Hello Work is Japan's nationwide public employment service operated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. It offers free job listings, consultations, and unemployment insurance support to anyone with valid work-eligible residence status — including SSW visa holders. For foreign workers in Japan, Hello Work is one of the most reliable and underused resources for finding a new job.
This guide covers everything you need to know: where to find multilingual Hello Work locations, exactly how to register, how to use the online job search system, how to apply for unemployment insurance, and when to combine Hello Work with a specialized SSW agency like TGP.
What is Hello Work and Why Use It
Hello Work is operated by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. It serves as the public infrastructure for matching workers and employers across Japan. There are over 500 Hello Work offices nationwide, each with localized job listings and consultation services.
Three reasons SSW workers should know Hello Work
- Completely free. No registration fee, no placement fee, no fee for any service. Government-funded and government-operated.
- Japan's largest public job database. Hello Work lists many jobs across Japan, including regional and small-to-mid-sized employers. For SSW workers, it is a valuable channel to use alongside private agencies.
- Required for unemployment insurance. If you've been dismissed or your contract ended, you must register at Hello Work to receive unemployment benefits.
Multilingual Hello Work Locations
Hello Work offers different foreign worker support depending on your visa type. The four "Foreign Employment Service Centers" in Tokyo (Yotsuya), Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka primarily serve high-skilled visa holders (engineers, specialists, students). SSW workers are often best served by one of the 135+ "Foreign Employment Service Corners" — local Hello Work offices with interpreters covering Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, Indonesian, and other SSW-relevant languages. Call your local office before visiting to confirm which service applies to your case.
| Region | Center Name (English) | Languages Supported |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo (Yotsuya) | Tokyo Foreign Employment Service Center — note: primarily for international students and high-skilled (engineer/specialist) visa holders, NOT specifically for SSW | English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Tokyo (Shinjuku) | Shinjuku Foreign Employment Assistance and Guidance Center — mainly for status holders with no work restrictions and foreign students seeking part-time work | English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese |
| Osaka (Umeda) | Osaka Foreign Employment Service Corner | English, Chinese, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Indonesian |
| Aichi (Nagoya) | Nagoya Foreign Employment Service Center | English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog |
| Fukuoka | Fukuoka Foreign Worker Consultation Corner | English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese |
| Other prefectures | Local Hello Work offices (Hello Work Plaza) | Limited multilingual support; most operate in Japanese only |
If you live outside the major metro areas, call your local Hello Work office in advance to ask whether multilingual staff or interpreters are available. Many offices can arrange a remote interpreter via phone for specific consultations even if no on-site staff speaks your language.
Required Documents to Register
Bring these to your first Hello Work visit. The registration process takes 30–60 minutes if you have everything ready.
- Residence Card — both sides; required to confirm you have work-eligible status
- Passport — for identity verification
- ID photos — usually not required for basic job-seeker registration, but may be required for unemployment insurance procedures (typical size 3.0cm×2.4cm). Confirm the required size with your local Hello Work office.
- Personal seal — signature is sometimes acceptable, but having a seal speeds the process
- Bank account information — required for unemployment insurance application
- Employment Separation Certificate — required for unemployment insurance; provided by your previous employer
- My Number confirmation document and identity verification document — required for unemployment insurance procedures
- Mobile phone number with SMS — for receiving notifications about interviews and consultations
5-Step Registration Process
Visit your nearest Hello Work office
Search "Hello Work" + your city name on Google Maps for the closest office. Most offices are typically open Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5:15pm; specific hours vary by office and some major centers may offer Saturday or extended hours. Foreign employment service centers and interpreters usually operate on limited schedules, so check the official office page or call before visiting. Walk-in is acceptable, no appointment needed for first registration.
Take a numbered ticket and complete the registration form
At the entrance, take a number for the registration counter. While waiting, complete the basic registration form. It asks for your name, address, contact information, work history, qualifications, and the type of work you're seeking. If the form is in Japanese only, ask staff for assistance.
