding Thai cuisine)
- (a) Documents proving the period of engagement in work related to the applicable skill, such as a certificate of employment from the affiliated organization (stating the organization’s name, address, and phone number) (including the period of study in subjects related to the work at a foreign educational institution)
- (b) If there is a certificate issued by a public institution, a copy of said certificate (for Chinese cuisine chefs: household register and vocational qualification certificate)
For Thai cuisine chefs
- (a) Documents proving 5 or more years of practical experience as a Thai cuisine chef (including the period of training at an educational institution to meet the requirements for obtaining the skill level certificate issued by the Thai Ministry of Labour)
- (b) Certificate of beginner level or above regarding Thai cuisine chef skill level
- (c) Documents proving that the applicant received appropriate compensation as a Thai cuisine chef in Thailand during the 1 year immediately preceding the application date
For construction technicians, foreign product manufacturing/repair, animal trainers, submarine drilling/exploration, and gemstone/precious metal/fur processing
Documents proving the period of engagement in work related to the applicable skill, such as a certificate of employment from the affiliated organization (stating the organization’s name, address, and phone number) (including the period of study in subjects related to the work at a foreign educational institution)
For aircraft pilots
Document from the affiliated organization proving 250 or more hours of flight experience
For sports instructors
- (a) Documents proving engagement in practical work related to sports coaching (including the period of study in subjects related to sports coaching at a foreign educational institution and the period of engagement in the sport for compensation)
- (b) Documents proving participation as an athlete in the Olympics, World Championships, or other international competitions
For sommeliers
- (a) Documents proving practical experience in wine tasting, etc., such as a certificate of employment (stating the affiliated organization’s name, address, and phone number) (including the period of study in subjects related to wine tasting, etc. at a foreign educational institution)
- (b) One of the following:
- Documents proving outstanding results in an international sommelier competition
- Documents proving participation in an international sommelier competition (limited to one participant per country)
- Documents proving possession of a qualification recognized by a national/local government or equivalent body, as designated by the Minister of Justice by public notice, regarding wine tasting, etc.
9. Materials proving the applicant’s activities, etc.
Submit the applicable materials from the following.
- (1) When entering into a labor contract: A document specifying labor conditions issued to the worker based on Article 15, Paragraph 1 of the Labor Standards Act and Article 5 of the Enforcement Regulations of said Act
- (2) When assuming a position as an officer of a Japanese corporation: A copy of the articles of incorporation specifying officer compensation, or a copy of the minutes of the shareholders’ meeting resolving officer compensation (for companies with a compensation committee, a copy of the minutes of said committee)
10. Materials proving the business content
- (1) A brochure with detailed information about the workplace, including its history, officers, organization, business content (including major business partners and transaction records), etc.
- (2) Other documents prepared by the workplace equivalent to (1)
- (3) Certificate of registered matters
11. Copy of financial statements for the most recent fiscal year
※ For new businesses, submit a business plan.
12. Materials proving the reason for being unable to submit the statutory record summary table (Category 4 only)
- (1) For organizations exempt from withholding tax: Certificate of exemption from withholding tax for foreign corporations or other materials proving that withholding tax is not required
- (2) For other organizations:
- Copy of the notification of establishment of salary payment office, etc.
- One of the following: Copy of the income tax collection record calculation form for the most recent 3 months (with receipt date stamp) or materials proving approval of special payment deadline provisions
Application for Change of Status of Residence
Common Documents (All Categories)
1. One copy of the Application for Change of Status of Residence
2. One photograph
4 cm (height) x 3 cm (width), taken within 6 months before the application, front-facing, without hat, plain background, and clear. Write the applicant’s name on the back of the photo and attach it to the photo section of the application form.
3. Passport and residence card
4. Documents proving the applicable category
Submit documents proving the category to which the affiliated organization belongs. If no submittable documents are available, the organization falls under Category 4. (Check category classification)
Category 1
Submit any of the following documents that are available.
