Note: This article is based on Japanese laws and materials published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) as of October 9, 2026.
The Specified Skilled Worker visa (SSW visa; officially the status of residence "Specified Skilled Worker", 特定技能) is a status of residence under which companies can employ, in 19 fields with labor shortages, foreign nationals whose skills and Japanese language ability have been confirmed through tests, etc. "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" (特定技能1号) allows a stay of up to five years in total, in principle; under "Specified Skilled Worker (ii)" (特定技能2号), there is no limit on the number of extensions.
Companies that accept these workers (accepting organizations) are obliged to join the field-specific council, to provide support to specified skilled workers (i), and to make notifications to the immigration office. On April 1, 2027, amendments will come into effect, including one that limits the parties to which support can be outsourced to registered support organizations (登録支援機関). Below, for the staff of companies considering acceptance, this article explains the system as a whole, step by step.
Contents
- What is Specified Skilled Worker? Differences between (i) and (ii)
- 19 eligible fields, 11 of them for Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
- In the Food service industry field, the issuance of Certificates of Eligibility is suspended
- Requirements for the foreign national: tests, and transition from Technical Intern Training
- Requirements for the accepting organization
- Support for specified skilled workers (i), and registered support organizations
- Notifications after acceptance
- Flow of procedures and processing time
- How the "five years in total" under (i) is counted
- What will change on April 1, 2027
- Transitional measures accompanying the changes of April 1, 2027
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Summary
- References
What is Specified Skilled Worker? Differences between (i) and (ii)
Specified Skilled Worker is a status of residence for foreign nationals with a certain level of skills to work in industrial fields with labor shortages (specified industrial fields, 特定産業分野). It started in April 2019 and has two categories, (i) and (ii).
| Item | Specified Skilled Worker (i) | Specified Skilled Worker (ii) |
|---|---|---|
| Skills required | Skills requiring a considerable degree of knowledge or experience | Proficient skills |
| Period of stay | Extended for each period individually designated within a range not exceeding 3 years. Up to 5 years in total, in principle | Extended every 3 years, 2 years, 1 year or 6 months. No limit on the number of extensions |
| Accompaniment by family members | Basically not permitted | Possible if the requirements are met (spouse, children) |
| Support | Eligible for support by the accepting organization or a registered support organization | Not eligible for support |
| Expected number of acceptance (operated as the upper limit on acceptance) | Set for each field | Not set |
| Eligible fields | 19 fields | 11 fields |
| "5 years or more under a work-related status of residence" for permission for permanent residence | Not counted | Counted |
The number of specified skilled workers residing in Japan is 425,961 under (i) and 18,295 under (ii) (as of the end of June 2026; preliminary figures).
The range within which a worker can change jobs is determined not by the field but by the "job category" (業務区分). A worker can change jobs within the same job category, or between job categories for which commonality in skill level has been confirmed through tests, etc. When the accepting organization or the field changes, the worker needs to obtain permission to change status of residence (在留資格変更許可), and cannot work at the new workplace while the application is pending.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Explanatory Material on the Specified Skilled Worker System (Overview of the Systems for Foreign Workers)" (in Japanese; updated September 29, 2026), pp. 6 and 9, "Status of Residence "Specified Skilled Worker"" (in Japanese), "Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese), Q10 and Q13, "Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised October 1, 2026)" (in Japanese), "Operational Guidelines on the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Workers" (運用要領; in Japanese; August 2026)
19 eligible fields, 11 of them for Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
Specified Skilled Worker (i) covers 19 fields, and workers can also be accepted under Specified Skilled Worker (ii) in 11 of them. Three fields, namely Linen supply (リネンサプライ), Warehousing industry (logistics warehouses; 物流倉庫) and Resource circulation industry (資源循環), were added by the field-specific operation policies decided by the Cabinet on January 23, 2026.
