Changes in the operation of the Specified Skills System (from April 1, 2025) ①

2025年4月30日

■　Submitting a “Letter of Confirmation of Cooperation” to municipalities

When accepting a specified skilled worker, an institution that employs specified skilled workers must submit a “Letter of Confirmation of Cooperation” to the municipality in which the foreign worker’s place of employment and place of residence are located.

Background

With the aim of promoting cooperation regarding regional coexistence policies under the Specified Skilled Worker System, it has been stipulated that when a specified skilled worker institution receives a request from a local government for cooperation regarding policies implemented to realize a symbiotic society (for example, policies related to various administrative services, traffic and garbage disposal rules, medical care and public health, disaster prevention training and disaster response, regional events, Japanese language classes, etc.), the institution must respond to the request and provide the necessary cooperation.

Where to submit

Location of the business establishment where the specified skilled foreign national who will be accepted (or is being accepted) is active

City, ward, town, or village where the specified skilled foreign national who will be accepted (or is being accepted) resides

※You must submit to each (if both are in the same city, ward, town, or village, submit one copy)

※Basically, once you submit to the relevant city, ward, town, or village, you do not need to submit it again when accepting another specified skilled foreign national who will be working at the same business establishment.

※If the other specified skilled foreign national moves to a different city, ward, town, or village, you must submit a cooperation confirmation letter to the city, ward, town, or village where the foreign national moves to.

※If there are any changes in the location or residence of the business establishment accepting the specified skilled foreign national, or the contact information of the person in charge of the specified skilled foreign national’s affiliation institution, you must submit a cooperation confirmation letter to the relevant city, ward, town, or village.

Submission period

<When accepting foreign nationals with specific skills for the first time>

After concluding a specific skills employment contract with the foreign national, before applying for a Certificate of Eligibility or permission to change residence status

<When accepting a foreign national with specific skills already>

Before applying for permission to change residence status or permission to extend period of stay for the first time for the foreign national after April 1, 2025