Skills Visa (Chef / Cook)

Indian curry dish

What Is the "Skills" Status of Residence?

According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, the activities covered by the "Skills" (Ginou) status of residence are as follows:

Activities that involve engaging in work requiring specialized skills in an industrial field, based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan.

Examples: Foreign cuisine chefs, sports instructors, aircraft pilots, artisans processing precious metals, etc.

Period of Stay: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 3 months

For detailed landing permission criteria, please refer to the Ministry of Justice "Applicable Activities and Landing Permission Criteria" (PDF).

Overview of the Skills Visa (Chef, Cook, and Other Skilled Occupations)

The Skills Visa is the status of residence required for foreign nationals who wish to stay in Japan and work as chefs of Chinese, French, Indian, or other foreign cuisines; pastry chefs or bakers producing dim sum, bread, or desserts; architectural technicians; craftspeople involved in manufacturing or repairing products unique to foreign countries; artisans working with jewelry, precious metals, or furs; animal trainers; petroleum or geothermal drilling surveyors; aircraft pilots; sports instructors; sommeliers; and similar skilled professionals. Foreign nationals working in these fields must receive compensation equal to or greater than what a Japanese national would receive for the same type of work.

Our office provides full support for foreign chefs (cooks) and other skilled workers applying for the Skills Visa, including preparation of application forms, statements of reason, and other required documents, as well as filing applications on your behalf at the Immigration Services Agency. Please feel free to contact us.

Eligibility Requirements for the Skills Visa

Below is a summary of the general requirements for each category of skilled occupation.

Chef / Cook

Chefs specializing in Chinese, French, Indian, or other foreign cuisines, as well as pastry chefs or bakers producing dim sum, bread, desserts, or other foods, must have at least 10 years of practical work experience as a cook or chef.

When inviting a foreign chef from abroad via a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application, please be aware that applications are subject to careful scrutiny due to a history of fraudulent cooking licenses and employment certificates being used for illegal entry. Interviews at local Japanese embassies or consulates may also be conducted at the time of visa issuance.

Thai Cook (Chef)

Thai nationals working as Thai cuisine chefs may be eligible to reside in Japan without the standard 10 years of work experience requirement, under the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), provided they meet all three of the following conditions:

Has at least 5 years of practical work experience as a Thai cuisine chef.
Holds a certificate confirming beginner-level or higher skill as a Thai cuisine chef.
Has documentation proving that they received remuneration as a Thai cuisine chef in Thailand during the 1 year immediately preceding the application.

Architectural Technician

Must have 10 or more years of practical work experience (including time spent majoring in architecture or civil engineering at a foreign educational institution) in skills related to architecture or civil engineering unique to a foreign country. (In the case of a person working under the supervision of a foreign national with 10 or more years of experience in such work, 5 years of experience is sufficient.) Must be engaged in work that requires those skills.

Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Fur Processing

Must have 10 or more years of practical work experience (including time spent majoring in relevant subjects at a foreign educational institution) in skills related to the processing of jewelry, precious metals, or furs, and must be engaged in work requiring those skills. (This includes not only the process of manufacturing products using jewelry or fur, but also the process of extracting gems from raw stones or obtaining fur from animals.)

Manufacture or Repair of Foreign Products

Must have 10 or more years of practical work experience (including time spent majoring in relevant subjects at a foreign educational institution) in skills related to the manufacture or repair of products unique to a foreign country, and must be engaged in work requiring those skills. (Examples include European glassware, Persian carpets, and other products not found in Japan; also shoe fitting — the process of designing and crafting shoes with preventive and corrective effects for conditions such as hallux valgus, using knowledge of anatomy, surgery, and related fields.)

Animal Training

Must have 10 or more years of practical work experience (including time spent majoring in animal training at a foreign educational institution) in skills related to animal training, and must be engaged in work requiring those skills. (In certain countries, engagement in animal training during the educational period is common practice; in such cases, that period may be counted as practical work experience regardless of the standard provisions.)

Petroleum and Geothermal Drilling Survey

Must have 10 or more years of practical work experience (including time spent majoring in relevant subjects at a foreign educational institution) in skills related to offshore drilling for oil exploration, drilling for geothermal development, or offshore geological surveys for seabed mineral exploration, and must be engaged in work requiring those skills. (Drilling for geothermal development refers to the work of drilling production wells — used to draw steam for geothermal power generation — and injection wells — used to return steam and hot water to the ground after power generation.)

Aircraft Pilot

Must have a flight record of 1,000 hours or more in skills related to the operation of aircraft, and must be engaged in work as a pilot aboard an aircraft used in air transportation services as defined in Article 2, Paragraph 18 of the Civil Aeronautics Act. (Engaging in work as a pilot means holding either an airline transport pilot or commercial pilot certificate and working as a captain or first officer. Air transportation services refers to the business of transporting passengers or cargo for compensation by aircraft in response to the needs of others.)

Sports Instructor

Must have 3 or more years of practical work experience (including time spent majoring in sport instruction at a foreign educational institution and time spent engaged in the sport for remuneration) in skills related to sports instruction, and must be engaged in work requiring those skills; or must have participated in the Olympic Games, World Championships, or other international competitions as an athlete in the relevant sport, and must be engaged in work requiring skills related to the instruction of that sport.

Wine Appraisal (Sommelier)

Must have 5 or more years of practical work experience (including time spent majoring in relevant subjects at a foreign educational institution) in skills related to the appraisal, evaluation, preservation, and service of wine (hereinafter "wine appraisal, etc."), and must fall under one of the following categories, and must be engaged in work requiring those skills:

Has participated in an international sommelier competition where participation is limited to one person per country.
Holds a qualification related to skills in wine appraisal, etc., certified by a national or local government (including foreign governments) or a comparable public or private body, as designated by the Minister of Justice by public notice.

