Notify Immigration Within 14 Days of a Job Change in Japan (2026)

When you leave a job or sign a new employment contract in Japan, you must notify the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) within 14 days. For engineers on Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Researcher or Highly Skilled Professional status, this is called the "notification of the contracting organization". It is free, and you can file it online at any time of day.

This notification is easy to forget. Your new employer may not tell you about it, because it is your own legal duty, not the company's. Missing it can lead to a fine under the Immigration Control Act, and ISA says it can also count against you in later applications.

This guide explains who must file, which events trigger it, how to file online step by step, what to do if you are late, how dispatch (haken) work is treated, and what the law says about penalties. All rules are as of October 2026.

Key takeaways

• You file within 14 days when your contract ends and within 14 days when you sign a new contract. If both happen close together, one form can cover both.

• You can file online 24 hours a day, at an immigration office, or by post. Online filing needs no supporting documents.

• For dispatch work, your contracting organization is the dispatch company that employs you, not the client site.

• The law sets a fine of up to ¥200,000 for not filing, and up to 1 year of imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥200,000 for a false filing.

• If you missed the deadline, file as soon as possible.

Who must file the 14-day notification?

You must file if you are a mid- to long-term resident with a status that is based on a contract with an organization in Japan. Article 19-16 of the Immigration Control Act lists two main groups.

There is also a third type for spouses. A Dependent holder (as a spouse), or a spouse of a Japanese national or permanent resident, must notify ISA within 14 days of a divorce or the death of the spouse.

Who does not file this

Permanent residents, spouses of Japanese nationals and other statuses not listed above do not file the organization notification (spouse statuses still file the divorce or death notification). If you are not sure, check your status on ISA's page.

Which events start the 14-day clock?

The clock starts on the day the event happens. For most engineers, there are two events in a job change.

1. The old contract ends. For example, your last day of employment.

2. You sign a new contract. This is the day you sign the employment contract with the new employer.

If both events happen in a short period, ISA provides a reference form that covers both at once (form 1-7). Otherwise, use the form for each event (1-4 for the end of a contract, 1-5 for a new contract).

You cannot file in advance

ISA's Q&A says you cannot file for a future date. File only after the event has actually happened. So if your new contract starts next month, wait until you have signed it.

Highly Skilled Professional (i) holders

If you hold Highly Skilled Professional (i), a job change also needs a change of status permission before you start at the new employer. The 14-day notification does not replace that. See our separate guide.

How do I file the notification online?

You file online through ISA's electronic notification system. ISA says it is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and that online filing needs no supporting documents.

Step by step (as of October 2026)

1. Check if you already have an ID. If you used the electronic notification system or the online residence application system on or before 31 December 2025, you can log in with your existing ID and password.

2. If not, register. Since 5 January 2026, new users can complete user registration and the application for use online. Choose the option for a foreign national who files notifications about their organization or spouse. This option is for notifications only, not applications.

3. Log in to the system and choose the notification about your contracting organization.

4. Enter the details: the name and address of the old or new organization, and the date of the event.

5. Submit, and keep a screenshot or the confirmation for your records.

ISA provides an operation manual in Japanese and English, and a help desk for system operation in Japanese or English (050-3786-3053, weekdays 9:00–17:00, except national holidays and 29 December–3 January). Start from the ISA electronic notification system portal.

Can I file at an immigration office or by post?

Yes. You have three options.

ISA does not confirm receipt of posted notifications, so it recommends a trackable method. ISA also says there is no walk-in window at the Tokyo postal address, so do not take forms there in person. Full details are on the ISA contracting organization notification page.

What if I work as a dispatch (haken) engineer?

Your contracting organization is the dispatch company that employs you. ISA's Q&A says that for the contracting organization notification, a change of client site does not need a notification. You file when you sign a new employment contract with the dispatch company, and when that contract ends.

Contract renewals

Dispatch contracts in Japan are often renewed every few months, so many people ask whether each renewal needs a filing. ISA's Q&A talks about contract ends and new contracts, but it does not specifically discuss renewals with the same dispatch employer. If your contract truly ends and you later sign a new one, treat those as events. If you are unsure about your case, ask ISA's information center (0570-013904) and keep a note of the answer.

What are the penalties for not notifying immigration?