| Field | (ii) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing care (介護) | － | |
| Building cleaning management (ビルクリーニング) | ○ | |
| Linen supply (リネンサプライ) | － | Added in January 2026 |
| Industrial product manufacturing (工業製品製造業) | ○ | For (ii), only the job categories of machining and metal processing, electric and electronic equipment assembly, and metal surface treatment |
| Construction industry (建設) | ○ | |
| Shipbuilding and ship machinery industry (造船・舶用工業) | ○ | |
| Automobile repair and maintenance (自動車整備) | ○ | |
| Aviation industry (航空) | ○ | |
| Accommodation industry (宿泊) | ○ | |
| Automobile transportation business (自動車運送業) | － | Added in March 2024 |
| Railway (鉄道) | － | Added in March 2024 |
| Warehousing industry (logistics warehouses; 物流倉庫) | － | Added in January 2026 |
| Agriculture (農業) | ○ | |
| Fishery & aquaculture (漁業) | ○ | |
| Manufacture of food and beverages (飲食料品製造業) | ○ | |
| Food service industry (外食業) | ○ | For (i), the issuance of Certificates of Eligibility (COE, 在留資格認定証明書) is temporarily suspended |
| Forestry (林業) | － | Added in March 2024 |
| Wood industry (木材産業) | － | Added in March 2024 |
| Resource circulation industry (資源循環) | － | Added in January 2026 |
The ISA states that the Warehousing industry and Resource circulation industry fields are "scheduled to start operation as soon as preparations are complete" (explanatory material updated September 29, 2026). For the Warehousing industry, the field-specific annex to the Operational Guidelines (要領別冊) was established on September 18, and the field appears in the list of documents to be submitted (提出書類一覧表) revised on October 1. The Resource circulation industry does not appear in the list of documents to be submitted (as of October 9, 2026).
The expected number of acceptance for Specified Skilled Worker (i) is 805,700 in total for the 19 fields (through the end of March 2029). This number is operated as the upper limit on acceptance. The number of specified skilled workers (i) residing in Japan at the end of July 2026 was 432,016 (preliminary figure), which is 53.6% of the expected number.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Explanatory Material on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese), pp. 6 and 8, "Main Items Stated in the Field-specific Operation Policies" (in Japanese), "Expected Number of Acceptance and Number of Residents for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (as of the end of July 2026; preliminary figures)" (in Japanese), "Basic Policy and Field-specific Operation Policies on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese), "Status of Residence "Specified Skilled Worker"" (in Japanese); e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, "Ministerial Order to Provide for the Fields, etc. of Specified Skilled Worker" (特定技能の分野等を定める省令; in Japanese)
In the Food service industry field, the issuance of Certificates of Eligibility is suspended
For Applications for Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書交付申請) for Specified Skilled Worker (i) in the Food service industry field that it accepted on or after April 13, 2026, the ISA does not issue the certificate. This handling also continues in the examination status posted on September 10.
The number of specified skilled workers (i) residing in Japan in the Food service industry field is 49,290 (as of the end of July 2026; preliminary figure), which is 98.6% of the expected number of 50,000.
Applications for extension of period of stay are examined as usual. The cases in which a change of status of residence is permitted are summarized in our article on the suspension of acceptance in the "food service industry" field of Specified Skilled Worker.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Measures to Temporarily Suspend the Issuance of Certificates of Eligibility in the "Food Service Industry" Field of Specified Skilled Worker" (in Japanese), "Operation of the Upper Limit on Acceptance in the "Food Service Industry" Field of Specified Skilled Worker" (in Japanese), "Status of Examination of Residence Applications for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (Food Service Industry Field)" (in Japanese), "Expected Number of Acceptance and Number of Residents for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (as of the end of July 2026; preliminary figures)" (in Japanese)
Requirements for the foreign national: tests, and transition from Technical Intern Training
To work under Specified Skilled Worker (i), a person needs either to pass both a skills test and a Japanese language test, or to have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) (技能実習2号). There is no academic background requirement. The person must be 18 years of age or older.
| Route | Skills | Japanese |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | Pass the skills test corresponding to the job category in the field | Pass the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic), the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT; N4 or higher), or another such test |
| Successful completion of Technical Intern Training (ii) | Exempt (where relevance is found between the work to be engaged in and the job category and operation of the technical intern training (職種・作業)) | Exempt in principle (regardless of the job category and operation of the technical intern training) |
"Having successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii)" means having completed 2 years and 10 months or more of technical intern training and falling under either of the following.
- Has passed the practical test of the National Trade Skills Test (Grade 3) (技能検定3級) or of the equivalent technical intern training evaluation examination (specialist level) (技能実習評価試験（専門級）)
- Has not passed, but is found to have successfully completed the training based on a written evaluation prepared by the implementing organization (実習実施者; the company where the technical intern training was carried out)
Additional Japanese-language requirements apply in some fields. In the Nursing care field, passing the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test (介護日本語評価試験) is required (except for those who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) in the nursing care job category and nursing care operation). Taxi drivers and bus drivers in the Automobile transportation business field and transportation staff (運輸係員) in the Railway field need Japanese language proficiency at the N3 level, and proof by a test is required even if they have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii).
Being in good health, not having had a security deposit collected, and having gone through the procedures to be complied with in the sending country are also criteria common to (i) and (ii).
Moving on to Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
For Specified Skilled Worker (ii), a person needs to prove, through a test or other evaluation method, that he or she has proficient skills. The system is not one in which a person automatically moves to (ii) after continuing under (i) for five years. If the skills are confirmed through tests, etc., a person can also obtain (ii) without going through (i).
The method of confirmation is set for each field, and in some fields the field-specific annex to the Operational Guidelines requires practical experience, etc. From August 20, 2026, the "Written Pledge on the Work Duties of Specified Skilled Workers (ii)" (2号特定技能外国人の業務内容に関する誓約書) is also submitted at the time of application.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Operational Guidelines on the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Workers" (in Japanese; August 2026), Chapter 4, "Explanatory Material on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese), pp. 11 and 32, "Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese), Q12, "Work Duties of Specified Skilled Workers (ii)" (in Japanese; August 5, 2026)
Requirements for the accepting organization
An accepting organization (legally, an "organization of affiliation of the specified skilled worker", 特定技能所属機関) needs to meet the criteria both for the content of the employment contract and for the organization's own setup. There is no system for obtaining approval in advance as an accepting organization. The immigration office checks whether the criteria are met in the course of examining the foreign national's own application.
- The prescribed working hours are equivalent to those of regular workers (full-time) employed by the same organization
- The amount of remuneration is equivalent to or greater than what a Japanese national would receive for the same work
- There is no discriminatory treatment in remuneration, education and training, welfare benefits, etc. on the grounds that the person is a foreign national
- Leave is granted when the worker wishes to return temporarily to his or her home country
- If the worker cannot bear the travel expenses for returning home, the accepting organization bears them
- It complies with the laws and regulations on labor, social insurance and taxes
- It has not made workers engaged in the same type of work leave their jobs involuntarily within the one year before concluding the employment contract or after concluding it
- During the same period, it has not had any missing workers (workers who have gone missing) due to causes attributable to the accepting organization
- It does not fall under the grounds for disqualification (欠格事由) (such as having no violations of immigration or labor laws within the past five years)
- It does not have the foreign national bear, either directly or indirectly, the costs required for support
- It pays remuneration by transfer to a bank or other savings account, etc.
- When a local government requests cooperation with its harmonious coexistence measures, it provides the necessary cooperation
Full-time here means, in principle, working 5 days or more per week and 217 days or more per year, with 30 hours or more of work per week. Employment as a dispatched worker (worker dispatch, 労働者派遣) is possible only in the Agriculture and Fishery & aquaculture fields.
No limit on the number of specified skilled workers per accepting organization is set, except in the Nursing care and Construction industry fields.
Joining the council, and the Cooperation Confirmation Form for municipalities
Before the application, the accepting organization needs to become a member of the council for its field. In the Construction industry and Industrial product manufacturing fields, it also needs to join a corporation registered by the competent ministry for the field.
Since April 1, 2025, accepting organizations have also been required to submit a "Cooperation Confirmation Form" (協力確認書) to the municipality where the place of business at which the foreign national works is located and the municipality where the foreign national lives.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Explanatory Material on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese), pp. 9, 17, 33 and 34, "Operational Guidelines on the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Workers" (in Japanese; August 2026), Chapter 5, "Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese), Q14 and Q27, "Amendment of the Ministerial Orders Effective April 1, 2025" (in Japanese)
Support for specified skilled workers (i), and registered support organizations
An organization that accepts specified skilled workers (i) is obliged to prepare a support plan (Support Plan for Specified Skilled Workers (i), 1号特定技能外国人支援計画) and to provide the 10 items of support. There is no obligation to provide support to specified skilled workers (ii). The support plan is submitted together with the other documents at the time of application.
| Item of support | Main content | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Advance guidance (事前ガイダンス) | Before the application, explain the working conditions, the content of the activities, immigration procedures, etc., in person or by video call, etc. |
| 2 | Pick-up and drop-off when entering and leaving Japan | On entry, take the worker from the airport, etc. to the place of business or housing; on return home, take the worker to the security checkpoint at the airport |
| 3 | Support with securing housing and with contracts necessary for daily life | Serve as joint guarantor, provide company housing, give guidance on opening a bank account and on mobile phone contracts |
| 4 | Life orientation (生活オリエンテーション) | Explain Japanese rules and manners, how to use public institutions, and what to do in a disaster |
| 5 | Accompaniment for official procedures | As necessary, accompany the worker for procedures concerning the place of residence, social security, tax, etc. |
| 6 | Provision of opportunities to learn Japanese | Enrollment information for Japanese language classes, provision of information on learning materials, etc. |
| 7 | Responding to consultations and complaints | Respond in a language the worker can fully understand, and give advice and guidance |
| 8 | Promotion of exchanges with Japanese people | Provide information on places and events for exchange with local residents, and assist participation |
| 9 | Support for changing jobs (in the event of staff reduction, etc.) | Help the worker look for a new job when the employment contract is canceled due to circumstances on the accepting side |
| 10 | Regular interviews, and reporting to administrative agencies | Interview the worker and the worker's supervisor, etc. once or more every three months, and report any violation of the Labor Standards Act, etc. |
The accepting organization bears the costs of the support that is mandatory.
Support can be outsourced to a registered support organization. A registered support organization is an individual or organization registered by the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency, and the registration period is five years. An organization that has outsourced the whole of its support plan to a registered support organization is deemed to meet the criteria for the support system.
When providing support in-house, the organization needs to meet the criteria for the support system, such as having a record of properly accepting mid-to-long-term residents with a work-related status of residence in the past two years.
Who can be asked to prepare the application documents is summarized in the 2026 amendment to the Gyoseishoshi (administrative scrivener) Act.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Explanatory Material on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese), pp. 12, 13, 15 and 35, "Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese), Q79; Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 2-5, paragraphs 5 and 6, Article 19-22 and Article 19-23
Notifications after acceptance
There are two types of notification: the regular notification (定期届出), made once a year, and the occasional notification (随時届出), submitted within 14 days after the relevant event occurs. Both are made by the accepting organization to the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency.
| Type | What is notified | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Regular notification | The status of acceptance, activities and implementation of support from April 1 to March 31 of the following year | From April 1 to May 31 of the following year |
| Occasional notification | Change, termination or new conclusion of an employment contract; change of the support plan; conclusion, change or termination of a support outsourcing contract; when it has become difficult to accept (continue employing) the specified skilled worker; when the criteria are no longer met; when it has become difficult to implement the support plan | Within 14 days from the time the event occurs |
With the amendment of the ministerial orders that came into effect on April 1, 2025, the regular notification changed from quarterly to once a year. The first once-a-year notifications are those submitted in or after April 2026.
The attachments have also changed, and a copy of the wage ledger is no longer required. Organizations that do not meet certain criteria newly attach materials on labor insurance and social insurance, and tax payment certificates (納税証明書).
Where all of the support is outsourced to a registered support organization, the accepting organization submits the notification, bringing together the status of implementation of support by the registered support organization as well. Occasional notifications need to be submitted by the accepting organization itself even where support is outsourced; a registered support organization cannot submit them in its place.
An organization whose notifications are not made properly will no longer be able to accept specified skilled workers. Failure to notify and false notifications are subject to penalties.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Notifications by Organizations of Affiliation of Specified Skilled Workers and Registered Support Organizations" (in Japanese) and the leaflets posted there, "Amendment of the Ministerial Orders Effective April 1, 2025" (in Japanese), "Explanatory Material on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese), p. 16
Flow of procedures and processing time
To bring a worker from overseas, an Application for Certificate of Eligibility is filed with the regional immigration services bureau; to hire a person who is already in Japan, an Application for Change of Status of Residence (在留資格変更許可申請) is filed.
- The foreign national passes a skills test and a Japanese language test (exempt for those who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii))
- The accepting organization and the foreign national conclude an employment contract. The accepting organization, etc. provides advance guidance, and the foreign national undergoes a health check
- The accepting organization prepares a support plan (in the case of (i))
- The application is filed with the regional immigration services bureau. An Application for Certificate of Eligibility is filed by a staff member of the accepting organization, etc. as a representative; an Application for Change of Status of Residence is, in principle, filed by the foreign national himself or herself
- When bringing a worker from overseas, the issued Certificate of Eligibility is sent to the worker, who applies for a visa (査証) at a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad and enters Japan. A person who is in Japan receives permission for the change and receives a residence card
- The worker starts work. After entry (or after the change), life orientation, etc. is provided without delay
The average numbers of days the examination took are as follows. These are the days from acceptance of the application to permission, and they include the days spent waiting for additional documents to be submitted.
| COEs issued and permissions granted in July 2026 | Issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility | Extension of period of stay | Change of status of residence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specified Skilled Worker (i) | 64.1 days | 41.0 days | 59.5 days |
| Specified Skilled Worker (ii) | 57.6 days | 38.5 days | 51.6 days |
The figures for COE issuance and change of status of residence under (i) are calculated excluding applications in the Food service industry field.
For those who wish to receive permission within the period of stay, the ISA asks applicants to make efforts to file the extension application between three months and 45 days before the period of stay expires. For a change from Technical Intern Training to Specified Skilled Worker, it asks that the application be filed two months or more before the date on which work is scheduled to start. This is because a technical intern trainee cannot work after the technical intern training plan has been completed, even while the application is pending.
The fees paid when an extension or change is permitted are summarized in the table of residence permission fees. Our office also provides application support for the Specified Skilled Worker visa.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Explanatory Material on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese), p. 11, "Processing Time for Residence Examinations (COEs issued and permissions granted in July 2026)" (in Japanese), "For Those Who Wish to Receive Permission for Change or Extension within the Period of Stay" (in Japanese) and the guidance posted there (change from Technical Intern Training to Specified Skilled Worker)
How the "five years in total" under (i) is counted
The period for which a person can stay under Specified Skilled Worker (i) is up to five years in total, in principle. Periods in which the person was not working and periods spent outside Japan on re-entry permission are also included in the total.
| Periods included in the total | Periods not included in the total |
|---|---|
| Periods of not working while residing under (i) | Periods of maternity leave and childcare leave |
| Periods outside Japan on re-entry permission (including special re-entry permission, みなし再入国許可) | Periods of leave due to illness or injury (more than one continuous month and, in principle, not more than one year; not more than three years in the case of a work-related accident) |
| Periods under "Designated Activities" (特定活動) for those wishing to move to (i) | Periods during which the person could not re-enter Japan due to unavoidable circumstances, such as measures denying landing |
The periods in the right-hand column are not excluded automatically. An application with supporting materials is filed between three months before the five-year total period of stay expires and the date of expiration. Permission is granted only when the period can be confirmed from the materials and there are reasonable grounds to find the stay appropriate.
Cases in which a person can stay beyond five years, up to six years in total
Among those who have failed the tests, etc. for (ii), a person who meets the following requirements may be granted permission with a total of six years as the upper limit.
- Has obtained a score of 80% or more of the passing score in all of the tests, etc. required for moving to (ii)
- The person has pledged, among other things, to work hard toward passing and to take the tests, to apply for the change promptly upon passing, and to return home promptly if unable to pass
- The accepting organization intends to continue the employment and has a system for guidance, training and support toward passing
As above, the application period is from three months before the five years expire until the date of expiration. Tests for which a score of 80% or more cannot be proven are not covered (as of October 9, 2026). The tests covered are shown for each field on the ISA's "Total Period of Stay" (通算在留期間) page.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Total Period of Stay" (in Japanese; updated June 17, 2026)
What will change on April 1, 2027
On April 1, 2027, the parties to which support for specified skilled workers (i) can be outsourced will be limited to registered support organizations. On the same day, the requirements for the support system and the Japanese-language criteria will also change, and the Employment for Skill Development (ESD) Program (育成就労制度) will begin. The basis is the amending act promulgated on June 21, 2024 (Act No. 60 of 2024) and amendments to the related ministerial orders.
| What will change | Details |
|---|---|
| Parties to which support can be outsourced | An accepting organization will no longer be able to outsource all or part of its support to anyone other than a registered support organization |
| Support manager and person in charge of support | For each place of business that provides support, one or more of each will be selected from among the full-time officers or employees (the two posts may be held concurrently). Only these two will be able to engage in support work |
| Training course | Support managers will be obliged to take the training course for support managers (養成講習). For the time being, it is regarded as acceptable even if the course has not been completed |
| Number per person in charge at a registered support organization | Per person in charge of support: fewer than 10 organizations outsourcing support, and fewer than 50 specified skilled workers (i) supported |
| Japanese for (ii) | A level equivalent to B1 or higher will be required, starting with Applications for Certificate of Eligibility filed on or after April 1, 2027 |
| Japanese for (i) in Automobile transportation business (bus and taxi) and Railway (transportation staff) | Will change from "JLPT N3 or higher" to "equivalent to B1 or higher". Required starting with Applications for Certificate of Eligibility filed on or after April 1, 2027 |
Transitional measures accompanying the changes of April 1, 2027
There is a transitional measure for organizations that, at the time the amendment comes into effect, outsource part of their support to a party other than a registered support organization. The provision will not apply until the specified skilled worker (i) receiving that support first receives permission to extend the period of stay after the amendment comes into effect (Article 6 of the Supplementary Provisions of Act No. 60 of 2024). Cases in which all of the support is outsourced are not written as being covered by this transitional measure.
As for when the Japanese-language criteria will start to be required for applications for change of status of residence and extension of period of stay, the ISA states that this is "currently under consideration" (posted September 30, 2026).
There is a transitional measure for registered support organizations that were registered before the enforcement date. Where the registration period expires on or before July 31, 2027, the registration can be renewed under the pre-amendment requirements only if the renewal is applied for before the enforcement date.
To move to (i) from Employment for Skill Development, which will replace Technical Intern Training, passing the skills test and the Japanese language test will be a requirement. Those who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii), and whose work to be engaged in is relevant to the job category and operation of their technical intern training, can move to (i) for the time being. The content of the program is summarized in the overall picture of the Employment for Skill Development Program.
The penalties for the offense of facilitating illegal work (不法就労助長罪), which will be raised on the same day, are explained in the amendment to the offense of facilitating illegal work.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Overview of the Amended Act (Establishment of the Employment for Skill Development Program, etc.)" (in Japanese), "Amendment of the Requirements for the Support System for Specified Skilled Workers (i) (effective April 1, 2027)" (in Japanese), "When Confirmation of the Japanese Language Proficiency Level "Equivalent to B1 or Higher" Will Start" (in Japanese), "Q&A on the Employment for Skill Development Program" (in Japanese), Q3, Q75 and Q80; Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 19-22, paragraph 2 (as amended by Act No. 60 of 2024; effective April 1, 2027), Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (as amended by Act No. 60 of 2024), Article 19-22, paragraph 2, and Article 6 of the Supplementary Provisions of the same Act
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a specified skilled worker (i) bring family members to Japan?
Basically, no. This is because accompaniment by family members (the status of residence "Dependent", 家族滞在) is not permitted under (i).