Initial consultation with a counselor
Once your number is called, you'll meet with a Hello Work counselor. Show your Residence Card and other documents. Discuss the type of work you're looking for, your wage expectations, and any constraints (location, hours). The counselor enters your information into the Hello Work system and creates your job seeker registration.
Receive your Job Seeker Card
You'll receive a card with your registration number. Keep this safe. You'll need it for every future visit to Hello Work. Many services, including the Hello Work Internet Service, require this number.
Begin job searching
You can now search jobs at the office terminals (located in the open self-service area), via the Hello Work Internet Service from any computer, or by speaking directly with a counselor about specific opportunities. When you find a job you want to apply for, the counselor will issue an introduction letter for the employer.
Hello Work Internet Service (Online Job Search)
The Hello Work Internet Service is Japan's official online portal for searching jobs registered with Hello Work nationwide. URL: https://www.hellowork.mhlw.go.jp/
You can use the basic search without registration, but to apply for jobs through Hello Work, you must complete in-person registration first (Section 4 above). Once registered, you log in with your job seeker number to access full features including:
- Save searches and receive new-listing notifications
- Apply through online Hello Work referral when available, or use online self-application for eligible listings (note: online self-application is not a Hello Work referral)
- Track your application status
- Search nationwide Hello Work job listings using keywords or local foreigner-friendly job lists where available
The site has limited English support. Use Google Translate or a browser translation extension to navigate, OR ask a Hello Work counselor to walk you through the search system at the office.
Search Filters for SSW Workers
When searching the Hello Work database, use these filters to narrow down to SSW-friendly jobs:
- Foreigner-friendly keywords: Search for terms such as foreigneraccepting applications, foreignerwelcome, or SSW, but always ask Hello Work staff to confirm whether the employer can actually hire SSW workers
- Industry classification: Match the SSW field your skills exam covers
- Prefecture: Search by prefecture if you have geographic preference
- Salary range: Filter by minimum monthly salary; cross-check against the prefectural minimum wage
- Work hours: Full-time vs part-time vs shift-based
- Required Japanese ability: Some listings explicitly state JLPT level requirements
- Accommodation provided: Useful if you need company-arranged housing
Hello Work vs Private SSW Agencies
Hello Work and private SSW agencies (like TGP) are complementary, not competitors. The smartest job seekers use both.
| Feature | Hello Work | SSW Agency (e.g., TGP) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free for workers (employer pays) |
| Job database size | Largest in Japan | Limited to agency network |
| Multilingual support | Major centers only | Full multilingual |
| Employer vetting | Public job listing system; SSW suitability and workplace conditions should be checked carefully by the worker | TGP checks employers before introducing them |
| SSW field expertise | Generic | Specialized |
| Visa change support | None | Handled separately by Tree Administrative Scrivener Corporation, a group company — not by TGP's recruitment service |
| Unemployment insurance | Required | Cannot provide |
For Foreign Workers Looking to Build Their Career in Japan
TreeGlobalPartners' service is completely free for foreign workers — no fees of any kind, no hidden charges. We support your appropriate job change or new employment in Japan with verified employers. Visa applications, status changes, and registered support procedures are handled through our group's affiliated Tree Administrative Scrivener Corporation, giving you a true one-stop service across the group.
Consult TreeGlobalPartners →Hello Work + Unemployment Insurance
If you've been dismissed or your contract ended without you choosing to leave, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. To apply, you must register at Hello Work.
Eligibility
- You must have been enrolled in employment insurance by your previous employer
- For dismissal or company-side reasons: generally 6 months of insurance over the past year
- For voluntary resignation: generally 12 months of insurance over the past 2 years
- You must be actively job-searching and able to work
Waiting period and benefit duration
- Dismissal / involuntary: 7-day waiting period, then benefits start. Benefit duration: 90–330 days based on age and insurance years.
