Companies that accept Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) foreign nationals in the construction field must meet, in addition to the common rules under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, extra requirements set by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) (国土交通省). These are: a construction business license (建設業許可), registration with the Construction Career Up System (建設キャリアアップシステム, CCUS), membership in the Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (建設技能人材機構, JAC), a monthly salary, and certification of a “Construction Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Plan (建設特定技能受入計画)” by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. In this article, we have rechecked these requirements against materials published by MLIT and the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁) and set them out in order.
[Updated October 9, 2026] We reviewed the content based on the field-specific operational policy (分野別運用方針) adopted by Cabinet decision on January 23, Reiwa 8 (2026), and MLIT’s Operational Guidelines (運用要領) and application guide, and added sections on the process and timeline from the acceptance plan application to the start of work; reports, training and monitoring visits after acceptance; the relationship with Employment for Skill Development (育成就労); and what to expect when you engage our office.
Sources: “Policy on the Operation of the System Relating to the Residence Status of Specified Skilled Worker and Policy on the Operation of the System Relating to Employment for Skill Development in the Construction Field” (Cabinet decision of January 23, Reiwa 8 (2026)); Ministry of Justice and MLIT, “Operational Guidelines on the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Worker Foreign Nationals in Specific Fields: Standards for the Construction Field” (partially revised January 31, Reiwa 7 (2025)); MLIT, “On Online Applications for Construction Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Plans [New]” (April 4, 2025) and “Specified Skilled Worker System (Construction Field) FAQ” (updated April 4, 2025); Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Specified Skilled Worker System (Construction Field),” “Total Period of Stay,” “On When Confirmation of Japanese Proficiency at ‘B1 Level or Higher’ Begins,” “Notifications by Specified Skilled Worker Accepting Organizations and Registered Support Organizations,” and “On the Ministerial Ordinance Amendment Effective April 1, Reiwa 7 (2025)”; Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), a general incorporated association, “FAQ” and “Manual for Accepting Foreign Nationals”; The Japan Foundation, “JFT-Basic” brochure (August 2026); Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Approval Procedures for Application Agents” and “How to Complete the Periodic Notification and Points to Note”; e-Gov Laws and Regulations Search, “Administrative Scriveners Act”
One-stop support for construction companies. From applications to MLIT for acceptance plan certification (only attorneys and administrative scriveners may act as agents) and CCUS registration to preparing residence status application documents, our office, which is both an administrative scrivener (gyoseishoshi) office and a Registered Support Organization (登録支援機関), handles everything together. Labor and social insurance matters, financial statements and tax filings, and legal issues are also accepted through our office, working with our partner certified social insurance and labor consultants (社会保険労務士), certified public tax accountants (税理士) and attorneys.
The Construction Field Has Many “Special Rules”
Of the 19 Specified Skilled Worker fields, the construction field has many additional requirements of its own that do not exist in other fields. 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 (建設業法)
[Updated October 9, 2026] The operational policy for the construction field adopted by Cabinet decision on December 25, Heisei 30 (2018) has been abolished. The current basis is the “Policy on the Operation of the System Relating to the Residence Status of Specified Skilled Worker and Policy on the Operation of the System Relating to Employment for Skill Development in the Construction Field,” adopted by Cabinet decision on January 23, Reiwa 8 (2026). The details of the standards specific to the construction field are set out in an MLIT public notice (MLIT Public Notice No. 357 of Heisei 31 (2019)) and in the Operational Guidelines of the Ministry of Justice and MLIT.
List of Requirements Specific 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 wages are not permitted | Daily wages permitted |
| Cap on the number accepted | No more than the total number of full-time staff | 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 |
Other requirements include not having received a supervisory disposition, advertising the job through Hello Work, post-acceptance training, cooperating with monitoring visits, and issuing a document certifying the worker’s practical experience. These are summarized in the table under “Main Points Examined in Certification” below.
A Construction Business License Is a Prerequisite
To accept Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals in the construction field, the accepting company must hold a construction business license under the Construction Business Act.