The Immigration Control Act sets criminal penalties. These are the official rules; how they are applied in individual cases is decided by the authorities.

ISA's Q&A also says that not filing can be disadvantageous in your later residence applications, such as an extension. So even if you are never fined, a missing notification can cause questions when ISA reviews your next application.

If you are late

ISA's Q&A says that if you notice you missed the deadline, you should file as soon as possible. The Q&A does not say that a late filing is forgiven. Filing late is still better than not filing. Be accurate about the real dates.

How is this different from other notifications?

Several notifications have a 14-day rule. They are separate, and you may need more than one.

Employers have their own reporting duties. Under labour law, employers must report the hiring and leaving of foreign workers (except special permanent residents and Diplomat or Official status holders) to Hello Work. Other organizations have a duty under the Immigration Control Act to try to report to ISA. None of these replace your own notification.

How AGG can help

When you join AGG (Awaji Global Gateway, a division of Fukuyoshi Inc.) as a dispatched engineer, AGG becomes your contracting organization. We remind you of the 14-day notification and help you file it, and we support other visa paperwork for the new job, such as a change of status when it is needed.

Your social insurance continues while you are employed by Fukuyoshi Inc. Dispatch contracts are often renewed every few months, and renewal depends on the client project. Japanese law gives some protections, for example advance notice rules for non-renewal in certain cases. We explain how this works before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Do I need to notify immigration when I change jobs in Japan?

Yes, if your status is based on a contract with an organization in Japan, such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Researcher or Highly Skilled Professional. You must notify ISA within 14 days when your old contract ends and within 14 days when you sign a new one. You can file online at any time, at an immigration office, or by post. It is free. It is your own duty, not your employer's.

Q. How do I file the 14-day notification online in Japan?

Use ISA's electronic notification system. If you used the system or the online residence application system before 2026, log in with your existing ID. If not, register online and apply for use, choosing the option for foreign nationals who file notifications about their organization or spouse. Then log in, choose the contracting organization notification, enter the organization's name, address and the date, and submit. No supporting documents are needed for online filing.

Q. What is the penalty for not notifying immigration of a job change in Japan?

Under the Immigration Control Act, not filing the Article 19-16 notification can be punished with a fine of up to ¥200,000. A false notification can be punished with up to 1 year of imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥200,000. ISA also says that not filing can be disadvantageous in later residence applications, such as an extension. If you missed the deadline, file as soon as possible.

Q. I forgot to notify immigration within 14 days. What should I do?

File now. ISA's Q&A says that if you notice you missed the deadline, you should file as soon as possible. Use the real dates of your contract end and new contract, not adjusted dates, because a false notification is a separate offence. Late filing is not officially forgiven, but filing late is much better than not filing, especially before your next extension application.

Q. Do dispatch workers need to notify immigration when the client site changes?

No, not for the contracting organization notification. ISA's Q&A says that for statuses such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities, the contracting organization of a dispatched worker is the dispatch company. A change of client site does not need a notification. You file when you sign a new employment contract with the dispatch company, and when that contract ends.

Q. Can I notify immigration before my new job starts?

No. ISA's Q&A says you cannot file for a future date. File after the event has actually happened. For a new contract, the event is the signing of the contract. For the end of a contract, the event is the end of your employment. You then have 14 days from each event.

Q. Does my new employer file the job change notification for me?

Not usually. The Article 19-16 notification is the foreign resident's own legal duty. Employers have separate duties, such as reporting foreign employees to Hello Work, but these do not replace your notification. Some employers help you file, but you are responsible for making sure it is done within 14 days.

Summary

• File the notification of the contracting organization within 14 days of your contract ending and of signing a new one.

• Online filing works 24 hours a day and needs no documents; counter and post are also possible.

• For dispatch work, the dispatch company is your contracting organization; client site changes need no filing.

• The legal penalties are a fine of up to ¥200,000 for not filing, and up to 1 year of imprisonment or a ¥200,000 fine for a false filing.

• If you are late, file as soon as possible with the real dates.

Planning your next move? See our Open engineering jobs and apply (CV optional). AGG charges no agency fees to job seekers. Related guides: How to change jobs in Japan as a foreigner, Certificate of Authorized Employment, and Haken (dispatch) work explained.

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.