Is JAC Membership Required? How Much Are the Annual Dues and Employer Contributions? A Certified Administrative Scrivener Explains Cost Estimates for Employing 5 People and the Enrollment Process

Introduction

Conclusion

• ・Membership in the JAC is mandatory. For companies in the construction sector that accept foreign workers under the Specified Skilled Worker program, being a member of the JAC (or a member of a construction industry association that is a full member of the JAC) is a requirement for the approval of their acceptance plan.
  ・Fees consist of two components: an “annual membership fee” and an “acceptance contribution.” The acceptance contribution is 12,500 yen per month for each Category 1 Specific Skilled Foreign Worker, and the annual membership fee for direct enrollment as a supporting member is 240,000 yen. There is no admission fee.
  ・It is not sufficient to be “in the process of applying” for membership. Membership must be completed and a membership card must be ready by the time the acceptance plan application is submitted.

 

Q1. Do I have to join JAC? Why should I join?

Unless an organization joins JAC, it cannot accept foreign workers with “Specified Skilled Worker” status in the construction sector. Membership in JAC and compliance with the code of conduct established by JAC are among the specific acceptance criteria for the construction sector set forth by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and are conditions for the approval of an acceptance plan.

This system has been established in the construction sector primarily for the following reasons:

・Elimination of Unscrupulous Intermediaries: To eliminate brokers who charge foreign workers exorbitant fees and to manage the acceptance of foreign workers across the entire industry
・Ensuring Fair Treatment: Since the construction industry often relies on daily wage systems and multi-tiered subcontracting structures, making foreign workers vulnerable to unfairly low wages, it was deemed necessary to establish industry-wide rules and monitor compliance
・Post-Acceptance Support: To provide services such as on-site guidance, training sessions, and consultation desks as an industry-wide effort, rather than leaving them to individual companies

JAC is an organization established in 2019 through a joint effort by construction industry associations and other groups. While concerns regarding the heavy burden on host companies have been raised in the National Diet, membership in JAC is a requirement under the current system.

 

Support Available Upon Payment of the Fee

While people often assume that “all we do is pay,” JAC provides the following support to host companies and foreign workers (details are subject to change by fiscal year).

・Administering the Specific Skills Assessment Test for the construction sector and providing free job placement services
・Covering the costs of post-placement training
・Free occupational safety and health training and Japanese language courses
・Incentive grants for obtaining certifications (provided to both the foreign worker and the host company)　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　・Support for temporary returns to home countries, assistance with CCUS fees, and the workers’ compensation supplement program, among others

Since you are paying for these services, making full use of this support is key to maximizing cost-effectiveness.

 

Q2. How much does it cost, specifically? How much would it cost to hire five people?

*Calculations are based on the assumption that a 12-month hosting fee applies to each foreign national. Membership fees for full member organizations vary by organization. This does not include CCUS registration fees, support commission fees, or application fees for residence status.

Note: It is not permitted to require foreign nationals to bear the cost of the hosting fee, whether directly or indirectly, including through payroll deductions.

 

Q3. What’s the difference between a regular member and a supporting member? Which one should I join?

JAC’s full members include construction industry associations and similar organizations. Individual host companies become JAC members through one of the following methods:

Become a member of a full member organization: If you belong to a construction industry association (such as an association for specialized contractors) that is already a JAC full member, you do not need to join JAC directly, and you will not be charged an annual JAC membership fee. The cost is covered by the membership fee of your affiliated organization.
Join directly as a supporting member: If you do not belong to a full member organization, or if your affiliated organization is not a JAC full member, you may join JAC directly as a supporting member (annual membership fee: 240,000 yen).

 

How to Decide Which Option to Choose

First, check whether the industry association your company already belongs to is a full member of JAC (a list of full members is available on the official JAC website).
If it is a full member, joining through that association will waive the JAC annual membership fee, making it easier to keep costs down.
If your company is not a member of any organization, compare the membership fees and eligibility requirements of full member organizations that match your industry with the annual supporting membership fee of 240,000 yen. Joining an organization also offers benefits such as access to industry information and professional networks.
If no suitable organization is available, join directly as a supporting member.

Please note that joining through an organization is not necessarily faster. This is because, depending on the organization, you may need to go through a separate procedure to obtain a membership certificate for admission planning, in addition to the standard membership application process (see Q4).

