Step 1 of 4
Start working
Check your permission to work and complete the important procedures when starting employment in Japan.
Overview
Before starting work, confirm that the employment is permitted under your status of residence and any applicable work restrictions. Also review the employment conditions provided by your employer and complete the administrative procedures required when employment begins.
Requirements
- Confirm that the work is permittedCheck whether the activities of the job are permitted under your status of residence. Some statuses allow work within their permitted activities, some have restrictions, and some people may require permission to engage in an activity outside their existing status.
- Review the employment conditionsBefore starting work, confirm important conditions such as the job duties, workplace, working hours, wages, contract period, days off, and other employment terms provided by the employer.
- Confirm required employment proceduresAsk the employer which employment, social-insurance, tax, payroll, and identification procedures apply when you start work.
Documents and items
- Residence card and residence-status informationKeep your current residence information available so that your work eligibility and any applicable restrictions can be confirmed where required.
- Employment conditions or contractKeep the written employment conditions, employment contract, or other documents describing the terms under which you will work.
- Identification and administrative informationPrepare the identification and other administrative information legitimately required by your employer for employment, payroll, tax, or social-insurance procedures.
- Employer contact and workplace informationKeep the employer's contact information, workplace details, and the contact point responsible for employment or administrative procedures.
Actions
- Check your work authorization before startingConfirm that the proposed work is consistent with your status of residence and any restrictions or permissions that apply to you.
- Read your employment conditionsReview the written employment conditions carefully, including wages, working hours, job duties, contract period, days off, and other important terms.
- Complete employer onboarding proceduresProvide the information and documents legitimately required for payroll, tax, employment insurance, health insurance, pension, and other applicable employment procedures.
- Confirm your social-insurance arrangementsAsk the employer whether you will be enrolled in applicable employee health insurance, Employees' Pension Insurance, employment insurance, or other systems based on the employment and coverage conditions.
- Keep copies of important employment recordsRetain your employment conditions, contract, payroll records, insurance information, and important communications relating to your employment.
Practical notes
- A residence card does not by itself mean that every type of work is permitted. Work authorization depends on the person's status of residence and applicable permissions or restrictions.
- Do not begin work that may fall outside your permitted activities without first confirming whether additional immigration permission is required.
- Employers are required to provide specified working conditions clearly when entering into an employment contract. Keep the written information provided to you.
- Social-insurance and employment-insurance coverage depends on the applicable statutory conditions. JMNET should not determine an individual's coverage from general information alone.
- If the job duties or employment situation differ materially from what was expected, confirm the situation with the employer and, where necessary, the appropriate government authority or professional adviser.
- JMNET should not determine whether a particular job is permitted under an individual's status of residence.