Friday, 02/Jan/2026
How to Prepare for SSW
Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program, or Tokutei Ginou, is a residency status designed to address the country’s severe labor shortages by welcoming foreign workers with specific technical skills. Launched in 2019 and recently expanded, the program offers a more direct path to employment in Japan compared to the traditional trainee programs.
1. Two Types of SSW Visas
The program is split into two categories based on skill level and long-term residency goals:
SSW (i): For workers with a "considerable degree of knowledge or experience."
Stay Limit: Up to 5 years in total.
Family: Not permitted to bring family members.
Requirements: Must pass a Japanese language test (typically JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic) and a skill-specific exam.
SSW (ii): For workers with "expert skills" (usually supervisor-level).
Stay Limit: No upper limit; the visa is renewable indefinitely.
Family: Can bring a spouse and children.
Path to Residency: This category can lead to permanent residency.
2. Eligible Industries
As of 2024–2025, the Japanese government expanded the program to cover 16 industrial fields, including:
Caregiving: Nursing care and facility management.
Hospitality: Accommodation and food services.
Infrastructure: Construction, shipbuilding, and automobile maintenance.
Production: Industrial machinery manufacturing, food and beverage manufacturing.
Primary Industries: Agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.
Logistics: The newly added railway and automobile transport sectors (taxi, bus, and truck driving).
3. Key Benefits for Workers
Unlike the previous Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), the SSW program prioritizes worker rights and integration:
Equal Pay: Employers are legally required to pay SSW workers a salary equal to or higher than what a Japanese person would receive for the same role.
Job Mobility: Workers have the right to change employers within the same industrial field if they find a better opportunity.
Comprehensive Support: Companies must provide a "Support Plan," which includes assistance with finding housing, opening bank accounts, and Japanese language studies.
How to Get Started
To qualify, most applicants must pass the Skill Proficiency Test for their specific field and a Japanese Language Test. However, those who have successfully completed three years of the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) are often exempt from these exams if they stay in the same industry.
As of January 2026, the Specified Skilled Worker (ii) (SSW-ii) program has expanded significantly from its original two sectors to cover 11 industrial fields.
While there are 16 total industries under the SSW (i) category, only 11 are currently eligible for the SSW (ii) status, which allows for indefinite renewals and family sponsorship.
The 11 Eligible SSW (ii) Fields
If you possess "expert skills" (typically equivalent to a supervisor or management role) and pass the required exams, you can apply for SSW (ii) in the following sectors:
Building Cleaning Management
Industrial Product Manufacturing (Includes machine parts, tooling, electric, and electronics)
Construction Industry
Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry
Automobile Repair and Maintenance
Aviation Industry
Accommodation Industry (Hotels and hospitality)
Agriculture
Fishery and Aquaculture
Manufacture of Food and Beverages
Food Service Industry (Restaurants)
Key Exceptions
It is important to note which fields are not currently included in the SSW (ii) category:
Nursing Care: While this is a major SSW (i) field, it does not have an SSW (ii) pathway because there is already a separate specialized visa status called "Nursing Care" (Kaigo) that allows for long-term residency and family accompaniment.
Automobile Transportation, Railway, Forestry, and Wood Industry: These four sectors were added to the SSW (i) program in 2024 to address urgent labor shortages, but as of now, they do not yet have an established SSW (ii) track.
What Makes SSW (ii) Different?
Family: You are permitted to bring your spouse and children to Japan.
Permanent Residency: Time spent on an SSW (ii) visa counts toward the 10-year requirement for permanent residency.
Skill Level: You must pass a much more difficult "Level 2" skill exam or hold a high-level national certification (like the Grade 1 National Trade Skill Test)
1. Two Types of SSW Visas
The program is split into two categories based on skill level and long-term residency goals:
SSW (i): For workers with a "considerable degree of knowledge or experience."
Stay Limit: Up to 5 years in total.
Family: Not permitted to bring family members.
Requirements: Must pass a Japanese language test (typically JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic) and a skill-specific exam.
SSW (ii): For workers with "expert skills" (usually supervisor-level).
Stay Limit: No upper limit; the visa is renewable indefinitely.
Family: Can bring a spouse and children.
Path to Residency: This category can lead to permanent residency.
2. Eligible Industries
As of 2024–2025, the Japanese government expanded the program to cover 16 industrial fields, including:
Caregiving: Nursing care and facility management.
Hospitality: Accommodation and food services.
Infrastructure: Construction, shipbuilding, and automobile maintenance.
Production: Industrial machinery manufacturing, food and beverage manufacturing.
Primary Industries: Agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.
Logistics: The newly added railway and automobile transport sectors (taxi, bus, and truck driving).
3. Key Benefits for Workers
Unlike the previous Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), the SSW program prioritizes worker rights and integration:
Equal Pay: Employers are legally required to pay SSW workers a salary equal to or higher than what a Japanese person would receive for the same role.
Job Mobility: Workers have the right to change employers within the same industrial field if they find a better opportunity.
Comprehensive Support: Companies must provide a "Support Plan," which includes assistance with finding housing, opening bank accounts, and Japanese language studies.
How to Get Started
To qualify, most applicants must pass the Skill Proficiency Test for their specific field and a Japanese Language Test. However, those who have successfully completed three years of the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) are often exempt from these exams if they stay in the same industry.
As of January 2026, the Specified Skilled Worker (ii) (SSW-ii) program has expanded significantly from its original two sectors to cover 11 industrial fields.
While there are 16 total industries under the SSW (i) category, only 11 are currently eligible for the SSW (ii) status, which allows for indefinite renewals and family sponsorship.
The 11 Eligible SSW (ii) Fields
If you possess "expert skills" (typically equivalent to a supervisor or management role) and pass the required exams, you can apply for SSW (ii) in the following sectors:
Building Cleaning Management
Industrial Product Manufacturing (Includes machine parts, tooling, electric, and electronics)
Construction Industry
Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry
Automobile Repair and Maintenance
Aviation Industry
Accommodation Industry (Hotels and hospitality)
Agriculture
Fishery and Aquaculture
Manufacture of Food and Beverages
Food Service Industry (Restaurants)
Key Exceptions
It is important to note which fields are not currently included in the SSW (ii) category:
Nursing Care: While this is a major SSW (i) field, it does not have an SSW (ii) pathway because there is already a separate specialized visa status called "Nursing Care" (Kaigo) that allows for long-term residency and family accompaniment.
Automobile Transportation, Railway, Forestry, and Wood Industry: These four sectors were added to the SSW (i) program in 2024 to address urgent labor shortages, but as of now, they do not yet have an established SSW (ii) track.
What Makes SSW (ii) Different?
Family: You are permitted to bring your spouse and children to Japan.
Permanent Residency: Time spent on an SSW (ii) visa counts toward the 10-year requirement for permanent residency.
Skill Level: You must pass a much more difficult "Level 2" skill exam or hold a high-level national certification (like the Grade 1 National Trade Skill Test)
