Are you currently working in Japan under Tokutei Ginou and considering changing companies? Can you switch employers, change occupations or move to a different Tokutei field? What procedures must you complete to protect your status of residence?

These are important questions for Vietnamese workers who are working or preparing to work in Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker (Tokutei Ginou – 特定技能) status of residence.

Unlike the Technical Intern Training Programme, Tokutei Ginou workers may change to another accepting organisation when the relevant requirements are met. However, changing companies does not mean that a worker can simply resign and immediately start working for another employer.

When changing employers, workers need to pay particular attention to the new job, Tokutei field, employment contract, status of residence and notification requirements to Japan's Immigration Services Agency.

For a general overview of Tokutei Ginou, see:

What Is Tokutei Ginou? Conditions, Benefits, Salary and Tokutei Ginou Fields in Japan

CAN TOKUTEI GINOU WORKERS CHANGE COMPANIES?

YES, BUT THE REQUIRED PROCEDURES MUST BE FOLLOWED

A person holding Tokutei Ginou status of residence may change to another accepting organisation when the relevant requirements are met.

However, changing employers must be handled in accordance with the rules governing the worker's status of residence and the new employment.

According to Japan's Immigration Services Agency, workers subject to the relevant notification requirements must notify the authorities when their contract with the current organisation ends or when they enter into a new contract with another organisation. The general deadline is 14 days from the date of the relevant event.

In other words:

Tokutei Ginou workers can change companies, but they should not resign and start working for a new employer without first checking and completing the required procedures.

WHY CAN TOKUTEI GINOU WORKERS CHANGE COMPANIES?

The ability to change employers, when permitted by the relevant rules, is an important feature of the Tokutei Ginou system.

Workers may consider changing companies for various reasons, including:

Finding work that better matches their skills;
Seeking a more suitable working environment;
Looking for better salary or employment conditions;
Discovering that the actual duties differ from the agreed job;
The current company being unable to continue employing the worker;
Wanting to move to a different area;
Seeking better long-term career opportunities.

However, the reason for changing employers is not the only consideration. The new job and accepting organisation must also satisfy the requirements of the Tokutei Ginou system.

IS CHANGING A TOKUTEI GINOU COMPANY THE SAME AS CHANGING OCCUPATIONS?

NO. THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT MATTERS

This distinction is particularly important for foreign workers in Japan.

Case 1: Changing companies while remaining in the same field

For example:

Company A → Company B

The worker continues to perform work within the same Tokutei Ginou field.

In this situation, the worker still needs to confirm that the new job meets the relevant requirements and complete the necessary procedures concerning the new accepting organisation.

Case 2: Changing to a different Tokutei Ginou field

For example:

Food Manufacturing → Construction

This is not simply a change of employer.

The worker must check the requirements of the new field, including the applicable skills requirements and immigration procedures.

Therefore, workers should not assume:

“Once I have Tokutei Ginou status, I can work in any job in Japan.”

The worker's activities must remain consistent with the scope of the relevant status of residence.

CHANGING COMPANIES IN THE SAME FIELD VS CHANGING TO A DIFFERENT FIELD

Situation	What needs to be checked
Changing to another company in the same field	New job, employment contract and procedures relating to the new employer
Changing to another accepting organisation within the same Tokutei field	Conditions of employment and status of residence
Changing to a different Tokutei field	Requirements of the new field and relevant immigration procedures
Moving from Technical Intern Training to Tokutei Ginou	Eligibility requirements and possible examination exemptions
Moving from Tokutei Ginou 1 to Tokutei Ginou 2	Requirements for Tokutei Ginou 2

Specific requirements vary according to the field. Applicants should therefore check the latest official information for their particular occupation.

WHAT PROCEDURES ARE REQUIRED TO CHANGE A TOKUTEI GINOU COMPANY?

Changing employers should not be treated as simply:

Leave the old company → find a new company → start work

The process involves the new employment contract, accepting organisation and immigration procedures.

