The Immigration Services Agency of Japan is reviewing the frequency and format of notifications required from companies accepting Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals (organisations to which a Specified Skilled Worker belongs) and from Registered Support Organisations, in order to reduce their administrative burden. Following a ministerial ordinance promulgated in March 2025 and brought into force on 1 April of the same year, the submission frequency and required entries for periodic notification have been simplified.
- Annual periodic notification: Periodic notification submitted by an organisation to which a Specified Skilled Worker belongs has changed from the previous quarterly submission to once a year (covering the period from 1 April to 31 March of the following year, with a submission deadline of 31 May of the following year).
- Ad-hoc notification: Notification triggered by specific events — such as a change, termination or new conclusion of an employment contract, a change to the support plan, a change to the support outsourcing contract, difficulty in continuing acceptance, non-conformity with the requirements, or difficulty in implementing the support plan — continues to be required.
- Registered Support Organisations' notification duties: Registered Support Organisations are likewise required to notify the authorities without delay of changes to their registered particulars, and of the suspension, discontinuation or resumption of their support operations.
- Electronic notification system: The "Immigration Services Agency Electronic Notification System" has been in operation since April 2021, allowing organisations to which a Specified Skilled Worker belongs and Registered Support Organisations to submit their notifications online.
- Simplification of documentation: Efforts to streamline the documents required for submission — such as reducing attached materials and dispensing with notification for certain minor changes — are also being rolled out progressively.
Where notifications are not properly carried out, continued acceptance of Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals may become impossible, so compliance with the latest rules is important.
For help with SSW notification procedures and other Registered Support Organisation duties, see our support organisation services.
Source: Notification by Organisations to Which a Specified Skilled Worker Belongs / Ministerial Ordinance Amendment Effective 1 April 2025 (Immigration Services Agency)
