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Specified Skilled Worker Visa in Japan
The Specified Skilled Worker visa is a status of residence for foreign nationals who have certain skills and Japanese language ability and who work in designated industries facing serious labor shortages in Japan.
As of June 2026, the Specified Skilled Worker system is organized into 19 industrial fields. Linen supply, logistics warehouse, and resource recycling were added by Cabinet decision on January 23, 2026, but practical acceptance is scheduled to begin after the relevant ministerial ordinances and operational rules are promulgated and enforced.
Overview of the Specified Skilled Worker System
The Specified Skilled Worker visa is not just a “labor shortage visa.” In practice, immigration authorities review the foreign worker’s eligibility, the employer’s acceptance system, job duties, employment conditions, support structure, and ongoing notification duties.
For SSW1, the key issues are usually the skills test, Japanese language requirement, or transition from Technical Intern Training or another eligible route. For SSW2, the focus is on advanced skills, work experience, field-specific tests, and the requirements set for each industry.
Before filing an application, it is important to check not only the applicant’s qualifications, but also the employer, supporting documents, and current examination trends.
The Food Service field requires special attention because intake-limit based restrictions may affect new SSW1 applications. Depending on the filing date, acceptance quota, and the applicant’s route, a Certificate of Eligibility application or Change of Status application may be restricted.
However, certain cases may still need individual review, such as job changes by current SSW1 holders, transition from eligible Technical Intern Training job categories, or persons who have already received a Designated Activities status for preparation to move to SSW1. Always confirm the latest official information and the applicant’s individual circumstances before filing.
Linen supply, logistics warehouse, and resource recycling were added to the Specified Skilled Worker system by Cabinet decision on January 23, 2026. However, practical acceptance in these fields is expected to begin only after the relevant ministerial ordinances and operational rules are promulgated and enforced.
Difference Between SSW1 and SSW2
| Item | Specified Skilled Worker 1 | Specified Skilled Worker 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible person | A foreign national with skills requiring a considerable degree of knowledge or experience | A foreign national with proficient skills in a designated industrial field |
| Period of stay | Generally limited to a total of 5 years | Renewable with no total period limit |
| Skill level | Confirmed by a skills test or an eligible transition route such as Technical Intern Training | Confirmed by field-specific SSW2 tests, skills certifications, work experience, or other requirements |
| Japanese language ability | Generally required | Generally no Japanese language test is required, but field-specific rules should be checked |
| Family accompaniment | Generally not permitted | Spouse and children may be eligible if the requirements are met |
| Support plan | A support plan for SSW1 workers is required | Not subject to the SSW1 support plan requirement |
| Industrial fields | 19 fields, subject to the start of operation for newly added fields | Available only in the fields approved for SSW2; field-specific confirmation is necessary |
The 19 Specified Industrial Fields
As of June 2026, the Specified Skilled Worker system is organized into the following 19 industrial fields. Job scope, tests, councils, documents, intake limits, and start dates differ by field.
SSW is used in practical and labor-intensive fields such as nursing care, construction, manufacturing, accommodation, food service, agriculture, fisheries, and transportation-related fields.
The field name alone is not enough. The actual job duties, test category, transition route, and field-specific operational rules must be checked before filing.
“Preparing” means that the field has been added to the system, but practical filing should be checked against the promulgation and enforcement of ministerial ordinances, test implementation, field-specific rules, and document requirements.
Four Practical Checks Before Filing
For an SSW application, it is not enough to check only the foreign worker. The employer, supporting documents, and recent examination trends should also be reviewed.
Immigration review often focuses on whether the applicant’s background, the employer’s business, the actual job duties, and the submitted documents are consistent.
If the employment contract, support plan, company documents, field-specific documents, or test certificates do not match the actual job, additional explanation or supporting documents may be requested.
Skills, Japanese ability, and immigration history
Check skills tests, Japanese language tests, completion of Technical Intern Training, past status of residence, deportation history, and previous application records.
Eligibility of the accepting organization
Check employment conditions, remuneration, social insurance, labor insurance, taxes, support structure, field council requirements, and previous acceptance records.
Consistency of field-specific documents
Review the employment contract, support plan, company documents, applicant documents, test certificates, and field-specific documents for consistency.
Intake limits, field rules, and additional requests
Check intake-limit operations, start dates of newly added fields, field-specific standards, and trends in requests for additional documents.
Practical Points for Employers
Equal or better treatment than Japanese workers
Check whether wages, working hours, job duties, workplace, and contract terms are appropriate and not unreasonably different from those of Japanese workers.
Feasibility of the support plan
Employers must be able to implement pre-arrival guidance, life orientation, consultation support, regular interviews, and other required support measures.
Actual job duties must match the field
The applicant’s actual work must fall within the scope of the designated field and the relevant job category.
Typical Application Flow
Confirm the field, job duties, employment conditions, employer’s acceptance system, and the applicant’s tests, work history, and immigration history.
Decide whether support will be provided in-house or outsourced to a Registered Support Organization, and confirm how the support plan will be implemented.
Collect applicant documents, employment contract, company documents, field-specific documents, council-related documents, and test certificates.
For applicants overseas, a Certificate of Eligibility application is usually considered. For applicants already in Japan, a Change of Status of Residence application may be filed.
Continue regular interviews, consultation support, notifications, renewal applications, and support for job change situations where necessary.
For Companies Considering SSW Employment in Japan
The Specified Skilled Worker system does not end with hiring. Employers need to check eligibility before acceptance, prepare immigration applications, design a support system, and manage ongoing notifications, interviews, and renewals after acceptance.
Tommy’s Legal Service provides immigration application support as a Gyoseishoshi lawyer office and also assists with practical consultation related to Registered Support Organization services.
When contacting us, please provide, as far as possible, the planned field, number of workers, workplace location, applicant’s nationality, whether the applicant is overseas or already in Japan, current status of residence if any, and whether support will be handled in-house or outsourced.