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Published N3 est.4 min read

2026 Kumamoto Earthquake: Affected Foreign Workers Can Temporarily Take Other Jobs

Foreign workers in areas hit hard by the Kumamoto earthquake who cannot yet return to their original job have been allowed by Japan's immigration agency to take other work temporarily, up to eight hours a day.

2026 Kumamoto Earthquake: Affected Foreign Workers Can Temporarily Take Other Jobs
  • Starting October 2026, Japan's Immigration Services Agency (ISA) is issuing a special 'permission for activity outside status of residence' to people with a work-related residence status — including technical intern trainees — living in a Kumamoto city, town or village where the Disaster Relief Act applies, who cannot work at their original company for up to three months because of the earthquake but are expected to return once it recovers.
  • The permit allows different paid work, including at another company, up to eight hours a day (excluding adult entertainment businesses); if the original company still has not reopened once the permit expires, workers can apply for it again.
  • The permit is valid for three months from the date it is granted, or until January 27, 2027, whichever comes first; applications are filed at the nearest regional immigration bureau and can be sent by mail or fax if visiting in person is difficult.

A special measure after the Kumamoto earthquake

To help foreign residents in areas heavily affected by the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake, Japan's Immigration Services Agency (ISA) began a new special measure in October 2026.

It applies to people with a work-related residence status, including technical intern trainees, living in a city, town or village where the Disaster Relief Act was applied because of this earthquake.

People who, because of the earthquake, cannot work at their original company for up to three months but are expected to return to that company afterward can receive 'permission for activity outside status of residence.'

What the permit allows, and how long it lasts

With this permit, a worker may do different paid work at the same company or at another company, up to eight hours a day; adult entertainment businesses are excluded.

The permit is valid for three months from the date it is granted, or until January 27, 2027, whichever comes first. If the original company's recovery is delayed and the worker cannot resume work in time, they can apply for the permit again.

How to apply

Applications are filed in person at the nearest regional immigration bureau. If that is difficult, the worker themselves, their employer, or (for technical intern trainees) the supervising organization may send the documents by mail or fax.

For technical intern trainees, if certain conditions are met while using this special permission, they do not need to go through the procedure to amend their technical intern training plan.

Words in this article

資格外活動許可しかくがいかつどうきょか
permission for activity outside status of residence
災害救助法さいがいきゅうじょほう
Disaster Relief Act
技能実習生ぎのうじっしゅうせい
technical intern trainee
出入国在留管理庁しゅつにゅうこくざいりゅうかんりちょう
Immigration Services Agency (ISA)
監理団体かんりだんたい
supervising organization
技能実習計画ぎのうじっしゅうけいかく
technical intern training plan
地方出入国在留管理官署ちほうしゅつにゅうこくざいりゅうかんりかんしょ
regional immigration bureau

Notes

This article was checked on October 4, 2026.

To check whether you qualify and what documents you need, ask your nearest regional immigration bureau directly.

Source: 出入国在留管理庁 (2 Oct 2026)