STEP 1: FIND A NEW COMPANY

Before resigning, identify the new company and the position you intend to take.

Check:

Company name;
Place of work;
Actual job duties;
Salary;
Working hours;
Allowances;
Housing conditions;
Relevant Tokutei Ginou field.

STEP 2: CHECK WHETHER THE NEW JOB IS ELIGIBLE

This is especially important if you intend to move to a different field.

Do not rely only on the job title. Confirm that the actual duties fall within the scope allowed by your status of residence.

STEP 3: SIGN THE NEW EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

After confirming the new position, the worker and the new employer proceed with recruitment and enter into the appropriate employment contract.

STEP 4: COMPLETE THE REQUIRED NOTIFICATIONS

According to Japan's Immigration Services Agency, workers subject to the relevant requirements must notify the authorities when they:

End a contract with their current organisation;
Enter into a contract with a new organisation.

The general deadline is 14 days from the date the event occurs.

Workers should complete the required notification after the relevant event has actually taken place rather than submitting it in advance for an event that has not yet occurred.

STEP 5: CHECK THE STATUS-OF-RESIDENCE PROCEDURES

When a Tokutei Ginou worker changes to a different accepting organisation, the relevant status-of-residence procedure must be checked and completed as required.

Therefore, workers should not simply look at the remaining validity period of their residence card and assume they can immediately begin working for the new company.

DO YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR A NEW VISA WHEN CHANGING TOKUTEI GINOU COMPANIES?

This is one of the most misunderstood points.

Changing companies should not simply be understood as “starting a completely new visa application from the beginning”.

The important issue is whether the current status of residence remains appropriate for the new employer and job, and what immigration procedures are required for the individual case.

Before changing employers, check:

Current status of residence → New company → New job → Tokutei field → Required procedures

Workers should complete the necessary immigration procedures before starting the new job.

MUST TOKUTEI GINOU WORKERS NOTIFY IMMIGRATION WHEN CHANGING COMPANIES?

YES

This is an important requirement under Japan's immigration system.

When relevant events occur, such as:

Termination of an employment contract;
Leaving the current employer;
Signing a contract with a new company;
Changing to a new contracting organisation;

workers subject to the notification requirements generally need to submit the required notification within 14 days.

The Immigration Services Agency also provides official forms and guidance for notifications relating to contract termination and new contracts.

DOES THE NEW COMPANY ALSO HAVE TO SUBMIT A NOTIFICATION?

The responsibility does not fall only on the worker.

Under the relevant rules, accepting organisations employing Tokutei Ginou workers also have notification obligations when a Tokutei Ginou contract is terminated, changed or newly concluded.

The general notification deadline is 14 days from the date the event occurs.

This means that changing a Tokutei Ginou employer involves responsibilities for both the worker and the accepting organisation.

CAN YOU STAY IN JAPAN TO LOOK FOR A NEW JOB AFTER LEAVING YOUR COMPANY?

This depends on the individual circumstances.

Workers should not assume:

“My visa is still valid, so I can stay in Japan for as long as I want while looking for another job.”

After employment ends, workers should promptly check:

Their status of residence;
Remaining period of stay;
Notification obligations;
Whether the new job is permitted;
Procedures for transferring to a new accepting organisation.

The Immigration Services Agency also notes that continuing to meet the activity requirements associated with a status of residence is important. Workers who leave their jobs should therefore address their employment and immigration situation without unnecessary delay.

HOW MANY TIMES CAN A TOKUTEI GINOU WORKER CHANGE COMPANIES?

Tokutei Ginou is not a system in which workers are necessarily restricted to one company for the entire period of residence.

A worker may change to another company when the applicable requirements are satisfied and the required procedures are completed.

However, each change should be considered carefully, including:

The new company;
The new job;
The Tokutei Ginou field;
The employment contract;
The status of residence;
Notification requirements;
Immigration procedures.

Therefore, changing companies is not an unrestricted process and should always be handled according to the applicable rules.

WHEN SHOULD YOU NOT CHANGE COMPANIES ON YOUR OWN?

