162 Certified as "Foreign Resident Support Coordinators" Across 38 Prefectures; Immigration Agency Weighs National Qualification
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According to a September 7, 2026 report by Jiji Press, 162 people have been certified and placed across 38 prefectures under the "foreign resident support coordinator" certification system launched by the Immigration Services Agency in fiscal 2024. The system trains and certifies specialists who assist foreign residents facing difficulties in daily life at municipal service counters and similar settings. To obtain certification, candidates must complete training covering specialist knowledge such as the residency status system, immigration procedures, and mental health, and then pass a completion assessment. Certification lasts three years, with renewal training scheduled to begin in fiscal 2027.
The Immigration Services Agency aims to expand the program to roughly 300 coordinators during fiscal 2026, and is considering allowing coordinators to work at private organizations and companies from fiscal 2027. At the same time, low public awareness of the system and the need to improve working conditions have been identified as challenges. The agency plans to set out a direction during this fiscal year on how to properly recognize coordinators' expertise, drawing on examples from other countries; whether to establish the role as a national qualification is among the matters under consideration.
Current status: No conclusion has been reached as of this writing on whether the role will become a national qualification or on specific measures to improve working conditions. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Editorial Perspective
The Technical Intern Training Program is set to be replaced by the new Employment for Skill Development system in April 2027 (related article), and developments like this one can be seen as part of the institutional design process during that transition. Expanding acceptance also requires resolving practical issues such as broker problems in sending countries and building proper oversight systems among accepting employers. For the new system to work as intended rather than merely on paper, it will be important to continue examining how it actually operates once implemented.