Note: This article is based on Japanese laws and materials published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) and the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in Japan as of October 9, 2026.
The Recommendation List (推薦者表; also called the List of Specified Skilled Workers, 特定技能外国人表) is a document by which the Government of Viet Nam certifies that a Vietnamese national has completed the procedures on the Vietnamese side for working abroad. When a company accepts such a person under Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能), this document is attached to the application on the Japanese side.
The approving body and the form differ between the case of newly accepting a person from Viet Nam and the case of accepting a person residing in Japan. Among persons residing in Japan, there are also some who do not need a Recommendation List. This article explains which applications need it, where to apply and the required documents, following the guidance of the ISA and the Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan.
Contents
- What is the Recommendation List?
- Applications that need the Recommendation List and applications that do not
- Change applications by persons residing in Japan: who needs it and who does not
- Flow when newly accepting a person from Viet Nam
- Flow when accepting a person residing in Japan
- Documents to submit to the Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan
- Forms of the Recommendation List and what is entered
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Summary
- References
What is the Recommendation List?
The Recommendation List is a "list of persons who may be accepted as specified skilled workers" approved by the Government of Viet Nam. Its formal name is the "List of Specified Skilled Workers", and it is an attached form of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on Specified Skilled Worker exchanged between Japan and Viet Nam.
In the MOC, the Japanese side commits to accept only those persons who have completed the procedures in accordance with the laws and regulations of Viet Nam and are listed on the Recommendation List approved by the Vietnamese side. The ISA checks this document at the time of the application concerning the status of residence.
There is also a basis in Japanese laws and regulations. Where procedures to be complied with in the person's own country have been established, the criteria for Specified Skilled Worker require that the person has gone through those procedures (item 4 of the row for "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" in the Ministerial Order on Criteria (上陸基準省令)). In the case of Viet Nam, the document showing that those procedures have been gone through is the Recommendation List.
Submission became necessary starting with applications filed on or after February 15, 2021.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Information on Viet Nam" (in Japanese), "Memorandum of Cooperation with Viet Nam on Specified Skilled Worker (provisional Japanese translation)" (in Japanese), 6(1), "Explanation of Procedures" (in Japanese)
Applications that need the Recommendation List and applications that do not
The Recommendation List is needed for an Application for Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書交付申請) and, for some persons, for an Application for Change of Status of Residence (在留資格変更許可申請). An Application for Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is the application for bringing a person who is abroad to Japan. An Application for Change of Status of Residence is the application by which a person residing in Japan switches to a different status of residence.
| Situation | Application on the Japanese side | Recommendation List | Approving body, and who carries out the procedure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newly accepting a person who is in Viet Nam | Application for Certificate of Eligibility | Required (Attachment 1) | Department of Overseas Labour (DOLAB), Ministry of Home Affairs of Viet Nam. The sending organization carries out the procedure |
| Accepting a person residing in Japan (persons who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) or (iii) (技能実習2号・3号), and international students who have completed a course of 2 years or more; see the next section) | Application for Change of Status of Residence | Required (Attachment 2) | Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan. The person himself or herself, or the accepting organization or the like, carries out the procedure |
| Accepting a person residing in Japan (persons who do not fall under the row above) | Application for Change of Status of Residence | Not required | ― |
| A person residing under Specified Skilled Worker changes accepting organization or field through a job change | Application for Change of Status of Residence | Not required | ― |
| A person residing under Specified Skilled Worker extends the period of stay | Application for Extension of Period of Stay (在留期間更新許可申請) | Not required | ― |
On the Japanese side, the application is filed with the Regional Immigration Services Office (地方出入国在留管理官署) in every one of these situations. The Recommendation List is submitted together with the other required documents, after approval has first been obtained on the Vietnamese side.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Information on Viet Nam" (in Japanese), Application Procedures 1 and 4, "Bilateral Memoranda of Cooperation on Specified Skilled Workers" (in Japanese)
Change applications by persons residing in Japan: who needs it and who does not
In applications for change of status by Vietnamese nationals residing in Japan, the persons who need a Recommendation List are narrowed down to two categories. This is what the ISA has indicated as the handling for the time being, from June 27, 2024 onward.
