Significance of application for certificate of authorized employment
As stated on our office’s website, the significance of applying for a certificate of authorized employment is that you can expect to have the government proceed the upcoming application for extension of period of stay effectively by communicating the situation with the Immigration Bureau promptly, when you change jobs.
For this reason, our office recommends that those who change jobs during their stay in Japan actively utilize this procedure, and as an administrative scrivener, we often handle the procedure on their behalf.
This time, I would like to introduce the flow from applying via the online residence application system to issuing a certificate through an example.
Application
Attached document
The following documents are required when changing jobs:
- Copy of residence card
- Documents showing details of new workplace and activities
Since the purpose of this procedure is to effectively proceed with the upcoming application for extension of period of stay, it is necessary to have enough of the documents listed in 2 above. In this case, we have prepared the following documents:
(When attaching additional documents using the online residence application system, they must be combined into one file (and within 10Mb), so I inserted each document in JPG format into a WORD document and export it in PDF format to combine them into one file.)
- A statement of reasons for employment written from the perspective of the new employer
- Company information brochure
- Employment contract
- Trading performance of the new employer
- Copy of legal record totals such as withholding tax slips for employment income (with receipt stamp from the tax office) – To show that the company is in good standing.
- Registered copy (Tokibo-tohon) of the new employer
- Copy of financial statements of the new employer
This time, we are introducing people who have the residence status of “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”.
The important point here is that when there is a job change, the original purpose is to promptly communicate the situation with the Immigration Bureau and have them effectively proceed with the examination for the upcoming application for extension of period of stay. This means that it is necessary to properly inform the Immigration Bureau the applicant’s current situation, which is the screening criteria for permission to extend the period of stay/change of status of residence.
So the letter of reason for employment should address that there are no problems with the circumstances that led to the change of job, that he or she did not engage in activities other than permitted, that he or she has properly notified the Immigration Bureau about the change of the jobs, and that he/she has followed the local government’s transfer procedures and residence status.
Application flow
 | Log in as an application agency administrative scrivener. |
 | Click “Enter application information”. |
 | STEP1 Select “Application for issuance of certificate of authorized employment” as the application type, select the target residence status, and press the “Enter” button. |
 | STEP2-1 Enter the applicant’s NAME, nationality, passport number, etc. On this page, choose to receive your certificate by mail. After entering everything, click the “Next” button. |
 | STEP2-2 Enter the applicant’s residence card information, the details of the activity for which you wish to certify, etc. Once you have entered everything, click the “Confirm” button and follow the subsequent guidance to complete the application. |
 | Finally, upload the attached documents using the “Attach documents” button and click the “Submit application to the Immigration Agency” button to complete the application. |
Notification of temporary reception number
 | As soon as you complete your application, you will receive an email similar to the one on the left. At this stage, we are only issuing a “temporary” reception number. |
Notification of reception number
 | The day after you receive the “Application Reception Completion Notification” email, you will receive an “Application Reception Number Notification” email as shown on the left. This means that your application has been officially accepted, and any future inquiries will be addressed using this reception number. |
Notice of completion of examination
 | If you receive the “Notice of Completion of Examination” email as shown on the left, it means that the certificate will be issued without any problems as a result of the examination. In this case, it took 33 days after the application was submitted. Following the instructions in the email, I sent the fee payment slip with a 1,200 yen revenue stamp pasted on it, a return envelope with a stamp for the amount paid by registered mail*, and a copy of the applicant’s residence card to the address shown in the email. *The size of the employment qualification certificate is B5, and the envelope that can fit it without folding is “Kaku-3” (non-standard size). In this case, the simple registered mail fee will be ¥470. If you don’t mind folding it, it will be long size 3 (standard size) and the simple registered mail fee will be 434 yen. Regarding the address of the return envelope, because I used the online residence application as an administrative scrivener, the address should be my address. |
Notice regarding sending
 | Shortly after sending the return envelope, you will receive a notification regarding the delivery as shown on the left. That is very kind. |
Arrival of certificate
 | The long-awaited certificate has arrived. We immediately mailed the letter on the left to the foreign applicant, and this case was closed. Of course, we will have to wait for the upcoming application for permission to extend the period of stay. |