Specified Skilled Worker in Japan

Specified Skilled Worker · Japan visa route

skilled · last reviewed 2026-06 · all Japan routes

For sector roles where the applicant can meet skill and Japanese requirements.

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.

Official source

Official source: Japan Immigration Services Agency

Also look at similar visas from these countries

🇲🇾 Malaysia Employment Pass (EP) Open this route → 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Work visa / Iqama Open this route → 🇸🇬 Singapore S Pass Open this route → 🇮🇩 Indonesia Limited Stay Visa / ITAS for employment, including E23 work visa Open this route →

Visa rules change frequently. This page is a research guide, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the official source before applying.