“We want to hire international talent under Specified Skilled Worker, but drafting the support plan and filing notifications is so complex we cannot keep up.” Voices like this are common among staff at companies taking on international talent for the first time.

In one nursing care facility in the Kanto region, the company tried to prepare its own support plan, but it took more than six months to build a system that covered all 10 mandatory support items. In that time, the Vietnamese candidate they had planned to hire moved to another employer.

Companies that accept Specified Skilled Worker (i) international talent are legally required to prepare and implement a “Support Plan for Specified Skilled Workers (i).” When it is difficult to provide this support in-house, they can turn to a “Registered Support Organization.”

This article organizes practical decision points—from the role of Registered Support Organizations to how to choose one, typical fees, and cautions when outsourcing.The flow of hiring foreign nationals, read together with this piece, will help you grasp the full picture from hiring through post-joining support.

What Is a Registered Support Organization for Specified Skilled Worker? Definition and Legal Standing

A Registered Support Organization is an organization that implements all or part of the “Support Plan for Specified Skilled Workers (i)” on behalf of the accepting company (the Specified Skilled Worker affiliated organization) that employs Specified Skilled Worker (i) international talent. It refers to a corporation or individual registered by the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Immigration Control Act).

When a Registered Support Organization Is Required

Accepting companies must provide mandatory support to their Specified Skilled Worker (i) international talent under a support plan, and they can entrust all of the plan to a Registered Support Organization. To deliver that support in house, a company must appoint a support officer and a support staff member and meet the standards set for a support framework. If none of the following applies, or the company cannot put in place a framework that properly delivers all 10 mandatory support items, outsourcing to a Registered Support Organization is required.

  • A track record of properly accepting and managing mid- to long-term residents in the past two years
  • An officer or employee with experience handling daily-life consultation for mid- to long-term residents in the past two years who can be appointed as support officer or support staff
  • The appointed support officer and support staff have at least two years of experience in the past five years handling daily-life consultation for mid- to long-term residents holding a work-based status of residence

The register of Registered Support Organizations published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan lists 11,758 organizations as of October 22, 2026 (Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “登録支援機関 (Registered Support Organization)”; checked October 22, 2026). With so many providers, quality varies widely, so careful selection is essential.

For the fields eligible under the Specified Skilled Worker system, see the list of Specified Skilled Worker fields and check it against its reference date.

The 10 “Mandatory Support” Items Handled by Registered Support Organizations

Support that can be outsourced to a Registered Support Organization is divided into “mandatory support” and “optional support.” Mandatory support in particular is statutory; missing even one item can put the accepting company in violation of the law.

List of the 10 Mandatory Support Items

| No. | Support item | Specific content |

|-----|----------|-------------|

| 1 | Pre-arrival guidance | Explain working conditions, activities, entry procedures, and related matters in a language the person understands |

| 2 | Airport pickup and drop-off | Transport between the airport and residence; on departure, escort to the airport and confirm entry into security screening |

| 3 | Housing and essential living contracts | Secure housing; support contracts for bank accounts and mobile phones |

| 4 | Living orientation | Explain Japanese rules and manners, how to use public services, disaster response, and more (guideline: 8 hours or more) |

| 5 | Accompaniment for public procedures | Accompany the person for resident registration at the municipality and procedures for social insurance, taxes, and similar matters |

| 6 | Opportunities for Japanese language learning | Provide information on Japanese classes and learning materials, and secure learning opportunities |

| 7 | Handling consultations and complaints | Respond to workplace and daily-life consultations in a language the person understands |

| 8 | Promoting exchange with Japanese people | Support participation in local events and exchange activities |

| 9 | Job-change support (involuntary separation) | Help find a new employer and prepare recommendation letters when the employment contract ends for reasons attributable to the accepting company |

| 10 | Regular interviews and reports to authorities | Conduct interviews at least once every three months; report Labor Standards Act violations to the relevant authorities if any |

Points That Are Often Overlooked

Living orientation (No. 4) is expected to run for “8 hours or more”; a perfunctory 30-minute briefing is not enough. Regular interviews (No. 10) must be held not only with the international talent but also with their supervisor. Interview records must be retained for at least one year, so forms and a retention system are essential.

Standards your provider must meet when delivering support (check before contracting)

Mandatory support is not just a matter of recording that it was done; the Operational Guidelines also set standards for how it is delivered. Before signing, check that the methods described in the provider’s support plan and quotation meet the following standards.

