The supplementary guidelines for the Specified Skilled Worker Program in the food service industry were revised on October 26. The structure and order of the guidelines have been reorganized, the skill requirements and assessment methods for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) have been clarified, and a new section on training and career development programs has been added. The requirements and assessment methods for Japanese language proficiency have also been

Effective October 1, 2026, only foreign nationals residing in Japan under the status of residence “Dependent” may engage in activities outside the scope of their status of residence at amusement gaming establishments (such as pachinko parlors and game centers that meet the requirements prescribed by law), provided that they obtain individual permission.

On October 19, 2026, the 15th Expert Meeting on the Basic Policies for the Specified Skilled Worker and Employment for Skill Development Systems and the Sector-Specific Operational Policies was held.

The meeting presented proposed revisions to the sector-specific operational policies, including a proposed reallocation of the projected intake numbers between the Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Employment for Skill Development programs in the nursing care sector, and a proposal to accept workers in medical and welfare facility meal production under the food and beverage manufacturing sector rather than the food service sector. Other proposed revisions concerned the industrial product manufacturing, construction, aviation, fisheries, and food and beverage manufacturing sectors.

The handling of persons subject to supervision under the Specified Skilled Worker (ii) status of residence has been revised.

A bilateral memorandum has been concluded with Bangladesh under the Employment for Skill Development Program

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Indonesia. One organizations have been removed from the Indonesia list.

The guidelines for the accommodation sector specify the main skills, essential duties, and job categories. Requirements include meeting the prescribed Japanese-language proficiency level or completing at least 100 hours of Japanese-language training before starting work. Direct employment is required, and the transfer restriction period is one ye

A Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on the Employment for Skill Development Program has been concluded with Timor-Leste.

For the railway sector, the guidelines set out the assessment criteria for employment for skill development plans, mandatory duties, and career development programs. For the wood industry sector, mandatory duties and other requirements were specified.

The guidelines for the food and beverage manufacturing and resource circulation sectors specify the main skills, mandatory duties, and work categories. Both sectors require, among other conditions, at least 100 hours of Japanese-language training. Employment is limited to direct employment, and the transfer restriction period is two years.

In October 2026, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries relaunched its online application service, eMAFF, as “eMAFF Application 2.0.” The system features improved usability and input-validation functions, enabling online applications for various procedures related to farmland, subsidies, agricultural mutual insurance, and other areas.

Due to amendments to the Act on Comprehensive Promotion of Labor Policies and other relevant laws, employers are now required to take necessary measures for employment management to prevent customer harassment and sexual harassment against job applicants and other relevant individuals.

For both the automobile maintenance and building cleaning sectors, examination criteria and specific duties concerning “core skills and essential duties” have been provided as separate documents. The criteria concerning the total period of skill development employment, depending on the institution where the individual previously completed technical intern training, have also been revised.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Indonesia. Three organizations have been removed from the list.

The list of foreign-government-approved sending organizations has been updated for Myanmar, dated September 17.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has compiled the revised regional minimum wage rates recommended by the Local Minimum Wage Councils of all prefectural labour bureaus and announced that the national weighted average will be ¥1,177, an increase of ¥56 from the previous fiscal year.

The list of foreign-government-approved sending organizations has been updated: a provisional list for Kyrgyzstan dated September 7 and an approved list for Sri Lanka dated September 9 have been published.

In the list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations, organizations in Laos have been changed from “provisional” to “accredited” status.

The sector-specific operational guidelines for the forestry sector, including additional standards, have been published under “Related Laws and Regulations.”

The sector-specific operational guidelines for the logistics warehouse sector, including additional standards, have been published under “Related Laws and Regulations.”

In the list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations, organizations in Uzbekistan and Thailand have been changed from “provisional” to “accredited” status.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Indonesia. Two organizations have been removed from the list.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Bangladesh. Nine organizations have been removed from the list.

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan has announced special arrangements for immigration applications in connection with the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake.
If you were unable to submit an application within your period of stay because you were affected by the disaster, individual procedures will be handled for the time being even if your period of stay has expired. Please consult your nearest Regional Immigration Services Agency about your application.
If you have temporarily moved or evacuated from your registered place of residence because of the disaster, you may submit your application to the Regional Immigration Services Agency with jurisdiction over your current place of stay.
If you have any questions about these arrangements, please contact your nearest Regional Immigration Services Agency.
Regional Immigration Services Agency: locations and contact information　https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/about/region/index.html

If you are unable to reach a Regional Immigration Services Agency in the Kyushu area by phone, please contact another Regional Immigration Services Agency.

An additional criteria notification for the resource circulation sector has been published under the "Overview and Related Regulations of the Employment for Skill Development System."

