JAPAN

Japan freezes visa applications for foreign restaurant workers

Visas will not be issued for applications received after Monday, but for those submitted prior to that, certificates will be issued in order as long as the quota is not exceeded.

By The Japan Times

• April 13, 2026 at 8:16 AM

Japan freezes visa applications for foreign restaurant workers Photo: The Japan Times

Filipinos with specified skills qualifications learn how to prepare fish for sushi in Tokyo in 2022
Threads
Email
Print
Bookmark story
Copy link
Japan stopped accepting visa applications for foreign restaurant workers under the specified skilled workers program on Monday as the number of those allowed to work in the restaurant sector is nearing capacity.

As of the end of February, there were around 46,000 foreign specified skilled workers in the food service industry, according to the Immigration Services Agency.

The agency said at this rate, it will most likely reach 50,000 — set as the capacity for the restaurant sector over the five-year period starting in April 2024 — by May 2026, and consequently announced on March 27 it would stop accepting new applications.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

SUBSCRIBE NOW
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories
However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name
in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.

Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting
Jehovah's Witnesses followers sue Japanese government
Debt-laden Japan should review spending on gender equality, survey finds
Japanese researchers look at 800-year-old books and trees for signs of extreme solar events
At Ueno Station, ‘Freedom’ restored
Shoes possibly worn by missing boy found in Kyoto mountains
Where Tokyo goes to sweat and soak
Tokyo’s sake calendar is filled to the brim
Japan’s tighter immigration controls yielding results
Beijing row highlights need for Japan to reduce cleantech dependence on China
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’
Japan’s temples and shrines are testing the limits.

Revitalizing rural Japan, one step at a time - Paul Christie
Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division.

Japan and Pakistan agree to cooperate on Middle East issues
7 hours ago
Opposition calls for prior notification to parliament over arms exports
9 hours ago
BOJ's Ueda calls for vigilance against impact of Middle East war
10 hours ago
Futenma base site not yet returned to Japan, 30 years on
10 hours ago
Keidanren proposes setting up fiscal institution in parliament
10 hours ago