Certificate of Authorized Employment Japan: Is It Needed? (2026)
The Certificate of Authorized Employment (shūrō shikaku shōmeisho) is an optional document from the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) that confirms what paid work your current status of residence allows. You do not need it to start a new job. But after a job change, it can give you an official answer that your new work fits your status, before your next extension.
Many engineers hear about this certificate for the first time when they change employers on an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa. Some new employers ask for it. Others never mention it. This guide explains what it is, what it is not, how to apply, how long it takes, and when it is worth the effort.
All rules here are as of October 2026, based on ISA's official pages and the Immigration Control Act.
Key takeaways
The certificate is optional. ISA says you can work without it if your status already allows the work.
By law, no one may treat you unfavourably just because you do not show it, when your permitted work is already clear.
After a job change, processing usually takes 1 to 3 months. Without a job change, it is usually issued the same day.
The fee is ¥2,000 at the counter or ¥1,600 online.
It does not replace the 14-day notification, and it cannot be used instead of a change of status.
What is the Certificate of Authorized Employment?
It is a document that certifies the income-earning or paid activities you can do with your current status of residence. ISA describes it as a document "certifying the activities to operate a business involving income or receive remuneration that the foreign national may engage in under their status of residence". The legal basis is Article 19-2 of the Immigration Control Act.
In practice, people use it to answer one question: "Does my new job fit my current status?" If ISA issues the certificate for your new job, you have an official confirmation in writing.
What it is not
It is not a work permit in the sense of a new permission. Your status of residence is what allows you to work.
It does not extend your period of stay.
It does not change your status of residence.
It does not replace the 14-day notification to ISA about your old and new contracts.
Is the certificate required to change jobs in Japan?
No, it is not required. ISA's official Q&A says the certificate "is issued when the foreign national wishes", and that you are not prevented from working just because you do not have one. Employers can confirm your permission to work from your passport and residence card.
The law also protects you. Article 19-2(2) of the Immigration Control Act says that no one may treat a foreign national unfavourably for not showing or submitting this certificate, when the work they can do is already clear. So an employer should not refuse to hire you only because you do not have it.
Situation | Is the certificate needed? | What you must do |
|---|---|---|
Engineer/Specialist holder, new job in the same type of work | Optional | 14-day notification to ISA |
Engineer/Specialist holder, new job is borderline or quite different | Optional but useful | 14-day notification; consider the certificate or ask ISA |
New job clearly outside your status (for example, a non-specialist job) | Not enough | Change of status permission, if a fitting status exists |
Highly Skilled Professional (i) holder changing employer | Not enough | Change of status permission before starting + 14-day notification |
Cultural Activities or Dependent holder wanting full-time work | Not enough | Change of status permission (or permission for activity outside status, up to 28 hours a week for some statuses) |
When is the certificate worth getting?
It is most useful when you want certainty before your next extension. Your status of residence is reviewed when you apply to extend it. If the new job did not fit your status, you would find out at that point, which may be late. A certificate gives you an answer earlier.
Good reasons to apply
Your new job title or duties are different from your old job, and you are not sure they fit.
Your next extension is more than a few months away, and you want to know early.
Your new employer asks for it as part of onboarding (remember, they may not treat you unfavourably if you do not have it).
You moved from a company to a dispatch (haken) employer, or the other way, and want written confirmation.
When you may not need it
Your new work is clearly the same kind of engineering work as before.
Your extension is coming soon. ISA's Q&A says that if your activity after the job change stays the same, you apply for an extension of your period of stay as usual, and the review happens then.
How do I apply for the Certificate of Authorized Employment?
You apply at the regional immigration bureau that covers your place of residence, or online. ISA's Q&A notes that the office is decided by where you live, not where you work.
Who can submit
You, the applicant
Your legal representative
An authorized agent: for example, a staff member of your employer approved by the regional bureau, or a lawyer or gyoseishoshi (licensed immigration lawyer) who has notified the bureau
Documents
If you changed employer or activity after your status was granted, ISA lists:
Application form
Your residence card (always required in this case)
Your passport or certificate of status of residence (or a letter explaining why you cannot show it)
Permission for activity outside status, if you have one
Documents that explain the new employer and your activities in detail, such as your employment contract, a job description, and information about the company
Identity documents for an agent, if someone submits for you
Prepare a clear job description in plain words: what you do every day, what technical knowledge you use, and which degree or experience it relates to. Vague descriptions slow down the review.
Counter hours
Most regional bureaus accept applications on weekdays from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 16:00. Some procedures have different hours, so check before you go.
How long does it take and what does it cost?
If nothing changed since your status was granted, ISA says the certificate is usually issued on the same day. If you changed employer or activity, ISA says it usually takes 1 to 3 months, because ISA must review the new job.
Item | Detail (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
Fee at the counter | ¥2,000 (revenue stamp) |
Fee online | ¥1,600 |
Processing, no change of employer | Usually same day |
Processing, after a job change | Usually 1 to 3 months |
Where to apply | Regional bureau for your place of residence, or online |
Appeal | No administrative appeal is available for this procedure |
The fee revision of 1 October 2026 changed the fees for change of status, extension of stay and permanent residence. ISA's revision notice does not list this certificate. The fee above is from ISA's procedure page for the certificate. Check the ISA page for the Certificate of Authorized Employment before you pay.
How does the certificate fit with other procedures after a job change?
