Hiring a foreign engineer who already lives and works in Japan is often the fastest route: the candidate has a residence status, knows Japanese workplaces, and can usually start within one or two months. There is no Certificate of Eligibility to wait for — but there are still a few checks and filings that both sides must get right.
1. Check the residence card
- Status of residence — for most engineers, “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services”.
- Period of stay and expiry date — if it expires soon, plan the renewal (applications can be filed from about three months before expiry).
- Work restrictions — the card states whether work is permitted and on what terms.
2. Does the new job fit the current status?
If the new job is the same kind of work — for example, from one IT company's engineering role to another — no change of status is needed. If the new duties fall outside the status (for example, mostly non-professional work), a change-of-status application is required before the person starts.
When in doubt, the employee can apply for a Certificate of Authorized Employment (就労資格証明書). It is optional, but it confirms in advance that the new job fits the status and makes the next renewal smoother.
3. The employee's notification — within 14 days
A person with a work-based status must notify the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days of leaving the previous employer and of joining the new one (所属機関に関する届出). It can be filed online. Missing it can count against the person at the next renewal, so it is worth reminding new hires.
4. The employer's notification to Hello Work
- If the employee joins employment insurance: report the foreign worker on the insurance enrolment form by the 10th of the following month.
- If not: file the foreign-worker employment notification form by the end of the following month.
5. Watch the gap between jobs
A person who does not carry out the activities of their work status for three months or more without a valid reason can have the status revoked. For candidates who are between jobs, a quick decision helps them as much as it helps you.
Quick checklist
- Residence card: status, expiry, work permission
- New duties fit the current status (or change of status filed)
- Optional: Certificate of Authorized Employment
- Employee files the 14-day notification
- Employer reports to Hello Work
- Equal pay with Japanese staff in the same role
NEXORA's candidates already living in Japan are screened for skills, Japanese level and residence status before introduction. See open positions or tell us who you need.
This article is general information as of November 2026, not legal advice. Rules change — confirm the latest requirements with the authorities or a licensed professional before acting.