Specified Skilled Worker 2026 Changes | Expansion to 19 Sectors and the Food Service Suspension
Specified Skilled Worker 2026 Changes | Expansion to 19 Sectors and the Food Service Suspension
Two developments in 2026 (Reiwa 8) bear directly on corporate hiring plans under the Specified Skilled Worker system. One is the expansion of the covered sectors to 19; the other is the halt on new acceptance in the food service sector. This article sets out what changed and when, and what companies should do, based on the original texts published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
Reference: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Specified Skilled Worker System”; “Operation of the Acceptance Ceiling in the Specified Skilled Worker Food Service Sector” (March 27, 2026); “Status of Examination of Applications for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (Food Service Sector)” (updated July 17, 2026); “Policy on the Operation of the System Relating to the Status of Residence of Specified Skilled Worker and the Policy on the Operation of the System Relating to Employment for Skill Development” (Cabinet decision of January 23, 2026)
Overview of the 2026 Changes
| Change | Content | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Expansion of covered sectors | 16 sectors → 19 sectors | Cabinet decision, January 23, 2026 |
| Resetting of acceptance projections | Ceilings set per sector through the end of FY2028 | Cabinet decision, January 23, 2026 |
| Suspension of new acceptance in food service | Issuance of Certificates of Eligibility suspended | April 13, 2026 |
Sector expansion is often read simply as “acceptance has widened.” In fact, the same Cabinet decision redrew the ceiling for each sector, and the system has now entered a phase in which sectors that reach their ceiling stop accepting new workers one after another. For the basic framework of the system, please see our complete guide to the Specified Skilled Worker visa.
Expansion to 19 Sectors
By the Cabinet decision of January 23, 2026 (Reiwa 8), sector-specific operational policies were laid down as Annexes 1 through 19, bringing the number of Specified Skilled Worker sectors to 19. The three newly added sectors are as follows.
| New sector | Task category | Tasks performed | Acceptance projection for (i) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linen supply | Linen supply | The series of operations from receipt to dispatch of linen items | 4,300 |
| Logistics warehouse | Logistics warehouse | Work in a logistics warehouse comprising receipt and dispatch of cargo, storage and other in-warehouse operations | 11,400 |
| Resource circulation | Waste disposal (intermediate treatment) | Intermediate treatment (volume reduction, compaction, stabilisation and detoxification) of waste discharged from households and business activities | 900 |
Note: each figure is for the three years from FY2026 and is operated as the ceiling for acceptance through the end of FY2028.
Requirements Common to the Three Sectors
In all three sectors, foreign nationals accepted under Specified Skilled Worker (i) must have passed both of the following.
- Skill level: the Specified Skilled Worker (i) evaluation test for the sector concerned (Linen Supply Sector, Logistics Warehouse Sector, or Resource Circulation Sector evaluation test)
- Japanese language level: a level recognised as equivalent to A2.2 or above of the “Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education”
In addition, employment is limited to direct employment in all three sectors. For the testing framework as a whole, please see our guide to Specified Skilled Worker examinations.
Additional Requirements on Accepting Organisations
The sector-specific operational policies impose particular conditions on accepting organisations.
- Linen supply: workers must be accepted at a facility certified under the “hygiene standards” set by the industry association, and the organisation must join the sector council.
- Logistics warehouse: the organisation must be a warehousing operator registered under the Warehousing Business Act or equivalent, and must have introduced a system providing inbound, inventory and outbound management functions.
- Resource circulation: the organisation must be a member of the sector council established by the Minister of the Environment.
As of the end of March 2026, Immigration Services Agency data records no residents in these three sectors; acceptance becomes possible once the necessary ministerial ordinances and other preparations are in place. For the obligations of accepting companies generally, please see obligations of Specified Skilled Worker host companies.
Suspension of New Acceptance in the Food Service Sector
Of the 2026 changes, this has the greatest impact on companies.
Background
On March 27, 2026 (Reiwa 8), the Immigration Services Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries published “Operation of the Acceptance Ceiling in the Specified Skilled Worker Food Service Sector.” The original text reads:
The number of residents under Specified Skilled Worker (i) in the food service sector stood at approximately 46,000 as at the end of February this year (preliminary figure), and is expected to exceed the acceptance projection (the acceptance ceiling of 50,000) around May this year.
On April 3, 2026 the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries requested the Minister of Justice to take the suspension measure, and on April 13, 2026 (Reiwa 8) the Minister of Justice implemented it under Article 7-2, paragraph 4 of the Immigration Control Act.
