Employment for Skill Development MOCs Now Cover 6 Countries

The Immigration Services Agency’s (hereinafter, “Immigration Agency”) “Bilateral Cooperation Memoranda on Employment for Skill Development” page was updated on October 13 and October 20, 2026, and the Memoranda of Cooperation with Timor-Leste and Bangladesh were published. This brings the total number of countries with Memoranda of Cooperation for Employment for Skill Development to six: Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, and Laos (as of October 21, 2026). As a follow-up to the September 3 article “Memoranda of Cooperation for Employment for Skill Development | 4 Concluded Countries and 5 Recommended Countries,” we will clarify the signing dates for the two new countries and the difference between “Provisional Lists” and “Certified Lists,” which are often overlooked in preparation for acceptance.

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1. Two more countries added in October, bringing the total to six

According to the provisional translations of the memoranda, both memoranda for the two countries were prepared in two English copies, signed by Japan and the respective partner country in their respective cities. Cooperation is stipulated to commence from the date of the later signature.

Country	Signature by Japan	Signature by Partner Country	Responsible Ministry/Agency of Partner Country
Thailand	May 20, 2026, Tokyo	June 2, 2026, Bangkok	Ministry of Labour
Uzbekistan	May 20, 2026, Tokyo	June 29, 2026, Tashkent	Agency for External Labor Migration under the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction
Sri Lanka	May 20, 2026, Tokyo	July 23, 2026, Colombo	Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Employment and Tourism
Laos	August 5, 2026, Tokyo	August 31, 2026, Vientiane	Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
Timor-Leste	July 21, 2026, Tokyo	October 13, 2026, Dili	Secretariat of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE)
Bangladesh	September 16, 2026, Tokyo	October 17, 2026, Dhaka	Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE)

The structure of the two new countries’ memoranda is the same as the previous four countries. It outlines Japan’s commitments, the partner country’s commitments, and the criteria for certifying sending organizations (Annex). The certification criteria for sending organizations include clearly defining and publishing on their websites the calculation standards for fees and other expenses, not having collected security deposits or entered into contracts stipulating penalties within the past five years, and not having received from the individual or their family members fees exceeding two months’ worth of the monthly remuneration stated in the Employment for Skill Development plan. Furthermore, as a certification criterion for the Employment for Skill Development plan, the amount of fees paid by a foreign national who has been referred by a foreign certified sending organization to the sending organization must not exceed two months’ worth of the monthly remuneration stated in the Employment for Skill Development plan (Memorandum Annex 5). The cooperation period is five years, and it will be automatically extended for another five years if no notice is given 60 days before its expiration, which also remains the same.

For Employment for Skill Development, acceptance in the form of Supervising and Support Organizations receiving referrals from foreign sending organizations is, in principle, only permitted from countries with which bilateral agreements have been concluded (Organization for Technical Intern Training “List of Foreign Government Certified Sending Organizations (Employment for Skill Development Program)”). An increase in the number of countries with memoranda means that the prerequisites for expanding acceptance options are in place (actual use will be possible after the certified list, discussed next, is submitted).

2. Even with a Memorandum, it’s a preparatory stage until the “Certified List” is issued.

The Organization for Technical Intern Training (hereinafter, “Organization”) website publishes lists of sending organizations for Employment for Skill Development by country. What is important here is that there are two types of lists: “Provisional” and “Certified.”

• Provisional Sending Organization List = A list of organizations expected to become certified sending organizations, submitted by countries in discussions to conclude a memorandum.
• Certified Sending Organization List = A list officially submitted by the partner country after a memorandum has been concluded.

According to the Organization’s explanation, for applications for permission for Supervising and Support Organizations filed before the enforcement date, if a sending organization from a country under discussion is used, the organization listed on the provisional list should be stated in the application form. However, permission for Supervising and Support Organizations is granted after the certified list is officially submitted by the country with which the memorandum has been concluded. It is also explicitly stated that permission cannot be granted if a contract is made with an organization that was on the provisional list but not on the certified list, or if a memorandum was not concluded.

As of October 21, 2026, the Organization’s list is as follows (16 countries, in alphabetical order).

Category	Country	Date of Publication/Update of Sending Organization List
Memorandum Concluded, Certified List Available	Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos	August 18, September 17, October 9, September 2
Memorandum Concluded, List Remains Provisional	Bangladesh, Timor-Leste	October 6, June 11
No Memorandum, Provisional List Only	Indonesia, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar	October 20, April 7, September 7, July 24, October 13, July 24, July 28, October 16, October 13, October 6

In other words, although memoranda have been concluded with Bangladesh and Timor-Leste, as of October 21, 2026, their sending organization lists are still “provisional.” When the official certified lists are submitted, the display will change to “certified.” If you have a contract with or plan to contract with a sending organization in these two countries, please be sure to check whether your contracting party is on the certified list when the display changes.

