Japan: Specified Skilled Workers and the route to permanent residence
Japan's Specified Skilled Worker visa lets people without a degree work in 19 industries after passing a Japanese test and a skills test. 425,961 people held type (i) status at the end of June 2026.
Japan: route to permanent residence
Study in Japan, work on an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa, and apply for PR after 10 years, or after 1 to 3 years as a Highly Skilled Professional.
- StudentJapanese degree or vocational diploma
- Engineer/HumanitiesProfessional work visaJob must use your field of study
- HSP (optional)Highly Skilled Professional70 points or more
- ResidenceYears in Japan10 years with 5 on a work visa; HSP 3 years (70 pts) or 1 year (80 pts)
- PRPermanent residentTaxes, pension and insurance must be paid
Japan: route to permanent residence
Pass a Japanese test and a skills test for Specified Skilled Worker (i), move up to type (ii), then build residence toward PR. Time on type (i) does not count toward the 5 working years.
- TestsJapanese (N4) and skills testTaken abroad or in Japan
- SSW (i)Specified Skilled Worker (i)Up to 5 years; no family
- SSW (ii)Specified Skilled Worker (ii)Higher skills test; no time limit; family can join
- ResidenceYears in Japan10 years, with 5 on a counting work visa
- PRPermanent resident
Rules as of October 2026. Sources: Immigration Services Agency SSW statistics, Office Tree SSW guide (Japanese), Coto Academy PR guide. Always confirm with the official immigration authority.
Visa types and requirements
Pick a visa to see its language, education and experience requirements, how long it lasts and where it leads.
Official authority Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗
Student Student (Ryugaku)
Official page ↗- Language
- Set by the school; Japanese-taught degrees often ask JLPT N2
- Education
- Admission to a Japanese school
- Experience
- None
- Other conditions
- Proof of funds; part-time work limited
- Length of stay
- Length of the course
- Leads to
- Engineer/Specialist in Humanities
Engineer/Humanities Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services
Official page ↗- Language
- As the job requires
- Education
- Related bachelor's degree or Japanese vocational diploma
- Experience
- Without a degree: 10 years (3 years for translation, language teaching and similar)
- Other conditions
- Pay equal to Japanese staff; family can join
- Length of stay
- 3 months to 5 years, renewable
- Leads to
- Highly Skilled Professional or PR
HSP Highly Skilled Professional
Official page ↗- Language
- Japanese ability adds points
- Education
- Earns points
- Experience
- Earns points
- Other conditions
- 70 points or more from education, career, salary and age
- Length of stay
- 5 years
- Leads to
- PR after 3 years (70 points) or 1 year (80 points)
SSW (i) Specified Skilled Worker (i)
Official page ↗- Language
- JFT-Basic or JLPT N4
- Education
- None
- Experience
- Pass the field's skills test (waived after completing Technical Intern Training (ii) well)
- Other conditions
- 19 fields; employer must provide support; no family
- Length of stay
- Up to 5 years in total
- Leads to
- SSW (ii)
SSW (ii) Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
Official page ↗- Language
- Depends on field; food service and fishery ask JLPT N3
- Education
- None
- Experience
- Higher skills test and supervisory experience
- Other conditions
- 11 fields; spouse and children can join
- Length of stay
- No limit (renewals reviewed)
- Leads to
- PR
ESD (2027) Employment for Skill Development (from April 2027)
Official page ↗- Language
- Basic Japanese at entry, as planned
- Education
- None
- Experience
- None; trained on the job
- Other conditions
- Replaces Technical Intern Training from April 1, 2027; not for aviation or automobile transport
- Length of stay
- In principle 3 years
- Leads to
- SSW (i)
PR Permanent resident
Official page ↗- Language
- No test
- Education
- None
- Experience
- 10 years in Japan with 5 on a work visa (SSW (i) and technical intern time excluded); HSP 1–3 years
- Other conditions
- Taxes, pension and health insurance paid on time; good conduct
- Length of stay
- Permanent
- Leads to
- Naturalisation possible later
October 2026 rules. Sources: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Office Tree SSW guide (Japanese), Coto Academy PR guide. Confirm with the official immigration authority before applying.
Specified Skilled Workers (i) by industry
Holders of type (i) status at the end of June 2026, with the number from South Korea. Fields with no holders yet are omitted.
| Industry field | Workers | From South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Food and beverage manufacturing飲食料品製造業 | 100,769 | 71 |
| Nursing care介護 | 79,884 | 48 |
| Industrial products manufacturing工業製品製造業 | 62,033 | 4 |
| Construction建設 | 52,132 | 12 |
| Food service外食業 | 49,060 | 357 |
| Agriculture農業 | 44,050 | 0 |
| Shipbuilding and marine industry造船・舶用工業 | 11,641 | 0 |
| Building cleaningビルクリーニング | 10,171 | 2 |
| Automobile maintenance自動車整備 | 5,235 | 5 |
| Fishery漁業 | 4,912 | 0 |
| Aviation航空 | 2,803 | 35 |
| Accommodation宿泊 | 2,556 | 41 |
| Automobile transportation自動車運送業 | 558 | 5 |
| Wood industry木材産業 | 74 | 0 |
| Railway鉄道 | 64 | 0 |
| Forestry林業 | 19 | 0 |
Where the workers come from
Which field fits your job
| Job | SSW field |
|---|---|
| Welder | Industrial products manufacturing, Shipbuilding and marine industry, Construction |
| Assembly line worker | Industrial products manufacturing |
| Industrial machinery mechanic | Industrial products manufacturing |
| Meat and poultry trimmer | Food and beverage manufacturing |
| Meat packer | Food and beverage manufacturing |
| Butcher | Food and beverage manufacturing |
| Livestock and poultry farmworker | Agriculture |
| Electrician | Construction |
| Plumber | Construction |
| Construction laborer | Construction |
| Auto mechanic | Automobile maintenance |
| Cook | Food service |
| Hotel housekeeper | Accommodation, Building cleaning |
| Warehouse worker | Logistics warehousing |
| Registered nurse | Not covered (needs a Japanese licence) |
| Nursing assistant | Nursing care |
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, SSW (i) residents by nationality and field, preliminary figures.