Leaving or changing your job
Notify the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days
Mid- to long-term residents with a work or study status must notify the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days when they leave their organization or join a new one. This page explains who must notify, how, and what happens if you are not working for a while.
Checked against the Immigration Control Act (Japanese Law Translation) and Immigration Services Agency pages in October 2026
Key points
- Notify within 14 days after you leave, and again within 14 days after you join a new organization
- You can notify online at any time through the Electronic Notification System
- Not working for 3 months or more without a justifiable reason can lead to revocation
This site is mainly in Japanese. English pages: Leaving a job in Japan (checklist) ・ Unemployment benefits calculator ・ How to quit a job ・ Immigration notification ・ Resident tax ・ Health insurance and pension ・ Lump-sum withdrawal calculator
Who must notify
- Notification of the contracting organization: for example Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, Researcher, Nursing Care, Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker, and Highly Skilled Professional (i)(a)(b)
- Notification of the accepting organization: for example Professor, Business Manager, Legal / Accounting Services, Medical Services, Instructor, Intra-company Transferee, Technical Intern Training, Student, and Trainee
- Both are due within 14 days of the change (Immigration Control Act, Article 19-16): when your contract ends or you leave, and again when you sign with a new organization
How to notify
- Online: the Electronic Notification System, available 24 hours a day (English user manual, PDF)
- In person: at a regional immigration office, showing your residence card
- By mail: send the form and a copy of your residence card to the notification desk of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau (address and forms, in Japanese)
If you are not working for a while
Your status of residence may be revoked if you do not engage in its activities for 3 months or more without a justifiable reason (6 months for Highly Skilled Professional (ii)) (Immigration Control Act, Article 22-4). When a status is revoked on this ground, you are generally given up to 30 days to leave Japan instead of being deported (Immigration Services Agency, in Japanese).
Certificate of Authorized Employment
You can apply for a certificate showing which paid activities you may do. It is optional: no one may treat you disadvantageously for not showing it when your permitted activities are clear (Article 19-2). The fee is 2,000 yen (1,600 yen online) if it is issued (Immigration Services Agency, in Japanese).
Where to get help
- Immigration Services Agency information center: 0570-013904 (from IP phones or abroad: 03-5796-7112), weekdays 8:30 to 17:15, in English and 10 other languages
- Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC): government desks in one place in Tokyo
FAQ
I left my job and have not found a new one yet. Will I lose my status of residence?
Not immediately. Your status may be revoked if you do not engage in its activities for 3 months or more without a justifiable reason (6 months for Highly Skilled Professional (ii)). Notify the agency within 14 days, and consult the information center if you are unsure.
Do I need a Certificate of Authorized Employment for my new job?
No, it is optional. It certifies which paid activities you may do. No one may treat you disadvantageously for not showing it when your permitted activities are clear.
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