 

Q4. How long does the sign-up process take?

People often say, “It takes about a month,” but the actual time required varies significantly depending on the enrollment method and when you apply. In cases we’ve handled at our office, it often takes about one to one and a half months to complete the enrollment process, so it’s best to plan on that timeframe.

 

If you wish to join directly as a supporting member

Request membership materials from the official JAC website, then submit your application via the online form and mail in the required documents. Reviews are conducted on a monthly basis; applications and documents received by noon on the 25th of each month are typically approved around the second business day of the following month.

If you miss the specified deadline, your application will be carried over to the next review cycle, which may result in a delay in completing your enrollment. The same applies if your documents are incomplete. If you miss this window, your scheduled start date may be pushed back accordingly.

 

Joining Through a Full Member Organization | In Some Cases, You Cannot Apply with Just the “Membership Acceptance Form”

When applying through an organization, even if your membership application is approved, that alone may not be sufficient to apply for an acceptance plan. Depending on the organization, you may need to go through a separate procedure to obtain a “Certificate of Membership” specifically for the acceptance plan application, in addition to joining the organization.

For example, the Japan Electrical Contractors Association, an organization for the electrical contracting industry, has a system in place where, in addition to the membership application form and letter of recommendation, applicants must submit an application for a “Certificate of Membership,” a written pledge, and a list of foreign workers to be accepted under the Specific Skilled Worker program in order to receive the certificate. They indicate that it takes about one month to issue the certificate.

In the case of one of our firm’s clients, a “Letter of Acceptance” arrived approximately one month after applying for membership online. However, that letter stated that it “cannot be used for the Construction Specific Skills Acceptance Plan,” so they had to go through the procedure for obtaining the Membership Certificate again, and it arrived about two weeks later. In total, it took about one and a half months from the time of application to the receipt of the Membership Certificate.

If you are joining through an organization, be sure to confirm with the organization before applying what procedures are required to obtain the certificate for the acceptance plan and how long it will take to be issued.

 

Q5. Will I still have to pay the contribution even after switching to Specific Skilled Worker Category 2?

The hosting fee is calculated per “Category 1 Specified Skilled Foreign National,” and Category 2 Specified Skilled Foreign Nationals are not subject to this fee.

For example, if two out of five Category 1 Specific Skilled Foreign Nationals transition to Category 2, the reception fee applies to the remaining three Category 1 individuals, amounting to 37,500 yen per month.

Please note that if all Category 1 foreign nationals transition to Category 2, we recommend confirming with your membership provider (JAC or affiliated organization) prior to the transition regarding continued JAC membership, the handling of membership fees, and billing for the month of transition.

 

Q6. When should I register for CCUS?

The CCUS (Construction Career Up System) includes “Employer Registration” for host companies and “Skilled Worker Registration” for foreign nationals.

・Employer Registration: This must be completed before applying for a host plan. Applications will not be accepted if this registration is still in progress.
・Skilled Worker Registration: The timing for this registration varies depending on whether the foreign national is overseas or in Japan.

 

When Bringing Someone from Abroad (Application for a Certificate of Eligibility = COE)

Since foreign nationals are not yet in Japan, they are generally required to register as skilled workers after entering the country. It is acceptable if the skilled worker registration has not been completed at the time of applying for the acceptance plan.

However, after entry (or commencement of work), you are generally required to submit an “Acceptance Report” to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism via the Foreign Worker Management System within one month. If the worker was not yet registered at the time of applying for the acceptance plan, you must attach a copy of the CCUS card to this report. Be sure to proceed with the skilled worker registration immediately after entry.

 

When Changing Your Status of Residence Within Japan (e.g., from Technical Intern Training or Designated Activities to Specified Skilled Worker Type 1)

As a general rule, you must complete the skilled worker registration process before applying for the acceptance plan. Be sure to gather the documents required for the applicant’s registration—such as their Residence Card and proof of qualifications—well in advance.

 

Reasons Why the Practical Process of CCUS Registration Takes Time

The CCUS registration process does not require a large volume of documents. Nevertheless, the main reasons it takes so long are that companies “don’t know what documents to submit” and “can’t gather all the necessary paperwork.” At our firm, we have frequently observed that companies registering for the first time take the longest to prepare their documents, which often causes delays in the overall schedule.

