The Specified Skilled Worker program is a system designed to ease companies’ worsening labor shortages. It has two categories: Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii). This article explains the detailed requirements for Specified Skilled Worker (i) and (ii) and how they differ from technical intern trainees, so companies and small businesses seeking to resolve staffing shortages can use the program with confidence.

What Is the Specified Skilled Worker Program? Differences Between Specified Skilled Workers and Technical Intern Trainees

The Specified Skilled Worker program is a new status of residence that began in April 2019. It enables foreign nationals who can contribute as ready workforce to work in Japan, primarily to ease labor shortages at small and medium-sized enterprises and similar employers. The program has two tracks: (i) and (ii). Industries that can use Specified Skilled Worker (i) are limited to the 14 industries[P1] in specified industrial fields where labor shortages are especially severe, as described later. Under Specified Skilled Worker (ii), acceptance is currently limited to only two fields, but as noted later, further expansion is expected in stages[P2].

Foreign nationals eligible for the Specified Skilled Worker status of residence must have skills that make them ready workforce immediately upon employment in an industry recognized under the program, and must be able to manage everyday Japanese without difficulty.

Because foreign nationals with Specified Skilled Worker status must meet both skills and Japanese language requirements, they must pass the following examinations designated by the Ministry of Justice, except where Technical Intern Training (ii) has been completed in good standing.

Source: “Specified Skilled Worker Guidebook,” Immigration Services Agency of Japan

Overview of the Specified Skilled Worker Evaluation Exams

To obtain Specified Skilled Worker status of residence and work in Japan, a foreign national must pass the Specified Skilled Worker evaluation exams.

To take these exams, the following two conditions must be met.

・Age 17 or older

・Limited to persons who hold a passport issued by a foreign government or competent regional authority designated by public notice of the Minister of Justice as cooperating in the smooth enforcement of deportation orders

The Specified Skilled Worker evaluation exams consist of two types: skills level and Japanese language proficiency level. The exam that measures skills level is called the Specified Skilled Worker skills measurement exam and confirms whether a foreign national has the skills needed to work in each industry as a Specified Skilled Worker. For Japanese language proficiency under Specified Skilled Worker (i), candidates must either obtain N4 or higher on the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) or A2 level or higher on the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese; passing either exam is required. JLPT N4 and the corresponding Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese level mean the ability to hold everyday conversation in Japanese to a certain extent and manage daily life without difficulty.

・In the nursing care field, passing the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test is also required

In nursing care, in addition to the exams measuring skills level and Japanese language proficiency, candidates must also pass the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test.

Nursing care work requires a higher level of communication, and everyday conversational Japanese is sometimes not enough. The Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test confirms whether candidates can communicate in Japanese using specialized terminology and similar language.

Note that the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test was previously aimed at those with medium- to long-term stay experience. However, since April 2020, candidates have been able to enter Japan on a short-term stay to take the exam. This has opened the door more widely.

Taking the model father and sister, Japanese, Location and Japan,

Fields Accepting Specified Skilled Workers

Fields in which Specified Skilled Worker (i) foreign nationals may be accepted are called specified industrial fields. The specified industrial fields are the following 14 industries.

① Nursing care
② Building cleaning management
③ Forming and fabrication materials industries
④ Industrial machinery manufacturing
⑤ Electric and electronic information-related industries
⑥ Construction
⑦ Shipbuilding and ship machinery industries
⑧ Automobile maintenance
⑨ Aviation
⑩ Accommodation
⑪ Agriculture
⑫ Fishery
⑬ Food and beverage manufacturing
⑭ Food service

Differences Between Specified Skilled Workers and Technical Intern Trainees

The Technical Intern Training program is framed as international contribution: foreign talent from developing countries learn skills in Japan and bring those skills home to support their countries’ development. By contrast, the Specified Skilled Worker program is a status of residence for employment purposes, bringing foreign nationals who already have skills to work in Japan and ease companies’ labor shortages.

Because accepting technical intern trainees is treated as international contribution, there are limits on how many each company may accept based on company size. For Specified Skilled Workers, however, there is no per-company cap on the number accepted.

