What Is the Skilled Labor Visa? Conditions and Required Documents for Employing Foreign Chefs and Cooks in Japan
Guide to Japan's Skilled Labor visa for foreign chefs and cooks, including experience requirements, documents, employer materials, and risks.
What You Will Learn from This Article - Overview of the "Skilled Labor" residence status and eligible occupations - Requirements for employing foreign chefs and cooks (practical experience, type of cuisine, employer) - Required documents and key points reviewed in screening - About the Thai cuisine special provision (5 years) based on the Japan-Thailand EPA - Differences from other visas (Specified Skilled Worker, Designated Activities)
Conclusion The "Skilled Labor" residence status is for persons with refined skills in foreign cuisine or food production to work in Japanese specialty restaurants. The core requirement is "10 or more years of practical experience outside Japan in cuisine or food manufacturing considered in foreign countries and special in Japan," and the ability to prove this practical experience is what determines the success or failure of the application. Thai chefs are an exception — they may apply with 5 years of practical experience under the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
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What Is the "Skilled Labor" Residence Status?
The "Skilled Labor" residence status is for foreign nationals with refined skills belonging to industrially specialized fields to engage in work requiring those skills at public or private organizations in Japan.
It is the most commonly used residence status for employing foreign chefs, and is used for working at specialty restaurants of Chinese, Thai, French, Indian, Vietnamese, and other cuisines.
Main Requirements for the Skilled Labor Visa (Chef)
| Requirement | Content |
|---|---|
| Type of cuisine | Must be "considered in foreign countries and special in Japan" (e.g., Chinese, Thai, Indian, French cuisine, etc.) |
| Practical experience | In principle 10 years or more (including periods of study at foreign culinary educational institutions) |
| Employer | Specialty restaurant for the relevant cuisine (e.g., a Chinese chef must be employed at a Chinese restaurant) |
| Compensation | Equal to or greater than that of Japanese nationals |
> Thai Cuisine Special Provision: Under the Japan-Thailand EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement), Thai chefs can apply with 5 years or more of practical experience. However, the following 3 requirements must all be met: ① Documents proving 5+ years of practical experience as a Thai chef, ② Proof of technical skill level as an entry-level or above Thai chef (issued by Thailand's Ministry of Labour), ③ Documents proving that the applicant was receiving appropriate compensation as a Thai chef in Thailand for the 1 year immediately preceding the application.
About Calculating Practical Experience
Key notes regarding the "10 years of practical experience" required for the Skilled Labor visa:
- Practical experience in Japan is not counted (experience abroad is the target)
- Periods of study at foreign culinary educational institutions (culinary vocational schools abroad, etc.) can be included in practical experience
- Japanese culinary schools and vocational schools cannot be counted toward practical experience
- Experience at multiple restaurants can be aggregated
Required Documents
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Application for Certificate of Eligibility | — |
| Applicant's passport | — |
| Documents proving practical experience | Employment certificates from past places of employment (stating restaurant name, address, job content, and period) are in principle required. Consider alternative documents if the restaurant has closed |
| Chef's license or qualification certificate | Attach if held |
| School graduation certificate and transcript | If counting period of study at a foreign culinary school toward practical experience (Japanese culinary schools are excluded) |
| Overview of employing restaurant | Restaurant business license, menu, interior photos, etc. |
| Certificate of registration of the employing restaurant | — |
| Employment contract | Clearly state job content and compensation |
| Income and financial documents (as needed) | To demonstrate financial stability of the company |
Key Points for the Employer (Restaurant) Side
Since the Skilled Labor visa also assesses whether the employer (restaurant) has the substance to require a skilled chef, the following must be confirmed:
| Confirmation Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Type of cuisine and restaurant specialty | Must be a specialty restaurant for the relevant cuisine |
