photo by schengentravel
While staying in Japan, all foreign nations must have appropriate resident statuses. It may be permanent resident status, student status, working visa, or working holiday visa that allows holders to work while spending a holiday. All resident statuses can be roughly divided into two groups: resident status based on status holder’s social relationship or otherwise. If your resident status is granted based on your social relationship, you must file a certain notification when you have any change in such social relationship.
What is notification concerning the accepting organization or the spouse?
All mid-to-long term residents, who are residing in Japan to work or study in an organization within Japan or married to a Japanese national, must notify any change in their social relationships at a regional immigration office. You will need to file either of the below three notifications depending on a resident status you are granted.
Notification concerning an organization for the activity
Type of resident status: Professor, Investor/Business Manager, Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Instructor, Intra-company Transferee, Technical Intern Training, Student, or Trainee
Notification concerning a contracting organization
Type of resident status: Researcher, Engineer, Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Entertainer, or Skilled Labor
Notification concerning a spouse
Type of resident status: Dependent, Designated Activities, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, or Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident
When to file a notification concerning the accepting organization or the spouse
A mid-to-long term resident whose resident status falls into the above categories must file a notification in the following cases.
Notification concerning an organization for the activity/ contracting organization
File this notification if:
- There is a change in the name of the organization
- There is a change in the address of the organization
- The organization ceased to exist
- You left the organization or terminated the contract with the organization
- You moved to other organization or enter into a new contract with other organization
Notification concerning a spouse
File this notification if:
- You divorced with your spouse
- Your spouse deceased
For example, if you are on student status and returning to your country as you have finished your study, you will need to lodge a notification concerning an organization for the activity at a regional immigration office to notify that you have left the organization. Also, if you are an interpreter and have finished working under a contract with company A and entered a new employment contract with company B, you will need to file a notification concerning an organization twice in regards to both the termination of the contract and entering into a new contract.
What to bring and where to apply
A mid-to-long term resident whose resident must file a notification within 14 days when there are any changes in their social relationship that their resident status is based on. You can hand in the notification letter and your resident card at a reginal immigration office or send it to Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau by mail.
Notification letter
You are required to state your name, date of birth, sex, nationality, residential address, resident card number and details of any change in your social relationship which your resident status is based on. There is no prescribed format of notification concerning the accepting organization or the spouse as long as all the information is correctly provided. But if you wish, you can download templates via Ministry of Justice website.
Resident card
You need to present your resident card at the counter when visiting a regional immigration office to hand in the notification. If you are sending the notification to Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau by mail, you can attach a photocopy of your resident card. A proof of change in your social relationship is not required.
Where to apply
Apply in person: Regional immigration office in your area
By mail: Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau, Residence Management Information Department, Notifications Desk,
5-5-30 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8255
Download notification concerning an organization for the activity form
Download notification concerning a contracting organization form
Download notification concerning a spouse
Add it to your to do list
During your stay in Japan, you may have an occasion to change the organization you belong when you graduate, leave, or change your job or school. In such cases, you only have to deal with the organizations you belong if you are in your own country. But while you are in Japan on your resident status, you need to notify the immigration office of any changes too. It is easy to overlook when you spending hectic time to adopt yourself to the new surroundings, so mark your calendar beforehand. If you live in remote area or can’t save time to visit a regional immigration office, download a form from the website and post it with other documents.
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