3. The wording of the MOCs differs regarding the handling of recommendation letters

Another point to confirm is the “recommendation letter.” The Immigration Services Agency’s “Pre-enforcement Date Application for Employment for Skill Development Program (ESD)” page states that for countries that have concluded or are in the process of concluding an MOC and issue recommendation letters, a recommendation letter prepared by a public institution in the sending country must be submitted for each target individual when applying for certification of the Employment for Skill Development Plan (including pre-enforcement date applications). As of October 21, the target countries on this page remain Indonesia, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, and Laos, a total of five countries, with Bangladesh and Timor-Leste not listed.

A comparison of the MOCs of the six countries reveals differences in how this point is written.

MOC	Provisions regarding recommendation letters for each foreign national participating in Employment for Skill Development (Japan’s commitment)
Thailand, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste	Recommendation letters are not required, provided that a complete list of certified sending organizations and the certificate in Annex 3 are received from the partner country’s ministry or agency.
Laos	Recommendation letters issued by the partner country’s ministry or agency are required for foreign nationals participating in Employment for Skill Development sent by certified sending organizations.

The MOCs for the two additional countries are of the same type as the three preceding countries, such as Thailand. However, to confirm whether a recommendation letter is actually required, it is more reliable to check the list on the Immigration Services Agency’s pre-enforcement date application page, rather than relying solely on the wording of the MOC. Please note that submission of a recommendation letter is not required for supervised Employment for Skill Development when accepting employees from a foreign organization with which there is a close business relationship, or for independent Employment for Skill Development.

4. From the perspective of accepting companies in Miyazaki

As of the end of June 2026, there are 13,834 foreign residents in Miyazaki Prefecture, with Indonesia (3,796 people) being the most common by nationality/region, followed by Vietnam, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Nepal (for details, see “13,834 Foreign Residents in Miyazaki | 2nd Highest Increase Rate Nationwide“).

As of October 21, MOCs for Employment for Skill Development have not yet been concluded with any of these top five countries, and the organization’s list only shows a provisional list. For Technical Intern Training, bilateral agreements exist with all five of these countries (agreements for Technical Intern Training exist with 17 countries). On the other hand, none of the six countries with MOCs for Employment for Skill Development are included in the top five countries in the prefecture.

If companies in Miyazaki Prefecture that currently accept Technical Intern Trainees are considering accepting from the same countries after the Employment for Skill Development program begins on April 1, 2027, we recommend keeping the following points in mind:

• It has not been announced when MOCs with major sending countries (such as Indonesia and Vietnam) will be concluded. Regularly check the Immigration Services Agency’s MOC page and the organization’s list.
• Confirm whether your current sending organization is on the provisional list for that country (for Employment for Skill Development, sending organizations must be on the “Certified Sending Organization List” submitted by the partner country. The provisional list is an anticipated list).
• After the MOC is concluded, reconfirm whether it is on the certified list.

5. What HR professionals at companies should confirm

• Is the MOC of the sending country posted on the Immigration Services Agency’s website? In principle, acceptance through a foreign sending organization (receiving intermediary services) from countries not listed is not permitted.
• Is the type of sending organization list “certified” or “provisional”? Permission for Supervising and Support Organizations will be granted after the official certified list is submitted.
• Is the contracted sending organization on that list? Even if it is on the provisional list, it may not be on the certified list.
• Is it a country requiring a recommendation letter? Check the list on the Immigration Services Agency’s pre-enforcement date application page, and if necessary, start arrangements with the sending country side in advance.
• Have you received an explanation of the fees? Certified sending organizations are required to publish their fee calculation standards and explain them to the individual and the Supervising and Support Organization.

How to choose a Supervising and Support Organization is covered in “How to Choose a Supervising and Support Organization | Towards Employment for Skill Development in 2027,” and the overall picture of pre-enforcement date applications is covered in “Pre-enforcement Date Application for Employment for Skill Development Plan | Acceptance Begins September 1.”

6. To foreign nationals (including those from Bangladesh and Timor-Leste)

• Whether you can be accepted through a foreign sending organization generally depends on whether an MOC has been concluded with your country. MOCs with Bangladesh and Timor-Leste were concluded in October 2026.
• Please confirm that the sending organization you entrust with the procedures is certified by the government. There is a country-specific list on the organization’s website. As of October 21, the lists for these two countries are still “provisional.”
• There is a cap on the fees you pay to the sending organization. The MOC states that as a certification standard for the Employment for Skill Development Plan, the amount of fees paid to the sending organization must not exceed two months’ worth of the monthly remuneration stated in the plan. Not engaging in acts of receiving fees exceeding two months’ worth is also a certification standard for sending organizations.
• If you are asked to enter into a contract to deposit a guarantee or a contract stipulating a penalty for returning home midway, please confirm before agreeing. Not engaging in such acts is also a certification standard.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can we accept workers from Bangladesh and Timor-Leste under the Employment for Skill Development Program (ESD) now?

