Latest in 2026: Changes in the Revised Administrative Scrivener Law: "Document Preparation" and Application Practices of Registered Support Agencies

March 23, 2026

TOC

1. application procedures for registered support organizations (basic flow)

To become a registered support organization, an application must be submitted to the Immigration and Immigration Bureau. The registration is valid for5 yearsand must apply for renewal if they wish to continue.

Main Registration Requirements

Support system: Must have experience in accepting mid- to long-term residents (past two years) and in providing consultation services for daily life.
Neutrality: Not fall under any of the disqualification grounds (e.g., violation of laws and regulations within the past five years).
Languages supported: A system must be in place to provide assistance in a language that can be fully understood by foreigners.

2.[Important] Effective January 2026: Points to be Noted in the Revised Administrative Scrivener Law

The amendment to the law will allow some of the services that have been performed by registered support organizations as "part of their services" to beClearly illegalThe company was

Prohibits the receipt of "nominal or nominal" document preparation fees.

Until now, there have been scattered cases of "documentation fees" being mixed in with support outsourcing fees. However, the revised law strictly prohibits the following practices

Prohibition of package rates: Include in the "support costs" the preparation of application documents (e.g., authorization of status of residence, renewal, etc.) on behalf of the applicant.
Void change of name: It is illegal to use any name, such as "consulting fee," "administrative fee," or "support fee," as long as the documentation is actually prepared.
Penalties for corporations (both penalties): Even if the person in charge went without permission,Up to 1,000,000 yen fine against the corporation (registered support organization)may be imposed.

What Registered Support Agencies Can and Cannot Do

Item	Registered Support Organization (Non-Governmental Scriveners)	Administrative scrivener (with agency qualification)
Preparation of documents and substitute writing	gaffe(assist and advise only)	OK
Application intake (submission)	OK(If approved)	OK
Implementation of support plan	OK(original business)	Non-specialized (not normally performed)
Receipt of compensation	Only for support services	Available for paperwork and applications

3. changes in periodic reporting rules (from April 2026)

There are also major procedural changes. The periodic notification used to be once a quarter (3 months),Once a yearThe results are aggregated in the following table.

Reporting frequency: Once a year (report for the previous year between April 1 and May 31)
Notes: The report will be once a year,Obligation to "meet regularly every three months" continues.We are doing this. Since a year's worth of records must be organized at the time of reporting, daily record keeping becomes even more important.

4. practical design for compliance

We recommend that all those who are going to apply or continue their business establish the following system.

Separation of Contracts: Clearly separate the "support consignment agreement" as a registered support organization and the "document preparation consignment agreement" as an administrative scrivener.
Ensure direct contracting: Make the flow of payment of remuneration by the recipient company directly to the administrative scrivener (the support organization does not cut out the middleman or collect money on behalf of the recipient company).
Manual revision: Thoroughly train in-house staff so that they do not "enter documents on behalf of others" with good intentions.

Summary: To be the support organization of choice

Behind the revision of the law is the elimination of inappropriate documentation and brokerage activities. Registered support organizations are now required to provide "high-quality support services" that serve as a bridge between foreigners and companies, rather than simply "procedural agents.