An additional criteria notification for the resource circulation sector has been published under the "Related Regulations."

On July 28, the Central Minimum Wage Council submitted its guideline for the FY2026 regional minimum wage increase.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Tajikistan (as of July 24) and Bhutan (as of July 28).

The Operational Guidelines for the Employment for Skill Development System relating to the wood products industry sector were published on July 21, 2026. The guidelines set out the operational rules and sector-specific requirements applicable to the wood products industry.

The Operational Guidelines for the Employment for Skill Development System relating to the automobile maintenance sector were published on July 21, 2026. The guidelines set out the operational rules and sector-specific requirements applicable to the automobile maintenance industry.

A bilateral arrangement with Sri Lanka was established under the Employment for Skill Development System on July 23, 2026.

The Operational Guidelines for the Employment for Skill Development System relating to the building cleaning sector were published on July 14, 2026. The guidelines set out the operational rules and sector-specific requirements applicable to the building cleaning industry.

The Operational Guidelines for the Employment for Skill Development System relating to the linen supply sector were published on July 14, 2026. The guidelines set out the operational rules and sector-specific requirements applicable to the linen supply industry.

The Operational Guidelines for the Employment for Skill Development System relating to the food service sector were published on July 10, 2026. The guidelines set out the operational rules and sector-specific requirements applicable to the food service industry.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Indonesia and Mongolia. Three organizations have been removed from the Indonesia list, and ten organizations have been removed from the Mongolia list.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Pakistan and Laos (as of July 10).

In connection with the implementation of revised residence permit fees, draft amendments to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act Enforcement Order and related regulations have been published. The proposed revisions include changes to the fees for residence-related applications, and a public comment process is currently underway.

The Nagano City Development Guidance Guidelines have been revised, providing clearer criteria regarding the scope and applicability of development activities.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Thailand. Four organizations have been removed from the list.

Effective July 1, 2026, passport application fees have been revised. Fees now differ between online and in-person applications, with online applications costing less. However, due to an increase in applications, the processing time from application to issuance has become longer than usual in Nagano Prefecture.

A bilateral memorandum has been concluded with Uzbekistan under the Employment for Skill Development System.

An additional criteria notification for the logistics warehouse sector has been published under the “Overview and Related Regulations of the Employment for Skill Development System.”

An additional criteria notification for the construction sector has been published under the "Overview and Related Regulations of the Employment for Skill Development System."

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for the Philippines.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) provides financial support to agricultural corporations and other farming entities that newly hire prospective farmers under the age of 50 in order to promote workforce development in the agricultural sector.

The program consists of three categories:

(1) Employment Farming Training and Independence Support Type
(2) New Agricultural Corporation Establishment Support Type
(3) Next-Generation Farm Manager Development Type

Applications are being accepted until July 22, 2026, for agricultural corporations and related entities that newly hired prospective farmers between October 1, 2025 and June 1, 2026. Please refer to the official guidance for details.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Bangladesh (June 16) and Vietnam (June 17). One organization has been removed from each country's list.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Timor-Leste (June 11) and Vietnam (June 12).

Due to amendments to the Passport Act and its Enforcement Order, passport application fees will be revised for applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026. Application fees will differ depending on whether the application is submitted online or at a passport office, with online applications being less expensive.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Pakistan (June 3) and Nepal (June 5).

A bilateral memorandum of cooperation has been established between Japan and the Kingdom of Thailand under the Training and Employment System.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for India (June 1), and one organization has been removed from the list.

To fund measures for improving the environment for travelers and promoting tourism, an accommodation tax will be imposed on persons staying at accommodation facilities located in Nagano Prefecture, including inns, hotels, guesthouses, and private lodging facilities (minpaku).

The tax amount is 200 yen per person per night during the first three years of the system. No tax is imposed when the accommodation charge is less than 6,000 yen per person per night (room-only, excluding tax). For details, please refer to the Nagano Prefecture website. (Some municipalities may impose their own accommodation tax.)

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Thailand (May 22). At this time, the organizations are treated as part of a “provisional sending organization list.”

The amended Immigration Control Act will come into effect on June 14, 2027. Accordingly, the format of Residence Cards and Special Permanent Resident Certificates will be updated, and facial photographs will newly appear on residence cards for persons aged 1 to under 16.

An additional standards notification for the Automobile Maintenance Sector has been published in the “Overview and Related Laws of the Training and Employment System.”

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Indonesia (May 7) and Bangladesh (May 8). At present, both are treated as part of a “Provisional Sending Organization List.”

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Bangladesh (May 8). At this time, the organizations are treated as part of a "provisional sending organization list."