- Persons who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) or (iii) (including persons expected to complete it)
- International students who have completed a course of at least 2 years in Japan (including persons expected to complete it)
Persons who do not fall under either of these two do not have to submit a Recommendation List. However, a person with the status of residence "Student" (留学) who does not meet the condition above submits a document proving that he or she has completed, or is expected to complete, the current course (such as a graduation certificate).
When hiring an international student, please check first the number of years of the course in which the student was enrolled. The documents to prepare differ depending on whether or not it is a course of 2 years or more.
The ISA states that, after the application, it may check the person's circumstances of residence to date and request additional documents.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Information on Viet Nam" (in Japanese), Application Procedures 4
Flow when newly accepting a person from Viet Nam
When newly accepting a person from Viet Nam, it is the sending organization that carries out the procedure for the Recommendation List. The accepting company receives the Recommendation List from a sending organization approved by the Government of Viet Nam (an approved sending organization, 認定送出機関) and submits it to the immigration office.
- The accepting company concludes a "labor supply contract" (労働者提供契約; hợp đồng cung ứng lao động) with an approved sending organization
- Through the approved sending organization, an application is made to DOLAB for approval of the labor supply contract, and the approval is obtained
- The approved sending organization recruits candidates, and the accepting company is introduced to them and concludes an employment contract
- The approved sending organization applies to DOLAB for the Recommendation List, and DOLAB issues it
- The approved sending organization sends the issued Recommendation List to the accepting company
- The accepting company files an Application for Certificate of Eligibility with the Regional Immigration Services Office and submits the Recommendation List
- The issued certificate is sent to the person, and the person applies for a visa (査証) at the Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam
- The person leaves Viet Nam and enters Japan
According to the ISA's guidance, the Vietnamese side requires the sending organization and the person to conclude a "contract for sending the worker to work abroad" (労働者海外派遣契約; hợp đồng đưa người lao động Việt Nam đi làm việc ở nước ngoài) at least 5 days before departure.
The labor supply contract in steps 1 and 2, and the costs that the accepting company pays to the sending organization, are summarized in Viet Nam's "Labor Supply Contract" for Specified Skilled Worker and the Costs Borne by the Accepting Company.
In the food service industry field (外食業分野), the issuance of Certificates of Eligibility has been stopped. Applications for change of status by persons residing in Japan are also in principle denied (as of October 9, 2026). The handling is explained in the suspension of acceptance in the "food service industry" field of Specified Skilled Worker.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Flowchart" (in Japanese), "Explanation of Procedures" (in Japanese)
Flow when accepting a person residing in Japan
For a person residing in Japan, the Recommendation List is applied for by mail to the Labor Section of the Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan. Those who can apply are, besides the person himself or herself, the accepting company (organization of affiliation of the specified skilled worker, 特定技能所属機関), an employment placement business provider, and a registered support organization (登録支援機関).
- The accepting company and the person conclude an employment contract for specified skilled workers
- The applicant prepares the Recommendation List (Attachment 2) and the Application for Issuance of the List of Specified Skilled Workers (特定技能外国人表交付申請書), and mails them to the Embassy's Labor Section together with the required documents
- The Labor Section returns the signed and stamped Recommendation List by mail
- The person files an Application for Change of Status of Residence with the Regional Immigration Services Office and submits the Recommendation List
The Recommendation List (Attachment 2) is prepared by the applicant as one of the application documents. The Embassy signs and stamps the list it has approved and returns it.
The Embassy's guidance states that it sends the list out within 5 working days after receiving documents with no deficiencies. There is no fee for the procedure.
