Japan's restaurant industry is experiencing significant disruption following the government's suspension of new Type I Specified Skilled Worker visa issuances for the food service sector, as the number of foreign workers with this visa nears the preset quota of 50,000 for fiscal 2028 [1]. By the end of February, approximately 46,000 foreign workers held Type I status in the food service industry, prompting immigration authorities to halt the issuance of certificates of eligibility for new applications as of April 13 [1].
This abrupt policy change has forced restaurant operators to reconsider their hiring strategies, with some warning that foreign workers they had been supporting through the visa process may return to their home countries and not return to Japan for work [1]. Companies such as Skylark Holdings Co, which employs 32 exchange students from Myanmar and other countries as part-time workers, have been directly affected. Skylark had planned to promote these workers to full-time positions after they obtained Type II status, but now faces uncertainty as some employees may choose to leave Japan rather than seek alternative visa options [1].
Mos Food Services Inc, operator of the Mos Burger chain, has also raised concerns, particularly regarding its efforts to support Vietnamese workers seeking specified skilled worker visas [1]. The Japan Foodservice Association, representing around 400 restaurant operators, warned that the suspension could impact new store development and operating hours, and expressed fears that companies may begin poaching foreign workers with Type I visas due to increased competition [1].
Industry representatives are concerned that the sudden suspension could make Japan a less attractive destination for foreign workers, potentially exacerbating existing labor shortages. The association plans to request that the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries raise the cap above 50,000 workers, though the ministry has indicated it expects companies to intensify their own recruitment efforts before considering such a move [1].
CONCLUSION
The suspension of Type I Specified Skilled Worker visas is creating immediate challenges for Japan's restaurant industry, threatening staffing levels and business expansion plans. With the quota nearly reached and no immediate resolution in sight, operators face heightened competition for foreign talent and uncertainty about future workforce stability.