As of October 2021, new entry of technical intern trainees has not been realized. Meanwhile, many technical intern trainees who have completed three or more years of Technical Intern Training remain in Japan because they are still unable to return home.

This article introduces the options currently available to such foreign nationals.

1. Using a Designated Activities visa

At present, under COVID-19 conditions, relief measures continue for foreign nationals who have completed Technical Intern Training through Designated Activities visas. Many types of Designated Activities are now available, and the range of situations they can cover has expanded.

This section introduces Designated Activities visas that can still be used today.

1. Continuing employment in the same occupation as during Technical Intern Training

This form of Designated Activities is expected to apply to many people who have completed Technical Intern Training. It is mainly assumed for cases where the individual continues working at the same company where they undertook Technical Intern Training. If the occupation is the same, it is also possible to transfer to a different company or under the jurisdiction of a different supervising organization from the one where Technical Intern Training was conducted.

Because this visa is interpreted as an extension of Technical Intern Training status, the supervising organization must retain supervisory responsibility. Therefore, this Designated Activities visa cannot be applied for in the name of a Registered Support Organization.

In addition, the maximum period that may be granted is six months.

Required documents

1. Application for Change of Status of Residence or Application for Extension of Period of Stay

2. A reasonable written explanation of why return to the home country is difficult

3. A written explanation prepared by the supervising organization or the accepting organization during training

In addition, if the supervising organization or the employing company will change, separate supporting materials must be submitted.

2. Continuing employment in an occupation different from Technical Intern Training

With the COVID-19 situation continuing for a prolonged period, since August 12, 2020 it has become possible to work in an occupation different from the one during Technical Intern Training. However, note that employment is permitted only in occupations related to the occupation during Technical Intern Training.

Required documents

1. Application for Change of Status of Residence or Application for Extension of Period of Stay

2. A reasonable written explanation of why return to the home country is difficult

3. A written explanation prepared by the supervising organization or the accepting organization during training

In addition, if the supervising organization or the employing company will change, separate supporting materials must be submitted.

3. Continuing to stay in Japan without working

Not every foreign national who has completed Technical Intern Training can switch to a Designated Activities visa and continue working. This Designated Activities visa is for foreign nationals who became unemployed because the business condition of the company where they worked during Technical Intern Training deteriorated, or who were unable to continue employment after completing Technical Intern Training.

From December 1, 2020 onward, foreign nationals applying for this Designated Activities visa may also apply for permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted, allowing part-time work of up to 28 hours per week.

Required documents

1. Application for Change of Status of Residence or Application for Extension of Period of Stay

2. A reasonable written explanation of why return to the home country is difficult

3. Materials regarding how living expenses in Japan will be covered

4. Application for Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted (if part-time work is desired)

4. When procedures to transition to Specified Skilled Worker cannot be completed in time

This Designated Activities visa may be applied for when the foreign national wishes to transition to Specified Skilled Worker and is eligible to do so (having passed the examinations required to become a Specified Skilled Worker, or applying for Specified Skilled Worker in the same occupation as during Technical Intern Training).

As a point of caution, this visa is intended for foreign nationals whose application procedures cannot be completed within their period of stay. For example, if a person holds Designated Activities that do not permit work and still has a substantial remaining period of stay, a change to this Designated Activities status may not be approved. Although both are Designated Activities, by changing from Designated Activities that do not permit work to Designated Activities for foreign nationals whose procedures to transition to Specified Skilled Worker cannot be completed in time, the individual can work full-time as a regular employee at the company where they plan to work as a Specified Skilled Worker even before obtaining Specified Skilled Worker status. Note that the maximum period granted under this Designated Activities is four months, and this period is included in the maximum period during which work is permitted as a Specified Skilled Worker (five years).

In addition, in Specified Skilled Worker fields such as manufacturing, where membership in a council is required before applying for Specified Skilled Worker and the council membership review takes several months, renewal of the four-month Designated Activities may also be approved in some cases.

5. Working in a different occupation while acquiring skills on the premise of transitioning to Specified Skilled Worker

This Designated Activities visa was established to help maintain employment of foreign nationals in Japan. It is premised on transitioning to Specified Skilled Worker: the individual works at a company while also passing, within one year, the examinations required to become a Specified Skilled Worker and then transitions to Specified Skilled Worker.

A point to note is that when a foreign national who has completed Technical Intern Training or similar uses this Designated Activities visa, return travel costs are in principle borne by the foreign national. If the individual cannot bear those costs, the organization accepting the foreign national under this measure must bear them.

In addition, foreign nationals who wish to obtain this Designated Activities status and have difficulty finding employment on their own may use a matching service.

Foreign nationals who wish to use the matching service can receive support for re-employment at companies in their desired specified industrial fields by submitting a “Consent Form Regarding the Handling of Personal Information” to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. For example, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan provides information on foreign nationals listed in the “Consent Form Regarding the Handling of Personal Information” to relevant ministries and agencies, prefectures, and other related organizations. If there is a company in the desired specified industrial field that is hiring and willing to employ the person, that company, a job placement agency, or similar may contact the contact details listed on the consent form, and re-employment may be realized.

2. Continuing Technical Intern Training

For foreign nationals who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii), another option is to continue with Technical Intern Training (iii). At present, because foreign nationals who were supposed to enter Japan cannot do so due to COVID-19, some companies that originally had no plan to conduct Technical Intern Training (iii) are doing so to fill staffing gaps. In addition, regarding Specified Skilled Worker, companies that accept technical intern trainees are not necessarily able to accept Specified Skilled Workers as well—for example, in manufacturing, membership in the Specified Skilled Worker council is not always possible.

For that reason, companies that cannot accept Specified Skilled Workers are also more likely to accept Technical Intern Training (iii).

3. Transitioning to Specified Skilled Worker

Under COVID-19 conditions, the number of foreign nationals transitioning to Specified Skilled Worker has increased substantially. As conditions for transitioning to Specified Skilled Worker, those who have completed at least two years and ten months of Technical Intern Training, or who have passed the specialized level, can become Specified Skilled Workers without passing the Specified Skilled Worker skills and Japanese language examinations. For this reason as well, more companies are employing foreign nationals in Japan who have completed Technical Intern Training as Specified Skilled Workers to fill gaps left by foreign nationals who cannot enter Japan.

Another new development under COVID-19 is an increase in cases where companies bring in, as Specified Skilled Workers, foreign nationals who worked as technical intern trainees at other companies.

Summary

This article introduced the options available to foreign nationals who have completed Technical Intern Training under COVID-19 conditions.

Many options are available, including Designated Activities, so it is necessary to select the most appropriate visa in line with the wishes of the foreign national and the company.