What is a Specific Skilled Worker?

This is a system for accepting foreigners who have a certain level of expertise and skills and are ready to work in the industrial field where it is difficult to secure human resources in Japan.
”Specific Skilled Worker” include "Specific Skilled Worker(ⅰ)" and "Specific Skilled Worker(ⅱ)".
The fields for accepting foreigners by "Specific Skilled Worker(ⅰ)" (specific industry fields) are the following 14 fields, but the fields for accepting foreigners by "Specific Skilled Worker(ⅱ)" are "Construction Industry" and "Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry".

Nursing CareBuilding Cleaning ManagementMachine Parts and Tooling Industries
Industrial Machinery IndustryElectric, Electronics and Information IndustriesConstruction Industry
Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery IndustryAutomobile Repair and MaintenanceAviation Industry
Accommodation IndustryAgricultureFishery and Aquaculture Industries
Manufacture of Food and BeveragesFood Service Industry

Difference between ”Specific Skilled Worker(ⅰ)” and ”Specific Skilled Worker(ⅱ)”

The differences between "Specific Skilled Worker(ⅰ)" and "Specific Skilled Worker(ⅱ)" are as follows.

ItemSpecific Skilled Worker(ⅰ)Specific Skilled Worker(ⅱ)
Features of SSWThose who can work in Japan as a SSW must be over 18 years old in a good health, have the necessary occupational skills and Japanese language ability to
work immediately without receiving any particular training. 
Skills that are even more skilled than Specific Skilled Worker(ⅰ)
Acceptance field14 fields2 fields
Period of StayRenewed every 1 year, 6 months or 4 months, up to 5 years in totalRenewed every 3 year, 1 year, or 6 months, no limit on length of stay
Skill StandardsConfirmed by exams, etc. (those who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) are exempted from exams, etc.)Confirmed by exams, etc.
Japanese Language LevelProficiency in Japanese language required in daily life and at the workplace needs to be confirmed by exams, etc.No need to confirm by exams etc.
Accompanied by family membersbasically not permittedPossible if it meets the requirements(Spouse, child)
Necessity of support for SSWsAccepting organizations is obliged to provide support.Accepting organizations is not obliged to provide support.

Criteria required of the accepting organizations to accept foreigners

  1. Criteria required of the accepting organizations to accept foreigners with Specific Skilled Worker are as follows.
    (ⅰ)Appropriate employment contract with foreigners
    (ⅱ)The accepting organization itself is appropriate.
    (ⅲ)The accepting organization has a system to support foreigners.
    (ⅳ)The plan to support foreigners is appropriate.
  2. Obligations imposed on the accepting organization
    (ⅰ)Ensuring that the accepting organization fulfills the employment contract with the foreigner.
    (ⅱ)Appropriate support for foreigners by the accepting organization.
    (ⅲ)The accepting organization must make various notifications to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and Hello Work.
  3. Creation of Specific Skilled Worker(ⅰ) foreigner support plan
    The accepting organization that accept Specific Skilled Worker(ⅰ) foreigners need to create a support plan and provide support based on that plan so that the foreigners can work smoothly.
    The specific support contents are as follows.
  • Quoted from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan document "Initiatives to Accept New Foreign Nationals and for the Realization of Society of Harmonious Coexistence"

Flow prior to start of work as a "Specific Skilled Worker"

When hir a foreigner as a "Specific Skilled Worker", the flow is different from the normal employment of foreigners as follows.

  • Quoted from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan document "Initiatives to Accept New Foreign Nationals and for the Realization of Society of Harmonious Coexistence"

For those who are thinking of hiring foreigners as a Specific Skilled Worker

If you want to hire a foreigner as a Specific Skilled Worker, but it is difficult to support the foreigner in-house, you are allowed to use a registration support agency.
Employing a foreigner as a Specific Skilled Worker is more complicated than hiring a foreigner with another working visa.
Our office supports the employment of foreigners as a Specific Skilled Worker.

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