The field-specific operational policy lists “having obtained a license under Article 3 of the Construction Business Act” as the very first condition imposed on Specified Skilled Worker accepting organizations. A company that only undertakes “minor construction work” of less than ¥5 million (less than ¥15 million for building construction work (建築一式工事), etc.) can operate without a license, but in that state it cannot accept Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals.
MLIT’s FAQ states that even if the type of business covered by the license does not match the occupation the foreign national will be assigned to, a company that holds any construction business license does not need to obtain an additional license of the matching type. On the other hand, a company that has received an instruction order, a business suspension order or a license revocation cannot accept workers for 5 years from that disposition.
For companies that do not yet hold a license, the order of steps and the time needed from obtaining the license to acceptance plan certification and the residence application are explained in detail in Accepting Specified Skilled Workers Requires a Construction Business License | From Obtaining the License to Acceptance Plan Certification and the Residence Application.
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 the qualifications they hold. For Specified Skilled Worker in the construction field, the following registrations are mandatory.
| Target | Registration Content | Timing of Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Business operator registration | Register the accepting company’s information | Must be completed before applying for acceptance plan certification (you cannot apply while registration is pending) |
| Skilled worker registration | Register the Specified Skilled Worker foreign national’s information | For people already in Japan, at the time of the certification application; for people coming from abroad, in principle within 1 month after entry |
Registering with CCUS makes skilled workers’ employment records “visible,” which helps secure proper treatment and clarify career paths.
There are two types of skilled worker registration: simplified and detailed. Either is acceptable, but if pay raises or allowances are tied to moving up CCUS levels, you need the detailed type, which allows level assessment (Operational Guidelines). Registration fees for skilled workers applying online are ¥2,500 for the simplified type and ¥4,900 for the detailed type. The business operator registration fee depends on the company’s capital (¥6,000 for capital of less than ¥5 million), and the administrator ID usage fee is ¥11,400 per ID per year (Construction Career Up System).
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 (FY Reiwa 5 (2023)) |
[Updated October 9, 2026] JAC’s regular members are construction industry associations; individual companies do not become regular members. An accepting company chooses one of two routes: belonging to JAC indirectly by joining a construction industry association that is a JAC regular member, or joining JAC directly as a supporting member (Operational Guidelines). As of October Reiwa 8 (2026), the annual fee for supporting members is still ¥240,000. Separately, an acceptance contribution (受入負担金) of ¥12,500 per month is charged for each Specified Skilled Worker (i) (特定技能1号) foreign national (for the period they work under (i); JAC “FAQ”). If you join through a regular member organization, the fees differ by organization.
Caution: The cost of JAC membership is borne by the accepting company. It cannot be passed on to the foreign national.
The JAC membership certificate is required for the acceptance plan application, and you cannot apply while your membership application is still pending. For supporting members, it takes about 1 month from application to issuance of the membership certificate (MLIT FAQ).
The Obligation to Pay a Monthly Salary
In the construction field, compensation for Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals is required to be paid as a monthly salary. Daily and hourly wage arrangements are not permitted.
This measure is intended to secure stable compensation for foreign nationals, given that in the construction industry the number of working days easily fluctuates with the weather and other factors.
Important: The monthly salary must be equal to or higher than the monthly compensation of a Japanese skilled worker with equivalent skills.
The Operational Guidelines and MLIT’s FAQ explain the specifics as follows.
- What a monthly salary means — An amount calculated on a one-month basis (base pay and allowances paid as a fixed amount every month), paid together with overtime pay and the like. Even if other staff at the company are not paid monthly, Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals must be.
- Treatment of days off — Absences for the worker’s own reasons may be deducted, but a site shutdown due to the company’s circumstances or the weather cannot be treated as an absence. For leave attributable to the employer, at least 60% of average wages must be paid (Labor Standards Act).
