Basic information on specific skill visa
Updated: July 2025, 10
table of contents
- 1 Thorough explanation of the new status of residence!
- 1.1 14. XNUMX industries with specific skills
- 1.2 1. Difference between specific skill No. 2 and No. XNUMX
- 1.3 3. Basic requirements for foreigners (applicants)
- 1.4 4. Skill level and Japanese language ability required of foreigners (applicants)
- 1.5 5. Example of application documents
- 1.6 6. Please contact Support Administrative Scrivener Corporation regarding specific skill visas.
- 1.7 Related article
Thorough explanation of the new status of residence!
The fields eligible for the new visa status of residence “Specified Skilled Worker” are industries where it is difficult to secure sufficient human resources domestically.14 industries belowis specified.
In addition, those who are engaged in work that requires skills that require a considerable degree of knowledge or experience as specified by Ministry of Justice ordinance.Specific Skill 1” and those engaged in work that requires skilled skills in the same field.Specific Skill 2” are classified into two categories.
Table of contents
14. XNUMX industries with specific skills
1. Difference between specific skill No. 2 and No. XNUMX
3. Basic requirements for foreigners (applicants)
4. Skill level and Japanese language ability required of foreigners (applicants)
5. Example of application documents
6. Please contact Support Administrative Scrivener Corporation regarding specific skill visas.
14. XNUMX industries with specific skills
① Nursing care
Bathing, eating, excretion assistance, etc., and related tasks *Home-visit nursing care is not covered.
② Building cleaning
Cleaning inside various buildings
③Materials industry
13 categories including casting, metal press working, welding, sheet metal, machine maintenance, machining, painting, etc.
④Industrial machinery manufacturing industry
18 categories including casting, painting, welding, mechanical inspection, sheet metal, mechanical maintenance, electronic equipment assembly, etc.
⑤Electrical/electronic information related industries
13 categories including machining, press working, machine maintenance, sheet metal, painting, welding, electrical equipment assembly, etc.
⑥Construction
18 categories including formwork construction, earthwork, interior decoration, plastering, telecommunications, reinforcing steel construction, etc.
⑦Shipbuilding/ship industry
6 categories including welding, painting, ironwork, etc.
⑧Car maintenance
Car daily inspection and maintenance, periodic inspection and maintenance, disassembly and maintenance
⑨ Aviation
Ground driving support, baggage/cargo handling, aircraft maintenance
⑩Accommodation
Provision of accommodation services such as front desk, planning/public relations, customer service, restaurant services, etc.
⑪Agriculture
Cultivated agriculture in general, livestock agriculture in general
⑫Fishery
Fisheries, aquaculture
⑬Food and beverage manufacturing industry
Manufacturing, processing, safety and hygiene of food and beverages excluding alcoholic beverages, etc.
⑭ Restaurant industry
Cooking, customer service, store management, etc.
◆Please see here for details on each industry.
1. Difference between specific skill No. 2 and No. XNUMX
Target of specific skill No. 1
Nursing care industry, building cleaning industry, agriculture, fishing industry, food and beverage manufacturing industry, restaurant industry, molded materials industry, industrial machinery manufacturing industry, electrical/electronic information related industry, construction industry, shipbuilding/marine industry, automobile maintenance industry, aviation industry, accommodation industry
Target of specific skill No. 2
Construction industry, shipbuilding/marine industry field
(Added in June 5) Building cleaning, molded materials/industrial machinery/electrical/electronic information related manufacturing industry, automobile maintenance, aviation, accommodation, agriculture, fishing, food and beverage manufacturing industry, restaurant industry
So, what is the difference between "Specified Skilled Worker No. 1" and "Specified Skilled Worker No. 2"?
We will also compare the differences with the traditional "technical training".
| Specific skill No. 1 | Specific skill No. 2 | Technical Internship | |
| Requirements | Considerable knowledge or experience skills required | skilled skills | None |
| skill level | Examination by industry | Examination by industry | None |
| Japanese ability | Examination by industry | None | None |
| Period of stay | Maximum 5 years (*) | No limit(※) | Maximum 5 years |
| permanent | Improper | Possible | Improper |
| Family companion | Improper | Possible | Improper |
| simple labor | Possible | Possible | Possible |
| Related organization | Registration support organization | None | Supervisory body |
| Acceptance quota | None | None | Yes |
| Possibility of changing jobs | Possible | Possible | Improper |
*The period of stay must be renewed.
Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 is updated every 1 year, 6 months, and 4 months.
Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 is updated every 3 years, 1 year, and 6 months.
In order to accept a foreigner with a specific skill visa, the accepting organization (company) and the foreigner himself/herself must meet the criteria.
3. Basic requirements for foreigners (applicants)
◆Applicable to any of the following
・Be over 18 years old
・Possess skills that require a considerable degree of knowledge or experience necessary for the work involved, and have been proven through examinations, etc.
・Have the Japanese language skills necessary for daily life and the work you are engaged in, and have been proven through examinations, etc.