Period of stay also differs: Technical Intern Training is typically three to five years, while Specified Skilled Worker (i) allows a total of five years and Specified Skilled Worker (ii) has no fixed limit. Going forward, transitions from the Technical Intern Training program to the Specified Skilled Worker program are expected to increase.

Specified Skilled Worker (i) and (ii) are explained in more detail below.

How Do Specified Skilled Worker (i) and (ii) Differ?

The Specified Skilled Worker status of residence has two types: Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii).

The differences between them are explained in detail below.

Specified Skilled Worker (i)

Specified Skilled Worker (i) is a status of residence granted to foreign skilled workers who have a considerable degree of knowledge or experience in the 14 industries in the specified industrial fields, and who can hold everyday conversation in Japanese and manage daily life. They are expected to perform certain duties as ready workforce without special training. Therefore, as noted earlier, foreign nationals must pass both the skills-level and Japanese-language-proficiency exams to obtain Specified Skilled Worker (i) status.

Under Specified Skilled Worker (i), the period of stay is a total of five years (renewable every one year, six months, or four months), and family accompaniment is not permitted. As of September 2021, the top countries of origin of foreign talent working in Japan under Specified Skilled Worker (i) were, in order, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Nepal.

Specified Skilled Worker (ii)

Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is essentially a higher-level status of residence above Specified Skilled Worker (i). The skills required for (ii) are higher than for (i), and candidates must be proficient skilled workers. The period of stay under Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is unlimited (renewable every three years, one year, or six months), and family accompaniment is permitted.

Because Specified Skilled Worker (ii) has no fixed limit on the period of stay and allows family accompaniment, it is a status of residence that enables proficient foreign talent to contribute in Japan over the long term.

As of the end of December 2021, fields eligible for transition to Specified Skilled Worker (ii) were limited to only two of the specified industrial fields: construction, and shipbuilding and ship machinery industries. However, expansion of eligible fields was expected in 2022.

From 2022, Fields Accepting Specified Skilled Worker (ii) Expand

The purpose of the Specified Skilled Worker program is to ease Japan’s labor shortages by accepting foreign talent with high-level skills.

Under the current system, however, Specified Skilled Worker (i) covers 14 fields, while Specified Skilled Worker (ii) covers only two.

To address this, the Japanese government has been advancing expansion of the fields eligible for Specified Skilled Worker (ii). According to newspaper and other media reports, the government aimed for March 2022 to add 11 new fields for Specified Skilled Worker (ii), bringing the total to 13 fields.

The 13 industries in the specified industrial fields expected to become eligible for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) are as follows.

  • Food and beverage manufacturing
  • Agriculture
  • Industrial machinery manufacturing
  • Forming and fabrication materials industries
  • Food service
  • Electric and electronic information-related industries
  • Building cleaning management
  • Fishery
  • Automobile maintenance
  • Accommodation
  • Aviation
  • Construction (already eligible for Specified Skilled Worker (ii))
  • Shipbuilding and ship machinery industries (already eligible for Specified Skilled Worker (ii))

Nursing care is not included among the expanded specified industrial fields because the “Nursing Care” status of residence already exists. Note that the period of stay and permission for family accompaniment under the Nursing Care status of residence are equivalent to those under Specified Skilled Worker (ii).

How Can You Accept Specified Skilled Workers?

A company that accepts (hires) Specified Skilled Workers is called an accepting organization. To accept Specified Skilled Workers, an accepting organization must meet the following criteria.

① The employment contract with the Specified Skilled Worker is appropriate (e.g., remuneration equal to or higher than that of Japanese workers)
② The accepting organization itself is appropriate (e.g., no violations of immigration or labor laws within the past five years)
③ A system is in place to support the foreign national (e.g., support can be provided in a language the foreign national understands)
④ The support plan for the foreign national is appropriate

Asian people discussing in meeting room

Differences When Hiring Foreign Nationals Living in Japan Versus Overseas

When accepting Specified Skilled Workers, procedures also differ depending on whether the foreign national already resides in Japan or lives overseas.

Foreign Nationals Living in Japan

When a foreign national already residing in Japan obtains Specified Skilled Worker status, most are technical intern trainees or international students.

