[For transportation companies] Specified skills visa

Updated: July 2025, 5

Updated: July 2025, 2

In April 2019, in order to alleviate the labor shortage, the Japanese government created a new residence status called "Specified Skilled Worker" to accept foreign nationals with certain skills as work-ready workers.

Initially, only 12 fields were eligible, but in March 2024, four more fields were added: "automobile transportation industry," "railway," "forestry," and "timber industry." This time, we will explain the "automobile transportation industry" field, where foreign nationals can be employed as truck drivers.

◆Table of Contents◆ [Close]

• 1 What is the specific skill "Automobile Transportation Industry"?
• 2 Application requirements for automobile transport business
• 3 About the Automobile Transportation Industry Specified Skills No. 1 Evaluation Test
• 4 About the Japanese Language Exam
• 5. How to get a driver's license
• 6 Recruitment process
• 7 Support for foreign nationals with specific skills
• 8 Things to be careful about when hiring

1 What is the specific skill "Automobile Transportation Industry"?

The automobile transportation industry is facing a serious labor shortage due to long working hours and an aging workforce. In particular, the labor shortage in the logistics industry is worsening due to the increase in e-commerce demand. In response to this, the truck transportation, taxi transportation, and bus transportation industries have begun accepting foreign workers with the "Specified Skills" residence status. Please note that only full-time direct employment is permitted as an employment form, and dispatching is not permitted.

[Available work]
◆ Driving a commercial vehicle
◆ General business associated with the above

Application requirements for automobile transport business

In order to employ foreign human resources in the specific skilled worker "automobile transportation industry" field, both the requirements of the applicant (the foreign national himself/herself) and the requirements of the accepting company must be met.

Requirements for applicants (job seekers)

• Skill level: Possess the knowledge or skills necessary for the work to be performed
• Japanese language ability: Possess the Japanese language ability necessary for living in Japan and the work to be performed

Requirements for host companies

• The company must be a "business operator of automobile transportation business" as defined in Article 2, Paragraph 2 of the Road Transportation Law.
• The company must be certified under the "Driver Workplace Environment Quality Certification System (Workplace Comfort Certification System)" or hold the "Safety Excellence Business" certification (G mark).
• The business falls under either "43 Road passenger transport industry" or "44 Road freight transport industry" of the Japanese Standard Industrial Classification.
• Join the Specific Skills Council for the Automobile Transportation Industry
• Conducting "new driver training" (for taxis and buses)
  *For trucks, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism requires that new drivers undergo "initial driver training."

About the Automobile Transportation Industry Specified Skills No. 1 Evaluation Test

In order for foreigners to work in the specific skills field of "automobile transportation industry," they must pass the "Automobile Transportation Industry Specified Skills No. 1 Evaluation Test."

Applications for this exam will begin being accepted from December 2024, 12.
There are two ways to administer the exam (on-site and CBT), with the on-site exam starting on December 2, 2024.

The outline of the exam is as follows:

• ①Automobile transport industry specific skill No. 1 evaluation test (truck)
• ② Automobile transport industry specific skills No. 1 evaluation test (taxi)
• ③Automobile transport industry specific skills No. 1 evaluation test (bus)

About the Japanese Language Exam

As mentioned above, foreigners are required to have sufficient Japanese language proficiency to work in the specific skills "automobile transportation industry" field. In order to confirm the Japanese language proficiency necessary for life and work in Japan, they must pass one of the following tests.

• 1. Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)
• ② The Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic)

How to get a driver's license

We will look at the Japanese driver's license required to apply for Specified Skills No. 1 (Automobile Transportation Industry Field) and the license required to perform the work. If you do not have a Japanese driver's license, you can obtain one in the following way.

• ① Take lessons at a Japanese driving school and obtain a driver's license
• ② Obtain a Japanese driver's license by completing the foreign license conversion procedure at a Japanese driver's license center.

About the hiring process

If you have a Japanese driver's license:

If you do not have a Japanese driver's license:

In addition to the above process, the process of obtaining a driver's license also takes time. First, you will need to enter Japan with a "designated activities" status of residence, and after completing the procedures to obtain a Japanese driver's license and new driver training, you can apply to change your status of residence to "Specified Skills No. 1" (application for permission to change status of residence).

It usually takes more than six months from the start of employment considerations to obtaining the "Specified Skilled Worker No. 1" residence status, so it is a good idea to select and consult with a recruitment agency or registered support organization early on.

Support for specific skilled foreigners

Companies accepting foreign workers are obligated to provide support to specific skilled foreign workers in their professional, daily and social lives.
The support provided to specific skilled foreign nationals is as follows:

1. Pre-guidance
2. Immigration and immigration support
3. Support for securing housing and assistance with contracts necessary for daily life
4. Lifestyle orientation
5. Accompanying to official procedures, etc.
6. Supporting the provision of Japanese language learning opportunities
7. Handling enquiries and complaints
8. Promoting exchanges with Japanese people
9. Job change support (in case of termination of employment contract due to reasons of the accepting party)
10. Regular interviews and reporting to government agencies

Things to be aware of when hiring　

When hiring foreign nationals with specific skills (in the automobile transportation industry), in addition to the basic requirements that are required of the accepting company, many other points must be taken into consideration, such as the time required from hiring to the start of work and the costs involved during that time, the requirements for obtaining a driver's license, and the preparation of the work environment.

For example, the time and cost required to become able to work is significantly different for someone who has a license overseas and gets a Japanese license by switching to a foreign license, and for someone who comes to Japan and goes to a driving school to get a license. It will take even longer to get a large vehicle license.

In addition, in order for foreign drivers to adapt to Japan's driving culture, it is also important for them to understand road signs, traffic rules, driving etiquette, etc. Since their understanding may be insufficient at first, it is essential for the accepting company to continue providing training and instruction on safe driving even after they join the company, and to take measures to improve their driving skills and raise their awareness of risk management.

Also, rather than giving them big tasks right from the start, it is a good idea to plan step-ups such as having them run short distances rather than medium- to long-distances, and starting with easy tasks.