The ESD program is scheduled to commence on April 1, 2027. While Memoranda of Cooperation (MOCs) have been established, as of October 21, the list of sending organizations for these two countries is “provisional.” Permission for Supervising and Support Organizations will be granted after the official certified list is submitted, so preparations should proceed while confirming the publication of the certified list.

Q2. Is it acceptable to contract with a sending organization on the “provisional” list?

For applications submitted before the enforcement date, organizations on the provisional list can be listed. However, if an organization is not included in the certified list, permission for the Supervising and Support Organization cannot be granted as is. Please be sure to confirm once the certified list is released.

Q3. When will MOCs for Indonesia and Vietnam be established?

The timing has not been announced. For both countries, provisional lists are published on the organization’s website, and they are designated as countries eligible for recommendation letters on the Immigration Services Agency’s page for applications submitted before the enforcement date.

Q4. Is a recommendation letter required when accepting individuals from Bangladesh?

As of October 21, Bangladesh and Timor-Leste are not included in the list of countries requiring recommendation letters on the Immigration Services Agency’s page for applications submitted before the enforcement date. The wording of the MOC also indicates that a recommendation letter is not required under certain conditions. However, the list may be updated, so please check the Immigration Services Agency’s page before applying.

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8. Summary

With the addition of Timor-Leste (October 13) and Bangladesh (October 17) in October 2026, the number of countries with Memoranda of Cooperation for the Employment for Skill Development Program (ESD) has reached six. However, as of October 21, the list of sending organizations for these two countries remains “provisional.” In addition to the existence of an MOC, the key to preparing for acceptance is to confirm whether the list type has changed to “certified” and whether the contracted sending organization is included in that list. MOCs for countries with many acceptances in Miyazaki Prefecture, such as Indonesia and Vietnam, have not yet been established.

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As an Administrative Scrivener Corporation in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture, our office assists with organizing acceptance systems for the transition to the Employment for Skill Development Program.

For procedures that can be filed online, such as applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence and extension of period of stay, we accept requests from clients nationwide. Meetings are held online (Google Meet, LINE) and documents are exchanged by mail or electronically, so there is no need to visit our office. Applications for Permission for Permanent Residence and for Permission of Naturalization cannot be filed online and must be submitted at the counter, so they are limited to residents of Miyazaki Prefecture. Depending on the procedure and its urgency, you may need to collect your Residence Card at the counter of the immigration office covering the area where you live. Online applications cannot be filed on the last day of your period of stay, so please consult us as early as possible.

• Consultation on application for permission as a Supervising and Support Organization
• Advice on establishing an acceptance system for Employment for Skill Development and Specified Skilled Worker
• Organization of key points for confirming sending countries and sending organizations
• Management of Application for Change of Status of Residence and Application for Extension of Period of Stay for foreign national employees

Please feel free to use our free consultation service first.

📩 Contact us here

📞 To book a phone consultation: 0985-68-0851

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This article was written based on publicly available information as of October 2026. Details of the system and implementation dates may change in the future. For actual applications, please confirm with official information from the Immigration Services Agency or our office.

Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Authorized to File Applications, Satoshi Nakayama

Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office

Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture

Sources (Primary Information)

• Immigration Services Agency “Bilateral Memoranda of Cooperation on Employment for Skill Development” (MOCs for Timor-Leste, Bangladesh, and 6 other countries, English and provisional Japanese translation) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/ssw/nyuukokukanri05_00002.html
• Immigration Services Agency “Employment for Skill Development Program” Updates (October 13, 2026, October 20, 2026) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/index_00005.html
• Immigration Services Agency “Applications before the Enforcement Date for the Employment for Skill Development Program” (Countries eligible for recommendation letters) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/03_00174.html
• Organization for Technical Intern Training “List of Foreign Government Certified Sending Organizations (Employment for Skill Development Program)” https://www.otit.go.jp/employment_for_skill_development/05/
• Immigration Services Agency “Technical Intern Training Program Bilateral Agreements and Certified Sending Organizations” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/titp/nyuukokukanri07_00139.html
• Immigration Services Agency “Number of Foreign Residents as of the end of June, Reiwa 8 (2026)” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00070.html