- Voluntary resignation: 7-day waiting period plus, for resignations on or after April 1, 2025, generally a 1-month benefit restriction period (reduced from 2 months by the April 2025 Employment Insurance Act amendment). The restriction may extend to 3 months for those who have voluntarily resigned 3 or more times within the past 5 years. Shorter benefit duration than dismissal cases.
For a complete walkthrough of dismissal procedures and unemployment insurance, see our What to Do If You Are Fired article.
Common Pitfalls for Foreign Workers Using Hello Work
Pitfall #1: Visiting without an interpreter at a non-multilingual office. Many local Hello Work offices have very limited multilingual support. If your Japanese is below business level, either visit one of the major foreign employment service centers, or bring a Japanese-speaking friend.
Pitfall #2: Generic job listings without details. Many Hello Work listings are minimally described. Ask the counselor to verify SSW eligibility for any listing before applying — not all listings on Hello Work accept SSW workers, even if the employer matches an SSW field.
Pitfall #3: Missing the 14-day Immigration notification deadline. After your contract ends (whether by dismissal, contract expiry, or voluntary resignation), SSW visa holders must file the "Notification Concerning the Affiliated Organization" with the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days under Article 19-16 of the Immigration Control Act. Failure to file can negatively affect future visa renewals or status changes. Separately, register at Hello Work as soon as you receive your Employment Separation Certificate from your former employer to start the unemployment insurance process.
Pitfall #4: Treating Hello Work as your only channel. Hello Work is broad but lacks employer vetting. Combine it with at least one specialized SSW agency for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
- Hello Work is Japan's nationwide public employment service — completely free for all workers including SSW visa holders
- 500+ offices nationwide with major multilingual centers in Tokyo (Yotsuya/FRESC, Shinjuku), Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. Note: the four "Foreign Employment Service Centers" mainly serve high-skilled visa holders — SSW workers are usually best served by one of the 135+ "Foreign Employment Service Corners" at local Hello Work offices.
- Required documents: Residence Card, passport, photo, personal seal; add Employment Separation Certificate + bank info if applying for unemployment insurance
- 5-step registration: Visit office → complete form → counselor consultation → receive Job Seeker Card → start searching
- Hello Work Internet Service: Online job search at https://www.hellowork.mhlw.go.jp/ (limited English; use translation tools)
- Search filters: foreignerwelcome (foreigner-welcome), industry classification, prefecture, salary, work hours, accommodation provided
- Best practice: combine Hello Work + private SSW agency. Hello Work for breadth, unemployment insurance, broad search; SSW agency (like TGP) for vetted employers and visa change support
- Unemployment insurance: Required to register at Hello Work; benefits start after 7-day waiting period for dismissal/company-side cases, or after 7 days plus a 1-month restriction period for voluntary resignation (since April 2025; 3 months if 3+ voluntary resignations within 5 years)
- Common pitfalls: visiting without interpreter, generic listings, missing notification deadlines after dismissal, using only one channel
- TreeGlobalPartners can complement Hello Work with vetted SSW employer matching. Immigration procedures, if required, are handled separately by Tree Administrative Scrivener Corporation, a group company.
Hello Work is one of the most powerful free resources available to foreign workers in Japan, and yet many SSW workers don't know how to use it effectively. With the steps in this guide, you can register, search, and find SSW jobs through Hello Work as part of a multi-channel job search strategy. Combine it with a vetted private SSW agency like TGP for the best results.
For Foreign Workers Looking to Build Their Career in Japan
TreeGlobalPartners' service is completely free for foreign workers — no fees of any kind, no hidden charges. We support your appropriate job change or new employment in Japan with verified employers. Visa applications, status changes, and registered support procedures are handled through our group's affiliated Tree Administrative Scrivener Corporation, giving you a true one-stop service across the group.
Consult TreeGlobalPartners →Disclaimer: Information in this article is accurate as of May 2026 and is based on Hello Work official information from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and related regulations as currently in force. Office locations, opening hours, and supported languages may change. Always verify current information with the Hello Work official website or by calling the relevant office. This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice.