Hello, this is Hong from IMS Legal Professional Corporation. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s published summary of notifications on the employment status of foreign workers, as of the end of October 2025, the number of foreign workers in Japan stood at 2,571,037 and the number of business establishments employing foreign workers stood at 371,215. Compared with the figures as of the end of October 2024 (2,302,587 workers and 342,087 establishments), this represents an increase of 268,450 workers and 29,128 establishments. Going forward, Japan’s population decline and labor shortages are expected to become even more serious, and employment of foreign workers will likely continue to increase accordingly.
The summary of notifications on the employment status of foreign workers is available here.
Whether Japanese or foreign, talented individuals are a source of innovation for companies and society beyond the barriers of nationality and culture. Securing highly capable personnel, regardless of nationality, can therefore be said to be an essential factor for corporate growth.
In this article, we will explain the important points to keep in mind when hiring foreign talent who already reside in Japan under the Highly Skilled Professional (i) visa, as well as matters to be aware of after they have been hired.
What Is the “Highly Skilled Professional” Visa?
The Highly Skilled Professional visa is a type of work visa introduced through the amendment to the Immigration Control Act that took effect on April 1, 2015. It was established as a preferential immigration control system based on a points system for highly skilled foreign professionals, with the aim of promoting the acceptance of foreign talent with advanced specialized abilities.
Under this points-based system, three categories of activities are defined: advanced academic research activities, advanced specialized/technical activities, and advanced business management activities. Points are assigned in each category based on factors such as academic background, professional experience, and annual income. Those whose total score reaches 70 points or more are eligible for preferential immigration measures. More than ten years have passed since the system was introduced, and as of the end of 2025, the number of foreign nationals residing in Japan under the status of Highly Skilled Professional stood at 32,953.
For further details, please refer to the following official website of the Immigration Services Agency:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/newimmiact_3_index.html
Can foreign nationals working under a work visa change jobs?
Foreign nationals working in Japan under a work visa, including the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa or the Highly Skilled Professional visa, are allowed to change jobs just like Japanese nationals. Therefore, the basic hiring process is generally the same as when hiring a Japanese employee. However, while changing jobs itself is not prohibited, there are legal restrictions depending on the type of work visa (status of residence) the person holds.
In addition, work visas are classified according to the place of activity (such as a university, company, or research institute) and the content of the activity (that is, the specific job duties). As a result, employment activities are restricted depending on where the person works and what kind of work they perform. In other words, simply because a person holds a work visa does not mean that they may work in any place or engage in any type of job.
What points should employers pay attention to when hiring, and after hiring, foreign talent residing in Japan under the “Highly Skilled Professional (i)” visa?
The Highly Skilled Professional (i) visa offers significant advantages compared with other work visas, such as preferential treatment and a uniform period of stay of five years. However, when a person changes jobs, there are also certain disadvantages and points of caution that are unique to the Highly Skilled Professional (i) visa.
In cases of mid-career hiring due to a job change, an application for change of status must always be filed before the person joins the new company.
The Highly Skilled Professional (i) visa is granted in connection with a specific affiliated organization (contracting organization), and that organization is designated in the holder’s Designation Letter. Therefore, when the person changes jobs, it is essential to file an application for change of status of residence before joining the new company, so that the Designation Letter can be updated. The person may begin working only after obtaining the new permission. This treatment is based on the nature of the system, but it is an important point to keep in mind.
The hiring date has already been decided, but when should the application for change of status be submitted to Immigration?
As a general rule, the application for change of status should be filed with sufficient time to spare, roughly three months before the planned joining date. It is possible to submit the change application to Immigration even before the person resigns from their current employer.
In addition, if--after the application has been filed but before the new employment starts--the notice of decision is issued, it will be necessary to arrange for the result (that is, the new residence card) to be collected during the period between the resignation date from the previous employer and the day before the new employment begins. If the result is collected before the person leaves the previous employer, they will no longer be able to continue working for that employer, so this is another point that requires careful attention.
If a person has already joined and is working for the new company without filing a change application, while still holding the Highly Skilled Professional (i) visa obtained through the previous employer:
In many cases, neither the foreign national nor the company is aware that a change application is required, and because the person already holds a work visa, the company hires them and allows them to work as they are. However, under the rules of the system, this is an unlawful situation and may affect future residence applications.
In such a case, the first step is to file the notification regarding separation from the previous employer, and then promptly submit an application for change of status. When filing the application, it is advisable to attach supplementary documents such as a statement of reasons.
After hiring, the company relocated its office (and the address also changed). Is any procedure required in this case?
In this case, regardless of whether the employee holds a Highly Skilled Professional (i) visa, foreign nationals working under a work visa are subject to a notification obligation to Immigration.
Therefore, within 14 days from the occurrence of the relevant event, a notification concerning the affiliated (activity) organization must be filed with Immigration. If this procedure is neglected, or if a false notification is made, penalty provisions apply. It may also affect future residence applications.
After hiring, there was a transfer to a group company, and the employee is now moving to a different company (legal entity) from the one at the time of hiring. Is any procedure required?
Unlike an internal transfer between departments within the same company, a transfer to a group company is treated as a job change if it involves a different legal entity. Therefore, since the person holds a Highly Skilled Professional (i) visa, it is necessary to complete the procedure to update the Designation Letter in advance (that is, a change of status procedure) and obtain new permission.
The above is an explanation of the Highly Skilled Professional (i) visa. While it offers advantages, there are also disadvantages and important points that require attention, as discussed above, so it is necessary to understand the system properly. In addition, when hiring such a person, it is important to check the Designation Letter attached to the person’s passport.
If you have any concerns regarding work visa applications when hiring foreign talent or after employment begins, please feel free to consult our firm.
For more information, please contact us below ↓
https://imsvisa.support/en/contact/
