Specified Skilled Visas For Japan

Specified Skilled Visas 特定技能

• Types of Visa
• Requirements
• Applicable Industries
• N4 Level of Japanese
• General Visa Information
• Living in Japan

SSV1 & SSV2

From April 1, 2019 the Japanese government introduced new visas known as Specified Skilled Visas (tokutei ginou, 特定技能) to address labor shortages in various industries. These visas will be available to people from certain countries wishing to work in Japan.

Over 345,000 foreign workers will be allowed to enter Japan under the new conditions.

Types of Visa

Two types of visa are available Specified Skills Visa 1 - SSV1 and Specified Skills Visa 2 - SSV2.

Specified Skills Visa 1 - SSV1 特定技能1号

The SSV1 will be for a period of five years and will allow for limited renewals. Entrants will NOT be allowed to bring family members.

Requirements

Entrants will be required to take a test in Japanese language proficiency and show evidence of skills, training and experience in their industry. The new test is the Japan Foundation Japanese Basic Test (国際交流基金日本語基礎テスト) and is answered on a computer. It consists of both reading and listening comprehension, grammar and vocabulary.

Applicants will need to reach a level of N4 (equivalent to understanding about 160 basic kanji characters plus being able to understand some basic conversational Japanese).

The tests will be held in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

See below for further details on the N4 Level of Japanese fluency.

Specified Skilled Visas are expected to attract many workers into Japan's vast construction industry

Applicable Industries

• agriculture
• airport ground handling & aircraft maintenance
• building cleaning
• construction
• electronics and electric machinery
• fisheries
• food and beverage
• hotels & hospitality
• industrial machinery
• materials processing
• nursing care
• restaurants & catering
• shipbuilding
• vehicle maintenance

* The new visas would also allow workers to work in the ongoing Fukushima nuclear clean up operation.

Specified Skills Visa 2 - SSV2 特定技能2号

The SSV2 (beginning in 2021) allows holders of this visa to bring family members and can be renewed indefinitely.

Holders of the SSV1 can apply to change their visa status to the SSV2.

Currently this visa is available only in the fields of construction and shipbuilding but is liable to be expanded to other types of employment.

Holders of the SSV2 visa can also apply for permanent residency (usually granted after 10 years) and a zairyu card.

For both types of visa employers are required to pay workers at a level equal to or greater than their Japanese co-workers.

Visa holders on the Technical Intern Training Program are eligible to apply for this new visa.

Further information on the new visas can be found at the Japanese embassy or consulate in prospective applicants own countries.

Alternatively visit the Ministry of Justice website at www.moj.go.jp with information in English and other languages.

English information is here

N4 Level of Japanese

The N4 level of Japanese is defined as follows:

The ability to understand basic Japanese.

Reading: able to read and understand passages on familiar daily topics written in basic vocabulary and kanji.

Listening: able to listen and comprehend conversations encountered in daily life and generally follow their contents, provided that they are spoken slowly.

N4 test sample question

See some sample questions here: www.jlpt.jp

In general the questions feature topics on daily life and cultural norms in Japan such as putting out the garbage, saying hello to your neighbors when you move in to a neighborhood and the like. The aim is one of encouraging integration.

See our Japan residents section for further information on living and working in Japan.

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