- Copy of the Shikiho (Japan Company Handbook) or a copy of a document proving listing on a Japanese stock exchange
- Copy of a document proving that establishment approval was obtained from the competent authority
- Document proving the company is an innovation-creating enterprise (copy of subsidy grant decision notice, etc.)
- Document proving the company meets certain conditions (copy of certification, etc.)
Category 2
Copy of the statutory record summary table of withholding tax slips for employees’ salary income for the previous year
Category 3
Copy of the statutory record summary table of withholding tax slips for employees’ salary income for the previous year
5. Document from the affiliated organization proving the content of work to be performed
6. Resume specifying the organizations, content, and period of engagement in work related to the applicable skill
7. In the case of employment through a dispatch contract (if applicable)
If the applicant is a dispatched worker, materials clarifying the content of activities at the dispatch destination (copy of labor conditions notification (employment contract), etc.).
Additional Documents for Categories 3 and 4
8. Documents proving the applicant’s work history
Same as No. 8 of the new application (for details by field, see new application reference).
9. Materials proving the applicant’s activities, etc.
Same as No. 9 of the new application.
10. Materials proving the business content
Same as No. 10 of the new application.
11. Copy of financial statements for the most recent fiscal year
※ For new businesses, submit a business plan.
12. Materials proving the reason for being unable to submit the statutory record summary table (Category 4 only)
Same as No. 12 of the new application.
Application for Extension of Period of Stay
Common Documents (All Categories)
1. One copy of the Application for Extension of Period of Stay
2. One photograph
4 cm (height) x 3 cm (width), taken within 6 months before the application, front-facing, without hat, plain background, and clear. Write the applicant’s name on the back of the photo and attach it to the photo section of the application form.
3. Passport and residence card
4. Documents proving the applicable category
Submit documents proving the category to which the affiliated organization belongs. If no submittable documents are available, the organization falls under Category 4. (Check category classification)
Category 1
Submit any of the following documents that are available.
- Copy of the Shikiho (Japan Company Handbook) or a copy of a document proving listing on a Japanese stock exchange
- Copy of a document proving that establishment approval was obtained from the competent authority
- Document proving the company is an innovation-creating enterprise (copy of subsidy grant decision notice, etc.)
- Document proving the company meets certain conditions (copy of certification, etc.)
Category 2
Copy of the statutory record summary table of withholding tax slips for employees’ salary income for the previous year
Category 3
Copy of the statutory record summary table of withholding tax slips for employees’ salary income for the previous year
5. In the case of employment through a dispatch contract (if applicable)
If the applicant is a dispatched worker, materials clarifying the content of activities at the dispatch destination (copy of labor conditions notification (employment contract), etc.).
6. Resident tax taxation (or non-taxation) certificate and tax payment certificate (Categories 3 and 4 only)
Must state the total income and tax payment status for one year. Issued by the ward/city/town/village office of the place of residence as of January 1. If the certificate states both total income and tax payment status, submitting only one is acceptable.
Additional Documents for First Extension After Job Change (Categories 3 and 4)
When applying for an extension for the first time after changing to an organization in Category 3 or 4, the following documents must also be submitted in addition to the above. However, for Category 3, No. 10 is not required.
7. Materials proving the applicant’s activities, etc.
Same as No. 9 of the new application.
8. Materials proving the business content
Same as No. 10 of the new application.
9. Copy of financial statements for the most recent fiscal year
※ For new businesses, submit a business plan.
10. Materials proving the reason for being unable to submit the statutory record summary table (Category 4 only)
Same as No. 12 of the new application.
Reference Links
- Immigration Services Agency - Status of Residence “Skilled Labor” (Japanese)
- Details for Cooks/Chefs (Japanese)
- Details for Non-Cook Fields (Japanese)
- Document Checklist - Cook New Application Table 1 (PDF)
- Document Checklist - Cook New Application Table 2 (PDF)
- Document Checklist - Non-Cook New Application Table 1 (PDF)
- Document Checklist - Non-Cook New Application Table 2 (PDF)
- Document Checklist - Extension (PDF)
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