- Recognition of experience — A worker who has completed Technical Intern Training (技能実習) (ii) is treated as having roughly 3 years’ experience, and one who has completed (iii) roughly 5 years’. Pay is set by comparison with Japanese skilled workers with the same experience.
- Pay raises and bonuses — Raises in line with skill development, such as annual raises, must be stated in the employment contract and the acceptance plan. Bonuses, allowances and retirement benefits must also be at least equal to those of employees on indefinite-term contracts.
- Method of payment — Payment by transfer to a bank account (or digital payment), with the worker’s prior consent.
Certification of the Construction Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Plan
In the construction field, before 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.
[Updated October 9, 2026] To be precise, once you have applied for certification of the acceptance plan, you can file the residence status application with immigration in parallel without waiting for certification. However, a copy of the acceptance plan certificate is required for immigration to grant permission or issue a certificate, so residence status will not be granted until certification is issued (Operational Guidelines; MLIT “Application Guide”).
Main Points Examined in Certification
- Holding a construction business license
- Being a member of JAC
- Being registered with CCUS
- Paying a monthly salary
- Securing stable compensation
- Presenting a career path that makes use of the Construction Career Up System
[Updated October 9, 2026] Of the 6 items above, item 6 does not match the wording of the certification requirements in the public notice. The acceptance plan must state goals for occupational safety and health education and for skill acquisition during the worker’s stay, and companies are required to work toward improving the worker’s skills (for example, aiming for Grade 2 of the National Trade Skills Test (技能検定) within 3 years of acceptance and Grade 1 within 5 years). The main certification conditions set out in the public notice and MLIT’s application guide are as follows.
| Category | Main Certification Conditions |
|---|---|
| The company | Holding a license under Article 3 of the Construction Business Act / Having completed CCUS business operator registration / Belonging to JAC or one of its regular member organizations and observing its code of conduct / Not having received a supervisory disposition under the Construction Business Act within the 5 years before the application date or thereafter / Making efforts to secure domestic workers, such as advertising the job through Hello Work / Keeping the number of (i) workers within the total number of full-time staff |
| Treatment of the foreign national | Stably paying compensation equal to or higher than that of a Japanese worker with equivalent skills, raising pay as skills develop, and stating this in the employment contract / Explaining important matters before concluding the employment contract in a language the foreign national fully understands / Registering the foreign national with CCUS |
| After acceptance | Reporting the start and end of acceptance, etc. to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism / Following the prime contractor’s instructions when working on a project as a subcontractor / Having the foreign national attend post-acceptance training |
How to Apply and How Long It Takes
The acceptance plan is applied for online through MLIT’s “Foreign Worker Employment Management System (外国人就労管理システム).” MLIT’s FAQ limits who may act as an agent for this application to attorneys and administrative scriveners.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| When you can apply | From roughly 6 months before the employment start date (when moving directly from Technical Intern Training, from 6 months before the completion date of the technical intern training) |
| Time to certification | About one and a half to two months (excluding time spent on corrections). Several months longer in some regions |
| Main attachments | Certificate of registered matters (登記事項証明書), documents showing the number of full-time staff, construction business license certificate, CCUS business operator ID, JAC membership certificate, Hello Work job posting (within 1 year of the application date), wage ledgers for Japanese employees, employment contract and statement of employment conditions (雇用条件書), Advance Explanation of Important Matters (重要事項事前説明書), etc. |
| Application to immigration | As a guideline, 2–3 months before the desired start date of work (MLIT) |
If the statement of employment conditions, the Advance Explanation of Important Matters and the information entered into the system do not match, you will be asked to make corrections (Application Guide).
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, concrete pumping, tunnel jacking, earthwork, rebar work, etc. |
| Building construction | Interior finishing, wall covering, plastering, roofing, telecommunications, etc. |
| Lifelines and equipment | Piping, architectural sheet metal work, thermal insulation, electrical work, etc. |
[Updated October 9, 2026] “Telecommunications,” listed in the “Building construction” row of the table above, belongs to the lifelines and equipment category. The lifelines and equipment category is defined as work “relating to the development, installation, modification or repair of telecommunications, gas, water, electricity and other lifelines and equipment, etc.” (field-specific operational policy, Appended Table 1). Through a revision of the policy by Cabinet decision on August 30, Reiwa 4 (2022), the previous detailed job categories were consolidated into three categories: civil engineering, building construction, and lifelines and equipment.
