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Japan to freeze visas for food service industry as quota nears

Release Date
2026-03-27
Media
The Asahi Shimbun
Summary
Japan will suspend accepting new foreign workers under the Type 1 Specified Skilled Worker visa for the food service industry from April 13, as the number of workers (about 46,000) is expected to soon reach the quota of 50,000 set through fiscal 2028.

The Specified Skilled Worker program, introduced in 2019 to address labor shortages, allows foreign workers to stay up to five years under Type 1 status, while Type 2 offers longer-term residency and family accompaniment. Quotas are set across 19 sectors to avoid negative impacts on domestic employment.

This is the second time such a suspension has occurred, following a similar halt in 2022 in industrial machinery manufacturing. The food service sector, which employs about 4 million people, faces a severe labor shortage, with a jobs-to-applicants ratio far above the national average.

The suspension is expected to increase competition for workers, potentially raising wages and improving conditions, but also increasing costs for businesses, which may lead to downsizing or higher prices. The freeze could be lifted if quota space becomes available due to worker departures or status changes.
Tags
Specified Skilled Worker

News Articles including "Specified Skilled Worker"

Released on
Article Title
Tags
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Specified Skilled Worker
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Specified Skilled Worker
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