Japan Skilled Worker Visa: 7 Easy Steps to Apply in 2025

Introduction: Unlock Your Career in Japan

Do you have a dream to work in the Land of the Rising Sun? An aging workforce and increasing labor shortage in key industry sectors have seen Japan actively recruit foreign workers!1 The Japan Skilled Worker Visa, formally referred to as the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa, is your own fast-track skilled migration route to a high-paying job in high-demand industries.

This is a detailed guide to the Japan work visa requirements, and it incorporates a simple and step-by-step procedure on how to apply for the Japan Skilled Worker Visa. We will unravel the two types of SSW, point out the best Japan visa sponsorship jobs in the foreign country, and make sure that you are armed with all the data-driven knowledge necessary to successfully get your SSW Visa Japan and live a life of prosperity in your new home.

What is the Japan Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa?

Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa is a visa developed by the Japanese government to solve the acute labor shortage, especially in some areas where it is hard to attract human resources in the country.3 It is available in two kinds:

Specified Skilled Worker Category 1 (SSW-I)

• Purpose: For foreigners engaged in work that requires skills and knowledge equivalent to considerable experience.⁵ This is the primary pathway for most applicants.
• Stay Duration: Up to 5 years (renewable annually).⁶
• Family Accompaniment: Generally Not Allowed.⁷
• Key Requirement: Pass the industry-specific Skills Test and a Japanese language test (usually JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic).⁸

Specified Skilled Worker Category 2 (SSW-II)

• Purpose: For highly skilled workers with a high level of expertise.⁹ This category is an upgrade from SSW-I.¹⁰
• Stay Duration: Indefinite (renewable), offering a pathway to Permanent ^{Residency 11}
• Family Accompaniment: Allowed (spouse and children). .¹²
• Key Requirement: Higher-level skill assessment and proven work experience.¹³

Feature	SSW Category 1 (SSW-I)	SSW Category 2 (SSW-II)
Duration	Up to 5 years	Indefinite (Renewable)
Family	No Dependents	Family Accompaniment Allowed
Pathway	Entry-Level Skilled Work	Advanced/Highly Skilled Work, PR Pathway
Language	Basic (JLPT N4 / JFT-Basic)	Advanced (Not always mandatory, but expected)

High-Demand Japan Skilled Worker Visa Jobs

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The SSW visa covers 12-14 designated industries experiencing a critical Japan labor shortage.¹⁴ If you have skills in these areas, you’re looking at high-demand jobs in Japan for foreigners with visa support.

• Nursing Care: Critical due to Japan’s aging population.¹⁵ Roles include caregivers in hospitals and elderly facilities.¹⁶ (Japan nursing care visa jobs)
• Construction: Essential for infrastructure and civil engineering projects.¹⁷ Includes carpentry, masonry, and equipment operation.¹⁸ (Japan construction worker visa)
• Food Service Industry: Roles in restaurants, hotels, and catering.¹⁹
• Agriculture: Farming, livestock management, and operating modern machinery.²⁰ (Japan agriculture visa)
• Manufacture of Food and Beverages: Production and processing roles.²¹ (Japan manufacturing sector jobs)
• Accommodation Industry: Hotel staff, front desk, and hospitality roles.²²
• Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry
• Automobile Repair and Maintenance
• Aviation Industry (Ground handling, aircraft maintenance)²³
• Fishery and Aquaculture
• Building Cleaning Management
• Industrial Machinery/Electric, Electronics, and Information Industries

Data Insight: The median monthly salary of SSW employees is typically between 200,000 and 300,000 JPY (around 24 USD 1,300- 2,000 USD), and this salary should be compensated at a minimum of equal to the Japanese salary in the same position (legal).

Step-by-Step: Apply for Japan Skilled Worker Visa

The process to get your Japan Skilled Worker Visa is structured and requires cooperation between you and your sponsoring employer in Japan. Follow these steps precisely:

Step 1: Secure a Job and Sponsorship

You start by getting a full-time Japan visa sponsorship employment with a registered Japanese employer in one of the SSW-designated industries.26 Your sponsor will be the employer and will complete the most critical steps in the application process in Japan.27 This is the main difference between a Japanese work visa to having no degree (which is not possible in SSW-I).

Step 2: Pass the Skills and Language Tests

Before you can formally apply for the Japan Skilled Worker Visa, you must demonstrate both language and technical competence.²⁸

• Japanese Language Proficiency: You must pass the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) or achieve the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 certificate ²⁹

• Skills Test: Pass the mandatory, industry-specific skills assessment test (e.g., Japan SSW exams) for your chosen field (Japan SSW Category 1 jobs).³⁰

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

Begin collecting your personal documents. Your employer will handle their corporate documents.³¹

• Valid Passport³²
• Completed Visa Application Form (download from the Japanese Embassy/Consulate website)³³
• Passport-sized Photo (4cm x 3cm, taken within the last 3 months)³⁴
• Employment Contract/Job Offer³⁵
• Proof of passing the Skills and Language Tests 36
• Medical Examination Report 37

Step 4: Employer Applies for the COE

This is the most crucial step, handled by your Japanese employer. They apply for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at the regional Immigration Services Agency of Japan on your behalf.³⁸ The COE proves that you meet the entry requirements and the job is legitimate.³⁹ This process can take 1–3 months.

Step 5: Receive the COE and Apply for the Visa

Once approved, the COE is sent to your employer, who will then forward the original (or electronic copy) to you.⁴⁰ With the COE in hand, you will submit your complete application package to the nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your home country.⁴¹

Step 6: Attend Interview (If Required)

Some embassies or consulates may require an interview to verify your intent, qualifications, and knowledge of the job.⁴² Be prepared to discuss your role, skills, and plans in Japan.

Step 7: Receive Visa and Depart for Japan

Once approved, the visa will be affixed to your passport. You need to get to Japan within three months of the date of the issuance of the COE. After arrival, your landing permit will be issued instead of a visa and you will be issued with your Residence Card 43

Essential Eligibility and Requirements (SSW-I)

To qualify for Japan Skilled Worker Visa eligibility (SSW-I), you must meet the following baseline requirements:

• Age: Be 18 years or older.⁴⁴
• Skills: Pass the industry-specific skill proficiency test.⁴⁵
• Language: Achieve at least JLPT N4 or pass the JFT-Basic. ⁴⁶
• Employment: Have a confirmed job offer and Japan visa sponsorship process with a registered Japanese employer in an SSW-designated sector ⁴⁷

• Health/Character: Be in good health and have a clean criminal record ⁴⁸

 Important Note: Foreign nationals who have satisfactorily completed the Technical Intern Training (ii) program are generally exempt from the skills and language tests when switching to the SSW-I status in the same field.⁴⁹ This is a common Japan skilled migration pathway.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the pay level of SSW positions?

Salaries are also required to be at least the amount a Japanese worker would earn in the same position, but are typically between 200,000 and 300,000 yen per month before taxes.50

Is it possible to bring my family under the Japan Skilled Worker Visa?

No, only the Specified Skilled Worker Category 2 (SSW-II) gives you a chance to invite immediate family (spouse and children).52 SSW-I does not.

Is a degree required for the Japan Skilled Worker Visa?

No. The SSW visa does not demand a university degree, as opposed to the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa. It pays special attention to established technical abilities and experience. This is why it is a perfect path towards a Japan work visa without a degree.

What is the total time of the application process?

The whole process may take 3 to 5 months, the longest part of which is the COE approval (13 months).