A practical guide for employers and foreign workers on Japan’s 2026 minimum wage changes, excluded allowances, monthly salary conversion, and the separate comparable Japanese-worker remuneration requirements for SSW and other work statuses.
Japan’s Employment for Skill Development system takes effect on April 1, 2027. What begins on September 1, 2026 is the pre-implementation application process for plan approval. This guide explains filing timing, supervising and support organizations, A1 Japanese, sending fees, transfers, and the separate COE procedure.
A practical guide to Japan immigration processing times in 2026, covering COE applications, extensions, changes of status and permanent residence based on the latest data published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
Applying in September does not necessarily preserve the old PR assessment rules. We explain the separate fee deadline, proposed income and public-burden transition, household income, pensions and Japanese-language considerations.
We Submitted Public Comments on Japan’s Proposed Immigration Fee Revision | PR Fee, Family Burden and Reductions
On August 2, 2026, Tommy’s Legal Service submitted two public comments on Japan’s proposed immigration fee revision and draft fee-reduction guidelines. We explain our proposals concerning the JPY 200,000 permanent residence fee, cumulative family costs, predictability, payment methods and access to reductions. The proposals have not yet been finalized.