VISA: End of Technical Intern Program

Posted on March 17, 2024

On March 15, the government passed a cabinet decision on a draft amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and other related laws, which will replace the “technical internship” status of residence for foreign workers with the establishment of a “training employment” status of residence to secure labor.

The amendment will allow a worker to change workplaces (transfer) of his/her own volition after one to two years of employment, which was not permitted under the technical internship program in principle. If the amendment is approved by the Diet, it will come into effect within three years of its promulgation.

The purpose of the “training employment” program is to “secure human resources” in industries where there is a shortage of labor. The technical intern training program, which is intended to make international contributions, will be abolished when the revised law comes into effect.

In principle, the maximum period of stay for training employment is three years. During this period, the aim is to train workers to the level of “specified technical skill No. 1,” which requires a certain level of knowledge and experience. In principle, the fields of employment will be the same as those of the specified technical skills No. 1, to facilitate the transition. After one to two years of employment, if the applicant meets the requirements for Japanese language skills, etc., he/she can transfer to another company at his/her own will. The period of time required for transfer will be determined for each industry.

In anticipation of an increase in the number of people who work in Japan for a long time and are permitted to reside permanently in Japan, a provision will be added to allow for the revocation of permission for those who willfully fail to pay taxes and social insurance premiums.