photo by Yukun Chen
As you know, the birth rate of Japan has kept dropping for a few decades. Now, the labor shortage that has been concerned is becoming realistic. To solve this issue, Japanese government announced of the introduction of a new visa to allow more workforces from overseas countries. The new visa called “Specified Skilled Worker” is quite different from other existing working visas. So, what is the difference?
About Specified Skilled Worker visa
The new visa “Specified Skilled Worker” is designed to supply the shortage of workforce in Japan. There are many visas that allow employment permitted by the Japanese government, however, there is a clear difference between these existing working visa and this new visa. That is, Specified Skilled Worker visa allows visa holder to work in Japan without a professional qualification. Before the introduction of this visa, all foreign workers were required to have specific qualifications such as academic degree, special skill or work experience, thus unskilled laboring was not permitted. Now, Japanese companies are permitted to employ foreign workers with no specific qualifications.
As of now, Specified Skilled Workers visa targets candidates who meet the following conditions:
Residents residing within Japan
- Foreigners who successfully complete “Technical Intern Training No. 2”.
- Foreigners such as international students who successfully pass the tests that examine job skill and Japanese language ability of the candidates.
Foreigners residing outside Japan
- Foreigners who successfully complete “Technical Intern Training No. 2”.
- Foreigners who intend to enter Japan, and successfully passed the tests that examine job skill and Japanese language ability of the candidates.
Applicable industries
Specified Skilled Worker visa is issued to supply labors in the industries that facing the workforce shortage.
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|
Category |
Description |
|
1 |
Care worker |
Nursing care (excluding home nursing service) |
|
2 |
Building cleaning management |
Interior building cleaning |
|
3 |
Machine parts & tooling |
Casting, Metal press, Finishing, Welding, Forging, Factory sheet metal work, Machine inspection, Die casting, Electroplating, Painting, Machine maintenance, Machining, Aluminum anodizing |
|
4 |
Industrial machinery |
Casting, Painting, Finishing, Electrical equipment assembling, Welding, Forging, Iron work, Machine inspection, Printed writing board manufacturing, Industrial packaging, Die casting, Factory sheet metal work, Machine maintenance, Plastic molding, Machining, Plating, Electronic equipment assembling, Metal press |
|
5 |
Electric, electronics and information industry |
Machining, Finishing, Printed writing board manufacturing, Industrial packaging, Metal press, Machine maintenance, Plastic molding, Factory sheet metal work, Electronic equipment assembling, Painting, Plating, Electrical equipment assembling, Welding |
|
6 |
Construction Industry |
Formwork construction, Earthwork, Interior finishing/material mounting, Plastering, Roofing, Concrete pumping, Telecommunications, Tunnel and Propulsion, Reinforcement construction, Construction machinery and construction, Reinforcing bar joints |
|
7 |
Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry |
Welding, Finishing, Painting, Machining, Iron work, Electrical equipment assembling |
|
8 |
Automobile repair and maintenance |
Automobile everyday inspection and maintenance, Regular inspection and maintenance, Disassembly |
|
9 |
Aviation Industry |
Airport ground handling, Aircraft maintenance |
|
10 |
Accommodation Industry |
Accommodation services including working at the front desk, planning/public relations, hospitality, restaurant services |
|
11 |
Agriculture |
General crop farming, General livestock farming |
|
12 |
Fishery & Aquaculture |
Fishery (preparation and maintenance of fishery equipment, searching for aquatic animals and plants, handling of machinery and equipment, catching, processing, preserving and hygiene management of aquatic animal and plants), Aquaculture industry (preparation and maintenance of farming materials, growing, controlling, harvesting processing and hygiene management of farmed aquatic animals and plants) |
|
13 |
Manufacture of food and beverages |
General food and beverage manufacturing (excluding alcoholic beverages) |
|
14 |
Food service industry |
General restaurant industry |
Classes of Specified Skilled Worker visa
Specified Skilled Worker visa can be classified in two classes.
Specified Skilled Worker No.1
- Applicable industries: All 14 industries that were indicated the table above.
- Period of stay: Up to 5 years (To be renewed every 4, 6 or 12 months. The period of stay under this class will be disregarded at the time of application for permanent resident visa in the future.
- Family member: Not allowed to accompany the worker.
- Job-changing: A worker is allowed change the job only within the same industry. Job-changing must be completed within 3 months.
Specified Skilled Worker No.2
- Applicable industries: Construction Industry and Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry
- Period of stay: Unlimited (To be renewed every 6, 12 or 36 months. The period of stay under this class will be included at the time of application for permanent resident visa in the future.)
- Family member: Allowed to accompany the worker.
- Job-changing: A worker is allowed change the job only within the same industry. Job-changing must be completed within 3 months.
Visa conditions
Unlike conventional working visas, applicants of Specified Skilled Worker visa are not required to meet conditions such as academic history or job experiences. However, they still are required to pass the exam to prove that they have adequate job skills and Japanese language ability to work in each industry.
Specified Skilled Worker No.1
- Academic history or job experience: Not required
- Job skill: A worker must pass a job skill test
- Japanese language: A worker must pass the Japanese language test
*Workers who successfully completed Technical Intern Training No. 2 will be exempt from the exams.
Specified Skilled Worker No.2
- Academic history or job experience: Not required
- Job skill: A worker is required to pass a test to confirm his/her skill level
- Japanese language: A worker is exempt from language test
*To obtain Specified Skilled Worker No.2 visa, a worker must have adequate work experience under Specified Skilled Worker No.1. Therefore, no Specified Skilled Worker No.2 visa have been issued as of now.
Apply now
At the moment, Specified Skilled Worker visa covers 14 specific industries. However, the number of industries or visa conditions may change in the future according to possible changes of workforce situation. If you are currently studying a subject relating to these 14 industries in Japan, you will have more chances to find a job in Japan. This new visa is attracting a lot of attentions from foreigner who intend to work in Japan as it does not require any professional qualification to apply.
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