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RulesFinding work in Osaka for Vietnamese workers
Before looking for work, check what jobs your residence status allows. With Specified Skilled Worker status you can change jobs within the same field. Stay away from people who charge you for job introductions or post "high income" offers on social media.
Many Vietnamese live in Osaka
At the end of 2025 about 681,000 Vietnamese nationals lived in Japan, the second-largest group (Sakigake / Kyodo). Osaka Prefecture had more than 67,000 Vietnamese residents at the end of June 2025 (Aichi internationalization data).
By residence status
| Status | Can you change jobs? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Specified Skilled Worker | Yes, within the same field | Grew to about 390,000 people at the end of 2025 (nippon.com) |
| Technical Intern Training | Generally hard | Replaced by the new Employment for Skill Development system from April 1, 2027. Under it, you can change employers within the same field after 1–2 years, if you pass skill and Japanese tests (Office Tree) |
| Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services and others | Yes, within the status | Notify immigration when you change jobs. See changing jobs |
In 2026
Specified Skilled Worker (i) in food service neared its cap of 50,000, and new approvals stopped from April 13, 2026 (nippon.com). People already working in food service under this status can still renew and change jobs within the field. As of our last check, no restart date had been announced (Office Tree). Check the latest news before you apply.
Safe ways to search
- Ask the Osaka Employment Service Center for Foreigners or Hello Work (free). See jobs in Osaka.
- Use a registered support organization or a licensed recruitment agency.
- For jobs found on Facebook, always check the company name and address.
The order is the same as in Tokyo, starting with registering your address at the ward office within 14 days of moving in. Osaka City has...
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