Residence & Visa

Complete Guide to the Specified Skilled Worker Visa [2026 — SSW Type 1 & 2, 19 Fields]

Published 2026.06.13 ・ Updated 2026.09.24 | Operated by MRI Co., Ltd. | Written & verified by Zainichi Life Navi Editorial Team (Editorial Policy)

📌 Key points

The Specified Skilled Worker status was established in 2019 to allow foreign nationals to work in sectors facing serious labour shortages.
This article explains the differences between Type 1 and Type 2, the system's designated fields (19 as of 2026 — this guide explains the 16 fields for Type 1 and 11 for Type 2 in detail), how to obtain the status, the required examinations, and the roles of accepting organisations and registered support organisations.
It also touches on transitioning from Technical Intern Training or Ikusei Shuro, and the path to family reunification and permanent residence.
Eligible fields and requirements can change. For the latest information, check official sources such as the Immigration Services Agency.

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The Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) residence status was established in 2019 to allow foreign nationals to work in sectors facing serious labour shortages. It is also a common destination for those transitioning from Technical Intern Training. If the conditions are met, it may open doors to long-term employment, family reunification and even permanent residence. This guide covers the difference between Type 1 and Type 2, eligible fields and how to obtain the status. For a broader overview of all work-based statuses, see Japan work visa types.

① What is the Specified Skilled Worker status?

Specified Skilled Worker is a residence status that accepts foreign nationals with certain skills into sectors facing serious labour shortages. It is divided into SSW Type 1 and SSW Type 2, which differ in the level of skill required and the permitted period of stay.

② Differences between SSW Type 1 and Type 2

Category	SSW Type 1	SSW Type 2
Period of stay	Up to 5 years in total	Renewable with no upper limit
Skill level	Considerable knowledge and experience	Expert skills
Examinations	Skills test + Japanese language test	Advanced skills test (Japanese language test not required in principle)
Family reunification	Not permitted in principle	Permitted (spouse and children)
Fields covered in this guide	16 fields	11 fields (excluding nursing care, road transportation, railway, forestry and lumber industry)

③ Fields covered in this guide (16 for Type 1, 11 for Type 2)

SSW Type 1 reached 16 fields in 2024 with the addition of road transportation, railway, forestry, and the lumber industry. This guide explains these 16 fields in detail (three more fields added in 2026 are explained further below).

Nursing care
Building cleaning management
Industrial product manufacturing (formerly: casting & forging materials, industrial machinery, and electronic/electrical information industries)
Construction
Shipbuilding and ship machinery industry
Automobile repair and maintenance
Aviation
Accommodation
Agriculture
Fishery and aquaculture
Food and beverage manufacturing
Food service industry (not currently accepting new applications)
Road transportation (added 2024)
Railway (added 2024)
Forestry (added 2024)
Lumber industry (added 2024)

SSW Type 2 is available primarily in fields other than nursing care, road transportation, railway, forestry and lumber industry. The nursing care field has a dedicated "Nursing Care" residence status and a career path via SSW Type 1. For a full breakdown of the nursing care routes, see working in nursing care in Japan.

💡 Eligible fields may changeFurther additions and revisions to the eligible fields are possible in the future. Always check the Immigration Services Agency's official website for the latest fields and requirements. In addition, for the Food service industry field, applications received on or after April 13, 2026 are not granted a new Certificate of Eligibility, and applications to change status of residence into this field are also, in principle, denied (applications received up to April 12 are still being processed in turn within the intake ceiling). However, (1) applications from people already residing under SSW Type 1 (Food service industry) who are changing jobs within the same field continue to be reviewed as usual. In addition, (2) Technical Intern Training graduates (medical/welfare-facility meal production) and (3) people already holding permission for Designated Activities (preparation to transition to SSW Type 1) may be permitted in turn within the intake ceiling — the accepted application-date window for (2) and (3) is updated monthly. Applications to renew (extend) the period of stay continue to be reviewed as usual. If your period of stay would expire before your turn comes up, you may be guided toward changing to Designated Activities (preparation to transition to SSW Type 1) instead (this Designated Activities status can be renewed only once). Please check the sources below for the current status. Separately, three new fields — Linen Services, Logistics Warehouse, and Resource Recycling — were added in 2026, bringing the total number of designated fields under the system to 19. However, as of September 2026 these three fields are still being set up. On the Immigration Services Agency's Specified Skilled Worker portal (ssw.go.jp) all three are marked "The details page is under construction," and no skills-test schedule for them appears on that site's test information page. The planned intake ceilings (Cabinet decision of 23 January 2026) are 4,300 for Linen Services, 11,400 for Logistics Warehouse and 900 for Resource Recycling, but as of the end of June 2026 (preliminary figures) the number of residents in each of the three fields is reported as "–" (none recorded). On the legal side, the operational guidelines for Linen Services were established on 1 June 2026, and the additional-criteria notices for Logistics Warehouse and Resource Recycling were published on 26 June and 30 July 2026 respectively. When, and on what conditions, you will actually be able to work in these three fields is still largely undecided, so please check the latest information from the Immigration Services Agency and the competent ministry.

