What is a Specified Skilled Worker? What are the Requirements and How to Obtain it?
If you want to know about other statuses of residence, click here!
Types of Status of Residence in Japan
Do you know that you need a Status of Residence in order to work in Japan? There are many types of residence statuses to work. Each has its own rules and regulations, which we will explain here.
What is a Specified Skilled Worker?
Specified skilled worker is a status of residence that allows foreigners to work in 12 specific industries, where there is a shortage of workers in Japan. There are two types: Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii), which requires a higher skill level.
Advantages of Specified Skilled Worker
- Easy to find work in the 12 industries that are short staffed.
- No academic background is required.
- You can change jobs.
Difference between (i) and (ii)
| Specified Skilled Worker (i) | Specified Skilled Worker (ii) | |
|---|---|---|
| Education / Work Experience | Not required (over 18 years old) | Working experience may be required for the exam to qualify for Specified Skilled Worker (ii). |
| Period of Stay | 1 year (renewed every 6 or 4 months), up to 5 years in total | 3 years (renewed every 1 year or 6 months), no upper limit |
| Japanese Level | N4 or higher (Those who have completed technical intern training (ii) are exempted) | No need to confirm by examination |
| Accompaniment by of Family Members | × | ○ |
| Applicable Industries | Nursing care, Building cleaning, Machine Parts, Tooling, Industrial Machinery, Electric, Electronics, and Information Industries, Construction, Shipbuilding and ship-related industry, Automobile maintenance, Aviation, Lodging, Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and beverages manufacturing industry, Food service industry, Automobile transportation business,Railway, Forestry, Wood Industry | Construction, shipbuilding and ship-related industry, Building Cleaning Management, Industrial product manufacturing, Automobile Repair and Maintenance, Aviation Industry, Accommodation Industry, Agriculture Industry, Fishery and Aquaculture Industries, Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industries, Food Service Industry |
Support for Specified Skilled Worker (i) Foreigners
Foreignerss with Specified Skilled Worker status are eligible for the following support.
- Guidance on daily life before entering Japan
- Pick-up at the airport upon arrival in Japan and drop-off at the airport upon return
- Assistance in housing (including becoming a guarantor)
- Orientation for daily life while in Japan (including assistance in opening a bank account and signing a cell phone contract)
- Assistance in learning Japanese for daily life
- Consultations offered for worries and complaints
- Providing information and support for various administrative procedures (accompaniment)
- Providing opportunities to interact with Japanese people
- Assistance in changing jobs if the person is dismissed without any responsibility on his/her part
- Meeting with the individual and his/her supervisor at least once every three months and reporting any violations
These are the obligations of the host company as determined by law. As for (1), (4), (6) and (7), they must be done in a language that the foreigner can understand.
In some cases, a registered support organization will come between the foreigner and the host company and provide support to the foreigner on behalf of the host company.
Ways to Obtain
Specified Skilled Worker (i)
- With exams: required to pass the following two exams
- JLPT(Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4 or higher or JFT-Basic
*For nursing care, it is also necessary to pass the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test - Skills Proficiency Test: written test for each industry
- With technical intern training: those who have successfully completed 2 years and 10 months of technical intern training
- Work in the same field as technical internship
You do not need to take the JLPT and skills proficiency test - Specified skilled work in a field different from technical internship
You must pass the Skills Proficiency Test for your desired field.
However, if you have successfully completed the technical internship over 2 years and 10 months, you will be exempt from the JLPT test.
Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
You will need to pass a more difficult test on your skills.
Experiences of Specified Skilled Worker (1): From Technical Intern Training to Specified Skilled Worker
Xuân got accepted to a top university in her home country but did not enroll due to financial reasons. After studying at a Japanese language school for two years in her home country, she became a technical intern trainee. After completing her three-year technical intern training, she became a specified skilled worker at the same workplace. Here is Xuân’s experience.
A Step Up! Working Toward Level 1 of Trade Skills Test (Specified Skilled Worker)
In this article, we interview Hoang Dinh Hoang.
A Step Up! From Technical Intern to Specified Skilled Worker. Pursuing Childhood Passion for Making Sweets as a Career (Specified Skilled Worker)
We interviewed Aminah Tujuhriah, who hails from Bukasi, Indonesia.
If you want to know more, check here!
Career Introduction Building Cleaning Industry｜JICA-Net Library
Career Introduction Working in the Automobile Repair and Maintenance Field｜JICA-Net Library
Career Introduction Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industry｜JICA-Net Library
Support Website for the Specified Skilled Worker Program | Immigration Services Agency of Japan
Beware of Contracts with Penalty Clauses!
Before you start working for a company, you’ll be given an explanation on salary, working hours, and other matters, and if you agree, you’ll sign a contract. Once the contract is signed, both the company and the worker will keep copies of the contract. Contracts are very important, so be careful not to lose them.