  • Pre-arrival guidance: it must be given in person or by videophone or video call after confirming the person’s identity. Mailing documents or sending email alone is not accepted. It must continue until the person fully understands, and about three hours is the guideline. Even where it can be shorter, such as when a former technical intern continues with the same employer, guidance of less than one hour is not considered properly delivered. Afterwards, show the person the confirmation form and obtain their signature
  • Confirming there are no deposits or penalty contracts: the pre-arrival guidance confirms that neither the person nor their family has money or property held through a deposit or similar arrangement, and that no contract setting penalties has been or will be concluded. The rule also covers brokers in Japan and abroad. If a sending organization collects deposits, leaving the pre-arrival guidance to that organization may lead to a finding that the support framework standards are not met
  • Living orientation: it may be delivered by videophone or by watching videos such as DVDs, but there must be a way to answer the person’s questions about the content properly. Afterwards, show the person the confirmation form, obtain their signature and keep a record
  • Airport pickup and drop-off: this covers transport on entry and on departure; entry and departure for a temporary return home are not included
  • Consultations and complaints: matching the person’s working pattern, the provider must respond on at least three working days and at least one day off per week, and also be reachable outside working hours (at night) when it is easier for the person to consult. When outsourcing, have the provider set consultation hours that match your foreign employees’ working hours
  • Who bears the cost: the cost of mandatory support is borne by the accepting side (the affiliated organization and others) and must not be passed on to the foreign worker, directly or indirectly

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan sets out how each mandatory support item, such as pre-departure guidance, is to be carried out in its “1号特定技能外国人支援に関する運用要領 (Operational Guidelines on Support for Specified Skilled Workers (i))” (in Japanese; checked October 22, 2026).

How to Choose a Registered Support Organization and Typical Outsourcing Fees

The number of Registered Support Organizations keeps growing, but being “registered” is not the same as delivering high-quality support. Below are checkpoints for selection and fee benchmarks.

Five Criteria to Check When Selecting

1. Volume and industry of support track record

Always confirm “how many Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals they have supported to date” and “whether they have experience in your industry.” Construction company A in Saitama Prefecture (45 employees) outsourced to a Registered Support Organization whose track record was only in nursing care. The organization lacked knowledge of construction-specific JAC (Japan Association for Construction Human Resources) registration procedures, and the status of residence applications were denied twice.

2. Supported languages and native-language staff

Much of the mandatory support must be delivered in “a language the person understands.” Organizations with in-house native-language staff tend to respond more smoothly in emergencies than those that outsource interpreters.

3. 24-hour availability

Confirm the contact system if trouble arises at night or on holidays. For shift-based workplaces such as manufacturing and nursing care facilities, weekday daytime-only coverage is not enough.

4. How regular interview results and status are shared

The key is how the provider will share with you the results of the regular interviews held at least once every three months, and whether it can also share day-to-day status.

Note that periodic notifications to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan are filed once a year, not quarterly: the notification covers April 1 to March 31 and is due by May 31 of the following year. This is separate from the interview frequency, so do not confuse the two (Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “特定技能所属機関・登録支援機関による届出 (Notifications by affiliated organizations and Registered Support Organizations)” (in Japanese); checked October 22, 2026).

5. Check the registration number and validity period against the register

Ask the provider you are considering for its registration number (in a format such as YourBright’s “19-登-000992”) and check that the organization name and registration number match in the latest version of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan’s register of Registered Support Organizations. If you cannot find the provider there, ask why before contracting.

The register of Registered Support Organizations published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan does not include organizations whose registration has been deleted after registration (checked October 22, 2026).

Registration is valid for five years, and an application for renewal of registration is needed to continue (Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “登録支援機関の登録申請 (Application for registration as a Registered Support Organization)” (in Japanese); checked October 22, 2026).

A registration notice is issued on registration, so obtain a copy of it as well and keep track of when the provider was registered and when its next renewal is due.

Comparison of Typical Outsourcing Fees

| Fee item | Typical range (per person / monthly) | Notes |

|----------|----------------------|------|

| Support outsourcing fee (full) | ¥20,000–¥40,000 | All 10 mandatory support items outsourced |

| Support outsourcing fee (partial) | ¥10,000–¥20,000 | Only some support items outsourced |

| Initial fee (support plan preparation) | ¥50,000–¥150,000 (one-time) | Free at some organizations |

| Pre-arrival guidance fee | ¥10,000–¥30,000 (one-time) | Pre-entry briefing |

Choosing on price alone can mean low-quality support and a higher risk of early separation among international talent. Think in terms of cost-effectiveness.

As a Registered Support Organization (registration number: 19-登-000992), YourBright can provide end-to-end support together with itsforeign talent placement service. For details on fees and support content,contact us for a free consultation.

In-House Support or Outsourcing—Which Should You Choose? Comparison Criteria

Implementing the support plan in-house is legally permitted. In-house support, however, is subject to strict requirements. Here we compare in-house support with outsourcing to a Registered Support Organization.

In-House Support vs. Outsourcing to a Registered Support Organization

| Comparison item | In-house support | Outsource to Registered Support Organization |

|----------|---------|-------------------|

| Acceptance track-record requirement | Two years of acceptance experience, or a staff member with daily-life consultation experience, required | Not required (organization acts on your behalf) |

| Native-language staff | Must secure in-house | Handled by the organization |

| Cost | Personnel costs (fixed) | ¥20,000–¥40,000 per month (variable) |

| Response to legal changes | Company must gather information | Handled by the organization |

| Notifications and reports | Prepared and filed in-house | Supported by the organization |

| Flexibility | Adjustable to company policy | Depends on the organization’s scope |

| First-time acceptance | Often cannot meet requirements | Acceptance possible via outsourcing |

Decision Points

Companies accepting Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals for the first time lack a two-year acceptance track record, so outsourcing to a Registered Support Organization is the more common route. In-house support is still permitted without any acceptance track record where, for example, the support officer and support staff to be appointed have at least two years of experience in the past five years handling daily-life consultation for mid- to long-term residents holding a work-based status of residence. Check whether your company meets the requirements before deciding to outsource.

