Specified Skilled Worker (Tokutei Ginou) Jobs in Japan
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW, tokutei ginou) is a residence status for hands-on work in fields facing labour shortages. Fields include nursing care, building cleaning, industrial product manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding, automobile repair and maintenance, aviation, accommodation, agriculture, fishery, food and beverage manufacturing, food service and automobile transportation, among others. The list has been expanded over time, so check the current official list for your field. You can only work within the field you qualified in.
SSW (i) generally requires passing the skills test for your field and a Japanese test such as JFT-Basic or JLPT N4, unless you completed related technical intern training. It allows up to five years in total and does not usually allow family to accompany you. SSW (ii), available in many fields for workers who reach a higher skill level, can be renewed without an upper limit and allows a spouse and children to join. Employers must hire you directly, except in agriculture and fishery, pay at least what a Japanese employee would receive for the same work, and provide a support plan.
A practical tip: SSW employers must arrange support such as airport pickup, help finding housing, life orientation and Japanese learning opportunities, either themselves or through a registered support organisation, and the cost must not be charged to you. Ask who provides this support and how to contact them in your language. Final decisions on each application rest with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
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Frequently asked questions
What tests do I need for Specified Skilled Worker (i)?
Generally the skills test for your chosen field and a Japanese test such as JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or higher. Some fields, like nursing care, add a field-specific Japanese test. Completing related technical intern training (ii) can exempt you from the tests.
Can I bring my family on Specified Skilled Worker status?
Not usually on SSW (i). On SSW (ii), your spouse and children can generally join you as dependents. Each application is still reviewed by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
Can I work part-time or in another field on SSW?
No. SSW covers full-time work in the field and for the employer named in your permission. Working in another field requires passing that field's test and changing your status, and a new employer also requires permission.