Our office is also available for consultation through our application support for the Specified Skilled Worker visa (for accepting companies), starting from how to align the timing of the procedures on the Vietnamese side with that of the application on the Japanese side.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Explanation of Procedures" (in Japanese); Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in Japan, "Guide to the Procedure for the Application for Issuance of the List of Specified Skilled Workers" (in Japanese)
Documents to submit to the Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan
There are seven documents to submit to the Embassy, and the fourth and fifth differ depending on whether the change is from Technical Intern Training or from Student.
| Document | Persons changing from Technical Intern Training | Persons changing from Student |
|---|---|---|
| Application for Issuance of the List of Specified Skilled Workers (the Embassy's Attachment 1) | Required | Required |
| Copy of the passport (identity information page) | Required | Required |
| Recommendation List (Attachment 2 of the MOC; the Embassy's Attachment 2) | Required | Required |
| Document proving completion | A copy of the certificate of completion of Technical Intern Training (ii) or (iii). Or any one of the following: a certificate of expected completion, a copy of the certificate of passing or of the notice for the specialist level or the Grade 3 (on-demand) test (専門級・随時3級), or a copy of the evaluation record on the technical intern trainee (評価調書) | A copy of the graduation certificate or certificate of completion (修了証書) for a course of a minimum of 2 years at a school in Japan, or the like |
| Copies of test pass certificates or the like | Where the occupation is changed, those for the skills test and the Japanese language test (if any) | Those for the skills test and the Japanese language test (if any) |
| Copy of the Certificate of Residence (住民票) | Required | Required |
| Self-addressed return envelope | Required | Required |
The Certificate of Residence to be submitted is one that is within 3 months of issue and shows nationality, status of residence and period of stay. The Embassy states that, where these are not shown, it may send the documents back as incomplete.
When an international student applies at the stage of expected completion, only the original of a certificate of expected completion or graduation issued within the 3 months before completion or graduation is accepted. Before the status of residence of Specified Skilled Worker is granted, the certificate of completion or the graduation certificate is additionally submitted.
For the return envelope, prepare either an envelope with the addressee and destination written on it and a postage stamp affixed, or a Letter Pack (レターパック). When applying for several persons together, the copy of the passport, the document proving completion, the test pass certificates and the Certificate of Residence are put together for each person.
Besides the person's passport number, the application form has fields for the name of the sending organization in Viet Nam at the time of the technical intern training (for international students, the name of the school in Japan) and for the contact details of relatives in the home country. Asking the person for these before concluding the employment contract makes it easier to get the documents together.
Source: Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in Japan, "Guide to the Procedure for the Application for Issuance of the List of Specified Skilled Workers" (in Japanese), and Attachments 1 and 2 posted on the same page
Forms of the Recommendation List and what is entered
There are two forms of the Recommendation List, and the one for COE applications was changed on March 25, 2024. The only form for which the ISA has announced a change is this one for COE applications (Attachment 1).
| For COE applications (Attachment 1, as changed) | For change applications (Attachment 2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Approving body | Department of Overseas Labour (DOLAB) | Vietnamese Labour Management Section in Japan (Labor Section, Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan) |
| Field 1 | Information of Vietnamese Approved Sending Organization | Information of Registered Supporting Organization |
| Field 2 | Information of Japanese Accepting Organization (Name, Corporate No., Name of Representative, Address, Tel) | Information of Japanese Accepting Organization (Name, License No., Name of Representative, Address, Tel, Fax) |
| Field 3 | Information of Japanese Recruitment Agency (if any) | Labor Term |
| Field 4 | Labor Term | Information of Specified Skilled Workers (including the status of residence before) |
| Field 5 | Information of Specified Skilled Workers (including the estimated departure date) | ― |
| Approval field | Electronic official seal, digital signature | Signature and stamp |
| Period of validity | One year from the date of signing | One year from the date of signing |
The form for COE applications had four fields before the change. After the change, the accepting organization's "License No." has become "Corporate No.", and a field for the Japanese Recruitment Agency has been added. The approval field has also changed from "signature and stamp" to a digital signature.
