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SSW in Japan

Japan actively welcomes foreign workers in 16 key sectors under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program visa. It is a government-approved pathway for skilled foreign nationals. There is a growing demand in industries such as nursing care, construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and food services, among others, and Japan offers lucrative salaries, structured training, and the opportunity to gain global exposure. Unlike traditional labor migration, the SSW program combines skill validation, language proficiency, and industry integration, ensuring not only employment but also long-term career development.

Bring Your Talent to Life in Japan（自分であなたの才能を活かそう。）

Japan introduced a new status of residence in April 2019, ‘Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)’, to welcome competent workers from overseas countries to work in specific Japanese industrial fields, enabling them to take on jobs without prior training. 

'Visa' and 'Status of Residence'　（ビザ・在留資格について）

A foreign national who intends to enter Japan must acquire a ‘visa’ at the embassy of Japan, an organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the headquarters for Japanese Government representatives serving in a foreign country. Upon arrival in Japan, you will need to undergo a necessary examination by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan at the airport and obtain a 'Status of Residence' according to the activity you intend to conduct in Japan. The acquisition of a ‘visa’ and ‘Status of Residence’ are separate procedures that fall under the jurisdiction of different organizations. The SSW is a type of newly established 'Status of Residence'. It has two kinds, 'Specified Skilled Worker' - (i) and (ii).

Features of SSW（特定技能の特徴）

Those who can work in Japan as an SSW must be at least 18 years old, in good health, and possess the necessary occupational skills to work immediately without requiring any specific training.
There is another program called 'Technical Intern Training', which aims to provide international contributions by having workers share the skills and knowledge they acquired through on-the-job training in Japan with their home country after returning. Those who have satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training can switch their status of residence to SSW（ⅰ）in the same field without taking occupational skill exams and Japanese proficiency tests. The main differences between SSW (i) and (ⅱ) are listed below.

Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)（特定技能外国人）

SSW（ⅰ）： This is a status of residence applicable to foreign nationals who work in jobs that require considerable knowledge of or experience in Specified Industry Fields.
SSW（ⅱ）:  This is a status of residence for foreign nationals to engage in jobs that require proficient skills in Specified Industry Fields.

SSW（ⅰ）Eligible for support by Accepting Organizations or Registered Support Organizations

16 Occupations Covered by SSW

You can work as an SSW in Japan in the following 16 fields.

  • Nursing Care

  • Building Cleaning Management

  • Manufacture of Industrial Products

  • Construction Industry

  • Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry

  • Automobile Repair and Maintenance

  • Aviation Industry

  • Accommodation Industry

  • Agriculture

  • Fishery and Aquaculture Industries

  • Manufacture of Food and Beverages

  • Food Service Industry

  • Automobile Transportation Business

  • Railway

  • Forestry

  • Wood Industry

Work That Can Be Conducted as an SSW（特徴技能で従事できる仕事）

The specific work you can do as an SSW in Japan is listed for each of the 16 industrial fields below. Note that only SSW (i) is available in the 'Nursing Care', 'Automobile Transportation Business ', 'Railway', 'Forestry ', and 'Wood Industry' fields.

Jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省の管轄)

Nursing Care (介護)

Nursing Care (assistance with bathing, feeding, and excretion, responding to the physical and mental condition of the user), other related support services (help with recreation and functional training, etc.). Visiting services are not included.

Building Cleaning Management (ビルクリーニング管理)

Interior building cleaning

Jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (経済産業省の管轄)

Manufacture of Industrial Products (産業用製品製造)

・Machining and metal processing

・Electric and electronic equipment assembly
・Metal surface treatment
・Carton box and corrugated cardboard box making

・Precast concrete manufacturing
・Refuse-derived paper & plastics densified fuel making
・Tableware and ornaments, pottery manufacturing
・Printing / Book binding
・Fabricated textiles manufacturing
・Sewing

Jurisdiction of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (国道交通省の管轄)

Construction Industry (建設業)

・Civil engineering

・Building
・Infrastructure facilities & equipment

Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry (造船・舶用機械業)

  • Shipbuilding

  • Ship machinery

  • Ship electrical and electronic equipment

Automobile Repair and Maintenance (自動車整備業)

Automobile daily maintenance, Regular maintenance, Certified maintenance, The work is incidental in certified maintenance.​

Aviation Industry (航空券)

Airport ground handling (ground driving support services, baggage and freight handling services), aircraft maintenance (maintenance of aircraft and equipment, etc.)