| Restaurant scale and seating capacity | Generally expected to have approximately 30 or more seats. Restaurants that are too small may not be recognized as having substance requiring a skilled chef |
| Specialty and richness of the menu | Must be able to provide authentic multi-course meals, etc. — content requiring a high level of skill. Menus featuring only Japanese-style adaptations or specific limited items are not acceptable |
| Clear specification of the job type | Must be clearly stated as dedicated culinary work. Concurrent hall service, cashier, or cleaning duties would constitute illegal employment |
| Compensation equal to or greater than Japanese nationals | Clearly state the pay structure in the employment contract |
| Explanation of the necessity of hiring | Specifically demonstrate the reason a foreign chef is necessary through seating count, operating hours, customer volume, and existing staff composition |
Common Reasons for Denial
| Cause | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Insufficient proof of practical experience | Employment certificate cannot be obtained or content is unclear |
| Difficulty proving closed restaurants | Alternative evidence (employment contract, photos, menus from that time, etc.) is needed |
| Restaurant does not meet criteria for a specialty restaurant | Izakayas, family restaurants, etc. tend not to be recognized as "specialty restaurants" |
| Restaurant scale is too small | With few seats, the substance requiring a skilled chef may not be recognized |
| Menu specialty is insufficient | Japanese-style adapted cuisine or limited specific menus are not recognized as requiring high-level skills |
| Multiple cuisines or concurrent duties | The Skilled Labor visa is premised on dedicated work as a specialist in a specific foreign cuisine; hall service concurrency, etc. constitutes illegal employment |
| Doubts about the reliability of employment certificates | Certificates from countries with a history of document forgery are subject to especially careful screening |
Comparison with Other Visas (for Chefs)
| Item | Skilled Labor Visa | Specified Skilled Worker (Food Service) | Designated Activities (Chef) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical experience | 10+ years (abroad) | Not required (exam pass) | Not required (vocational school graduate, etc.) |
| Eligible work | Cooking foreign cuisine | All food service (cooking, service, management) | Mainly cooking |
| Period of stay | Up to 5 years (renewable) | Up to 5 years (conditional renewal) | Up to 5 years (maximum) |
| Long-term employment | Long-term possible with renewals | Possible under conditions | 5-year maximum |
FAQ
Q1. Can the Skilled Labor visa be used to employ a Japanese cuisine chef? The "chef" requirement for the Skilled Labor visa targets cuisine "considered in foreign countries and special in Japan," so Japanese cuisine is in principle not eligible.
Q2. If the practical experience is only 9 years, what can be done? In principle, 10+ years is required. With 9 years, approval is unlikely, but periods at foreign educational institutions may be added if applicable. Considering another visa such as Specified Skilled Worker (Food Service) is also an option.
Q3. How can 10+ years of employment at the same restaurant be proven? Prepare a long-term employment certificate, employment contract, documents equivalent to withholding tax certificates (varies by country), etc.
Q4. Can the chef's family be brought to Japan? After obtaining the residence status, the spouse and children can be brought as "Family Stay" visa holders.
Q5. Is renewal of the Skilled Labor visa difficult? Renewal is premised on continuing to work in the same specialty restaurant in the same culinary role. Additional procedures are required in the case of job change or duties change.
Key Points of This Article
- The core of the Skilled Labor visa (chef) is "proving 10+ years of overseas practical experience"
- The employer must be a specialty restaurant for the relevant cuisine
- Preparation of alternative documents when employment certificates cannot be obtained is critical
- Thai chefs qualify for a 5-year special provision under the Japan-Thailand EPA (with conditions)
- Also consider the use of Specified Skilled Worker and Designated Activities visas
Considering a Consultation?
If you want to hire a foreign chef and want to confirm whether the Skilled Labor visa requirements are met, or are unsure how to prepare proof of practical experience, please feel free to contact us. Arch Administrative Scrivener Office is based in Osaka City and serves clients nationwide online. Consultations are available in Japanese, English, and Chinese.
📩 Contact form / LINE / WeChat / Phone consultations available.
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