[Foreign Recruitment Diagnosis] Two points for hiring at restaurants!

Updated: July 2025, 10

Everyone who operates a restaurant!

Do you have any concerns about hiring foreign staff?

・I'm worried about communication...

・I have heard that it is difficult to obtain a visa for restaurants...

・Visa procedures are troublesome in the first place...

table of contents

1. The key point when accepting foreign employees is "Can they get a visa?"

Even if you interview and hire a foreigner, you will need to obtain a "work visa" in order to work at your company.

Considering that much support, it may seem quite difficult to increase the number of foreign staff.

However, in the restaurant industry, where the birthrate is declining and the population is aging and labor shortages are becoming more serious, there is no excuse not to hire foreign employees.

So, here we will introduce the points of working visa and what is better for hiring! We will introduce a case study and explain what you need to do to actually increase the number of foreign employees!

1-1. [Diagnosis] Can I hire you? ?

There are various types of "work visas", but those with a "technical/specialist in humanities/international services" visa (status of residence) are not allowed to work at a restaurant.

For this reason, many foreigners who work in restaurants are part-time students with "student" visas (residence status), and because they are restricted to working within 28 hours a week, the labor shortage often ends up continuing. .... For students, it is difficult to have them work continuously over a long period of time.

In the past, we have received inquiries from businesses saying, ``There is a very talented part-time international student, and we would like to hire him as a full-time employee after graduation.'' However, due to the recent difficulty in obtaining visas, we were always disappointed. .

Now that the new system has been revised in 2019, let's check the following items to see what kinds of people can be hired by businesses who want to hire them as full-time employees.

2. Click here if you answered ◯ for both.

The applicable visa is "Specified Activities Notification No. 46 (Japanese graduates)".

Check the following for company requirements.

① Must be employed on a full-time basis

　Part-time workers are not eligible, and dispatched workers are not accepted.

②The remuneration must be equal to or higher than that of a Japanese person.

　The remuneration, including salary increases, must be at least equivalent to that of Japanese university and graduate school graduates.

③The work requires smooth communication using Japanese.

　The important point is whether the work involves an element of "interpretation/translation" that connects Japanese with other foreign employees such as trainees, or whether the work requires communication using Japanese.

④The work must utilize the wide range of knowledge and applied skills acquired at Japanese universities and graduate schools.

　It is necessary that the work involves a certain level of work based on academic knowledge learned in Japan, or that the applicant is expected to engage in such knowledge work in the future.

2-1. What is the application process and review period?

After confirming the points, let's check the flow!

First, you need to change your visa (status of residence) from "Study Abroad" to "Designated Activities."

The examination period is approximately 1 to 2 months after the application is submitted to the competent Immigration Bureau.

3． Click here if you got ✕ for both.

Although it does not fall under "Specified Activities", you may be able to obtain another status of residence!

3-1. Specific skills (restaurant industry field)

The application procedure for specific skills is complicated.

It also takes time to check whether the foreigner can safely obtain a visa.

For this reason, our consultants will make proposals from the creation of standards to actual confirmation.

・Standards required of companies *Can be outsourced to a foreign support organization.

・Employment contracts concluded with foreign workers are appropriate, such as the amount of remuneration being equal to or higher than that of Japanese workers.

・There have been no violations of immigration laws or labor laws within the past five years, and the accepting institution itself is appropriate.

・A support system is in place, such as in a language that foreign workers can understand.

・Plans to support foreign workers, including life orientation, etc., are appropriate.

・Standards required for foreign employees (official job offers)

・ Being over 18 years old

・Pass the skill test for specific skills

　Eating out skill measurement test

　Japan Food Service Association

　http://www.jfnet.or.jp/contents/gaikokujinzai/

　Passed the Japan Foundation Japanese Language Basic Test or Japanese Language Proficiency Test N4 or higher

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