Japan Weighs Resuming Special Visa Program for Foreign Workers in Medical, Nursing and Food Service Roles

Japan's government has proposed resuming applications under a special visa program for foreign workers providing food services at medical and nursing care facilities, with a target start date of next April.

Under the proposal put forward on October 17, the program would cover foreign workers taking on catering roles — serving, preparing and supplying meals — at hospitals, nursing homes and other health and nursing care facilities in Japan.

Applications would reopen from next April, the start of Japan's new fiscal year. That is the point at which the government typically rolls out adjustments to labor policy and the intake of foreign personnel.

The proposal reflects the need to secure a stable workforce for food service operations at medical and nursing care facilities — a sector that requires reliable staffing to meet Japan's growing care needs.