The tests required for (i) are the Construction Field Specified Skilled Worker (i) Evaluation Test for each job category (or the corresponding Grade 3 of the National Trade Skills Test) and a Japanese language test (the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) or the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) at N4 or above). People who have satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii) in the construction field are exempt from the skills test in the corresponding job category. Anyone who has satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii) is also exempt from the Japanese language test, regardless of occupation. The January Reiwa 8 (2026) field-specific operational policy expresses the required Japanese level as A2.2 or higher on the “Japanese Language Education Reference Framework (日本語教育の参照枠).” The Japan Foundation states that a JFT-Basic result assessed at A2.2 (A2) can be used for a Specified Skilled Worker (i) application. For an overview of the tests, see Specified Skilled Worker Exam Guide | Test Content by Sector and Japanese Language Requirements; for moving from Technical Intern Training, see Procedures for Moving from Technical Intern Training to Specified Skilled Worker | Conditions for Test Exemption.
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 staff (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.
[Updated October 9, 2026] The benchmark is not the number of “full-time skilled workers” but the total number of “full-time staff” (常勤の職員). Specified Skilled Worker (i) foreign nationals and technical intern trainees are excluded from the count. Under the January Reiwa 8 (2026) field-specific operational policy, Employment for Skill Development workers are also excluded, and companies that qualify as excellent Employment for Skill Development implementing organizations meeting the standards of the competent ministerial ordinance are exempt from this cap (Employment for Skill Development begins on April 1, Reiwa 9 (2027)). MLIT’s application guide states that, among people enrolled in social insurance (including Construction National Health Insurance (建設国保)), the following are counted. The count is not limited to skilled workers.
- Full-time officers whose remuneration is at or above a certain level
- Japanese employees who are not short-time workers such as part-timers
- Foreign employees who are not short-time workers and whose residence status is not Specified Skilled Worker (i), Technical Intern Training, or Designated Activities (for those scheduled to move to Specified Skilled Worker (i), etc.)
For example, a company with 1 full-time officer and 9 Japanese employees meeting the above conditions can accept up to 10 Specified Skilled Worker (i) foreign nationals.
Reports, Training and Notifications Required After Acceptance
In the construction field, MLIT remains involved after acceptance. The main procedures are as follows.
| Procedure | Details | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance report | Report to MLIT through the Foreign Worker Employment Management System | Within 1 month after acceptance begins |
| Submission of CCUS skilled worker ID | Submit a copy of the CCUS card of workers who entered from abroad | In principle within 1 month after entry |
| Post-acceptance training | Have the worker attend training by the proper employment monitoring organization (適正就労監理機関), the Foundation for International Transfer of Skills and Knowledge in Construction (一般財団法人国際建設技能振興機構, FITS). Treated as a working day; the training fee (¥15,400 per person) is borne by JAC (for training from March Reiwa 5 (2023) onward) | Roughly 3–6 months after acceptance |
| Monitoring visits (巡回指導) | FITS visits the company and checks wage ledgers, etc. It interviews the foreign national in their native language without company staff present | In principle at least once a year |
| Site entry notification | When entering a site as a subcontractor, submit the “Site Entry Notification for Specified Skilled Worker (i) Foreign Nationals (一号特定技能外国人現場入場届出書)” to the prime contractor | On entering the site |
| Reports on resignation, etc. | Report to MLIT when the worker resigns, moves to (ii), or has difficulty continuing their activities | Promptly |
Prime contractors also have a role in checking the residence status and work situation of Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals accepted by their subcontractors (field-specific operational policy). How prime contractors check and give guidance is set out in MLIT’s Subcontractor Guidance Guidelines (下請指導ガイドライン).
