# Changing jobs on a work visa in Japan: notification, status and when to re-apply

URL: https://japanhow.com/visa/visas/changing-jobs-visa-japan/
Author: JapanHow editors
Updated: Oct 27, 2026

## Summary

As of October 2026, changing jobs in Japan does not automatically mean a new visa. If the new job fits your current status, such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, you notify the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days of leaving and again within 14 days of signing. If the work falls under a different status, or you hold Specified Skilled Worker or Highly Skilled Professional 1, you apply for a change of status. A certificate of authorized employment is a separate, optional application.

## Key facts

- Same status, new employer: Notify within 14 days
- Different kind of work: Change of status first
- Work certificate fee: ¥2,000 (¥1,600 online)
- Late notification: Fine up to ¥200,000

If you change employer on a work visa in Japan, you usually **notify the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁, ISA) within 14 days** instead of applying for a new visa. That holds when the new job fits your current status of residence (在留資格). If the work falls under a different status, you **apply for a change of status first**. This is the position as of October 2026.

**Informational only:** This guide explains ISA's published procedure. It is not advice on your case. For a gap between jobs, a different kind of work or a refused application, ask your regional immigration office, the ISA information center (0570-013904) or a licensed immigration and administrative specialist (行政書士).

## Do I need a new visa when I change jobs in Japan?

It depends on your status and on what the new job is.

| Your situation | What ISA expects |
|---|---|
| Status like Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Researcher, Skilled Labor, Nursing Care; new job fits the same status | Notification within 14 days |
| New job belongs to a different status | Apply for a [change of status of residence](/visa/visas/change-of-status-of-residence-japan/) |
| Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) | Apply for a change of status when you change employer |
| Highly Skilled Professional 1 (高度専門職1号) | A change of the designated organization counts as a change of status (Art. 20) |

For Designated Activities (特定活動), the answer depends on the activity designated in your passport note. We did not find a general rule, so ask the bureau.

## What is the 14-day notification?

It is the notification on your contracting organization (契約機関に関する届出), under Article 19-16 of the Immigration Act. You file it yourself, **within 14 days** of each event:

- your contract with the old employer ends
- you sign a new contract with another organization

**14-day notification:** Within 14 days (Contract ended: form 1-4. New contract: form 1-5. Both at once: form 1-7. Online filing needs no supporting documents.)

ISA lists these statuses for the contracting-organization version: Highly Skilled Professional 1 イ/ロ and 2, Researcher, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Nursing Care, Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker, and Entertainer working under a contract.

A second version, the notification on your activity organization (活動機関に関する届出), covers statuses such as Professor, Business Manager, Intra-company Transferee, Medical Services and Student. The events are leaving and moving to a new organization, and the deadline is also 14 days.

You can file three ways:

- **Online** through the electronic notification system (電子届出システム), 24 hours a day. Register the first time. No documents are needed.
- **At a regional immigration office** with your residence card and the form.
- **By mail** with the form and a copy of your residence card, marked 届出書在中 or NOTIFICATION ENCLOSED in red. ISA does not confirm receipt, so use trackable mail.

If you leave one job and sign the next within 14 days, form 1-7 covers both events in one filing.

## When must I apply for a change of status?

When the new job's activities belong to a different status, or when your status is tied to a named employer or organization. ISA's change page says you apply from the moment the reason arises until your current period of stay ends, and warns that a status may be cancelled if you are not doing its activities.

Standard processing is **1 to 2 months**, and the counter fee from October 2026 runs from ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 depending on the period granted (¥33,000 for 1 year). Full tables, documents and averages are in our [change of status guide](/visa/visas/change-of-status-of-residence-japan/).

A 行政書士 or approved employer staff can file for you.

## What is the certificate of authorized employment?

A certificate of authorized employment (就労資格証明書) is a document from ISA that says what work your status allows (Immigration Act Art. 19-2). You can ask for it after a job change if you want written confirmation of what work your status allows.

- **Fee:** ¥2,000 at the counter, ¥1,600 online.
- **Documents:** the usual application documents, plus papers about the new employer and the activities.
- **Time:** same day in standard cases, one to three months after a change of employer.
- **Where:** the regional immigration office for your address, or online.

ISA describes it as an application you make when you want the document. It does not say the certificate is required to change jobs. It does not replace the 14-day notification.

## What happens if I miss the deadline?

Not filing is an offense with a fine of up to **¥200,000** (Art. 71-5). ISA's renewal and change guideline also lists meeting notification duties among the points it considers, and permission can still be refused after overall consideration. It does not say how heavily a lapse counts.

If you are between jobs, the gap matters too. Not doing your status's activities for 3 months or more can lead to revocation without a legitimate reason. See [quitting a job on a work visa](/work/jobs/quitting-job-japan-visa/) for that rule and the leaving-side steps.

## Step by step

## What should I bring to the counter?

- Your residence card (在留カード) and passport
- The notification form (1-4, 1-5 or 1-7), or the change of status form for the new status
- For a certificate or change of status: documents on the new employer and the work, as listed on ISA's page for your status

ISA's information center, 0570-013904, answers general questions.

## More guides

- [Quitting a job on a work visa](/work/jobs/quitting-job-japan-visa/)
- [Change of status of residence](/visa/visas/change-of-status-of-residence-japan/)
- [Visa renewal in Japan](/visa/visas/visa-renewal-japan/)
- [Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa](/visa/visas/engineer-humanities-visa-japan/)
- [Specified Skilled Worker](/visa/visas/specified-skilled-worker-japan/)

## Questions people ask

### Do I need a new visa when I change employer in Japan?

Not if the new job fits your current status. You notify the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days. You do need a change of status if the work belongs to a different status, or if you hold Specified Skilled Worker or Highly Skilled Professional 1.

### Is the certificate of authorized employment compulsory after a job change?

ISA's page describes it as an application you make when you want the document and does not say it is required. It costs ¥2,000 at the counter or ¥1,600 online.

### How long does the certificate of authorized employment take?

ISA says same day in standard cases, and one to three months if you changed employer or activities.

### What if I miss the 14-day notification?

Not filing is punishable by a fine of up to ¥200,000 under Article 71-5. ISA's renewal guideline also lists notification duties among the factors it considers at your next renewal or change.

### Can I start the new job before my change of status is approved?

ISA's change page says a person not doing the activities of their status may have it cancelled. Ask your regional immigration office or a 行政書士 before you start work that your current status does not cover.

## Sources

- [所属（契約）機関に関する届出](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00015.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [所属（活動）機関に関する届出](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00014.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [就労資格証明書交付申請](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-9.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [在留資格変更許可申請](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-2.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [在留資格「特定技能」](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/specifiedskilledworker.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [出入国管理及び難民認定法](https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/326CO0000000319), e-Gov (Digital Agency) (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- [在留資格の変更、在留期間の更新許可のガイドライン](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyuukokukanri07_00058.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 27, 2026)