Workers should exercise particular caution when:

They have not yet found a new employer;
They have not checked the new job;
They want to move to a different Tokutei field;
They have not confirmed the relevant immigration procedures;
The new company asks them to start immediately;
A broker or acquaintance tells them to resign first and “sort out the paperwork later”.

Do not rely solely on informal advice when deciding to resign.

Before changing companies, confirm the new employment conditions and check your immigration status through reliable official information.

DOES CHANGING COMPANIES AFFECT YOUR PERIOD OF STAY IN JAPAN?

Changing employers does not automatically extend your period of stay.

The worker must continue to meet the conditions of the status of residence and remain within the validity period granted by the Japanese authorities.

When changing jobs, it is therefore important to check:

New job + New company + Status of residence + Period of stay + Required procedures

IS MOVING FROM TECHNICAL INTERN TRAINING TO TOKUTEI GINOU THE SAME AS CHANGING COMPANIES?

Not necessarily.

Moving from Technical Intern Training to Tokutei Ginou is primarily a change of status of residence.

In certain circumstances, people who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training may move to Tokutei Ginou and be exempt from some examinations if they meet the relevant conditions.

If the accepting company also changes at the same time, additional procedures relating to the new organisation may be required.

These situations should be distinguished:

Changing companies
→ Changing the accepting organisation.

Changing fields
→ Moving to a different occupational field and checking the requirements of the new field.

Moving from Technical Intern Training to Tokutei Ginou
→ Changing status of residence and meeting Tokutei Ginou requirements.

For more information:

What Is the Difference Between Technical Intern Training and Tokutei Ginou?

DO YOU HAVE TO PREPARE THE ENTIRE TOKUTEI GINOU APPLICATION AGAIN?

It should not be assumed that every case requires starting from the beginning.

However, when entering into a new contract with a different accepting organisation, the relevant documents and procedures concerning the Tokutei Ginou contract and status of residence must be handled appropriately.

The new accepting organisation also has notification obligations concerning the termination, change or conclusion of a Tokutei Ginou contract.

Workers should prepare documents such as:

Residence card;
Passport;
Employment contract;
Employment conditions;
Information about the new company;
Documents relating to their status of residence;
Other documents required for their specific case.

CAN TOKUTEI GINOU BE A LONG-TERM CAREER PATH IN JAPAN?

For people who want to build a career in Japan, Tokutei Ginou can form an important part of a long-term employment plan.

One possible pathway is:

TOKUTEI GINOU 1

↓

GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE AND IMPROVE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

↓

MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR TOKUTEI GINOU 2, WHERE APPLICABLE

↓

CONTINUE WORKING IN JAPAN UNDER THE RELEVANT STATUS OF RESIDENCE

Therefore, when choosing a Tokutei Ginou position, workers should consider not only the initial salary, but also the field, skills they can develop and their future career opportunities.

For more information:

What Is the Difference Between Tokutei Ginou 1 and Tokutei Ginou 2?

6 KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER WHEN CHANGING A TOKUTEI GINOU COMPANY

1. Tokutei Ginou workers may change to another company when the relevant requirements are met.

2. Changing companies and changing occupations are two different matters.

3. Do not resign and immediately start working for a new company without completing the required procedures.

4. Check whether the new job is compatible with your status of residence.

5. Pay attention to the 14-day notification requirement when a relevant event involving the contracting organisation occurs.

6. When changing to another accepting organisation, check the status-of-residence procedures before starting the new job.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION SOURCES

According to information published by official Japanese government authorities and organisations:

Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA – 出入国在留管理庁)
Official Information on the Specified Skilled Worker Status of Residence
Notification of Changes to Contracting Organisations
FAQ on Contracting Organisation Changes and Job Changes
Notification Requirements for Accepting Organisations
Operational Guidance for the Specified Skilled Worker System
Procedures for Change of Status of Residence

MORE TOKUTEI GINOU INFORMATION FROM TOHOKU