Notifications under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act are also required separately. Ad hoc notifications must be filed within 14 days from the date the event occurred. Under the ministerial ordinance amendment effective April 1, Reiwa 7 (2025), the periodic notification became annual: the period from April 1 to March 31 of the following year is reported by May 31 of the following year. The same amendment requires a “Cooperation Confirmation Form (協力確認書)” to be submitted at the time of acceptance to the municipalities where the place of business and the worker’s residence are located. Please also check the implementation of the support plan (Support Plan for Specified Skilled Worker (i)) and notifications to Hello Work (Notification Calendar for Companies Employing Foreign Nationals).
Requirements for Moving to Specified Skilled Worker (ii) in the Construction Field
To move to Specified Skilled Worker (ii) (特定技能2号) in the construction field, the following requirements must be met.
- Passing the Construction Field Specified Skilled Worker (ii) Evaluation Test, or passing Grade 1 of the National Trade Skills Test
- Practical experience as a team leader (experience working at certain construction sites)
Once you move to (ii), there is no longer a cap on the period of stay, and you can also bring your family.
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
[Updated October 9, 2026] In addition to the Construction Field Specified Skilled Worker (ii) Evaluation Test, the skills test can be Grade 1 or the single grade (技能検定単一等級) of the National Trade Skills Test specified for each job category. Practical experience as a team leader means “practical experience as a person who works at a construction site while instructing multiple construction skilled workers and manages the work schedule (team leader, 班長)”; it is not simply experience of working on site. This experience is confirmed by the number of working days accumulated in CCUS (as foreman (職長) plus team leader). The number of days required is the number of working days equivalent to Level 3 for occupations that have CCUS skill evaluation criteria, and 3 years (645 days) or more for occupations that do not. If the worker has obtained Level 3 in the CCUS skill evaluation, a copy of the result notice can be used to prove the practical experience (Operational Guidelines).
As for Japanese, applications for a Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書) for (ii) filed on or after April 1, Reiwa 9 (2027) will require a level of “B1 or higher.” The start date for changes of residence status and extensions of the period of stay is said to be under consideration (Immigration Services Agency of Japan).
In addition, the total period of stay under (i) is 5 years in principle. Even if a worker fails the Construction Field Specified Skilled Worker (ii) Evaluation Test, if they meet requirements such as scoring at least 80% of the passing mark on all the tests required to move to (ii), and there are found to be reasonable grounds, they may be permitted to stay for up to 6 years in total (applies to result notices for tests taken on or after December 1, 2025). For an overview of (ii), see Expansion of the Fields Covered by Specified Skilled Worker (ii) | The 11 Fields That Opened a Path to Permanent Residence.
When Employment for Skill Development Begins
On April 1, Reiwa 9 (2027), Employment for Skill Development will begin, replacing Technical Intern Training. Employment for Skill Development in the construction field will also require a construction business license, CCUS registration, membership in the council (協議会) (belonging to JAC or similar counts as membership) and the cap on numbers accepted, and the restriction period for transfer at the worker’s own request is 2 years (field-specific operational policy).
The projected numbers of acceptances are 76,000 for Specified Skilled Worker (i) over the 5 years from FY Reiwa 6 (2024), and 123,500 for Employment for Skill Development over the 2 years from FY Reiwa 9 (2027); both are applied as upper limits on acceptance. For the system as a whole, see What Is Employment for Skill Development; for the example of the food service industry, where acceptance stopped after reaching the cap, see Specified Skilled Worker 2026 Changes.
When You Engage Our Office
Specified Skilled Worker in the construction field involves several separate offices: the prefecture (construction business license), MLIT (acceptance plan), CCUS, JAC, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and Hello Work.
