Published Aug 24, 2026 — comments accepted until 0:00 on Sept 23 (Immigration Services Agency, case no. 315000144)
On August 24, 2026, Japan's Immigration Services Agency published a draft amendment to the ministerial notice that defines the activities listed in the right-hand column of Table 1(5) of the Immigration Control Act — in other words, the activities covered by the Designated Activities (tokutei katsudo) status of residence. The notice is issued under Article 7(1)(ii) of the Act. A public comment procedure under the Administrative Procedure Act runs from 0:00 on August 24 to 0:00 on September 23, 2026 (case no. 315000144, category: foreign affairs). Designated Activities is a status in which the Minister of Justice designates an activity for each individual foreign national when no other status fits; the pre-defined categories are listed in this notice. Whether an activity falls within a listed category matters greatly when a Certificate of Eligibility is examined for someone entering from abroad, so amending the notice moves the entry rules themselves. The exact content of this amendment is set out in the two PDFs published on e-Gov: the draft amendment and the outline of the amendment. Before submitting an opinion, you are asked to read the submission guidelines (including where to send comments) and the full draft.
Designated Activities is the status the Minister of Justice uses to designate activities that fit no other status. It covers categories pre-defined in the notice — such as working holidays, internships and medical stays — as well as activities designated case by case. If a new category is added to the notice, a new route into Japan opens; if the requirements of an existing category are revised, the documents and conditions demanded at entry or at renewal may change. In short, this amendment affects the gateway and the renewal, more than daily life itself. The comment period is one of the few chances for foreign nationals themselves to speak before the rules are fixed. The published materials are Japanese-language PDFs only, but there is no nationality or status restriction on submitting, and you can also submit through your host company or school. Check before the deadline whether the category that applies to you appears in the draft.
From June 2027, mid-to-long-term foreign residents who chronically default on national health insurance or pension premiums and ignore payment guidance will, in principle, be denied residence status renewal or change. Municipal and immigration systems link in FY2026 to reflect arrears automatically.
From April 2027, "Technical Intern Training" abolished, replaced by "Training Employment". 2026 is preparation period. N5 Japanese required, voluntary transfers allowed, can transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i) after 3 years.
Japan opened public comment (Aug 4-Sep 3, 2026) on stricter Permanent Residency guidelines: household income above the Japanese average, pension outlook, B1 Japanese.
Source:
Immigration Services Agency of Japan / e-Gov Public Comment website (draft amendment to the Designated Activities notice, case no. 315000144)This article was edited and written by freegent Inc. based on the source above.