Complete Guide to the Specified Skilled Worker Visa | Differences Between (i) and (ii) and the 19 Eligible Sectors

What Is the Specified Skilled Worker System?

The Specified Skilled Worker system is a residence status created in April 2019 (Heisei 31) to respond to the worsening labor shortage. Through amendment of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, its purpose is to accept foreign talent with a certain level of expertise and skills as immediately effective workers.

Governing law: “Specified Skilled Worker” in Table 1-2 of the Appended Tables of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Article 2-5 of the Immigration Control Act)

Unlike conventional work visas, a major feature is that there is no educational background requirement and it can be obtained by passing tests.

Comparison of Specified Skilled Worker (i) and (ii)

Specified Skilled Worker has two types, “(i)” and “(ii)”, and the requirements and residence conditions differ greatly between them.

Item	Specified Skilled Worker (i)	Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
Skill level	Considerable knowledge or experience	Proficient skills
Japanese language ability	Confirmed by test, etc. (equivalent to N4 or above)	Not required (already confirmed under (i))
Period of stay	Up to 5 years in total	No upper limit (renewable)
Period of stay granted	1 year, 6 months, or 4 months	3 years, 1 year, or 6 months
Accompanying family members	Not permitted as a general rule	Permitted (spouse and children)
Support plan	Required	Not required
Application for permanent residence	Not counted toward the period of stay	Application possible if requirements are met
Changing jobs	Possible within the same sector	Possible within the same sector

List of the 19 Eligible Sectors

By the Cabinet decision of January 23, 2026 (Reiwa 8), the sector-specific operational policies were laid down as Annexes 1 through 19, and the sectors eligible for Specified Skilled Worker expanded from the previous 16 to 19 sectors. The three newly added sectors are linen supply, logistics warehouse and resource circulation. Separately, by the Cabinet decision of June 2023 (Reiwa 5), the sectors eligible for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) were substantially expanded. The current eligible sectors are as follows.

No.	Sector	(i)	(ii)
1	Nursing care	○	×(*1)
2	Building cleaning	○	○
3	Linen supply	○	×(*2)
4	Manufacture of industrial products	○	○
5	Construction	○	○
6	Shipbuilding and ship machinery	○	○
7	Automobile maintenance	○	○
8	Aviation	○	○
9	Accommodation	○	○
10	Automobile transportation	○	○
11	Railways	○	○
12	Logistics warehouse	○	×(*2)
13	Agriculture	○	○
14	Fishery	○	○
15	Manufacture of food and beverages	○	○
16	Food service	○	○
17	Forestry	○	○
18	Wood industry	○	○
19	Resource circulation	○	×(*2)

*1 The nursing care sector is not eligible for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) because a separate residence status of “Nursing Care” is provided. *2 For the three sectors of linen supply, logistics warehouse and resource circulation, the sector-specific operational policies adopted by the Cabinet decision of January 23, 2026 provide for Specified Skilled Worker (i) only.

Source: Immigration Services Agency, “Basic Policy, Sector-Specific Operational Policies and Operational Guidelines on the Specified Skilled Worker System” (Cabinet decision of January 23, 2026) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/ssw/nyuukokukanri01_00132.html

The tasks covered by the three new sectors, the reset acceptance projections and the suspension of new acceptance in the food service sector are explained in Specified Skilled Worker 2026 Changes: Expansion to 19 Sectors and the Food Service Suspension.

Differences Between Specified Skilled Worker and Other Residence Statuses

Item	Specified Skilled Worker (i)	Technical Intern Training	Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Purpose	Securing talent	Skill transfer (international contribution)	Specialized work
Educational requirement	None	None	University graduation, etc. required
Changing jobs	Possible within the same sector	Not permitted as a general rule	Free
Period of stay	5 years in total ((i))	Up to 5 years	No upper limit
Accompanying family members	Not permitted ((i))	Not permitted	Permitted
Form of acceptance	Direct employment	Through a supervising organization	Direct employment

Flow of Using the System

There are mainly two routes to obtaining the Specified Skilled Worker residence status.

Entry from Overseas (Application for a Certificate of Eligibility)

1. Pass the skills test and Japanese language test
2. Conclude an employment contract with the accepting company
3. Formulate a support plan for Specified Skilled Worker (i) foreign nationals
4. Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau
5. Issuance of the Certificate of Eligibility (screening period: roughly 1 to 3 months)
6. Apply for a visa at the Japanese diplomatic mission abroad
7. Enter Japan and start working

Change from Within Japan (Application for Permission to Change Status of Residence)

1. Pass the skills test and Japanese language test (or be exempted through completion of Technical Intern Training (ii))
2. Conclude an employment contract with the accepting company
3. Formulate a support plan for Specified Skilled Worker (i) foreign nationals
4. Apply for permission to change status of residence at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau
5. Permission for the change (screening period: roughly 1 to 3 months)
6. Start working

Reference: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “About the Specified Skilled Worker System” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/specifiedskilledworker.html

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