Specified Skilled Worker in the Construction Field | The Special Requirements of CCUS Registration and JAC Membership

The Construction Field Has Many “Special Rules”

Among the 19 fields of Specified Skilled Worker, the construction field has the strictest requirements. Numerous additional requirements unique to this field have been established that do not exist in other fields, and accepting companies need to understand them accurately.

Basis: “Policy on the Operation of the System Relating to the Residence Status of Specified Skilled Worker” (Construction Field), Construction Business Act

List of Requirements Unique to the Construction Field

Requirement	Content	Other Fields
Construction business license	The accepting company must hold a construction business license	Not required
CCUS registration	Registration is mandatory for both the business operator and the skilled worker	Not required
JAC membership	Membership in the Japan Association for Construction Human Resources is mandatory	Not required
Monthly salary	Daily wage payment is not permitted	Daily wages permitted
Cap on the number accepted	No more than the total number of full-time employees	No cap (*except nursing care)
Certification by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism	Certification of a Construction Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Plan is required	Not required

A Construction Business License Is a Prerequisite

To accept Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals in the construction field, it is a prerequisite that the accepting company holds a construction business license under the Construction Business Act.

For more on construction business licenses, please see our articles on construction business licensing.

The Obligation to Register with the Construction Career Up System (CCUS)

The Construction Career Up System (CCUS) is a system for registering and accumulating skilled workers’ employment histories and qualifications held. For Specified Skilled Worker in the construction field, the following registrations are mandatory.

Target	Registration Content
Business operator registration	Register the accepting company’s information
Skilled worker registration	Register the Specified Skilled Worker foreign national’s information

Registering with CCUS makes skilled workers’ employment records “visible,” which helps secure proper treatment and clarify career paths.

The Obligation to Join the Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC)

The Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), a general incorporated association, is an organization established to achieve proper and smooth acceptance of Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals in the construction field.

Accepting companies must join JAC as a regular member or a supporting member.

Membership Type	Target	Annual Membership Fee (guideline)
Regular member	Construction industry associations	Varies by association
Supporting member	Individual construction companies	¥240,000/year (FY2023)

Caution: The cost of JAC membership is borne by the accepting company. It cannot be passed on to the foreign national.

The Obligation to Pay a Monthly Salary

In the construction field, compensation for Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals is required to be on a monthly salary basis. Daily wage and hourly wage arrangements are not permitted.

This is a measure to secure stable compensation for foreign nationals, taking into account the nature of the construction industry, where the number of working days easily fluctuates due to weather and other factors.

Important: The monthly salary amount must be equal to or higher than the monthly compensation of a Japanese skilled worker with equivalent skills.

Certification of the Construction Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Plan

In the construction field, prior to applying to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, you must obtain certification of a “Construction Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Plan” from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Main Points Examined in Certification

1. Holding a construction business license
2. Being a member of JAC
3. Being registered with CCUS
4. Paying on a monthly salary basis
5. Securing stable compensation
6. Presenting a career path that makes use of the Construction Career Up System

Occupations Covered in the Construction Field

Under Specified Skilled Worker in the construction field, workers can engage in duties such as the following.

Category	Main Duties
Civil engineering	Formwork construction, concrete pumping, tunnel jacking, earthwork, rebar placement, etc.
Building construction	Interior finishing, wall covering, plastering, roofing, telecommunications, etc.
Lifelines and equipment	Piping, architectural sheet metal work, thermal insulation, electrical work, etc.

Cap on the Number of Workers Accepted

In the construction field, a cap is placed on the number of Specified Skilled Worker (i) foreign nationals that can be accepted.

The number accepted must be no more than the total number of full-time employees (skilled workers) at the accepting company.

For example, a company with 10 full-time skilled workers can accept up to 10 Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals.

Requirements for Transitioning to Specified Skilled Worker (ii) in the Construction Field

To transition to Specified Skilled Worker (ii) in the construction field, the following requirements must be met.

1. Passing the Construction Field Specified Skilled Worker (ii) evaluation test, or passing the Level 1 National Trade Skills Test
2. Having practical experience as a team leader (experience working at certain construction sites)

Once you transition to (ii), the cap on the period of stay is removed and accompaniment by family members also becomes possible.

Reference: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “On the Addition of Fields Covered by Specified Skilled Worker (ii)” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/ssw/03_00067.html

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