Hi fellow Japanlifers,
Currently I am holding a ‘Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/Int’l Services’ visa (3 year renewal term). This was applied by my company few years back to move me to Japan and I have renewed it few times through my company’s internal Immigration support team.
Now I am planning to switch companies here in Japan and I am not sure if this visa could be a problem during this transition.
1. Are these ‘Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/Int’l Services’ type visas tied to the employer?
2. Changing employers using this visa is allowed?
3. Are there any restrictions at all with this visa?
4. Should I ask the new company for sponsorship?
5. Do I need to inform Japan’s Immigration office about this change?
I really appreciate any help with these questions. Sorry if this is a repeated question. Thank you!
3 comments
TLDR: Changing jobs with valid residence status is normal and easy, don’t worry.
> Are these ‘Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/Int’l Services’ type visas tied to the employer?
No.
>Changing employers using this visa is allowed?
Yes.
>Are there any restrictions at all with this visa?
You must do the work allowed by the residence status.
> Do I need to inform Japan’s Immigration office about this change?
Yes. You can do it online.
>Should I ask the new company for sponsorship?
Unless a company bringing you from abroad using CoE there is no such thing as “sponsorship”. Company can handle your immigration issues, but it does not have to. Of course you can ask your company to handle immigration, but unless they already employ bunch of foreigners and are used to dealing with immigration, they will probably will not know how to even approach this, and will not be interested in getting into this.
But it does not really matter – you can renew your residence status yourself, there is nothing special required from the company, apart from providing you with documents confirming legitimacy of the company and your employment. You can confirm if the company will be willing to provide those documents (no reason not to, especially for public companies).
1) no
2) yes. You just need to inform immigration within 14 days after your final day with current employer and then again within 14 days after your first day with your new employer. See here: https://www.isa.go.jp/en/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00015.html
3) yes and no. The new job May requires a different status of residency (visa). If so then you need to change your SOR: https://www.isa.go.jp/en/applications/procedures/16-2.html if the new job falls within the same Status of residency you’re already on then you should do your due diligence and get a Certificate of Authorized employment to ensure immigration deem you qualified to work that new job: https://www.isa.go.jp/en/applications/guide/syuurou.html
4) Yes, but only if you need to change your SOR (as mentioned in 3) or when you need to renew your current SOR
5) Yes. See question 2
I’m here on the same visa for five years. Hypothetically, if I got fired (not likely), what happens? Do I have a certain period to find new work?