There are exceptions. For example, for a child born in Japan to parents who are both specified skilled workers (i), a change to "Designated Activities" may be permitted on the grounds that humanitarian consideration is particularly necessary.
Can a specified skilled worker take a part-time job at another company?
No. The ISA's Q&A states that a part-time job at another company is "not possible" (できません) (Q54).
How is it different from Gijinkoku (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, 技術・人文知識・国際業務)?
Specified Skilled Worker is a status of residence that has no academic background requirement and under which skills and Japanese are confirmed through tests, etc. It is limited to the 19 specified industrial fields. The requirements for Gijinkoku and the work it covers are summarized in Japan Gijinkoku Visa: Complete Guide.
Summary
Specified Skilled Worker is a status of residence under which companies can employ, in 19 fields with labor shortages, foreign nationals whose skills and Japanese have been confirmed through tests, etc. Specified Skilled Worker (i) is limited to five years in total, in principle; Specified Skilled Worker (ii) covers 11 fields, and there is no limit on the number of extensions.
The accepting organization meets the criteria for the employment contract and for the organization itself, and joins the council before the application. It provides the 10 items of support to specified skilled workers (i), and submits the regular notification once a year and occasional notifications within 14 days.
Companies considering acceptance should first check whether their business falls under an eligible field and job category, and whether to provide support in-house or to outsource it to a registered support organization. From April 1, 2027, it will no longer be possible to newly outsource support to anyone other than a registered support organization. Organizations that currently outsource part of their support to a party other than a registered support organization should review the outsourcing arrangement before the specified skilled worker (i) concerned first receives permission for an extension on or after that date.
References
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Explanatory Material on the Specified Skilled Worker System (Overview of the Systems for Foreign Workers)" (in Japanese; updated September 29, 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Status of Residence "Specified Skilled Worker"" (in Japanese; the list of documents to be submitted was revised on October 1, 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Basic Policy and Field-specific Operation Policies on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese), "Main Items Stated in the Field-specific Operation Policies" (in Japanese; field-specific operation policies decided by the Cabinet on January 23, 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Expected Number of Acceptance and Number of Residents for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (as of the end of July 2026; preliminary figures)" (in Japanese; updated October 6, 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Operational Guidelines on the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Workers" (in Japanese; August 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Q&A on the Specified Skilled Worker System" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Total Period of Stay" (in Japanese; updated June 17, 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Notifications by Organizations of Affiliation of Specified Skilled Workers and Registered Support Organizations" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Amendment of the Ministerial Orders Effective April 1, 2025" (in Japanese; March 2025)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Measures to Temporarily Suspend the Issuance of Certificates of Eligibility in the "Food Service Industry" Field of Specified Skilled Worker" (in Japanese; April 13, 2026), "Status of Examination of Residence Applications for Specified Skilled Worker (i) (Food Service Industry Field)" (in Japanese; posted September 10, 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Amendment of the Requirements for the Support System for Specified Skilled Workers (i) (effective April 1, 2027)" (in Japanese; July 28, 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "When Confirmation of the Japanese Language Proficiency Level "Equivalent to B1 or Higher" Will Start" (in Japanese; September 30, 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Work Duties of Specified Skilled Workers (ii)" (in Japanese; August 5, 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Overview of the Amended Act (Establishment of the Employment for Skill Development Program, etc.)" (in Japanese), "Q&A on the Employment for Skill Development Program" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Processing Time for Residence Examinations" (in Japanese; COEs issued and permissions granted in July 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "For Those Who Wish to Receive Permission for Change or Extension within the Period of Stay" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, "Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised October 1, 2026)" (in Japanese)
- Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Cabinet Order No. 319 of 1951), Articles 2-5, 19-18, 19-22 and 19-23. Article 19-22, paragraph 2 is as amended by Act No. 60 of 2024 (effective April 1, 2027). Article 6 of the Supplementary Provisions of the same Act (transitional measure concerning the outsourcing of support)
- Ministerial Order to Provide for the Industrial Fields Specified in the Right-Hand Column of "Specified Skilled Worker" in the Appended Table I (2) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Ministry of Justice Order No. 6 of 2019)