Think of a job change as three separate questions. Each has its own procedure.
Did you tell ISA about the change? File the notification of the contracting organization within 14 days of the old contract ending and within 14 days of signing the new one. This is mandatory for Engineer/Specialist, Researcher, Highly Skilled Professional and some other statuses.
Does the new job fit your status? If yes, no new permission is needed (except Highly Skilled Professional (i)). The certificate is an optional way to confirm this.
Is your period of stay long enough? Apply for an extension before your card expires. ISA reviews your current job at that time.
Procedure | Required? | Typical time | Fee (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
14-day notification of contracting organization | Yes, for listed statuses | Filing only | Free |
Certificate of Authorized Employment | No | 1–3 months after a job change | ¥2,000 / ¥1,600 online |
Extension of period of stay | Yes, before expiry | Varies by status | ¥10,000–¥75,000 at the counter, by period granted |
Change of status | Only if the job does not fit your current status | Varies; ISA's July 2026 average in the Engineer/Specialist category was 72.9 days | ¥10,000–¥75,000 at the counter, by period granted |
You can read ISA's explanation of the 14-day notification on the ISA contracting organization notification page.
What if ISA says my new job does not fit?
Then you know early, and you can act. Options depend on your case. You might adjust the job duties with your employer so they match your status, or apply for a change to a status that fits, if you meet its requirements. Do not ignore the result.
Also remember the "gap" rule. Under the Immigration Control Act, staying in Japan for 3 months or more without doing the activity of your status, without a justifiable reason, can be a ground for revocation. If your new job does not fit, you may be treated as not doing the activity of your status. Get advice from ISA or a licensed immigration lawyer quickly.
How AGG can help
AGG (Awaji Global Gateway, a division of Fukuyoshi Inc.) supports engineers who join us with visa paperwork, including the 14-day notification and, when it makes sense, the Certificate of Authorized Employment. We write the job description together with you, so it reflects the real technical work.
Many AGG jobs are dispatch (haken) roles. For dispatch, ISA explains that your contracting organization is the dispatch company that employs you, not the client site. Your social insurance continues while you are employed. Dispatch contracts are often renewed every few months, and renewal depends on the client project. We explain this honestly before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Do I need a Certificate of Authorized Employment to change jobs in Japan?
No. It is optional. ISA says it is issued only when the foreign national wishes, and that you can work without it if your status of residence already allows the work. Employers can check your residence card and passport. By law, an employer may not treat you unfavourably only because you do not show the certificate when your permitted work is already clear. You must still file the 14-day notification to ISA about your old and new contracts.
Q. How long does it take to get a Certificate of Authorized Employment?
If your employer and activity have not changed since your status was granted, ISA says it is usually issued the same day. If you changed jobs, ISA says it usually takes 1 to 3 months, because the new job must be reviewed. Apply early if you want the answer well before your next extension. Clear documents about your new duties help the review go smoothly.
Q. How much does the Certificate of Authorized Employment cost?
ISA's procedure page lists ¥2,000 at the counter, paid with a revenue stamp, and ¥1,600 online. The fee revision of 1 October 2026 changed the fees for change of status, extension and permanent residence, but ISA's revision notice does not list this certificate. Check the ISA procedure page before you pay, because fees can change.
Q. Can my employer refuse to hire me without a Certificate of Authorized Employment?
Article 19-2(2) of the Immigration Control Act says no one may treat a foreign national unfavourably for not showing or submitting this certificate, when the work they can do is already clear. If your residence card shows a work status and the job clearly fits, the employer should not refuse you only for this reason. If the job is borderline, the employer may reasonably want confirmation, and the certificate is one way to give it.
Q. Can I use the Certificate of Authorized Employment instead of a change of status?
No. The certificate only confirms what your current status allows. If your new job is outside your current status, you need a change of status permission. Highly Skilled Professional (i) holders also need a change of status permission when they change employer, because their status is tied to a designated organization. The certificate cannot replace that.
Q. Where do I apply for the Certificate of Authorized Employment?
You apply at the regional immigration bureau that covers your place of residence, not your workplace. You can also apply online through ISA's online residence application system. A staff member of your employer approved by the bureau, or a lawyer or gyoseishoshi who has notified the bureau, can submit for you. Bring or upload your residence card, passport and documents about your new job.
Q. Does the Certificate of Authorized Employment extend my visa?
No. It does not extend your period of stay and does not change your status. You still need to apply for an extension before your residence card expires. The certificate can make the next extension less uncertain, because ISA has already reviewed whether your new job fits your status.
Summary
The Certificate of Authorized Employment confirms what work your current status allows. It is optional.
By law, you may not be treated unfavourably just for not having it, when your permitted work is clear.
After a job change, expect 1 to 3 months; the fee is ¥2,000 or ¥1,600 online.
It does not replace the 14-day notification, an extension, or a change of status.
It is most useful when your new duties are borderline or your next extension is far away.
Looking for an engineering job that fits your status? See our Open engineering jobs and apply (CV optional). AGG charges no agency fees to job seekers. Related guides: The 14-day notification, Changing jobs on a Highly Skilled Professional visa, and Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa guide.
Reviewed by
Naoya Mitani — Head of Business Operations, Awaji Global Gateway (Fukuyoshi Inc.). Supports foreign engineers moving into jobs in Japan, including visa changes and onboarding.
