What to Confirm Before Hiring a Foreign Chef: Residence Status, Years of Experience, and Required Documents
Checklist for employers before hiring a foreign chef in Japan: residence status, Skilled Labor visa requirements, years of experience, and documents.
What You Will Learn from This Article - Types of residence statuses foreign chefs can obtain and the differences - Years of experience, qualifications, and employment conditions to confirm before hiring - Documents restaurants and companies must prepare - Common post-hire issues and countermeasures - When to consult an administrative scrivener
Conclusion When hiring a foreign chef, confirming the visa (residence status) type and requirements is the starting point of the hiring plan. The Skilled Labor visa ("Skilled Labor" residence status) requires 10+ years of overseas practical experience but allows for long-term employment. The Specified Skilled Worker (Food Service) requires passing an exam but no practical experience. Confirming "which visa to use" and "whether the requirements of that visa are met" before hiring prevents issues after hiring.
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Introduction: Preventing Risks That Are Discovered After Hiring
In hiring foreign chefs, postponing the confirmation of residence status can lead to situations after an offer has been made where "the visa cannot be obtained" or "the documents cannot be assembled." Confirming before hiring that the residence status requirements match the company's hiring conditions is indispensable for reliably advancing the hiring plan.
Comparison of Main Residence Statuses Foreign Chefs Can Obtain
| Residence Status | Target | Practical Experience | Work Scope | Period of Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Labor | Skilled foreign cuisine chefs | 10+ years (abroad) | Foreign cuisine cooking | Up to 5 years (renewable) |
| Specified Skilled Worker 1 (Food Service) | Food service exam passers | Not required (exam pass) | All food service (cooking, service, management) | Up to 5 years |
| Designated Activities (Japanese Chef) | Graduates of Japanese vocational schools, etc. | Not required | Mainly cooking | Up to 5 years (maximum) |
| Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services | Management and planning roles, not chefs | By academic background and work history | Food management, planning, etc. | Up to 5 years |
Confirmation Points by Hiring Pattern
#### Pattern 1: Bringing a Skilled Chef from Abroad
→ Skilled Labor Visa (Skilled Labor residence status)
| Checklist Item | Content to Confirm |
|---|---|
| Type of cuisine | Is the cuisine considered in foreign countries and special in Japan? (Japanese cuisine is not eligible) |
| Practical experience | Does the person have 10+ years of overseas practical experience? (Can it be proven with employment certificates?) |
| Restaurant specialty | Is the restaurant a specialty restaurant for the relevant cuisine? |
| Feasibility of obtaining employment certificates | Can documents be obtained from past employers? (Consider alternative documents for closed restaurants) |
| Restaurant scale | Does the restaurant have the scale (approximately 30+ seats) to require a skilled chef? |
| Menu content | Does the menu have sufficient specialty to require high-level skills? |
#### Pattern 2: Hiring a Foreign Chef Already Residing in Japan
→ Confirming the current residence status and eligible work content is the highest priority
| Checklist Item | Content to Confirm |
|---|---|
| Current residence status | Is it a residence status that permits work? |
| Period of stay | Until when can they reside in Japan? |
| Eligible activities | Is culinary work within the scope of the residence status? |
| Work Eligibility Certificate | Consider obtaining one to confirm suitability of the work after changing jobs |
#### Pattern 3: Hiring a Foreign National Who Has Graduated from a Japanese Culinary School
→ Consider Designated Activities visa or Specified Skilled Worker
For foreign nationals who studied cuisine at a Japanese vocational school, Designated Activities or Specified Skilled Worker (Food Service) may be options. The hurdle may be lower than the Skilled Labor visa (requiring 10 years of practical experience).
Documents Restaurants and Companies Must Prepare in Advance
| Document / Confirmation Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Business license | License based on the Food Sanitation Act |
| Certificate of registration | If a corporation |
| Draft employment contract | Clearly state job content, compensation, and working hours |
| Restaurant interior photos and menu | Showing that it is a specialty restaurant |
| Explanation of the necessity of hiring | Reason the foreign chef is necessary (cuisine type, specialty, volume of work) |
Common Post-Hire Issues and Countermeasures
| Issue | Countermeasure |
|---|---|
| Job content becomes an issue at the time of visa renewal | Match job content to the activity scope of the residence status from the time of hiring |
| Denial at renewal after hiring a job changer | Consider obtaining a Work Eligibility Certificate immediately after the job change |
| It turns out after hiring that practical experience cannot be proven | Confirm the feasibility of obtaining employment certificates before hiring |
| The period of stay was not tracked | Check the residence card at the time of hiring and manage the expiry date |
Pre-Hire Confirmation Checklist
□ Is the type of cuisine the chef specializes in eligible for the Skilled Labor visa? □ Does the candidate have 10+ years of overseas practical experience? □ Does the employment certificate appear obtainable? □ Can the restaurant be explained as a specialty restaurant for the relevant cuisine? □ Can compensation equal to or greater than Japanese nationals be paid? □ Have the candidate's current residence status and period of stay been confirmed? □ Have other visas (Specified Skilled Worker, etc.) also been considered as options? □ Does the restaurant have sufficient scale (approximately 30+ seats) and menu specialty?
FAQ
Q1. If a chef is residing in Japan under a different visa, can they be hired? If the work is within the scope of the residence status's permitted activities, hiring is possible. However, it is necessary to confirm whether culinary work is permitted by checking the residence card and visa type. If unclear, it is recommended to confirm with a specialist.
Q2. What is the difference between a Specified Skilled Worker (Food Service) chef and a Skilled Labor visa chef? The Specified Skilled Worker status is premised on working in all aspects of food service — not just cooking but also service, cleaning, and store management. If hiring as a specialist in a specific cuisine, the Skilled Labor visa is more appropriate.
Q3. Is it necessary to request an administrative scrivener when hiring a foreign chef? It is not legally required, but having a specialist handle the confirmation and selection of residence status requirements, preparation of application documents, and application filing can reduce denial risk and allow the company to focus on core operations. Consultation is especially recommended for companies hiring a foreign chef for the first time.
Q4. If the chef's period of stay is expiring, can hiring and application be completed in time? Applications are possible even with less than 3 months until the period of stay expires, but COE issuance may take 2–3 months, making for a tight schedule. Early preparation and consultation with a specialist is recommended.
Q5. Can multiple foreign chefs be hired at the same time? Yes, this is possible. However, documents must be individually prepared for each person. If hiring multiple people, it is recommended to begin preparation early.
Key Points of This Article
- Foreign chef visas include multiple options: Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker, and Designated Activities
- Confirming the type and requirements of the residence status before hiring is the first step to preventing issues
- The Skilled Labor visa requires 10+ years of overseas practical experience and employment at a specialty restaurant
- The Specified Skilled Worker (Food Service) can be obtained by passing an exam and also covers non-cooking duties
- Ongoing management of residence cards and period of stay expiry dates is necessary after hiring
Considering a Consultation?
If you want to hire a foreign chef and are unsure which visa is appropriate, or want to confirm requirements before hiring, please feel free to contact us. Arch Administrative Scrivener Office is based in Osaka City and serves clients nationwide online. We support foreign national employment, Specified Skilled Worker, and visa applications in general. Consultations are available in Japanese, English, and Chinese.
📩 Contact form / LINE / WeChat / Phone consultations available.
*This article was written based on information available at the time of writing. The content of the system may change, so please verify the latest information on the official website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.*
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