News

Nepal has been added to the scope of our Fee-Charging Employment Placement Business Licence, bringing the number of countries from which we can introduce candidates to five. We are also preparing to add China.

Sector-specific operational guidelines for food and beverage manufacturing and resource recycling have been published under Employment for Skill Development, and an MOC has been signed with Timor-Leste. Five countries have now concluded MOCs.

The Hokkaido Regional Minimum Wages Council has recommended raising the industry-specific minimum wage for four manufacturing sectors. The planned effective date is 1 December, which may be delayed if an objection is lodged.

The Immigration Services Agency has published the revised permanent residence guidelines and new guidelines on revoking Permanent Resident status. For permanent residence permission, the new version generally applies to applications from 1 April 2027.

From April 2027, Certificate of Eligibility applications for SSW (ii), and for SSW (i) in road transport and railway, will require Japanese at "B1 equivalent or above". The training requirement for support managers is not applied for now under a transitional measure.

The MHLW has announced the start of JPETS in Indonesia. Health checks are to be accepted from 2 November, and a certificate confirming that the applicant has not developed tuberculosis is to become mandatory on 4 January 2027; both dates are planned.

The MHLW has published its 2025 inspection and referral figures. Labour standards violations were found at 73.2% of the inspected workplaces employing technical intern trainees and 76.5% of those employing Specified Skilled Workers.

Issuance of Certificates of Eligibility for the food service industry has been suspended since 13 April. On 10 September the Immigration Services Agency updated its issuance status, which follows the order in which applications were received, and how changes and extensions are handled.

The Immigration Services Agency has confirmed the revision of residence-permit fees. Change/renewal fees move to a tiered structure, and the permanent residence fee rises to ¥200,000. Applications received by 30 September are charged at the current rates.

Fee payment for online applications is changing to convenience-store or bank payment. Any notification email not sent from "@service-dgft.com" is a scam, and caution is needed.