Guidable Inc. Announces Emergency Transition Campaign for Hiring Foreigners Residing in Japan Following Suspension of Specified Skilled Worker Program for the Food Service Industry from April 13th

Guidable Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Masayoshi Tanabe; hereinafter referred to as Guidable), which operates the foreign recruitment service "Guidable Jobs" (https://guidablejobs.jp/), has announced an emergency campaign to support food service companies that need to urgently hire foreign nationals residing in Japan. This initiative comes in response to the Immigration Services Agency's policy to cease issuing Certificates of Eligibility for the "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" visa category in the food service sector from April 13, 2026. The campaign is limited to the first 20 companies.

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Background

On March 27, Reiwa 8 (2026), the Immigration Services Agency announced that the number of foreign nationals with the "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" visa in the food service sector is expected to reach approximately 46,000 by the end of February 2026, exceeding the acceptance limit of 50,000 around May. In response, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Immigration Services Agency have decided not to grant Certificates of Eligibility for applications received after April 13, 2026.

This measure will effectively close the new recruitment route for food service companies to invite foreign nationals residing overseas under the Specified Skilled Worker program after April 13th. For the food and beverage industry, which faces severe labor shortages, securing foreign talent is an urgent priority, and the options for recruitment will be narrowed down to foreign nationals already residing in Japan.

While platforms for hiring foreign residents are limited, Guidable Jobs has been selected as the No.1 foreign recruitment service chosen by HR and recruitment managers* and boasts the largest number of registered users in Japan, with 470,000. It excels at reaching individuals with status-based visas (Permanent Residents, Long-Term Residents, Spouses of Japanese Nationals or Permanent Residents, etc., with no work restrictions) and Specified Skilled Workers currently residing in Japan. With an average of 15 monthly applications from the food service industry (total for status-based and Specified Skilled Workers), starting early before April 13th will provide a significant advantage in the recruitment competition.

*Survey Method: Internet Survey; Survey Provider: Japan Trend Research

3 Major Emergency Support Campaign Initiatives

Application Period: Until Thursday, April 30, 2026

Limited to the first 20 companies

Campaign 1: Priority Listing for Increased Applications

Job postings will be listed at the top of search results and recommended job listings on Guidable Jobs, free of charge, in a "Premium Ad Slot." This ensures visibility at the forefront of foreign job seekers' attention, maximizing application numbers. This benefit will end once the 20 available slots are filled.

Campaign 2: First Month 5-Applicant Guarantee

If fewer than 5 applications are received in the first month of your contract, the remaining number will be guaranteed in the following month. This minimizes initial recruitment risks and allows for confident adoption.

*This guarantee applies to the number of applications, not the number of hires or successful onboarding.

Campaign 3: Free Vertical Recruitment Video Production and Distribution for Social Media (Normally ¥300,000)

Completely free shooting, production, and distribution of vertical recruitment videos for social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. These videos will showcase the work environment, employee interviews, etc., in multiple languages, supporting brand appeal and application acquisition across various social media channels.