On 10 September 2026, the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) updated the screening status of residence applications under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) (i) "food service industry" field. Issuance of Certificates of Eligibility (COEs) in this field has been temporarily suspended since 13 April, and the applications currently eligible for issuance are those received on or before 31 January 2026.
- How the suspension came about: According to the ISA's document of 27 March, the number of SSW (i) residents in the food service field was "approximately 46,000 (provisional figure)" at the end of February, and was expected to exceed the projected intake number (the intake cap, 50,000) around May. On 3 April the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries asked the Minister of Justice to suspend issuance, and on 13 April the ISA took a temporary suspension measure under Article 7-2, paragraph 4 of the Immigration Control Act. 「本日以降に受理した同分野に係る在留資格認定証明書交付申請は、不交付とします」("Applications for a Certificate of Eligibility in this field that are accepted from today onwards will not be issued," the ISA stated on 13 April.)
- Issuance of COEs: 「現状、在留資格変更許可申請を優先して処理しており、毎月の在留者数を踏まえて、在留資格認定証明書交付申請の交付が可能な場合に、受付日順で順次交付しています」("At present, applications for change of status of residence are being processed first, and where issuance of COEs is possible in light of the monthly number of residents, they are being issued in order of the date of receipt," the ISA states.) As of 10 September, the cut-off is 「受付日が令和８年１月３１日までの申請」("applications received on or before 31 January 2026 (Reiwa 8)"). The page gives no outlook beyond this date.
- Changes of status of residence: Cases (1) to (3) below are, 「受入れ見込数を踏まえ、通常どおり審査が終了次第許可」("in light of the projected intake number, granted as usual as soon as screening is complete"). (1) Changes from Technical Intern Training (medical and welfare facility meal production work): applications received up to 31 August 2026. (2) Changes from Designated Activities (preparation for transition to SSW (i)) in the food service field: also up to 31 August. (3) Changes accompanying a job change within the food service field: all applications.
- Changes from any other status: Applications received on or before 12 April 2026 are eligible. Applications accepted on or after 13 April are, as a rule, "not permitted" (「原則不許可となります」).
- Extension of the period of stay: 「通常どおり順次審査が終了次第許可しています」("Extensions are being granted as usual, in sequence, as soon as screening is complete.")
- Points to note: Where the period of stay is expected to expire before an applicant's turn comes, they may be advised to change to Designated Activities (SSW (i) preparation) (food service field) or to renew that status (renewal is allowed only once). The ISA, regional immigration offices and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries do not answer enquiries about the status of a permission. Because technical intern trainees can no longer work once their training plan has been completed, they are asked to submit a change application at least two months before the planned start of work.
Applications for a COE accepted on or after 13 April will not be issued, and changes from sources other than (1) to (3) accepted on or after 13 April are, as a rule, not permitted. Any business planning to take on a new SSW (i) worker in the food service field therefore needs to confirm which group the person falls into. The published materials we checked do not say how long the suspension will last. For consultations on SSW recruitment plans, see our Specified Skilled Worker support.
Source: Immigration Services Agency, "Screening Status of Residence Applications for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (Food Service Industry Field) (posted 10 September 2026)" / Immigration Services Agency, "Operation of the Acceptance Cap in the Specified Skilled Worker 'Food Service Industry' Field" / Immigration Services Agency, "Temporary Suspension of Certificate of Eligibility Issuance in the Specified Skilled Worker 'Food Service Industry' Field"