Quitting a Job in Japan: Taishoku Daiko (Resignation Agency) Guide for Foreigners

Quick answer (30 seconds): A taishoku daiko (退職代行) is a service that tells your employer you're quitting, so you never have to face your boss. The key thing to know: you already have the legal right to resign. For an open-ended (permanent) contract, the Civil Code lets you quit with two weeks' notice — your employer's permission is not required. An agency just delivers that message for you. But there's a catch: only a lawyer- or labor-union-run service can legally negotiate (your leaving date, unused paid leave, unpaid wages). A plain private company can only convey your decision — anything more may be illegal. If you're a foreigner, you also have immigration steps within 14 days of leaving.

Disclaimer: General information, not legal advice. For unpaid wages, overtime, harassment, or contract disputes, consult a lawyer (弁護士) or your local Labour Standards Inspection Office (労働基準監督署). Confirm visa matters with the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁).

You can already quit — what the law actually says

• Open-ended / permanent contract (無期雇用): Under the Civil Code (Article 627), you can resign by giving two weeks' notice. You do not need the company's approval, and a company rule demanding "30/60 days" cannot override this right.
• Fixed-term contract (有期雇用): Different — you generally stay until the term ends, unless there is an unavoidable reason (やむを得ない事由) or you've been employed beyond the period the law allows for early resignation. Get advice if you're mid-term.

So a resignation agency does not give you a new right. It removes the confrontation: it tells the company for you, which is exactly what people with controlling bosses, "black companies," harassment, or (for many foreigners) a language barrier are paying for.

The most important distinction: who can negotiate

This is where many cheap services cross a legal line. Under the Lawyers Act (Article 72), a non-lawyer who, for a fee, handles legal matters — including negotiating on your behalf — commits "hiben" (非弁行為, unauthorized practice of law). The Tokyo Bar Association is explicit: a non-lawyer "conveying your intention to resign" is fine, but negotiating the terms is not.

Type of service	Can convey "I quit"	Can negotiate (leave date, paid leave, unpaid wages)	Can pursue claims / court
Private company (民間)	✅ Yes	❌ No (doing so = hiben, illegal)	❌ No
Labor union (労働組合)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (collective-bargaining right)	❌ No (not litigation)
Lawyer (弁護士)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (unpaid wages, damages, harassment)

⚠️ Watch for fake "union" services. A private company that borrows a union's name on paper while its own non-lawyer staff do the negotiating still risks being hiben. If you need anything negotiated, choose a genuine labor union or a lawyer-run service.

How to choose: just want the message delivered and your case is simple → a reputable agency is fine. Need to claim unused paid leave, unpaid overtime, or a disputed final pay → use a union or lawyer. Harassment or you're owed serious money → lawyer.

Can I really quit "today"?

Often yes, in practice. You still owe the two weeks' notice on a permanent contract — but agencies typically arrange for you to use paid leave (有給) or absence to cover those two weeks, or reach a mutual agreement with the company, so you effectively stop going in immediately. You hand over company property and stop attending; the agency handles the contact.

Foreigners: don't forget the visa & paperwork steps

Quitting has extra steps when your status of residence is tied to work:

• Notify Immigration within 14 days. Mid-to-long-term residents must report the end of their contract with their employer (the contract organization notification) to the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days.
• Mind the gap. On a work visa you're expected to keep doing qualifying work. A long period with no activity (commonly cited as around 3 months) can put your status at risk — line up your next job or a status change. (Confirm your situation with ISA.)
• Switch your insurance & pension. Leaving the company means leaving its health insurance/pension; enroll in National Health Insurance and National Pension within 14 days (see the related guide).
• Collect your documents. Ask for your separation notice (離職票) for unemployment benefits, your withholding slip (源泉徴収票) for taxes, and pension handover info.

FAQ

1. Is taishoku daiko legal? Yes — conveying your resignation is legal. The line is negotiation: only a labor union or lawyer may negotiate terms for a fee; a private company doing so risks hiben (illegal).

2. Can my employer refuse to let me quit? No. On a permanent contract you can resign with two weeks' notice under Civil Code Art. 627; approval isn't required.

3. Will using an agency hurt my visa? Not by itself — but quitting triggers the 14-day immigration notification and the need to find new qualifying work. Handle those regardless of how you resign.

4. Private, union, or lawyer — which should I pick? Simple "just tell them" case → private is enough. Need paid leave / unpaid wages negotiated → union or lawyer. Harassment or money owed → lawyer.

5. Can they get my unpaid overtime back? Only a lawyer can pursue a wage/overtime claim. A union can negotiate; a private company cannot do either.

Sources

• Tokyo Bar Association (東京弁護士会) — taishoku daiko and the Lawyers Act / non-lawyer practice (hiben): https://www.toben.or.jp/know/iinkai/hiben/fyi/column/post_3.html
• Civil Code Article 627 (resignation with two weeks' notice for indefinite contracts) — e-Gov 法令: https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=129AC0000000089
• Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) — notifications for mid/long-term residents (contract organization, within 14 days): https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/

Related guides

• Spotting a "black company" — checklist for foreign workers — why people reach for taishoku daiko
• Best job sites in Japan for foreigners — line up your next role
• Side-job & visa rules — staying compliant on your status
• National Health Insurance for foreigners — switch insurance within 14 days of quitting

Last updated: 2026-06-19