Specified Skilled Worker Fields

Specified Skilled Worker (i)

This is a status of residence applicable to foreign nationals who work in jobs that require a considerable knowledge of or experience in Specified Industry Fields.

Those who can work in Japan as a SSW must be over 18 years old in a good health, have the necessary occupational skills and Japanese language ability to work immediately without receiving any particular training. Skills and Japanese proficiency will be confirmed by a unified test conducted by Japan. In principle, you can work for up to 5 years in total, but you cannot bring your family. In addition, the major difference from other status of residence to work in Japan is a support system. You can receive a wide range of support for life and work from your employer while you are in Japan, from the time you arrive to leave for your home country.

There is another program called “Technical Intern Training”, which aims toward providing international contributions by having workers share skills and knowledge that they acquired through on-the-job training in Japan throughout their home country after returning. Those who have satisfactory completed Technical Intern Training are able to switch their status of residence to SSW in the same field without taking occupational skill exams and Japanese proficiency tests.

Work That Can Be Conducted as a SSW

The specific work you can do as a SSW in Japan is as follows, listed for each of the 14 industrial fields.

Electric electronics and information industries

Machining, metal press, factory sheet metal work, plating, finishing, machine maintenance, electrical equipment assembling, Casting, forging, die casting, machining, metal press, factory sheet metal work,, printed wiring board manufacturing, plastic molding, painting, welding, industrial packaging

Shipbuilding and ship machinery industry

Welding, painting, iron work, finishing, machining, electrical equipment assembling

Construction industries

Formwork construction, plastering, concrete pumping, tunnel and propulsion, construction machinery and construction, earthwork, roofing, telecommunications, reinforcement construction, reinforcing bar joints, interior finishing/material mounting, scaffolding, carpentry, plumbing, building sheet metal work, heat-retention and cool-retention, spray urethane insulation, offshore civil engineering

Automobile repair and maintenance

Automobile everyday inspection and maintenance, regular inspection and maintenance, disassembly

Aviation industry

Airport ground handling (ground driving support services, baggage and freight handing services), aircraft maintenance (maintenance of aircraft and equipment, etc.)

Agriculture

General crop farming (cultivation management, collection/shipping/sorting of agricultural products, etc.), general livestock farming (breed management, collection/shipping/sorting of livestock products, etc.)

Accommodation industry

Providing accommodation services, such as working at the front desk, planning/public relations, hospitality, restaurant services

Fishery and aquaculture

Fishery (production and repair of fishing gear, search for marine animals and plants, operation of fishing gear and machinery, capture of marine animals and plants, processing and storage of catch, ensuring health and safety, etc.), aquaculture industry (production, repair and management of aquaculture materials, breed management, collection (harvesting) and processing of aquaculture animals and plants, ensuring health and safety, etc.)

Manufacture of food and beverages

General food and beverage manufacturing (manufacturing/processing and health and safety of food and beverages (excluding liquor))

Food service industry

General restaurant industry (food and beverage processing, customer service, store management)