On the other hand, companies that already accepted technical intern trainees and are switching to Specified Skilled Worker may meet in-house support requirements. Even so, maintaining a system that properly delivers all 10 mandatory support items is a heavy burden for small and mid-sized firms with only one or two HR staff.

List of statuses of residence can also help you consider an acceptance approach that fits your situation.

Common Failure Patterns When Working with a Registered Support Organization

Outsourcing to a Registered Support Organization does not guarantee peace of mind. Post-outsourcing trouble often follows common patterns.

Failure 1: “Full handoff” weakens the relationship with international talent

When all support is outsourced, communication between the accepting company and international talent can dry up, and a sense of belonging at work never develops. Even if support is outsourced, daily check-ins and workplace interaction should still be led by the company itself.

Failure 2: Gap between the contract and actual support

This is when the quality and frequency of support actually delivered differ from what is written in the “support outsourcing agreement.” Confirm the following in writing before contracting.

  • How regular interviews are conducted (in person or online)
  • Emergency contact system and response hours
  • Languages for consultation support and number of staff handling them
  • Frequency and format of reports

Failure 3: Overlooking the risk of registration cancellation

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan may cancel the registration of Registered Support Organizations whose support quality falls short of standards. If your provider’s registration is cancelled, the accepting company must promptly find another Registered Support Organization or build an in-house support system. If you rely on only one provider, you need a contingency plan for this risk.

Failure 4: Insufficient awareness of notification obligations

Even if you outsource support to a Registered Support Organization, the accepting organization still retains notification obligations to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. If you assume that “the support organization will handle the notifications,” you may face guidance for missed filings. Clarify in advance who is responsible for which notifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I change my Registered Support Organization at any time?

Yes, changes are possible. After ending the outsourcing contract with your current Registered Support Organization and entering into a contract with a new organization, you file a notification with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. The notification must be submitted within 14 days of the change, so allow ample time in your transition schedule.

At Company B, a food manufacturing firm in Chiba Prefecture with 80 employees, two of three foreign staff members left within six months of joining because interviews by the outsourced Registered Support Organization were only perfunctory. After switching the Registered Support Organization to YourBright, regular interviews in their native languages and daily-life support were strengthened, and turnover over the following year fell to zero.

Q2. Is a Registered Support Organization required for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) as well?

No. For Specified Skilled Worker (ii), there is no obligation to prepare or implement a support plan, so outsourcing to a Registered Support Organization is not required. Even so, providing daily-life support for international talent under (ii) still helps improve retention.

Q3. What is the difference between a Registered Support Organization and a supervising organization?

A supervising organization is the oversight body under the Technical Intern Training program, while a Registered Support Organization is the support body under the Specified Skilled Worker system. Their legal bases and roles differ. With more transitions from Technical Intern Training to Specified Skilled Worker underway, choosing an organization that can handle both systems makes the transition smoother.

Q4. What should I do if the support plan needs to be changed?

If the support content changes, you must notify the Immigration Services Agency of Japan of the revised support plan. When support is outsourced to a Registered Support Organization, work with that organization to prepare the revised plan and file the notification within 14 days.

Summary

A Registered Support Organization for Specified Skilled Worker is a key partner in successfully accepting international talent. Here is a recap of this article’s key points.

  • A Registered Support Organization carries out the 10 mandatory support items for Specified Skilled Worker (i) on behalf of the accepting organization
  • For companies accepting international talent for the first time, outsourcing is the common route, but in-house support is also possible where alternative requirements such as a staff member's daily-life consultation experience are met
  • Typical outsourcing fees range from 20,000 to 40,000 yen per person per month. Choose based not only on cost but also on track record, supported languages, and organizational capacity
  • Even after outsourcing, do not hand everything off; proactive engagement by the company with international talent is the key to retention
  • Do not forget to clarify roles for notification obligations and prepare for the risk of registration cancellation

As a Registered Support Organization (registration number: 19-登-000992), YourBright provides end-to-end support from preparing support plans and implementing mandatory support through post-hire follow-up in workers’ native languages. Our strength is one-stop delivery of talent placement using a database of more than 170,000 international talent, together with Registered Support Organization services.

If you want to find a Registered Support Organization that fits your company, are dissatisfied with the quality of current support, or do not know where to start with your first acceptance, please feel free to contact us. There is no initial fee, and no charges apply until an offer is made.

[Contact us here](https://yourbright.co.jp/contact/) / Tel: 03-6908-6143 (Hours: 9:00–18:00)