Treatment by Type of Application
This is where misunderstanding most easily arises. It is not only Certificates of Eligibility that have been halted.
| Procedure | Treatment of applications accepted on or after April 13, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Application for Certificate of Eligibility (Specified Skilled Worker (i), food service) | Not granted |
| Application for change of status of residence (to Specified Skilled Worker (i), food service) | Denied in principle (exceptions below) |
| Application for change to Designated Activities (preparation for transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i)) | Denied (exceptions below) |
| Application for extension of period of stay | Examined as usual |
Applications for a Certificate of Eligibility accepted before April 13 are examined and issued in order within the acceptance projection, but the original text states that “because applications for change of status of residence from persons already residing in Japan are processed with priority, considerable delay is expected before issuance.” Companies that had planned to bring workers from overseas must rebuild their plans on the assumption of this delay.
Exceptions Examined as Usual
For applications for change of status of residence, the original text states that the following continue to be examined as usual on and after April 13.
- Applications from persons residing under Specified Skilled Worker (i) in the food service sector (applications accompanying a job change and the like)
Further, where either of the following applies, the application is examined and granted in order within the acceptance projection (with item 1 processed with priority).
- Persons who have completed Technical Intern Training (meal service production work at medical and welfare facilities) and are transitioning to Specified Skilled Worker (i) (food service sector)
- Persons who have already been granted Designated Activities (preparation for transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i)) relating to the food service sector and are transitioning to Specified Skilled Worker (i) (food service sector)
The original text adds a reservation: depending on the number of residents at the time of the decision, the applicant may instead be directed to a change to Designated Activities (preparation for transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i)) or to an extension of that status of residence (extension permitted once only). Companies planning a transition from Technical Intern Training should read this together with our article on transition from Technical Intern Training to Specified Skilled Worker.
Effect on Foreign Nationals Already Working
Applications for extension of period of stay are examined as usual. The Immigration Services Agency explanatory material states that extensions “continue to be granted (as they do not affect the increase in the number of residents).” On that wording, the measure does not affect a person already working in food service under Specified Skilled Worker (i) who continues to reside with the same employer. Applications for change of status of residence accompanying a job change are likewise examined as usual.
The “Status of Examination of Applications for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (Food Service Sector),” updated July 17, 2026, reports progress as follows.
| Type of application | Examination status (as at July 17, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Application for Certificate of Eligibility | Issuance suspended |
| Change: from Technical Intern Training | Applications received up to June 30, 2026 being processed |
| Change: from Designated Activities (preparation for transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i)) | Applications received up to June 30, 2026 being processed |
| Change: job change within Specified Skilled Worker (i) | All applications being processed |
| Change: from other statuses of residence | Applications received up to April 12, 2026 being processed (those accepted on or after April 13 denied in principle) |
| Extension of period of stay | Granted as usual as examination is completed |
Prospects for Resumption
In material published additionally on April 22, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency records the timing of resumption of acceptance and of resetting the acceptance projection as undecided. As at July 2026 no resumption date has been announced, and hiring plans cannot be built on any assumed restart. For food service practice generally, please see Specified Skilled Worker in food service and food and beverage manufacturing.
Understanding the “Acceptance Projection” Mechanism
The food service suspension is not an ad hoc measure; it is a mechanism built into the system from the outset that has now been triggered.
The sector-specific operational policies set an acceptance projection for Specified Skilled Worker (i) in each sector and expressly state that it is operated as the ceiling for acceptance. The competent minister for each sector monitors labour shortage conditions through indicators such as the active job openings-to-applicants ratio and the number of residents, and where the projection is expected to be exceeded, requests the Minister of Justice to suspend issuance of Certificates of Eligibility temporarily (Article 7-2, paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Immigration Control Act). Where the need to secure personnel arises again, the same minister requests resumption of issuance.
In other words, all 19 sectors share the same structure. Food service is not a special case; the same thing can occur in any sector as it approaches its ceiling.
Fill Rates by Sector (as at end of March 2026, preliminary)
From “Acceptance Projections and Numbers of Residents for Specified Skilled Worker (i),” published by the Immigration Services Agency on July 3, 2026, the sectors with the highest fill rates are as follows.
| Sector | Acceptance projection | Residents | Fill rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food service | 50,000 | 47,714 | 95.4% |
| Food and beverage manufacturing | 133,500 | 96,367 | 72.2% |
| Construction | 76,000 | 51,055 | 67.2% |
| Nursing care | 126,900 | 74,745 | 58.9% |
| Agriculture | 73,300 | 39,950 | 54.5% |
| (Total, 19 sectors) | 805,700 | 404,527 | 50.2% |
Food and beverage manufacturing grew by 20,509 residents over the year; at that pace, the room remaining below the ceiling is not large. Checking the fill rate for your own sector regularly is now a precondition for any hiring plan.
