I receive many inquiries from foreign nationals regarding residence status in Japan.
One area where mistakes are relatively common is how to handle a job change.
If a person changes jobs to a position that falls outside the scope of activities permitted under their current status of residence, an application for a change of status is required.
For example, someone working in a corporate planning role at a company under the “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services” status may need to change their status if they become a university professor under the “Professor” status.
While such cases may still be relatively rare, I expect that in the future there will be more cases of changing from “Specified Skilled Worker” to “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.”
Even when a change of status is not required, it is recommended to obtain a Certificate of Authorized Employment from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan in order to ensure a smooth renewal of the status of residence in the future.
If this certificate has been obtained, the renewal process is usually straightforward. On the other hand, if it has not been obtained, immigration authorities may question whether the actual job duties are consistent with those permitted under the current status of residence.
In addition, it is legally mandatory to submit a notification of the affiliated organization (i.e., the employer) within 14 days of the job change. Failure to do so may work against the applicant at the time of status renewal or other immigration procedures.
As you can see, changing jobs involves more procedures than many foreing nationals expect.
It is important for both foreign nationals who are changing jobs and the companies that hire them to fully understand these requirements.