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Thailand (May 7). At this time, the organizations are treated as part of a “provisional sending organization list.”

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Sri Lanka (May 7).
At this time, it is being treated as a "Provisional Sending Organization List."

An additional standards notification for the Industrial Products Manufacturing Sector has been published in the “Overview and Related Laws of the Training and Employment System.”

Additional standards for the agriculture and food manufacturing sectors have been published under "Overview of the Training Employment System and Related Laws."

Additional standards notifications for the forestry sector and wood industry sector under the Training and Employment System have been published.
For the wood industry sector, cooperation with the sector-specific council and compliance with designated industrial classifications, including sawmilling and wood product manufacturing, are required.
For the forestry sector, standards are established regarding requirements for applicants and instructors, occupational safety and health training hours, training for successful skill test examinees, emergency response measures, record keeping, and the maximum number of accepted workers depending on whether the organization is independently managed or supervised.

As of April 15, the standards established in consideration of circumstances specific to the food and beverage manufacturing field under the Specified Skilled Worker system (MAFF Notification) were revised. "Subclass 583 – Meat retail business (limited to those conducting food manufacturing)" has been explicitly included as an eligible category.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Indonesia (April 17).
At present, it is treated as a ""Provisional Sending Organization List.

Additional criteria notices (Fisheries sector and Food Service sector) have been published under "Overview of the Training and Employment System and Related Laws and Regulations."

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Vietnam (April 15).
At this time, it is being treated as a "Provisional Sending Organization List."

From April 15, 2026, applicants under Category 3 or 4 may be required to submit proof of Japanese language ability (CEFR B2 equivalent) when engaging in language-based duties.

From April 15, 2026, submission of a "Declaration Regarding the Organization’s Representative" will be required for certain statuses of residence.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Sri Lanka (April 15).
At this time, it is being treated as a "Provisional Sending Organization List."

A flowchart regarding pre-enforcement applications for supervising organizations has been uploaded to the website.
Please review it here →https://www.otit.go.jp/employment_for_skill_development/03/index.html

Information has been released regarding the payment method for pre-application fees for supervising organizations under the “Training Employment System.”
Details here → https://www.otit.go.jp/employment_for_skill_development/03/03-1/index.html

Please also refer to the Q&A.

Additional standards for the Training and Employment System have been published under “System Overview and Related Laws,” covering the building cleaning and linen supply sectors.

Additional standards were also released on April 2 for the nursing care, shipbuilding and marine engineering, and railway sectors, and on April 7 for the accommodation sector.

The issuance of Certificates of Eligibility for the Specified Skilled Worker (Food Service Industry) category has been temporarily suspended. Applications received from today onward will not be issued.

A partial revision of the operational guidelines for the Training and Employment System has been announced. A comparison table outlining the changes has been published, covering multiple revisions.

The list of foreign government-accredited sending organizations has been updated for Thailand (April 10). At this time, the organizations are treated as part of a “provisional sending organization list.”

The list of certified sending organizations approved by foreign governments has been updated for Uzbekistan (April 6) and Cambodia (April 7). However, both are currently treated as “provisional sending organization lists.”

On May 17, 2024, amendments to the Civil Code and related laws were enacted, and will come into effect on April 1, 2026. Based on the principle of prioritizing the best interests of the child, the amendments clarify parental responsibilities and introduce a joint custody system (optional) after divorce. Provisions regarding parental authority, custody, child support, parent-child contact, and property division have also been revised.

Nagano Prefecture will introduce an accommodation tax effective June 1, 2026. The tax will be imposed on guests staying at hotels, ryokan, simple lodging facilities, and private lodging (minpaku) within the prefecture based on accommodation charges.

The preferred number plate system, which allows users to choose their desired license plate number, will be extended to include small motorcycles and light motorcycles from October 2026. In addition, the design of motorcycle license plates will be updated.

The operational method for the cap on the number of Specified Skilled Workers accepted in the food service industry has been clarified.

Please check the latest information in the List of Foreign Government-Approved Sending Organizations.

Following the amendment to the Administrative Scrivener Act (effective January 1, 2026), the scope of work for Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialists has been expanded. A key change is that, for dispositions based on applications prepared by an administrative scrivener, a certified specialist may now represent clients in administrative appeal procedures even if they were not personally involved in preparing the original application. This strengthens one-stop support in administrative appeal proceedings.

―

Heirs who acquire ownership of real estate through inheritance (including by will) are required to apply for inheritance registration within three years from the date they become aware of both the commencement of the inheritance and their acquisition of ownership. In cases where the division of inheritance has not yet been completed, a system for filing a declaration of heirs’ status (heir declaration registration) is available.