Specified Skilled Workers (SSW)
The Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program—known in Japanese as Tokutei Ginou (特定技能)—is a visa status designed to let foreign nationals work in specific Japanese industries facing severe labor shortages.
Unlike the older “Technical Intern” program, which was officially for training, the SSW is a dedicated employment visa that grants you the same labor rights and salary standards as Japanese workers.
1. The Two Types of SSW Status
There are two levels to this visa. Most people start with SSW (i).
| Feature | SSW (i) – The Standard Start | SSW (ii) – The Advanced Level |
| Skill Level | Considerable knowledge/experience required. | Proficient skills + supervisory experience. |
| Max Stay | 5 Years total. | Indefinite (renewable indefinitely). |
| Family | generally Not allowed to bring family. | Allowed (Spouse and children). |
| Support | Mandatory support from the employer (housing, daily life). | No mandatory support required (you are independent). |
| Pathway | Can switch to SSW (ii) if you pass higher exams later. | Can lead to Permanent Residency. |
2. The 16 Target Industries
As of March 2024, the government expanded the list to 16 industries.
The Original 12 Fields:
- Construction
- Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery
- Automobile Maintenance
- Aviation (Ground handling, maintenance)
- Accommodation (Hotels/Ryokan)
- Agriculture
- Fisheries
- Food and Beverage Manufacturing
- Food Service (Restaurants)
- Nursing Care (Note: Has its own separate path to permanent residency)
- Building Cleaning
- Industrial Machinery / Electric / Electronics (Manufacturing)
The 4 New Fields (Added March 2024):
- Automobile Transport: Drivers for taxis, buses, and trucks.
- Railway: Train drivers, conductors, station staff, maintenance.
- Forestry
- Timber Industry
3. Requirements to Apply
To get this visa, you generally need to meet two main criteria unless you are transitioning from the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP).
A. Japanese Language Ability
- Requirement: JLPT N4 level or higher, OR the JFT-Basic (A2 level).
- Note: Nursing Care requires an additional technical Japanese vocabulary test.
B. Skills Proficiency Test
- You must pass a practical exam specific to the industry you want to work in (e.g., a cooking test for Food Service, a farming test for Agriculture).
- These tests are held in Japan and various countries abroad (Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, etc.).
C. The Exemption (TITP Route)
- If you have successfully completed 3 years of the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP / Gino Jisshu) in a related field, you are exempt from both the language and skills tests.
4. Key Benefits for Workers
- Direct Employment: You sign a contract directly with the company, not a broker or union.
- Job Switching: Unlike the Intern program, you are allowed to change jobs (companies) within the same industry if you are unhappy or find a better offer.
- Equal Pay: By law, your salary must be equal to or higher than a Japanese person doing the same job.
5. Important Recent Updates (2024-2025)
- SSW (ii) Expansion: Previously, only Construction and Shipbuilding allowed you to stay indefinitely (SSW ii). Now, almost all original fields have an SSW (ii) pathway, meaning this visa can now effectively lead to a life-long career in Japan.
- TITP Replacement: The government is currently replacing the old “Technical Intern” system with a new “Training and Employment” system (likely starting 2027), which is designed specifically to feed workers into the SSW pipeline more smoothly.
How can I help you next?
Would you like me to find the current test schedule for a specific industry (like Food Service or Agriculture) to see when the next exam is happening?
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