Employer-linked work route for approved Specified Skilled Worker fields.
Route overview
Specified Skilled Worker (i) / (ii)
Typical timeline / duration: SSW(i) is normally limited to five years in total; SSW(ii) can be renewed. Work is limited to the approved field and employer.
Important notes
A job in an eligible Specified Skilled Worker field with a Japanese accepting organisation.
Pass the relevant field skills test and Japanese-language test, generally JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or higher, subject to field exceptions.
Employment contract, passport, application documents, and the Certificate of Eligibility or other consular evidence required for the status.
The employer must meet the accepting-organisation and support obligations for the relevant SSW category.
SSW(i) and SSW(ii) differ in fields, duration, family accompaniment, and progression; do not treat them as one identical route.
The route is tied to the approved field and employment activity; changing work normally requires immigration approval.
In force for residence-change or extension applications received from 1 October 2026: fees depend on the period granted. For a one-year permission, the counter fee is JPY 33,000; online it is JPY 27,000 plus a separate transaction charge. These are in-Japan residence-procedure fees, not a universal consular visa fee.
Applications received by 30 September 2026 retain the previous change/extension fees—JPY 6,000 at the counter or JPY 5,500 online—even if approved later. Follow the approval/payment notice, check other duration bands and ask about any case-specific fee reduction.
Preparation checklist
Confirm the eligible industry, accepting organisation, job offer and whether SSW(i) or SSW(ii) fits your case.
Prepare the relevant skill-test and Japanese-language evidence, employment contract and the employer's acceptance/support documents.
Follow the COE and consular visa process for entry; for a later in-Japan extension or change, check the receipt-date and granted-duration fee band.
Confirm family, total-stay, employer-change and renewal conditions for your actual SSW category before making commitments.