Tokutei Ginou Restaurant Sector Halts New Hiring From April 13, 2026: What Workers and Employers Should Prepare
If you're getting your paperwork ready to work at a restaurant in Japan through the Tokutei Ginou route, or your company is planning to recruit, here's something important. From April 13, 2026, the Japanese government has temporarily halted accepting new Tokutei Ginou 1 applicants for the restaurant sector. The reason isn't that Japan doesn't need people, it's the opposite: demand has been so high that the quota is nearly full. The good news: this isn't a permanent closure, and anyone who already holds an active visa is not affected.
Why Tokutei Ginou Restaurant Hiring Was Suddenly Halted
Put simply, the quota is almost used up. When it set up this program, the Japanese government capped restaurant-sector intake at around 50,000 people over five years (fiscal 2024 to 2028). That number was meant to last five years, but it was burned through in about two.
The trigger was a post-pandemic surge in labor demand. Restaurants got busy again, tourists came flooding back, and hiring moved far faster than expected. The data says it all: by the end of February 2026, the number of Tokutei Ginou 1 holders in the restaurant sector had already reached about 46,000, and it's projected to cross the 50,000 cap by May 2026.
On March 27, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Immigration Services Agency announced the halt. This is really an "automatic brake" written into the law: under Article 7-2 of the Immigration Control Act, when the number of workers is projected to exceed the set cap, the government is legally required to stop issuing new permits. So this is about legal compliance, not Japan closing its doors.
Who Is Affected and Who Is Safe
This is the most important part to understand, because not everyone is affected. The halt targets new applicants, not people already inside the system.
| Your situation | Affected? |
|---|---|
| New applicant from outside Japan (needs a COE) | Yes, applications from April 13, 2026 are, in principle, rejected |
| Switching to Tokutei Ginou restaurant from within Japan | Yes, not permitted in principle (with exceptions) |
| Renewing your period of stay (already hold Tokutei Ginou restaurant) | No, processed as usual |
| Changing jobs to another restaurant (already hold Tokutei Ginou restaurant) | No, still allowed |
There are also a few exempt groups who can still move into Tokutei Ginou restaurant while quota remains: graduates of the Technical Intern Training (Ginou Jisshu) program in food production for medical and welfare facilities, and holders of the Designated Activities (Tokutei Katsudo) visa specifically set up for transition to Tokutei Ginou 1. Applications submitted before April 13, 2026 are also still processed, though there may be delays.
The Good News: It's Just a Pause, Not a Shutdown
Worth underlining: this halt is temporary. In fact, the government has set up a "waiting room" in the form of the Designated Activities visa for applicants who are stuck. This waiting visa can only be extended once and has a limited validity, which is a strong hint: the government wouldn't provide it if it had no intention of opening a new quota.
Observers expect a new quota to open around late 2026 to early 2027, though there's no official date yet. Before that, MAFF will survey the restaurant industry to gather real data on demand, then submit it for a Cabinet Decision (Kakugi Kettei) that sets the new cap. The labor shortage in this sector is still very real, so there's strong pressure to reopen the quota soon.
What Workers and Employers Can Prepare Now
This pause is actually a good time to strengthen your position. If you plan to work at a restaurant in Japan, use the time to level up your Japanese and your skills, so you have a stronger edge when the quota reopens and competition is bound to be tougher. If you're already in Japan through one of the exempt routes, your chances are actually better, since immigration prioritizes those already in the country.
For companies, two moves are recommended. First, encourage your existing Tokutei Ginou 1 workers to move up to Tokutei Ginou 2, which has no quota cap at all, so it's safe from an "emergency brake" like this, while also giving workers a longer stay and the right to bring family. Second, make the most of foreign workers already settled in Japan. Also note that the food and beverage manufacturing sector is predicted to hit its quota next, so planning ahead will help a lot.
Situations like this can be confusing, especially with all the exceptions. Nuance Union is ready to help you and your company navigate changes to the Tokutei Ginou rules, from making sure your status is safe to preparing a recruitment strategy for when the quota reopens. Get in touch for a consultation.