Certificate of Authorized Employment / Permission to Acquire Status of Residence

Permission to Acquire Status of Residence

Foreigners who are residing in Japan without having undergone entry procedures — for example, due to renouncing Japanese nationality or being born in Japan — and who wish to remain in Japan for more than 60 days from the date the relevant circumstances arose must apply for permission to acquire a status of residence (see: Japan Immigration Services Agency: Application for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence and Acquisition of Status of Residence (Article 22-2 of the Immigration Control Act)).

Within 60 days of the event occurring, a foreigner may reside in Japan without a status of residence. However, if you intend to remain in Japan beyond 60 days, you must submit an application for permission to acquire status of residence within 30 days from the date the event occurred.

Eligibility Requirements (Who Should Apply)

Persons who have renounced Japanese nationality
Foreigners who came to reside in Japan without undergoing entry procedures, for example due to birth or other circumstances
Persons who intend to stay in Japan for more than 60 days from the date the relevant circumstances arose

Regarding Nationality: If both parents hold foreign nationality, a child born in Japan cannot acquire Japanese nationality. Please submit a birth notification to the embassy or consulate of the father's or mother's home country in Japan. Please also obtain a passport for the child.

Application Period

Please submit your application within 30 days from the date the event giving rise to the acquisition of status of residence occurred.

Who May Submit the Application

Authorized Representative (a person approved by the Regional Immigration Services Bureau as an authorized representative, who has been entrusted by the applicant)
Legal Representative (the applicant's legal guardian)
The Applicant Themselves (the foreigner personally wishing to remain in Japan)

※ Persons aged 18 or older must apply in person, except when using an authorized representative (the adult age was lowered to 18 on April 1, 2022). Even when an authorized representative submits the application, the applicant must be residing in Japan.

Application Fee

No fee is required.

Required Documents (Permission to Acquire Status of Residence)

Submit the application form and supporting documents corresponding to the type of status of residence you are applying for. If you are unsure of the appropriate status of residence, please refer to the List of Statuses of Residence (Japan Immigration Services Agency).

Main categories of status of residence:

Activity-based: Official, Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalism, Highly Skilled Professional, Business Manager, Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Researcher, Education, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Intracompany Transferee, Nursing Care, Entertainment, Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker, Technical Intern Training, Cultural Activities, Short-Term Stay, Student, Trainee, Dependent, Designated Activities, etc.
Status-based: Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident, etc.

For the required documents and forms for each status of residence, please visit the Regional Immigration Services Office with jurisdiction over your place of residence, or the Japan Immigration Services Agency "Application for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence" page, select the status of residence you wish to obtain, and confirm the applicable application form and required documents. Online applications are also available (Online Application Procedure for Residence).

Where to Apply & Office Hours

Submission Location: Regional Immigration Services Office with jurisdiction over your place of residence (You may also contact the Foreign Resident Support Center at 0570-013904 for guidance)
Office Hours: Weekdays 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (hours may vary depending on the procedure)

Review Criteria & Standard Processing Time

The activities stated in the application must not be false, must fall under a status of residence listed in Appended Table I or II of the Immigration Control Act, and there must be sufficient reason to approve the acquisition of status of residence.
Standard processing time: Within 60 days from the date the grounds for acquiring the status of residence arose (may be processed on the same day in some cases).

Certificate of Authorized Employment

A Certificate of Authorized Employment is a certificate that a foreigner obtains when required to prove their eligibility to work in Japan (see: Certificate of Authorized Employment (Article 19-2 of the Immigration Control Act) and Application for Issuance of Certificate of Authorized Employment).

Under the Immigration Control Act, to make it easier for employers to verify a foreigner's work eligibility, the Act provides for the issuance of a Certificate of Authorized Employment that specifically sets out the "employment activities that may be performed." Since work eligibility is determined by the status of residence and other factors, a foreigner who is eligible to work may do so even without this certificate. Furthermore, unfavorable treatment based on failure to present this certificate is prohibited.

When an Application for Certificate of Authorized Employment Is Required

For example, when a company hiring a foreign national requires the individual to obtain this certificate to confirm that they can legally work in Japan.

① I want to prove that I can work in Japan at the request of a company

There are cases where a company hiring a foreign national requires the individual to obtain this certificate to confirm that they can legally work in Japan.

② Concerned about whether your current work visa can be renewed for a new position when changing jobs

If you want to verify whether the work at your new employer falls within the scope of your current work visa type, you may apply in advance to have the case reviewed at the Immigration Services Bureau.

If it turns out after changing jobs that your current work visa type does not cover the work you are performing, there is a risk of illegal employment, and it may also become impossible to renew your visa.

Required Documents for Certificate of Authorized Employment (Overview)

If there is no change in employer or employment activities: application form for certificate of authorized employment, permission for activities outside of status (if issued), residence card, passport, etc. If the employer or employment activities have changed due to a job change, additional documents showing the new employer and activities are required. For details, please check the Application for Issuance of Certificate of Authorized Employment (Japan Immigration Services Agency) page. The fee is 2,000 yen (revenue stamp) upon approval, or 1,600 yen for online applications.

Period of Stay (for Designated Activities such as Job-Hunting)

Basically 6 months. If you have not secured employment within that period, you may apply for a further 6-month extension.

International Students Who Have Found a Job or Plan to Start a Business

International students who have found a job

Apply for a visa suited to your profession, such as the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa, Humanities/International Services Visa, Technology Visa, or Medical Visa.

Students who want to start a business in Japan after graduation

If you plan to establish and manage your own company after graduation, apply for a Business Manager Visa. You will also need to prepare capital and secure office space.