Thinking About Changing Jobs in Japan? Easy Visa Guide
Are you working in Japan and thinking about quitting your job?
In this article, I explain in a simple way how to resign in Japan and what happens to your residence status.
Many foreigners worry about losing their visa when they quit.
Don’t worry. Here are the legal steps to make your transition safe and smooth.
Steps to resign from a company in Japan
In Japan, resignation is usually formal. Follow these steps:
- Inform your supervisor early about your decision
- Submit a resignation letter (退職届 / Taishoku Todoke)
- Check with your company how they prefer to receive it (paper or digital)
Important: When starting a job or considering a job change, always make sure to check your employment contract.
Your work visa and residence status
If you have a visa like “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services”, there are two situations:
1. If you already have a new job
If your new job is in the same category, you usually do not need to change your visa.
You must:
- Notify Immigration within 14 days (Notification of the affiliated organization)
- If unsure, apply for Certificate of Authorized Employment
2. If you will look for a job after quitting
- You must notify Immigration within 14 days
- Your visa is not canceled immediately, but:
👉 You usually have about 3 months to show you are actively job hunting
👉 If you do not work for a long time, you may have problems with your status in the future
Family visa (no work restriction)
Q. I don’t want to renew my contract. What should I do?
- You can work freely in different jobs
- Check if your contract has automatic renewal (自動更新 / Jidou Koushin)
- Inform your company at least 1 month in advance
Important: Quitting your job does NOT affect your visa, because your residence status depends on your family, not your employer.
FAQ
Can my company cancel my visa?
No. Your visa belongs to you, not your company.
Only the Japanese government (Immigration) can cancel it.
Important Notice
For matters related to social insurance and sickness benefits, please consult a certified social insurance labor consultant (Shakai Hoken Roumushi) in Japan.
Note
This is general information only.
If you need help with documents or translations, please consult a certified administrative professional (Gyoseishoshi).