Counting backward from the application date for the acceptance plan, CCUS operator registration—along with joining the JAC—is one of the first procedures you should begin.

 

Process from JAC Enrollment to Placement

1. 1. Obtain a construction business license
   2. Register as a business operator with CCUS (Construction Career Up System)
   3. Join JAC (either by affiliating with a full member organization or by joining directly as a supporting member) → Receive membership card and membership certificate
   4. Register foreign nationals as CCUS skilled workers (for changes within Japan, this must be done before applying for the acceptance plan; for workers coming from overseas, this must be done after entry)
   5. Apply for certification of the Specific Skilled Worker in Construction Acceptance Plan (Foreign Worker Management System)
   6. Application for Status of Residence (Certificate of Eligibility [COE] or Change of Status) *Can be processed concurrently with the acceptance plan application
   7. Start of Acceptance → Payment of monthly acceptance fees, post-acceptance training, and compliance with FITS on-site guidance

   *There is no requirement to proceed with CCUS business registration and JAC membership in the order listed; it is more efficient to prepare for both simultaneously. However, both must be “completed” by the time the acceptance plan application is submitted; they will not be accepted based solely on application forms or receipt slips.

 

Requirements After Acceptance

Common Misconceptions | Can an Administrative Scrivener Handle the Application for JAC Membership on Your Behalf?

The host company must submit the application for JAC membership on its own.

However, an administrative scrivener can file the application for certification of the employment plan (Foreign Worker Management System) on the company’s behalf. Our firm provides comprehensive support, ranging from advising on the process for joining JAC to filing the application for the employment plan on your behalf.

 

Support from a CCUS-Registered Administrative Scrivener

The Nasu Administrative Scrivener Office is listed in the registry as a CCUS-registered administrative scrivener and has handled numerous applications for business operator registration, skilled worker registration, and both types of registration. We go beyond simply providing advice and handle the registration application procedures themselves.

From construction business licenses, CCUS, and JAC to acceptance plans and applications for status of residence, we provide comprehensive, integrated support for all procedures required for the “Specific Skilled Worker (Construction)” program.

・Applications for construction business licenses
・Application procedures for CCUS operator registration and skilled worker registration (including guidance on required documents)
・Advice on selecting a JAC enrollment path and scheduling the process through obtaining the membership certificate
・Preparation and submission of the Specific Skilled Worker (Construction) Acceptance Plan
・Applications for residence status (Certificate of Eligibility, changes, and renewals)
・Consultations regarding post-acceptance operations (preparations for reporting and on-site inspections)

We provide support tailored to each company’s specific situation—from gathering the necessary documents to filing various applications—even for companies accepting foreign workers under the Specified Skilled Worker program for the first time. For companies that plan to continue accepting these workers, we also offer external support that covers post-hiring operations.

 

Summary

・You can join JAC either through a full member organization or directly as a supporting member.
・The costs are 12,500 yen per person per month for the host organization fee and 240,000 yen for the annual supporting member fee. For a company employing five people and holding supporting membership, the annual cost is approximately 990,000 yen.
・If your company’s affiliated organization is a JAC full member, you can reduce your JAC annual membership fee by joining through that organization.
・The process typically takes about one to one and a half months to complete. For direct enrollment, check the application deadline; for enrollment through an organization, confirm the procedures for obtaining the membership certificate required for the acceptance plan.
・As a general rule, CCUS technician registration must be completed before applying for the acceptance plan if the technician is transferring from within Japan, and after entry into Japan if the technician is being recruited from overseas.
・It is important to utilize JAC’s support programs and plan ahead for operations after the technician’s arrival.

 

Reference Materials (Verified October 15, 2026)

Japan Electrical Contractors Association (General Incorporated Association): “Specific Skills System (Construction Sector)”

https://www.jeca.or.jp/publics/index/558/

JAC (Japan Construction Skills Human Resources Organization) Official Website

https://jac-skill.or.jp/

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism “Application Guidelines, Forms, and System Operation Instructions [Specific Skills System (Construction Sector)]”

https://www.mlit.go.jp/tochi_fudousan_kensetsugyo/tochi_fudousan_kensetsugyo_tk3_000001_00005.html

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism “Regarding Online Applications for Construction-Specific Skilled Worker Acceptance Plans” (April 4, 2025)

https://www.mlit.go.jp/tochi_fudousan_kensetsugyo/content/001603430.pdf