Accommodation Industry (宿泊業)

Providing accommodation services, such as working at the front desk, planning/public relations, hospitality, and  restaurant services

Automobile Transportation Business (自動車運転業)

  • Motor truck drivers

  • Taxi drivers

  • Bus drivers

Railway (鉄道業)

  • Track construction and maintenance

  • Electric facilities construction and maintenance

  • Rolling stock maintenance and overhaul

  • Rolling stock manufacturing

  • Train operation works (drivers, conductors, and workers who are directly engaged in train/car operation)

Jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (農林水産省の管轄)

Agriculture (農業)

General crop farming (cultivation management, collection/shipping/sorting of agricultural products, etc.), general livestock farming (breed management, collection/shipping/sorting of livestock products, etc.)

Fishery and Aquaculture Industries (漁業・養殖業)

Fishery (production and repair of fishing gear, search for marine animals and plants, operation of fishing gear and machinery, capture of aquatic animals and plants, processing and storage of catch, ensuring health and safety, etc.), aquaculture industry (production, repair and management of aquaculture materials, breed management, collection (harvesting) and processing of aquaculture animals and plants, ensuring health and safety, etc.)

Manufacture of Food and Beverages (飲食料品製造業)

General food and beverage manufacturing (manufacturing/processing and health and safety of food and beverages (excluding liquor))

Food Service Industry (飲食業)

General restaurant industry (food and beverage processing, customer service, store management)

Forestry (林業)

Silviculture, Production of logs, etc

Wood Industry (木材産業)

Wood processing in the sawmilling industry, plywood industry, and other related sectors.

General Process (一般加工業)

The general process for working as an SSW in Japan is as follows.

About the Exam (インフォグラフィック試験について)

Test to measure Japanese language proficiency (SSW (i) only）(日本語能力試験（SSW (i) 対象）)

To obtain a ‘Specified Skilled Worker（ⅰ)’ status of residence, it is necessary to pass the 'Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic)' or acquire the N4 certificate for the 'Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).' Both JFT-Basic and JLPT are conducted within and outside Japan. (Not required for SSW (ii))

  • JFT

  • JLPT

For nursing care, applicants also need to pass the 'Nursing care Japanese language evaluation test'.

Skills Test (機能試験)

To work under a Specified Skilled Worker (i) status of residence, you need to pass a skills proficiency test in the field in which you wish to work. (You do not need to pass these tests if you have satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii)).

Switching from Another Status of Residence (在留資格変更)

You can sign a contract with a company and submit a status of residence application to the Immigration Authorities. If you have a different status of residence (e.g., a student visa), you need to take and pass a test.

Signing a Contract with a Company (企業との契約締結)

Japanese4Japan will guide you in signing a contract with a company by assisting you in taking the exam and passing an employment interview. We will provide the following support:

  • N5+N4 Language Training

  • Visa Assistance

  • Flight Tickets To Japan

  • SSW Exam Fees

  • SSW Exam Training

  • JLPT/JFT Exam Fees

  • Culture Training

  • Flight Tickets For SSW Exam Centre

Visa Requirements (ビザ要件)

  • Valid passport

  • Adhaar Card

  • Recent photograph

  • Job offer letter from the employer

  • Japanese language proficiency certification (JLPT N4)

  • Skills test certificate (SSW Exam Certification)

  • Educational background certificates

  • Proof of financial stability (sometimes required to prove you can support yourself in Japan)

  • Medical examination report

  • Documents related to your previous employment (If any)

  • Documents of your family (if applicable)

  • Documents of your pension, health insurance premiums, and taxes

Required Documents (必要種類)

To apply for the Specified Skilled Worker status of residence, you will need the following documents.

  • Application Form (You and your company will complete this form.)

  • Medical examination report

  • Documents related to your pension, health insurance premiums, and taxes (You can get these from the city hall or your company.)

  • Taxation Certificate and Certificate of Tax Payment

  • Withholding Tax Slip

  • A copy of your National Health Insurance Card

  • National Health Insurance Payment Certificate

  • Documents showing you have passed the relevant test(s)

  • Documents related to procedures prescribed in the bilateral memorandum of cooperation

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