Notification of the affiliated (contracting/activity) organization
When you change your job during your period of stay (在留期間, zairyu-kikan), you have to be careful not to miss required procedures.
1. When no change in your visa status is required:
(A) If you are mid- to long-term resident with:
- “Highly Skilled Professional” (i) (a) or (b),
- “Highly Skilled Professional” (ii) (a) or (b),
- “Researcher,”
- “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services,”
- “Nursing Care,”
- “Entertainer” (limited to those who are engaged in activities under a contract with their organization),
- “Specified Skilled Worker,” or
- “Skilled Labor,”
then you have to submit “Notification of the affiliated (contracting) organization”. (the form is here)
(B) If you are mid- to long-term resident with:
- “Professor,”
- “Highly Skilled Professional (i) (c),”
- “Highly Skilled Professional (ii) (c),”
- “Business Manager,”
- “Legal/Accounting Services,”
- “Medical Services,”
- “Instructor,”
- “Intra-Company Transferee,”
- “Technical Intern Training,”
- “Student,” or
- “Trainee”
then you have to submit “Notification of the affiliated (activity) organization”. (the form is here)
This document must be filed with the Immigration Office (Nyu-kan) within 14 days after you quit the job and/or joined a new organization. If there are more than 14 days between the last day of your old job and the first day of your new job, then you have to submit a document of termination and of new entry separately when each event occurs.
Filing “Notification of the affiliated (activity/contracting) organization” can be done:
– online (registration is required)
– by mail or
– by bring it directly to the nearest immigration office.
The required documents to submit are:
– The form of notification (termination, entry or termination &entry)
– Your residence card (a copy if you mail them)
Where to submit by mail:
Registration Department, Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau
Yotsuya Tower 14F, 1-6-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0004
東京出入国在留管理局在留管理情報部門届出受付担当 (written in Japanese)
Also write “届出書在中” in Japanese in red on the front of the envelope.
For details about Notification of the affiliated (activity) organization, see here.
For details about Notification of the affiliated (contracting) organization, see here.
The failure of filing this document could result in penalty. It also could result in shortening of your period of stay next time you apply for extension. Having said that, it is much better you file the document even if it is well beyond the 14-day period than not filing it at all.
When you are not sure that you should change visa status upon your job change, it is advised to obtain a Certificate of Authorized Employment (就労資格証明書) in advance with the help of your new employer. If you can obtain this certificate, it will be a big advantage when you apply for extension next time on condition that you are still employed by the new employer.
2. When change in your visa status is required upon your job change:
You should apply for “Change of status of residence” before joining a new company otherwise you will be charged with engaging in activities not permitted under your status, which might result in denial of extension or deportation at the worst.
The blog about the “Change of status of residence” is here.