The Specified Skilled Worker system took effect in April 2019. Until then, Japan had no status of residence for employing foreign workers in unskilled labor, but this effectively opened the door to foreign unskilled workers.

As the name “Specified Skilled Worker” suggests, foreign nationals with a certain level of expertise and skills who can contribute immediately are designated as Specified Skilled Workers. At present, most cases involve foreign nationals who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) or higher obtaining the Specified Skilled Worker status of residence.

The reason is that foreign nationals who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) or higher are deemed already to possess a certain level of expertise and skills when applying for the Specified Skilled Worker status of residence in the same occupation, so they do not need to take skills evaluation tests or Japanese language proficiency tests again.

In addition, references to “Specified Skilled Worker” today almost always mean Specified Skilled Worker (i). In fact, the Specified Skilled Worker system established both Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii).

However, at present every Specified Skilled Worker in Japan is working under the Specified Skilled Worker (i) status of residence, and no foreign national has obtained Specified Skilled Worker (ii).

This article focuses on the differences between Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii) and explains the Specified Skilled Worker system.

What Is the Specified Skilled Worker System?

Labor shortages, particularly at small and medium-sized enterprises in Japan, have become severe and may even undermine the sustainability of the nation’s economic and social foundations.

For that reason, the Specified Skilled Worker system was created to establish a framework for accepting foreign nationals with a certain level of expertise and skills who can contribute immediately, in industrial fields where labor shortages remain difficult to resolve even after various efforts to improve productivity and secure domestic talent.

The Specified Skilled Worker system has two types of status of residence,

known respectively as Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii).

Specified Skilled Worker (i) is intended for foreign nationals engaged in work requiring skills that need a considerable degree of knowledge or experience in specified industrial fields.

Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is intended for foreign nationals engaged in work requiring proficient skills in specified industrial fields.

Below, we explain the key points of Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii).

Key Points of Specified Skilled Worker (i)

● Period of stay

Holders may work in Japan for a total of up to five years. Renewals are every one year, six months, or four months. Even with Specified Skilled Worker (i) status of residence, they are not necessarily working throughout the entire period; they may return to their home country on leave or have other periods without employment while holding the status. However, the five-year limit continues to count down day by day while they hold Specified Skilled Worker (i) status of residence.

● Japanese language level

Japanese language ability is assessed based on results of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 or higher, or the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic). Foreign nationals who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) or higher do not need to take a new Japanese language test to prove their ability.

● Accompanying family members

Foreign nationals under Specified Skilled Worker (i) cannot bring family members from their home country to live with them in Japan. This rule is the same as under the Technical Intern Training system.

● Skill level

Applicants must pass the Specified Skilled Worker skills evaluation test conducted in each of the 14 Specified Skilled Worker fields. However, as with proof of Japanese language level, foreign nationals who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) or higher do not need to pass the skills evaluation test. Note that because Specified Skilled Worker covers 14 fields, different tests are administered for each. Even those who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) or higher cannot become Specified Skilled Workers in every field; they can obtain the Specified Skilled Worker status of residence with a test exemption only in the field corresponding to the occupation in which they completed Technical Intern Training. In addition, job changes are permitted under Specified Skilled Worker, but when changing jobs, applicants must take the relevant Specified Skilled Worker skills evaluation test to prove skills in the new field or occupation.

● Other

For foreign nationals under Specified Skilled Worker (i), support required by law must be provided. Examples include arranging housing, airport pickup on entry, consultation support, and opportunities for Japanese language learning.

That support may be provided by the company accepting the Specified Skilled Worker, or if the accepting organization cannot provide it, all of the support may be outsourced to a Registered Support Organization.

At present, it appears that in most cases all support work, including applications for the Specified Skilled Worker status of residence, is outsourced to Registered Support Organizations.

Key Points of Specified Skilled Worker (ii)

● Period of stay

The period of stay can be renewed indefinitely, with renewals every three years, one year, or six months. Unlimited renewals mean that semi-permanent work in Japan is effectively permitted.

● Japanese language level

Japanese language ability is not verified through tests or similar means. To obtain Specified Skilled Worker (ii) status of residence, a person must first go through Specified Skilled Worker (i), and Japanese language ability is already confirmed at that stage, so it is not required again for Specified Skilled Worker (ii).

● Accompanying family members

Spouses and children may be brought to Japan. This can be described as the single largest difference from Specified Skilled Worker (i).

● Skill level

There is a test to confirm skill level. The content of the skills evaluation test for transitioning to Specified Skilled Worker (ii) has not even been decided yet. Therefore, although the Specified Skilled Worker (ii) status of residence exists at this time, how a foreign national can become a Specified Skilled Worker (ii) has not been determined.

● Other

Support obligations and similar requirements do not apply to foreign nationals under Specified Skilled Worker (ii), so there is no need to go through a Registered Support Organization.

In addition, transition from Specified Skilled Worker (i) to (ii) is permitted only in the “construction” field and the “shipbuilding and ship machinery industry” field. Therefore, transition to Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is not currently possible in the other 12 fields.

Main Differences Between Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii)

The main differences are two points: “period of stay” and “accompanying family members.”

Regarding period of stay, because Specified Skilled Worker (ii) allows unlimited renewals, employers gain a major advantage when hiring in that they can secure long-term talent.

In addition, because family accompaniment is allowed under Specified Skilled Worker (ii), Specified Skilled Workers can live in Japan long-term with greater peace of mind. Together with unlimited renewal of the period of stay, this is a major advantage for the Specified Skilled Workers themselves as well.

Summary

Although Specified Skilled Worker (ii) has been established, transition is limited to the “construction” field and the “shipbuilding and ship machinery industry” field, so most accepting organizations are unlikely to have many opportunities to accept Specified Skilled Worker (ii) foreign nationals.

In addition, Specified Skilled Worker (i) has a maximum limit of five years. Although job changes are permitted, for example a foreign national who has already held Specified Skilled Worker status for four years would, even if changing jobs at that point, be able to work at the next company for only one year.

Under such conditions, experience would normally increase market value, but because of status of residence constraints, the person becomes less attractive to employers.

We recommend carefully considering these points, including the differences between Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii) introduced in this article, when hiring Specified Skilled Workers.

Note: this article reflects the system as of June 2022

The body of this article was last updated in June 2022. Since then, Specified Skilled Worker (ii) has been extended beyond the construction field and the shipbuilding and ship machinery industry field, skills evaluation tests for Type 2 are being held, and foreign nationals now work under Type 2 status. The statements above that no one holds Type 2, that the Type 2 test has not been decided, and that only those two fields allow transition to Type 2, as well as the number of Type 1 fields, no longer match the current system. For an up-to-date comparison of stay periods, family accompaniment, support obligations and the fields with Type 2, see the Type 1 and Type 2 comparison guide (in Japanese).