④ How to obtain SSW Type 1 (two routes)

Examination route: pass the field-specific skills test and Japanese language test
Transition from Technical Intern Training: those who complete Technical Intern Training Type 2 in good standing may be able to transition to a related field with test exemptions in some cases (see Technical Intern Training Guide for details)

⑤ Required examinations

Skills test: the examining body and test content differ by field
Japanese language test: JLPT N4 or above, or JFT-Basic. Those who have completed Technical Intern Training Type 2 in good standing may be exempt in some cases
The nursing care field additionally requires the Nursing Care Japanese Evaluation Test

⚠️ Examination bodies and schedules differ by fieldIf you are considering taking an examination, be sure to check the information provided by the examining body for your desired field as well as the official information from the Immigration Services Agency.

⑥ Role of accepting organisations and registered support organisations

When a worker holds SSW Type 1, the accepting company (specified skilled worker-affiliated organisation) is obliged to create and implement a support plan to ensure the foreign national can work and live stably.

Examples of support: orientation upon arrival, life consultations, opportunities for Japanese-language learning, assistance accompanying the worker to various procedures, etc.
If in-house support is difficult, the company can outsource the support to a registered support organisation
You can also conduct job-hunting activities through a registered support organisation

⑦ Transition from Technical Intern Training and Ikusei Shuro

Those who complete Technical Intern Training Type 2 in good standing may be able to transition to SSW Type 1 in a related field with test exemptions in some cases. This may allow for an accumulation of a longer period of work in Japan.

In addition, the 2024 legal reform decided that Technical Intern Training will transition to the Employment for Skill Development (Ikusei Shuro) system (implementation planned around 2027). The Ikusei Shuro system is designed with a seamless connection to Specified Skilled Worker status in mind. See Technical Intern Training Guide for more details on the system.

⑧ Family reunification and the path to permanent residence

SSW Type 1: the total stay is capped at 5 years, and family reunification is not permitted in principle
SSW Type 2: there is no upper limit on renewals, and a spouse and children may also come to Japan. You can build up a residence record under a work-authorised status

Those who wish to remain in Japan for the long term may also consider applying for permanent residence in due course. However, permanent residence involves a separate eligibility review covering length of stay, financial stability and other criteria — approval is not guaranteed simply by applying.

FAQ

Can I transition from Technical Intern Training to Specified Skilled Worker status?Those who complete Technical Intern Training Type 2 in good standing may be able to transition to Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 in a related field with test exemptions in some cases. The available fields and conditions differ depending on the relationship between the training occupation and the SSW field, so please check with your accepting organisation or a registered support organisation.

Can I bring my family to Japan on SSW Type 1?Family reunification is not permitted in principle under SSW Type 1. Once you obtain SSW Type 2, you may be able to bring your spouse and children to Japan on a family stay residence status in some cases.

How long can I stay in Japan on SSW Type 1?The total permitted period of stay is up to 5 years, including renewals. SSW Type 2 is renewable with no upper limit on the total period of stay.

Does SSW Type 2 lead to permanent residence?SSW Type 2 has no upper limit on renewals, allowing you to build up a residence record under a work-authorised status. However, permanent residence involves a separate eligibility review covering length of stay, financial stability and other criteria — approval is not guaranteed simply by applying.

Sources

* Rules may change. Please check official sites for the latest information.

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📌 Where to get help with your residence status

For questions about changing or renewing your residence status or period of stay, please contact the Immigration Services Agency (Foreign Residents Information Center) or your local municipal office.

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If you'd like to ask a professional to help prepare documents and handle the application process, you can also use our free consultation and referral service with a partner administrative scrivener (operated by MRI Co., Ltd.). A consultation does not guarantee approval; whether it is approved depends on the review by the Immigration Services Agency.

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* Consultations and referrals are provided in Japanese. Please confirm individual applications with a professional.

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