Our office handles all of a construction company’s concerns on a one-stop basis. Procedures such as the acceptance plan, CCUS, residence status and the construction business license are handled together by our office as an administrative scrivener. Because a single office is in charge, it is also easier to keep the statement of employment conditions, the Advance Explanation of Important Matters and the residence application consistent. Labor and social insurance matters are handled in cooperation with our partner certified social insurance and labor consultants, financial statements and tax filings with our partner certified public tax accountants, and legal issues with our partner attorneys. Bookkeeping is done by our office.
How We Differ from Ordinary Registered Support Organizations: Procedures an Administrative Scrivener Can Handle for You
Support for Specified Skilled Worker (i) foreign nationals can be entrusted to a Registered Support Organization, but being a Registered Support Organization does not mean it can prepare documents on your behalf. Preparing documents for submission to government agencies for a fee is the work of administrative scriveners (and attorneys) (Article 1-3 and Article 19(1) of the Administrative Scriveners Act). Our office is an administrative scrivener office and also a Registered Support Organization.
| Procedure | Ordinary Registered Support Organization | Our Office |
|---|---|---|
| Providing support to Specified Skilled Worker (i) foreign nationals | Yes | Yes |
| Acting as agent for MLIT acceptance plan certification applications and post-acceptance reports | No (only attorneys and administrative scriveners may act as agents) | Yes (we have actually filed many applications as agent) |
| Preparing residence status application documents | No (this is the work of administrative scriveners and attorneys) | Yes (our representative is an administrative scrivener who has filed the notification to act as an application agent (申請取次)) |
| Preparing the accepting company’s periodic and ad hoc notification documents | No (the Immigration Services Agency does not allow preparation by Registered Support Organizations that are not administrative scriveners or attorneys) | Yes |
In addition, our office handles CCUS registration on your behalf, and we can also help you join JAC. For companies that do not yet hold a construction business license, we can take care of everything starting from obtaining the license.
- 98% approval rate
- On the front line of acceptance as chair of a cooperative association — Our representative previously served as chair of a cooperative association (協同組合) (a supervising organization (監理団体) and Registered Support Organization), standing on the front line of accepting technical intern trainees and Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals and handling their procedures and support. He is now an adviser to that cooperative association.
- Even if this is your first foreign hire — Our representative served as a consultant on employing foreign nationals (advising on residence status and related matters) at the Chiba Public Employment Security Office (Hello Work Chiba), and has many times advised companies hiring a foreign national for the first time.
- On recruitment — For Specified Skilled Worker personnel, we work together with your company on job postings through Hello Work, JAC’s job listings and similar channels. Acceptance under Employment for Skill Development (currently Technical Intern Training) is handled in cooperation with the cooperative association (supervising organization) to which our representative serves as adviser. Engineers in areas such as construction management and design can be introduced in cooperation with the cooperative association.
The first consultation is free for 60 minutes. Online consultations are also available. Our office is a 4-minute walk from the South Exit of JR Chiba Station, and consultations are available in Japanese and Chinese.
Summary
- Specified Skilled Worker in the construction field carries additional requirements: a construction business license, CCUS registration, JAC membership, a monthly salary, a cap on numbers and certification of the acceptance plan. The basis is the field-specific operational policy adopted by Cabinet decision on January 23, Reiwa 8 (2026), together with MLIT’s public notice and Operational Guidelines.
- Certification of the acceptance plan takes about one and a half to two months. The immigration application can be filed in parallel, but a copy of the certificate is required for permission or issuance.
- You belong to JAC through a regular member organization or join as a supporting member (annual fee ¥240,000). An acceptance contribution of ¥12,500 per month is charged for each (i) worker.
- The number of (i) workers must not exceed the total number of “full-time staff.” The count is not limited to skilled workers and is based on factors such as social insurance enrollment.
- After acceptance, the acceptance report, post-acceptance training, monitoring visits and notifications to immigration continue. Moving to (ii) requires passing the tests and practical experience as a team leader confirmed through CCUS.
This article is based on information published as of October 2026. Requirements, costs and processing times may change, so please check the latest information on the websites of MLIT, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and the Japan Association for Construction Human Resources.