・Regarding skills exams and Japanese language proficiency exams

For technical intern trainees, if Technical Intern Training (ii) has been completed in good standing, the skills exam and Japanese language proficiency exam required for Specified Skilled Worker (i) are waived.

International students must pass both the skills exam and the Japanese language proficiency exam.

・Process from hiring to obtaining status of residence

Job interviews are conducted with those exempt from the exams and those who have passed the relevant exams. Upon successful interview, an employment contract is concluded. The accepting organization then prepares a support plan, holds pre-guidance, and other steps. A medical checkup is also required.

Finally, as a rule, the foreign national personally applies to a regional immigration services bureau for permission to change status of residence, and upon approval obtains Specified Skilled Worker status.

Foreign Nationals Living Overseas

When a foreign national living overseas obtains Specified Skilled Worker status, most are new entrants or former technical intern trainees.

・Regarding skills exams and Japanese language proficiency exams

For former technical intern trainees, if Technical Intern Training (ii) has been completed in good standing, both the skills exam and the Japanese language proficiency exam required for Specified Skilled Worker (i) are waived, the same as for technical intern trainees already in Japan.

New entrants must pass both the skills exam and the Japanese language proficiency exam.

・Process from hiring to obtaining status of residence

Job interviews are conducted with those exempt from the exams and those who have passed the relevant exams. Upon successful interview, an employment contract is concluded. The accepting organization then prepares a support plan, holds pre-guidance, and other steps. A medical checkup is also required.

Finally, the accepting organization applies on the foreign national’s behalf to a regional immigration services bureau for a Certificate of Eligibility. After the certificate is issued and an entry visa for Japan is granted, the person may enter Japan as a Specified Skilled Worker.

After a hired foreign national obtains Specified Skilled Worker status, the accepting organization must provide various forms of support, including the following.

  • Preparation of a support plan
  • Implementation of a lifestyle orientation
  • Resident registration at the municipal office of the place of residence
  • Opening a payroll bank account
  • Securing housing, etc.

As described above, support for Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals covers a wide range of areas and also requires specialized knowledge. In addition, various notifications to regional immigration services bureaus can take considerable time and effort during busy periods, and there are many cases in which it is difficult for companies to provide the support themselves. In such cases, the work can be outsourced to a Registered Support Organization, an organization registered with the Ministry of Justice.

YourBright Inc. is also a Registered Support Organization that supports the acceptance of Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals. With an extensive track record, you can consult us with confidence.

If you are considering hiring Specified Skilled Worker talent, please consult YourBright and our extensive track record!

We have introduced the differences between Specified Skilled Worker (i) and (ii), as well as how to accept workers under the program. We hope this article will be helpful for companies considering hiring foreign nationals.

If you want to address labor shortages or are interested in accepting Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals, please contact YourBright Inc. As a Registered Support Organization, we will provide full support so that you can accept Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals smoothly.

About the author

Hayato Yamashita
Director, YourBright Inc. / Practical Operations Lead, Registered Support Organization
Specializing in Specified Skilled Worker programs, international talent hiring, registered support, and status of residence operations, he is involved in the practical work of international talent placement and acceptance support.

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Article review framework

This article has been reviewed by staff involved in international talent placement, registered support, and status of residence operations, based on the practical expertise of YourBright Inc., a Registered Support Organization. Systems and practices may change, so please also check information from public authorities for the latest details.

Practical points to note

For Specified Skilled Worker programs, status of residence, and employment of foreign nationals, it is important to manage not only statutory requirements but also employment contracts, support plans, post-hire interview records, and consultation response histories in a consistent manner. Organizing the required documents and internal contacts before acceptance, and recording the implementation of regular interviews and daily-life support after hiring, helps prevent problems and supports retention.

Author information

Author: Hayato Yamashita. Director, YourBright Inc. / Practical Operations Lead, Registered Support Organization. Specializing in Specified Skilled Worker programs, international talent hiring, registered support, and status of residence operations, he is involved in the practical work of international talent placement and acceptance support.

References

Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Specified Skilled Worker system / Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Measures for employment of foreign nationals / YourBright Inc.: Company overview