Compare the real duties of a proposed Japanese job with the status of residence being used. A job title alone is a poor working description for asking an immigration question.
What the official guidance establishes
The Foreign Ministry lists working categories by activity, including Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. Embassy guidance also directs people who need permission for activities outside their status to the Japanese immigration authorities. Read Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Working visa for the original scope and current instructions.
Describe the work in plain language
List the employer’s legal name, workplace, main tasks, expected clients and any secondary duties. Separate the advertised title from the actual activities. Preserve a copy of the offer so an adviser can compare the facts being discussed with the written proposal.
Compare records without making your own legal decision
Put the exact status shown on the current residence record beside the proposed activities. Highlight changed duties, a different employer or an additional paid activity as questions for the responsible authority. Do not treat a similar-sounding title on a government category list as a personal permission decision.
Ask for a coordinated answer
Send the employer a short list of facts needing confirmation, then raise unresolved immigration questions with the appropriate official service or qualified adviser. Record which action, if any, must precede starting the role and who owns it. Keep a recruiter’s informal view distinct from an authority’s instruction.
Your working sheet
This is an optional IMMIGEUROPE planning worksheet, not an official application form or a new document requirement.
| Record | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Current record | Exact status and conditions shown |
| Proposed role | Employer, location and genuine duties |
| Difference | Changed employer, activity or additional work |
| Resolution | Authority question, response and action owner |
Worked planning example
A fictional employee’s new offer uses the same English job title as their existing role, but adds a substantial new activity. Their comparison highlights the activity change and asks about it before the start date. Matching titles do not close that question in the worksheet.
Base the next action on a documented answer about the real work. Keep the next action in the moving planner and use the guide library for the next part of your move.