After leaving a job held under 「技人国」, a job offer had already been secured, yet the application to change to 「特定活動」 was refused just before the period of stay expired. Why?

Foreigners Employment Support Organization (FESO)　／　Published 30 September 2026　／　Supervised by 五十嵐博幸行政書士・社会保険労務士

This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）

Who this article is forAn enquiry from a 行政書士 (certified administrative procedures legal specialist (gyoseishoshi)) who was consulted by a recruitment agency for foreign workers.

Answer

Regarding the refusal reason that “the period is short”, the view offered is that because a job offer had already been made, the period during which job-hunting under 「特定活動」 needed to continue may have been judged to be effectively zero. On the other hand, in the answerer’s experience there is no practice of refusing a change simply because the period of stay is about to expire. If a job offer has been secured, the next step is considered to be gathering the documents and considering an application to change to 「技人国」.

What is this enquiry about?

An enquiry from a 行政書士 (certified administrative procedures legal specialist (gyoseishoshi)) who was consulted by a recruitment agency for foreign workers.

Subject: 特定活動
Application type: change
Situation: A foreign national left a job held under 在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services) in March this year and then looked for a new job, registered with a recruitment agency, and secured a job offer. As the period of stay was due to expire on 3 July, the person consulted 地方出入国在留管理局 (Regional Immigration Services Bureau) on 30 June and was told that it was all right to file an application to change to 「特定活動」 (Designated Activities). The person filed the change application on 2 July (in person, attaching the job offer letter and other documents), but on the next day, 3 July, was told that the change had been refused. The reason given was “because the period is short”, but it is unclear what period being short led to the refusal.
Question: (1) Does “the period is short” refer to the time until the period of stay expires, the period during which the person could stay under 「特定活動」, or the job-hunting period after leaving the job? I read online that a change is not allowed when the period of stay is about to expire. Is there such a practice or way of thinking? (2) I believe 特定活動 for job-hunting can also be applied for after leaving a job held under a work visa such as 技人国, but is it correct to understand that the reason for leaving is limited to unavoidable circumstances such as dismissal, and that the examination itself is very strict? (3) As points the recruitment agency should be careful about, besides these 5 — checking the reason for leaving the previous job, managing and checking job-hunting after leaving, checking how the person supports themselves, checking whether the person has been unable to do their proper work for at least 3 months, and keeping track of the period of stay — are there any others?

What is “the period” thought to refer to?

Because a job offer had already been made, the period needed to continue job-hunting may have been judged to be effectively zero.

Although it is a guess, the view is that since a job offer had already been made, it may have been because the “period” during which job-hunting under 「特定活動」 needed to continue was effectively zero. On the other hand, in the answerer’s experience there is no practice of refusing a change simply because the period of stay is about to expire.

For a 特定活動 application after leaving a job, is the reason for leaving important?

Whether the person left for reasons on the company’s side is thought to be the crux of the examination.

In this case, whether the person left for reasons on the company’s side (at the company’s convenience) is thought to be the crux of the examination.

Are there other points the recruitment agency should check?

The 5 points in the question are all considered points to watch.

The 5 points in the question (the reason for leaving the previous job, the job-hunting situation after leaving, how the person supports themselves, checking the period during which the person has been unable to do their proper work, and keeping track of the period of stay) are all considered points to watch. If a job offer has been secured, the next step is considered to be to gather the necessary documents and consider an application to change to 「技人国」.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a change to 「特定活動」 be refused because the period of stay is about to expire?

In the answerer’s experience, there is no practice of refusing a change simply because the period of stay is about to expire.

If a job offer has already been made, is that a disadvantage for an application to change to 特定活動 (continuing job-hunting)?

Since a job offer had already been made, the period needed to continue job-hunting may have been judged to be effectively zero, which may have been one reason for the refusal.

If 特定活動 is refused, what should be considered next?

If a job offer has been secured, the next step is considered to be gathering the documents and considering an application to change to 「技人国」.

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This article provides general information. Immigration rules change, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Please check the Immigration Services Agency website or consult a qualified specialist.
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Because it is a translation, the meaning may differ from the original in places. Where something affects a decision you are making, please check the Japanese version or ask us. The supervision by a 行政書士 is of the Japanese version.