Effective Dates (Japanese Era and Gregorian)
| Item | Japanese era | Gregorian |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet decision on sector-specific operational policies (19 sectors; reset projections) | Reiwa 8, January 23 | January 23, 2026 |
| Publication of the acceptance ceiling policy for food service | Reiwa 8, March 27 | March 27, 2026 |
| Request from the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to the Minister of Justice | Reiwa 8, April 3 | April 3, 2026 |
| Suspension of Certificate of Eligibility issuance for food service | Reiwa 8, April 13 | April 13, 2026 |
| End of the period covered by the acceptance projections | End of FY Reiwa 10 | End of March 2029 |
How to Prepare in Practice
- Check the fill rate for your sector. The Immigration Services Agency publishes acceptance projections and resident numbers by sector periodically. Companies in high fill-rate sectors should factor in the possibility of reaching the ceiling.
- Bring hiring plans forward. The suspension is drawn on the date an application is accepted. A delay of a few months can decide whether a hire is possible at all.
- Prioritise retention of staff already in Japan. Even where new acceptance stops, extensions and job changes continue. In suspended sectors, improving conditions internally is the most reliable way to secure people.
- Consider other statuses of residence. Depending on the duties, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services may be an option. The dividing line is set out in Specified Skilled Worker versus the Engineer visa.
- Check the original text, not third-party summaries. Treatment differs by type of procedure and the exceptions are finely drawn. Planning on the basis that “food service has stopped entirely” means missing procedures that were in fact still available.
Summary
- By the Cabinet decision of January 23, 2026 (Reiwa 8), Specified Skilled Worker now covers 19 sectors, with linen supply, logistics warehouse and resource circulation added.
- All three require the sector’s Specified Skilled Worker (i) evaluation test and Japanese at A2.2 or above of the Reference Framework, and employment is limited to direct employment.
- The food service sector was expected to reach its acceptance projection of 50,000, and from April 13, 2026 issuance of Certificates of Eligibility has been suspended, with applications for change of status of residence into the sector denied in principle.
- Applications for extension of period of stay, and applications for change accompanying a job change within the sector, are examined as usual.
- No resumption date has been set. Acceptance projections apply to all 19 sectors, and the same can happen elsewhere.
How We Can Help
For advice on accepting Specified Skilled Workers and on hiring plans that account for sector ceilings, please consult Kaneko Hidetaka Administrative Scrivener Office.
- 98% approval rate
- Languages: Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, English
- Free initial consultation
- Serving Chiba and Tokyo, with nationwide coverage (online consultations available)
Frequently asked questions
How many sectors does Specified Skilled Worker currently cover?
Nineteen. The Cabinet decision of January 23, 2026 (Reiwa 8) added linen supply, logistics warehouse and resource circulation to the previous 16 sectors.
Since when has issuance of Certificates of Eligibility for the food service sector been suspended?
Since April 13, 2026 (Reiwa 8). Applications for a Certificate of Eligibility for Specified Skilled Worker (i) in the food service sector accepted on or after that date are not granted. Applications accepted before that date are stated to be processed and issued in order within the acceptance projection, but the Immigration Services Agency has announced that considerable delay is expected before issuance.
Can foreign nationals already working in food service under Specified Skilled Worker (i) extend their period of stay?
The Immigration Services Agency states that applications for extension of period of stay are examined as usual, explaining that extensions do not increase the number of residents. Applications for change of status of residence accompanying a job change by a person already residing in the food service sector under Specified Skilled Worker (i) are also examined as usual.
When will acceptance in the food service sector resume?
As of July 2026 no resumption date has been announced. The Immigration Services Agency materials state that the timing of resumption and of resetting the acceptance projection is undecided.
Could the same suspension happen in other sectors?
Yes. An acceptance projection is set for each sector and operated as the ceiling for acceptance. Where the number of residents is expected to exceed the projection, the competent minister for the sector requests the Minister of Justice to temporarily suspend issuance of Certificates of Eligibility, under Article 7-2, paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Immigration Control Act and the sector-specific operational policies.
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