Steps to Obtain the Skills Visa

Initial Consultation

We assess the likelihood of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application being approved, identify any potential issues, and listen to your needs and circumstances.
Engagement of Our Services

If you decide to proceed with our support, we will prepare a service agreement. Upon receipt of 50% of our fee plus any actual expenses, we will begin work on your application.
Document Preparation

Our office will prepare and compile all required documents on your behalf.
COE Application Filed by Japan-Based Representative (Agent)

A Japan-based relative or the sponsoring company acts as agent and submits the COE application to the Immigration Services Agency on behalf of the applicant. Our administrative scrivener is a registered authorized agent (shinsei toritsugisha), so we can file the application directly on your behalf.
Review by the Immigration Services Agency

After the review, the Certificate of Eligibility will be issued. The processing time varies depending on the type of status of residence applied for.
Certificate of Eligibility Sent to the Applicant Abroad

Once the COE is issued, it will be sent to the applicant who is residing overseas.
Visa Application at Japanese Embassy or Consulate

The applicant brings the Certificate of Eligibility to the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate to apply for the visa (visa stamp).
Landing Application (Entry into Japan)

The Certificate of Eligibility is valid for 3 months. The applicant must apply for entry into Japan within 3 months from the date of issuance; otherwise, it becomes invalid. (Note: This is not the visa expiry date.)
Arrival in Japan

Travel to Japan with the passport bearing the visa stamp.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key points when bringing a chef from abroad?: The key point is whether the restaurant is genuinely serving authentic cuisine from that country.
For example, an Indian restaurant that primarily serves Japanese-style curry may have difficulty meeting the requirements.
I am currently staying in Japan on a Skills Visa as an Indian cuisine chef. In the future, I would like to become independent and open and operate my own restaurant in Japan. What status of residence should I change to?: You will need to change your status of residence to a Business Manager Visa. Investment funds and other preparations will also be required. If you have been residing in Japan for 10 years or more, you may wish to consider applying for a Permanent Resident Visa, which places no restrictions on the type of work you can engage in.
How long does the review process take?: The review result is typically issued within 1 to 3 months.
However, depending on the circumstances, it may take longer.

Period of Stay

5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 3 months

Required Documents for the Skills Visa

The documents required vary depending on the type of application (new entry / change of status / renewal) and the nature of the activity (chef/cook or other skilled occupation). Please refer to the Immigration Services Agency website for the official list and forms.

For chef/cook activities: Status of Residence "Skills" – Chef/Cook Activities (Ministry of Justice)
For activities other than chef/cook (architecture, jewelry processing, pilot, sports instruction, sommelier, etc.): Status of Residence "Skills" – Non-Chef Activities (Ministry of Justice)

Extension of Period of Stay Permit Application (for those currently residing in Japan under "Skills" status)

This application is for those who already hold the "Skills" status of residence and wish to continue the same activities. The following are the main documents commonly required (additional documents may be required depending on the category of the sponsoring organization).

Extension of Period of Stay Permit Application Form — 1 copy
Photograph (4cm vertical × 3cm horizontal) — 1 photo
※ Taken face-on within 3 months prior to the application, without a hat and against a plain background, clear and sharp. Write the applicant's name on the back and attach to the designated photo space on the application form.
Passport and Residence Card (including Alien Registration Certificate recognized as a Residence Card) — for presentation
Documents certifying that the sponsoring organization falls under Category 1, 2, 3, or 4 — as appropriate
Certificate of municipal tax assessment (or exemption) and tax payment certificate (showing total annual income and tax payment status) — 1 copy each

※ For those employed at Category 3 or 4 organizations, additional documents such as financial statements, business overview materials, and documents specifying employment conditions may be required. Additional documents are especially necessary at the first renewal after a job change.

Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Application (for those newly entering Japan from abroad)

This application is for those overseas who are applying to enter Japan for the first time under the "Skills" status of residence.

For chefs/cooks: Official certificates (e.g., household registration book and professional qualification certificate for Chinese cuisine chefs), employment certificates and other documents proving the period of work experience in the relevant skilled occupation, as well as the sponsoring organization's financial statements, business overview, and notification of employment conditions (varies by organization category). Thai cuisine chefs must also submit additional documents such as proof of remuneration received in Thailand, a skills level certificate, and proof of at least 5 years of practical work experience.

For occupations other than chef/cook (architecture, jewelry processing, pilot, sports instruction, sommelier, etc.): Documents proving skills and work history for each respective occupation — such as employment certificates, flight record certificates, proof of international competition participation, or sommelier qualification certificates — along with the sponsoring organization's financial statements, business overview, and documents specifying employment conditions.

In all cases, the documents required vary depending on the category (1 to 4) of the sponsoring organization. Please refer to the "Certificate of Eligibility Application" section of the Ministry of Justice links above for full details.

Change of Status of Residence Permit Application (for those changing from another status to "Skills")

This application is for those already residing in Japan under a different status of residence who wish to change their activities to those falling under the "Skills" category. The documents required are similar to those for the COE application, and vary depending on whether the applicant is a chef/cook or in another skilled occupation, as well as the category of the sponsoring organization. Please refer to the "Change of Status of Residence Permit Application" section on the Ministry of Justice website.

Note: Documents in foreign languages must be accompanied by a Japanese translation. Certificates issued in Japan must be dated within 3 months of the application date.