・Possession of a passport issued by a foreign government as determined by the Minister of Justice
・The total period of stay for Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 does not reach 5 years.
◆A contract in which the foreign national, etc. plans to collect a security deposit or penalty fee, etc. has not been concluded, and will not be concluded.
◆Regarding the intermediation of applications for employment contracts by foreign nationals or preparations for activities of Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 in foreign countries
If you are paying expenses to a foreign institution, you must fully understand and agree to the amount, etc.
◆If there are any expenses to be borne by the foreigner (food, housing expenses, etc.), the applicant understands and agrees to the details, and
In addition, the amount must be appropriate and presented on the statement, etc.
◆Comply with field-specific standards
4. Skill level and Japanese language ability required of foreigners (applicants)
In addition to the basic requirements listed above, foreigners who obtain a specific skill visa must:A certain "skill level" and "Japanese language ability" are also required.
skill level
Skills are determined for each specific industry field (14 industries), and it is necessary to prove that you possess the skills. Possible ways to prove this include "completion of Technical Intern Training No. XNUMX" or "passing the Specified Skills Evaluation Examination."
Japanese ability
There are two ways to prove your Japanese language proficiency: the "Japanese Language Proficiency Test" or the "Japanese Language Proficiency Test."
Example) Technical level and Japanese language ability required in the nursing care field
Now, let's take a look at what the above means in the nursing care industry.
➀Skill level
(1) or (2) below is required.
(1) “Nursing Skills Evaluation Test”
This certification certifies that a person is at a level where they can practice nursing to a certain extent on their own in accordance with the physical and mental conditions of the user, based on the abilities and way of thinking that form the basis of nursing care work.
・Implementation method: Computer-based testing (CBT) method
・Number of times held: Overseas: Approximately 6 times a year
Domestic: many
(2) “Completion of care worker training facility”
Once you complete this course, you will be evaluated as having the same or higher level as (1) above.
②Japanese language ability
(1) or (2) below is required.
(1) In addition to the “Japanese Language Proficiency Test” or the “Japanese Language Proficiency Test (N4 or above)”, the “Nursing Japanese Language Evaluation Test”
The Nursing Care Japanese Evaluation Test is required only in the nursing care industry.
This test confirms that the applicant has sufficient Japanese language ability to be able to work in nursing care settings.
・Implementation method: Computer-based testing (CBT) method
・Number of times held: Overseas: Approximately 6 times a year
Domestic: undecided
(2) “Completion of care worker training facility”
Once you complete this course, you will be evaluated as having the same or higher level as (1) above.
*Please note that if you have completed Technical Intern Training No. 2, you will be exempt from taking the "skill level" and "Japanese language proficiency" tests.
5. Example of application documents
- List of documents to be submitted and confirmation table for residence application for specified skilled foreigners
- List of specified skilled foreigners applying
- Application for permission to change status of residence
- Instructions on Remuneration for Specified Skilled Workers
- Copy of specific skill employment contract
- Copy of employment terms and conditions
- Preliminary guidance confirmation letter
- Payment fee agreement and cost statement
- Explanation of collection fees
- Resume of specific skilled foreigner
*Depends on application conditions. For more information, please contact our visa specialist consultants.
6. Please contact Support Administrative Scrivener Corporation regarding specific skill visas.
We often receive questions and inquiries such as the ones below!
■We don't have enough nursing care workers, so we would like to hire foreigners.
■I want to hire a foreign student who was employed part-time at a restaurant as a full-time employee after graduating from school.
■I would like to continue employing foreigners working as technical interns even after their training period ends.
■We are hiring in Japan, but there are few applicants, so we are considering hiring foreign personnel in the future.
■I know that there is a status of residence of ``Specified Skilled Worker,'' but there are a lot of documents to prepare and it is difficult.
Support Administrative Scrivener Corporation supports such businesses.
We provide a wide range of services, including not only obtaining a "specific skill visa" but also the necessary procedures before and after obtaining it, management, and support systems.
- Businesses applying for the “specific skill visa” for the first time
- Businesses considering obtaining a “specific skill visa”
- Businesses considering obtaining a “specific skill visa” and outsourcing the “registration support organization” to our company
- Businesses considering outsourcing their “registration support organization” to our company
- Businesses considering registration as a “registration support organization”
We have prepared a business menu to meet the various needs of these businesses.
Related article
- Specific skill visa top page
- Specific skill visa exam information
- Standards required for accepting organizations and applicants
- Q&A
- For human resources companies, registration support organizations, and supervising organizations (comprehensive visa support)
- For registered support organizations and supervising organizations (other menus)
- Acceptance consultation/liaison meeting for manufacturers Participation procedure support
- Comprehensive support for foreign employment for construction companies
- Bulk support for specific skill visas for nursing care providers
In principle, we respond to inquiries on the same day or the next business day.
If you do not hear from us for more than 2 business days, the message may not have been sent.
We apologize for the inconvenience, but please contact us again using this form.
We also accept consultations over the phone.
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