SSW Food Service COEs and Catering Proposal | October 2026
Tommy’s Legal Service
SSW NO. 1 / FOOD SERVICE | UPDATED OCTOBER 19, 2026
Applications are processed sequentially by receipt date within available capacity, with different treatment for each application category. The October 19, 2026 update indicates overseas COEs received through February 6, 2026. Same-field job changes and extensions continue under normal examination; this is neither a blanket suspension nor a full reopening.
Checked September 5, 2026: resident numbers and new COEs
The official table updated September 4 reports preliminary figures as of the end of June: 49,060 SSW1 food-service residents against a cap of 50,000 (98.1%). The arithmetic difference of 940 is not an allocation of new COEs.
The ISA notice dated April 13 states that new food-service COE applications received on or after April 13, 2026 will not be issued in principle. The limited sequential issuance described on October 19 must be distinguished from those new applications.
April 13 official notice / Official resident-number table / All-sector SSW1 quotas, resident numbers and pre-hiring checks
Video guide: the catering proposal and current food-service rules
Tommy and Miho separate current rules from the unconfirmed proposal. Includes illustrative AI-generated scenes, approved character assets, stock footage and synthetic voices. Reviewed 20 October 2026.
Catering-sector change: an official proposal, not a finalized rule
No general reopening has been decided. Material 2-2 for the 15th expert meeting on 19 October proposes an emergency measure from fiscal year 2027: accepting new applications for medical and welfare facility catering and related operations in food and beverage manufacturing.
The proposed work involves a sequence of food production, including ingredient preparation, non-heated preparation and cooking. The proposed additional notice concerns facility catering at establishments engaged in school education, other education and learning support, medical care, and social insurance, social welfare and care services. The reference diagram leaves restaurants and company canteens in food service. A catering label alone does not establish eligibility, and current workers do not automatically switch sectors.
December 2026 and April 2027 are unconfirmed targets
Jiji Press and other reporting describe a target of a Cabinet decision in December 2026 and reopening in April 2027. These dates are not finalized. The official material reviewed says “from fiscal year 2027.” The final decision, effective date, application start, skill and Japanese-language requirements, documents and transition arrangements must be checked after formal publication. Do not promise a hiring date, entry date or approval on this basis.
Official 15th expert meeting page / Material 2-2, especially pages 2–3 / Jiji Press report on the target dates. The meeting summary and minutes were still marked for later publication when checked.
Can catering employers apply under food manufacturing now?
This proposal alone does not establish a current application route. Check the applicant’s status and expiry, the establishment and actual duties, the application type and receipt date, submitted evidence, and current examination rules separately.
Pending overseas COEs: preliminary counts on 16 October 2026
| Official receipt period | Pending applications |
|---|---|
| 7–28 February 2026 | 732 |
| 1–31 March 2026 | 1,825 |
| 1–12 April 2026 | 4,804 |
The indicated receipt date of 6 February does not mean every earlier application is completed or guaranteed approval. These counts do not predict an individual issuance date or monthly progress.
Key conclusion
SSW No. 1 food-service COE applications received before the suspension are issued sequentially when monthly resident numbers allow. This does not reopen new applications received on or after April 13.
This does not mean that all overseas COE cases have reopened. The official point currently shown is applications received on or before February 6, 2026. The ISA has not announced when later applications will be reached or how quickly the date will move.
The governors’ request and the ISA update
On August 5, 2026, the National Governors’ Association asked the government for flexible COE issuance and early publication of an outlook. The ISA then updated its examination-status page on August 10 and described limited sequential issuance based on resident numbers.
Current treatment of SSW No. 1 food-service applications
| Procedure | Current treatment | Receipt date or scope | Important point |
|---|---|---|---|
| COE for a new SSW1 food-service worker coming from overseas | Change-of-status cases are prioritized; COEs are issued sequentially by receipt date when monthly resident numbers allow | As published October 19, 2026: applications received on or before February 6, 2026 | This is not a full resumption. The application, supporting documents and expiry of the period of stay may affect processing order. |
| Change from Technical Intern Training in Medical and Welfare Facility Food Preparation | Permitted after normal examination | Applications received by September 30, 2026 | A technical intern may not continue working after the training plan ends. The ISA asks applicants to file at least two months before the planned start date. |
| Change from Designated Activities for preparation to transition to SSW1 food service | Permitted after normal examination | Applications received by September 30, 2026 | Case-specific instructions may be given because of the period of stay. |
| General change from another status to SSW1 food service | Depends on official receipt date | Applications received by April 12, 2026 | Applications received from April 13 are denied in principle. |
| Job change from SSW1 food service to another employer in the same field | All applications examined normally | All applications | The new employer, contract, support plan, council procedures and other requirements remain subject to review. |
| Extension of period of stay | Examined sequentially under the normal process | Normal extension procedure | Employment, salary, tax, social insurance, support records and notifications are reviewed. |
What does “received on or before February 6” mean?