Both forms have a field for the accepting organization. Judging from the forms, the Recommendation List takes the shape of an approval given for the combination of a person and an accepting company.
In the field for information of specified skilled workers, the following are entered: whether the person is a specified skilled worker (i) or (ii), name, date of birth, gender, passport number, and occupation (職種; written as 職業 in Attachment 2).
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Form of Attachment 1 after the Change (provisional Japanese translation)" (in Japanese), "Attachment 1 of the Memorandum of Cooperation" (in Japanese; before the change), "Attachment 2 of the Memorandum of Cooperation" (in Japanese)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Recommendation List issued even at the stage of expected completion?
Yes, it is. It is also issued to persons expected to complete technical intern training and to persons expected to complete (graduate from) the school at which they are studying, and the Recommendation List states that completion (graduation) is expected.
Where the list carries this statement, a former international student, when submitting the Recommendation List to the immigration office, also submits a document issued by the school proving completion (graduation). A former technical intern trainee basically submits documents concerning having successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii), so a separate proof of completion is not needed.
Is a Recommendation List also needed when accepting persons from Cambodia or Thailand?
No, it is not. The Recommendation List is a Vietnamese document. There are three countries for which the ISA requires a country-specific document to be submitted at the time of application: Cambodia, Thailand and Viet Nam, and the document differs from country to country.
For Cambodia, a registration certificate issued by the Government of Cambodia (登録証明書) is submitted. For Thailand, an employment contract certified by the Office of Labour Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy in Japan (駐日タイ王国大使館労働担当官事務所の認証を受けた雇用契約書) is submitted. For Thailand, submission is required where a person residing in Japan applies for a change to Specified Skilled Worker (i) (特定技能1号) after completing Technical Intern Training (ii) or (iii).
Can a company accept a person from Viet Nam without using a sending organization?
The ISA's guidance states that the Vietnamese side basically requires the use of an approved sending organization. The procedure for the Recommendation List is also set up so that the sending organization carries it out at DOLAB. When newly accepting a person from Viet Nam, you will start from a contract with an approved sending organization.
Summary
The Recommendation List is a document by which the Government of Viet Nam certifies that the procedures on the Vietnamese side have been completed. When newly accepting a person from Viet Nam, the sending organization carries out the procedure at DOLAB, and the accepting company submits the list with the Application for Certificate of Eligibility.
In change applications by persons residing in Japan, it is needed for persons who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) or (iii) and for international students who have completed a course of 2 years or more (in both cases including persons expected to complete). It is not needed for a job change or an extension by a person residing under Specified Skilled Worker.
Once a hire is decided, please check first whether the person falls under a category that needs the Recommendation List. If it is needed, get the Certificate of Residence and the document proving completion together, and mail the documents to the Embassy, counting back from the date of expiration of the period of stay.
References
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Information on Viet Nam" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Bilateral Memoranda of Cooperation on Specified Skilled Workers" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Flow of Procedures concerning Vietnamese Specified Skilled Workers (Flowchart)" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Flow of Procedures up to Accepting Vietnamese Nationals as Specified Skilled Workers (Explanation of Procedures)" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Memorandum of Cooperation with Viet Nam on Specified Skilled Worker (provisional Japanese translation)" (in Japanese; signed May 2019)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Memorandum of Cooperation: Form of Attachment 1 after the Change (provisional Japanese translation)" (in Japanese; changed March 25, 2024)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Attachment 2 of the Memorandum of Cooperation" (in Japanese)
- Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in Japan, "Guide to the Procedure for the Application for Issuance of the List of Specified Skilled Workers for Vietnamese Technical Intern Trainees or International Students in Japan Who Wish to Change Their Status of Residence to "Specified Skilled Worker"" (in Japanese)
- Ministerial Order on Criteria (上陸基準省令：the Ministry of Justice Order setting the criteria under Article 7, paragraph 1, item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act), item 4 of the row for "Specified Skilled Worker (i)"
