When you leave a job or start a new one in Japan, your status of residence does not change by itself, but you must tell the Immigration Services Agency. The report is called the notification of the contracting organisation (所属（契約）機関に関する届出), and it is due within 14 days.[1]
Who has to file it
It applies to mid- to long-term residents whose status is tied to a contract with an organisation. Those statuses are Highly Skilled Professional, Researcher, Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, Nursing Care, Entertainer (when working under a contract), Skilled Labor and Specified Skilled Worker.[1]
You file it yourself, as the resident.[1]
What counts as a change
You need to notify within 14 days of any of these:[1]
- your contract with the organisation ended, for example because you quit or changed jobs;
- you signed a contract with a new organisation;
- the organisation changed its name or address, or ceased to exist.
If you change jobs, both events happen: the old contract ends and a new one starts. The agency provides a single form that reports both at once.[1]
How to file
- Online: the electronic notification system accepts it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and shows the history and status of what you filed. You register as a user the first time. No supporting documents are needed.[1]
- At a counter: hand in the form at the nearest regional immigration office and show your residence card.[1]
- By post: send the form with a copy of your residence card, and write "NOTIFICATION ENCLOSED" (届出書在中) in red on the front of the envelope. The office does not confirm receipt, so the agency recommends a delivery method you can track.[1]
Which form to use
The agency publishes reference forms, with filled-in examples:[1]
| Situation | Form |
|---|---|
| Your contract ended | Reference form 1-4 |
| You signed a new contract | Reference form 1-5 |
| Both at once (a job change) | Reference form 1-7 |
| The organisation changed its name or address, or ceased to exist | Reference form 1-1 |
You do not need these forms if you file through the online system.[1]
Keep a record
Keep the confirmation from the online system, or the tracking record if you sent it by post. You may need to show when you filed, and Clerfy keeps that date with the procedure.
If you changed jobs, find your procedure in Clerfy: it adds the notification with its deadline, and tracks what your next renewal will need.