Who Should Read This

This note is for professionals who changed employers and now face a visa renewal soon after the move.
Perhaps you left the original sponsor that brought you to Japan for a better position or a role that matches your goals.
The guidance below outlines what Immigration typically focuses on and how to prepare.

How Immigration Assesses Renewals After a Job Change

Your first renewal after a job change (under the Immigration Control Act, often referenced in practice alongside
status of residence rules) is evaluated based on the attributes of your new sponsor—your current employer.

PR Impact: Why a One-Year Status Matters

Under the current Permanent Residency (PR) guidelines, holding only a one-year period of stay
generally undermines PR eligibility because it signals lower stability. If PR is a near-term goal, plan your renewal
and employer profile accordingly.

Employer Types & Documents Immigration Looks For

Requirements differ by employer scale and substance. In practice, Immigration reviews four broad employer segments
(from startups and small entities to large domestic or global firms) and seeks objective signs of continuity:

• Financials: revenue, profit, balance-sheet health.
• Operations: existence of a genuine office, payroll records, social insurance enrollment.
• Substance: actual business activity, contracts, deliverables, clients.
• Role fit: your job duties align with the status of residence.

Long Vacations & Non-Activity: Article 22-4 Risk

Professionals on 5-year statuses sometimes take long “breaks.” Be careful: under Article 22-4,
if you do not engage in your authorized activities for 3 months or more without a justifiable reason,
your status can be subject to revocation—and at minimum, it can complicate renewal.

Examples & Mitigation

• Quit and became a full-time creator/influencer for 6+ months → high risk unless your activity matched your status.
• Unemployed for an extended period → show job-search evidence and market conditions.
• Medical reasons (including mental health) → obtain a physician’s letter and timeline.

Rarely does a case reach formal revocation, but renewal denials do occur when the record shows unjustified non-activity.

Practical Preparation Checklist

• Employer dossier: financial statements, office lease, payroll & social insurance proof.
• Role documents: contract, detailed job description, org chart, performance goals.
• Activity log: keep a simple file of projects, deliverables, and client work since the job change.
• Gap support: for any non-working periods, prepare explanations and supporting evidence early.
• PR roadmap: if you aim for PR, plan to maintain a longer period of stay and employer stability.

Short FAQ

Can I renew right after switching jobs?

Yes. Immigration evaluates the new sponsor. Strong employer documentation helps secure a longer period of stay.

Will moving to a startup hurt my renewal length?

It can. A prior 5-year status may become 1 year at the first post-switch renewal. Strengthen financials and substance.

How long a gap is too long?

Three months without a justifiable reason is a statutory red flag. Document any legitimate reasons and timelines.

What if I plan PR soon?

Avoid slipping to a one-year status. Choose employers and timing that support stability on paper.