The residence status “Skill” visa for cooks and chefs.
Not Just Cooks: Understanding the “Skill" Visa
When we talk about the “skill" visa, cooking and chefs are the typical occupations that come to mind, but it’s not limited to just that. Essentially, it’s a visa for working based on skills acquired through job experience.
Another notable work visa is the “Technical Intern Training" visa, which focuses more on knowledge and skills acquired through education at institutions such as universities.
The “skill" visa specifies the types of jobs that can be performed, such as:
- Cooks and chefs specializing in dishes foreign to Japan but developed abroad
- Skills related to unique architecture and civil engineering abroad
- Skills related to unique products, manufacturing, or repairs abroad
- Skills in processing gems, precious metals, and fur
- Skills in animal training
- Skills in underwater drilling for oil exploration, geothermal development, or seabed mineral surveys
- Skills in aircraft piloting
- Skills in sports coaching
- Wine sommeliers
For jobs requiring such skills, obtaining a “skill" visa is possible with 10 years or more of practical experience in the field.
The “Skill" Visa for Cooks and Chefs
When discussing the “skill" visa, cooks and chefs stand out. While Chinese cuisine dominated in the past, in recent years, Indian and Nepalese cuisines have been on the rise. Nowadays, Indian and Nepalese restaurants can be found in almost every neighborhood.
Just about two years ago, during a conversation with an immigration officer, it was mentioned that the number of applications for cooks in Chinese, Indian, and Nepalese cuisines was around 10,000 annually each.
However, there’s a significant issue with curry chefs, as a considerable percentage are reportedly fraudulent. Some sources claim that up to 95% of Nepalese chefs might be fraudulent. While 95% might be an exaggeration, many Nepalese share similar concerns.
Due to these issues, the scrutiny for cooks applying for the “skill" visa has become very stringent. The processing time for applications has also increased, sometimes taking close to six months, depending on the timing.
If a review takes nearly half a year and results in a rejection, even if reapplied, it could take a total of one year or more.
However, our firm has handled numerous cook visa applications, minimizing concerns beforehand as much as possible, ensuring smooth application and approval processes (excluding cases where applicants provide false information).
Requirements for Approval of Cook and Chef “Skill" Visas
The requirements for approval of the “skill" visa for cooks and chefs include one of the following:
- Having 10 years or more of practical experience (including periods specializing in cooking or food manufacturing at foreign educational institutions)
- Being subject to the established application of Section A(5)(c) of Part I of Schedule Seven of the economic partnership agreement between Japan and Thailand
Normally, 10 years of practical experience is required, except for special provisions for Thai cuisine.
For Thai chefs applying for the “skill" visa, the requirements are:
- Having 5 years or more of practical experience as a Thai chef (including periods of education to obtain certification regarding the skill level of a Thai chef issued by the Thai Ministry of Labor)
- Having obtained certification regarding the skill level of at least a junior Thai chef
- Having received or been able to receive reasonable compensation as a Thai chef in Thailand during the year immediately preceding the date of application for entry into and temporary stay in Japan
The “Skill" Visa for Cooks and Chefs: Documentation Requirements
Most Important Document: Confirming the Employment Certificate
Given that the “skill" visa emphasizes practical experience, the employment certificate proving 10 years or more (or 3 years or more) of practical experience becomes the most crucial document.
In principle, you should collect all employment certificates, but at a minimum, you must submit those covering the required period, such as 10 years. However, if you have worked for companies that no longer exist or have special reasons, you should explain this, and falsifying documents is absolutely unacceptable.
Information included in the employment certificate:
- Company name
- Address and phone number
- ID numbers such as corporate number, PAN number, TIN number, or other ID number identifying the company (varies by country)
- Name of responsible person and their signature
- Date of issue
- Name of the applicant
- Period of employment for the applicant
- Description of the applicant’s duties and position
Please consider that all the above information is necessary.
Regarding point 3, for example in Japan, there is something called a corporate number, and you can search for the corporate number from the company name or vice versa on the National Tax Agency Corporate Number Public Disclosure Site.
The reason why such numbers are necessary is to verify whether the company or restaurant exists and when it was established. However, the systems vary by country, so some countries may not have such numbers at all, or even if they do, the information obtainable may be limited.
Nevertheless, everything except for point 3 is mandatory, so once the employment certificate is provided by the applicant, please ensure that all the above details are included.
Additional Documents for Previously Worked Companies (Restaurants)
An employment certificate alone may not be sufficient. For instance, in countries where systems like corporate numbers are not established, submitting documents that can confirm whether the company (restaurant) actually exists and since when it has been in operation may be required.
This could include documents equivalent to Japan’s registry book such as a Business License or Trade License, or documents equivalent to the Health Department’s restaurant operation permit.
Additionally, submitting screenshots from Google Maps as evidence of the location may be necessary to prove where the restaurant is situated.
Photos of Cooks and Restaurants
Photos of cooks and restaurants are almost mandatory documents, so you need to submit approximately 10 photos in total, including:
- A full view photo of the restaurant building
- Photos showing the entrance and signboard of the restaurant
- A photo of the applicant in front of the restaurant’s entrance or signboard
- Photos showing the layout and number of seats in the dining hall (take from a distance, not close-up)
- Photos showing the layout of the kitchen (take from a distance, not close-up)
- A photo of the applicant cooking
It’s common to receive multiple photos of the applicant cooking, but it’s important to provide various photos to demonstrate what the current restaurant looks like and how the applicant works there.
Various Documents to Prove the Future Workplace in Japan (Restaurant)
Copies of Health Department’s Restaurant Operation Permit
A restaurant operation permit from the health department is required to operate a restaurant, so you will need to submit a copy of this.
Copies of the Menu
To prove what kind of restaurant it is, you need to submit a copy of the menu. For example, you cannot hire foreigners for businesses that are not currently in operation, even if you are only doing Chinese food right now, but you will do curry in the future!
Photos of the Restaurant
You also need photos of the restaurant, including a full view of the building, clear photos of the entrance and signboard, photos showing the layout and number of seats in the dining hall, and photos showing the layout of the kitchen.
Layout plan of the restaurant
It’s not always necessary, but if you have made such a thing through interior construction, submit it. It will be a plus.
Hard copies of the restaurant’s website or review site
If you have a website for the restaurant, print it out and submit it. Even if you don’t have a website, recently it is often posted on review sites like Gurunavi, so print out such things. If neither is available, the existence may be questioned.
Required Documents for Cooks and Chefs’ “Skills" Visa
- Application for Certificate of Eligibility or Application for Permission to Change Status of Residence
- Photos H4cm x W3cm
- Copy of Passport (for application for Certificate of Eligibility)
- Presentation of Passport (for application for Permission to Change Status of Residence)
- Presentation of Residence Card (for application for Permission to Change Status of Residence)
- Employment certificate for more than 10 years
- Photos of the applicant working at the current restaurant
- Documents proving the existence and establishment of previously worked restaurants (copies of Business License, Trade License, operating permits, etc., as needed)
- Copy of employment contract or notification of employment conditions with the applicant’s signature
- Certificate of registered items of employment in Japan
- Financial statements of the Japanese employer for the previous year, including the total amount of employees’ salary income source withholding tax return summary sheet (copy with acceptance stamp) or copy of quarterly reports (for listed companies)
- Restaurant operation permit
- Menu of the restaurant
- Photos or drawings showing the appearance, dining hall, and kitchen layout of the restaurant
- Printouts of the restaurant’s website or review sites