On 19 October 2026 Japan's Immigration Services Agency published a partial revision of the Operational Guidelines on the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Nationals. The revision concerns how the persons supervised by a foreign national with the status of residence "Specified Skilled Worker (ii)" are treated, and Reference Form No. 1-32 (written pledge on the duties of a Specified Skilled Worker (ii)).
This page sets out the wording of the comparison table of old and new text published by the Agency.
Overview
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date of publication | 19 October 2026 |
| Issuing authority | Immigration Services Agency of Japan |
| Title | Operational Guidelines on the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Nationals |
| Revised part 1 | Chapter 3 (Status of residence "Specified Skilled Worker"), Section 2 ("Specified Skilled Worker (ii)"), first item of the notes |
| Revised part 2 | Reference Form No. 1-32, written pledge on the duties of a Specified Skilled Worker (ii) |
| Previous revision | 20 August 2026 |
Text before the revision
The previous text stated that the duties normally performed by a Specified Skilled Worker (ii) must not be the same as those of technical intern trainees or Specified Skilled Workers (i), and that the worker must perform supervisory or management duties, or professional and technical duties at their own discretion, and must supervise at least the number of persons set for each specified industrial field.
It then stated that the following persons were not counted:
- Persons working at a different workplace from the foreign national
- Persons not working full time
- Persons supervised by another Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
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The revised text keeps the first part and states that the worker normally needs to supervise at least the number of persons set for each specified industrial field, and is required to do so stably and continuously.
On the treatment of supervised persons, it states:
- Persons working at a different workplace: in principle not counted. However, where reasonable circumstances are recognised in light of the characteristics of the specified industrial field, they are treated flexibly even if they do not work at the same workplace
- Persons supervised by another Specified Skilled Worker (ii): counted where reasonable grounds are recognised, for example where Specified Skilled Workers (ii) with different specialisms supervise the same person, or where there are circumstances particular to the field
- Temporary absence of supervised persons: where reasonable circumstances are recognised, for example where at the time of application the supervised persons are still in the recruitment process and not yet confirmed, the case is treated flexibly even if the required number is not met
The revised text no longer contains the earlier wording excluding persons not working full time.
The text refers readers to Reference Form No. 1-32 for details.
Revision of Reference Form No. 1-32
The comparison table also shows a revision of Reference Form No. 1-32. The form is available on the Agency's page for the operational guidelines.
Sources
- Immigration Services Agency, Operational Guidelines for Specified Skilled Workers (Japanese): https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/ssw/nyuukokukanri07_00201.html
- Partial revision of the Operational Guidelines (19 October 2026, comparison table, PDF, Japanese): https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001473024.pdf
This page is compiled from material published by government agencies and from statutory text. Please consult a lawyer where a decision is needed on a specific matter.