- It is the current point of COE issuance publicly indicated on October 19, 2026.
- It does not mean that every earlier case will receive a COE immediately.
- Examination content, missing evidence and additional-document requests may affect the order and result.
- The February 6 processing point does not itself refuse pending COEs received February 7–April 12. New COEs received on or after April 13 are covered by the separate non-issuance notice.
- The date may move if resident numbers allow, but no official schedule or pace has been announced.
- It is not reasonable to assume that the date will advance by one month every month.
What should a person with a pending COE application do now?
Confirm the official receipt date and retain the receipt number. If approximately six months or more have passed, review whether any circumstances have changed since filing.
- Official receipt date
- Receipt number
- Employer’s continuing intention to hire
- Employment-condition changes
- Planned workplace changes
- Business or restaurant permit
- Support plan
- Registered Support Organization
- Council-related requirements
- Passport validity
- Address and contact details
- Any request for additional documents
A correction or additional-document request does not prove that issuance is imminent. The official page also states that the ISA, regional immigration offices and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries cannot answer inquiries about individual issuance or permission status.
Applications filed in February, March or April
I filed in February. When will my COE be issued?
The current point published on October 19 is February 6. No official issuance date has been announced for February applications. Future ISA updates must be checked.
I filed in March. When will my COE be issued?
No official timeline has been announced for March applications. Sequential issuance depends on monthly resident numbers, but the pace cannot be predicted.
I filed in April. When will my COE be issued?
For COEs received April 1–12, the issuance date is not yet announced. The April 13 notice states that new COEs received on or after April 13 will not be issued in principle. Check the official receipt date.
When the period of stay expires before the application is reached
Processing normally follows receipt dates, but the application, supporting documents and expiry of the period of stay may change the order. Corrections or additional documents may still be requested while issuance or permission is pending.
To prevent overstay, the ISA may instruct an applicant whose period of stay is expected to expire before their turn to apply for a change to Designated Activities (preparation for SSW1) in food service, or to request an amendment of the pending application to an extension under that Designated Activities status. An extension under this arrangement is limited to one occasion. Follow the instructions for the individual case.
Those granted that Designated Activities status through an amendment request who wish to continue the same activities after expiry are asked to apply to change to SSW1 food service before expiry, approximately three months in advance. For that application, the ISA states that the application form and photograph alone are sufficient.
Technical interns cannot continue working after their training plan ends. The ISA asks those seeking a change from Technical Intern Training to apply at least two months before their planned start of work. A pending application alone must not be treated as permission to keep working after training ends.
Same-field job changes and extensions
Job change within SSW1 food service
All applications for a job change within the same SSW1 food-service field continue under normal examination. The new duties, employer eligibility, employment contract, council procedures, support plan, RSO, period of stay and required notifications must still be reviewed.
Extension of period of stay
Extensions are examined sequentially under the normal process. Approval is not automatic. The ISA may review actual duties, salary payments, tax and social-insurance compliance, support implementation and notifications.
Free general information and paid individual review
The current official processing point is provided here as free general information. Individual questions require a review of the filed documents, receipt date, employer evidence and ISA notices, including:
- why a particular case is taking longer;
- whether additional evidence is needed;
- whether the application has a substantive issue;
- whether an employer or workplace change is necessary;
- whether withdrawal should be considered; or
- whether another lawful route may be available.
Need an individual review of your pending food-service COE case?
We can review your receipt date, filed documents, employer circumstances and any requests from Immigration, and explain the issues and possible next steps for your case. The scope and fee will be confirmed before the consultation.
This review cannot accelerate the examination queue or guarantee a COE issuance date.
Related information
- Specified Skilled Worker Visa in Japan
- Japan Immigration Processing Times 2026
- From SSW1 to SSW2
- Registered Support Organization / SSW Services
Consultation and application support for SSW food-service cases
For an individual review of your receipt date, documents and next steps, request a paid consultation. If you want an application quotation, you may inquire without booking an initial paid consultation. We confirm the scope and fee before proceeding; submitting a form does not create a contract or require payment.
Employers seeking acceptance planning, support outsourcing or RSO services should use the employer inquiry form.
Official sources
- Immigration Services Agency: Examination Status of Residence Applications for SSW No. 1 in the Food Service Field (published October 19, 2026)
- National Governors’ Association: Request Activity by the Project Team on Preparations for Accepting Foreign Workers (August 5, 2026)
Disclaimer: This article provides general information based on official material checked as of October 20, 2026. It does not guarantee permission, COE issuance or processing time in any individual case. Immigration treatment may change, so the latest official information should be checked before filing or making a recruitment decision.
Tommy’s Legal Service
Daisuke Tominaga, Gyoseishoshi
Gyoseishoshi Registration No. 21080644 / Immigration Application Agent No. 行-132021200250 / Registered Support Organization No. 26登-013083
