Specified Skilled Worker Agriculture Jobs in Japan

Agriculture is divided into two SSW work categories: crop farming, which covers field crops, vegetables, fruit, flowers and greenhouse horticulture, and livestock farming, which covers dairy, beef, pigs and poultry. For SSW (i) you generally need to pass the agriculture skills test for your category and either the JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or higher; completing related Technical Intern Training may give an exemption. Besides the core farm work, related tasks that Japanese staff also do, such as sorting, packing or simple processing of the farm's own produce, can form part of the job.

Agriculture is one of the few SSW fields where employment through a dispatch agency is allowed. This exists because farm work is seasonal: a dispatch company can place you on different farms or in different regions through the year, so you have work in both busy and quiet seasons. Direct hiring by a farm or agricultural corporation is also common. SSW (ii) is available for workers who gain experience managing work or supervising staff and pass the higher-level test.

A practical tip: farms are often in rural areas with little public transport, so ask about housing, a bicycle or car, and whether you will need a Japanese driving licence. Working hours follow the weather and seasons, so check how overtime and days off are handled in busy months. For livestock work, ask about early-morning milking or feeding schedules and animal-health rules before you accept an offer.