Kyoto Visa Application] Complete Guide to Visa Procedures for Hiring Foreign Nationals as Full-Time Employees

September 3, 2025October 24, 2025

Employment of foreigners Administrative scrivener

In recent years, an increasing number of companies have been hiring foreign nationals as full-time employees in response to labor shortages and globalization in Japan. Especially in fields such as IT, trade, tourism, and food & beverage, it is not uncommon for the hiring of foreign employees to be directly linked to corporate growth.

However, in order to hire a foreign national as a full-time employee, the "status of residence (visa)" must be confirmed and the job duties to be hired must match the activities on the visa. If hired without proper confirmation,(crime of) encouraging illegal employmentThis is a major risk for the company, as there is a risk of being questioned by the

In this article,Types of visas required when hiring a foreigner as a full-time employee, points to check before hiring, points to note when making a foreign student a full-time employee, documents the company should prepare, common reasons for disapproval and countermeasures.The following is an easy-to-understand explanation of the Please refer to this page if you are in charge of general affairs or human resources of a company.

TOC

1. status of residence that allows employment of a foreigner as a regular employee

If a foreigner wishes to work in Japan, he/she must have a "Work Permit Status of Residence". Typical status of residence often used for permanent employment are as follows

Technical/Humanities/International Services

Most common work visa.
College degree or equivalent or 10 years of work experience required.
Able to work in professional and technical fields (IT engineering, design, R&D, human resources and accounting, interpretation and translation, etc.).
Note that simple labor is not allowed.

Management and Administration

Resident status for company managers and executives.
Capital at the time of incorporation is at least 5 million yen (to be increased to 30 million yen after April 2025).
The company must have a system in place to actually operate the business.

highly specialized occupation

Evaluates advanced education, work experience, and annual income on a point system.
Preferential treatment is available, such as early acquisition of a permanent residence permit.
Effective in recruiting foreign researchers and executives for major companies.

Permanent Resident, Spouse of Japanese National, etc.

No work restrictions and can work in any type of job.
Less recruitment risk and therefore more peace of mind for the company.

2. points that must be confirmed before hiring

When hiring a foreign national, it is important to confirm the following points during the interview and job offer stages.

How to check your residence card

Surface: Confirm name, status of residence, period of stay, and whether or not there are any work restrictions.
On the reverse side: History of renewal of period of stay or change of status.

Compatibility of status of residence and job description

For example, restaurant hall staff cannot be hired for "technical, humanities, or international work".
You should always check the relevance of your education and work experience to the job description.

Confirmation of expiration date of residence

If the expected duration of the contract exceeds the expiration date of the residency, renewal is assumed.
It is important to determine "renewability" at the time of hiring.

3. points to keep in mind when making an international student a full-time employee

In recent years, an increasing number of part-time international students are being hired directly as full-time employees.

Change of status of residence is required.

You need to change your visa status from "College Student" to "Technical/Humanities/International Services" or other work visa.

necessary documents

Graduation certificates and transcripts
An employment contract indicating the duties for which you plan to be hired
Company profile and business plan

Cases likely to be disapproved

Duties similar to simple labor (e.g., cashiering, cleaning, customer service only)
Educational background does not match the job description (e.g., hired as a systems engineer with a Bachelor of Arts degree)
Company's business condition is unstable

Documents and procedures to be prepared by the company

When hiring a foreign national, there are certain documents that the company is required to submit.

Main required documents

Employment contract (must be on the same terms and conditions as Japanese employees)
Certificate of company registration
Most recent financial statements or income statement
Company profile materials explaining business activities
Statement of reasons for hiring (explaining the need to hire a foreign national)

address for submission

Apply for change of status of residence/recognition of status of residence at the Immigration Bureau.
The company does not apply on behalf of the applicant; the foreigner himself/herself is the applicant, but the company's cooperation documents are essential.

5. common reasons for disapproval and countermeasures

While there are many reasons why an application for status of residence may be denied, lack of preparation on the part of the company is often the cause.

Typical Reasons for Disapproval

Job description does not fit the status of residence
Company's financial base is weak and continuity is questionable
Insufficient education and background of the foreigner himself/herself
Inconsistencies in documentation.

counter-measure

Before hiring, check with a specialist to see if the visa will be approved for this job description.
Prepare materials that can show the company's business foundation (profitable financial statements, tax certificates)
Clearly describe your job duties in Japanese and English, and emphasize your expertise.

6. when to consult with an administrative scrivener

For companies not accustomed to hiring foreigners, consulting with an administrative scrivener at the following stages will facilitate the process.

When you want to confirm whether the candidate's status of residence allows full-time employment before making a hiring decision.
When you want to prepare the necessary documents for change of status of residence or application for recognition
When employing a foreigner who has been previously inadmissible
When hiring multiple foreign nationals at the same time

By consulting with an administrative lawyer, recruitment risks can be significantly reduced.

summary

When hiring a foreigner as a permanent employee, the most important Confirmation of compatibility between status of residence and job description It is. It is essential to make appropriate preparations before hiring in order to avoid a situation in which the applicant cannot actually obtain a visa after being hired.

For companies, hiring foreigners is a great opportunity, but at the same time, it can be a major risk if the visa procedures are not followed correctly. The key to success in securing human resources is to have a proper understanding of the system and to take advantage of professional support.

Our firm provides comprehensive support for hiring foreign full-time employees, from checking residency status to preparing application documents. Please feel free to contact us if your company is considering hiring a foreign national.