{"id":6019,"date":"2026-07-29T19:20:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T10:20:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/?post_type=columns&#038;p=6019"},"modified":"2026-07-29T19:20:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T10:20:37","slug":"worker-ssw-visa-basics","status":"publish","type":"columns","link":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/en\/columns\/worker-ssw-visa-basics\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a specific skill visa? Easy-to-understand explanation of working conditions and 12 target occupations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foreigners who want to go to Japan and earn a lot of money or find a stable job to help their families. There are several types of visas for working in Japan, but the one that is currently attracting the most attention is the &#8220;Specified Skilled Worker&#8221; visa (SSW). This visa is designed for foreigners to work full-time and steadily in Japanese companies in the same way as Japanese employees. This time, I will gently explain the basics of the specific skill visa and what types of jobs you can work in.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Detailed background and latest trends in Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most attractive feature of the specific skill visa (No. 1) is the high salary. Unlike the technical intern trainee visa, Japanese law stipulates that you must be paid the same or higher salary than a Japanese worker. As a result, your monthly take-home pay will increase significantly, and you may also receive overtime pay and bonuses. Also, there are no restrictions on working hours. Part-time international students can only work 28 hours a week, but if you have specific skills, you can work full-time for 40 hours a week and earn a lot of money.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Important data and problem analysis that tell the truth<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>First characteristic (rapid expansion of market needs and background):<\/strong> The labor shortage in Japan is a structural problem, and the demand for ready-to-work human resources is rapidly increasing, especially in the manufacturing and service industries. Data has proven that the specific skills system guarantees a certain level of work experience and Japanese language proficiency, so there are very few mismatches in the initial stages of introduction.<\/li><li><strong>Second feature (required language skills and educational system):<\/strong> To obtain a Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa, it is mandatory to pass a Japanese language proficiency test (N4 or JFT-Basic) at a daily conversation level or above, but additional Japanese language training on industry terminology and work safety is effective for smooth instruction transfer on site.<\/li><li><strong>Third feature (same or higher salary treatment and motivation):<\/strong> Japanese laws and regulations strictly prohibit creating discriminatory disparities in working conditions such as basic pay and bonuses compared to Japanese employees working in the same business within the same company. Having a fair evaluation system in place is the key to preventing employee turnover and boosting morale across the team.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Important institutional rules and legal compliance<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two ways to obtain a specific skill visa and work in Japan. The first is the &#8220;exam route.&#8221; This is a way to pass both the &#8220;Japanese language test (JLPT N4 or above, or JFT-Basic)&#8221; and the &#8220;skills test for the job you want to work in&#8221; (Ginoushiken) in your own country or Japan. Anyone over the age of 18 can take on the challenge, regardless of educational background. The second route is the &#8220;technical training route.&#8221; Those who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training No. 2 or No. 3 (completed for 3 years) in Japan can directly switch to a Specified Skilled Worker visa without taking a test.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Important check sheet to prevent problems from occurring<\/h3>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>[Check 1] Multilingualization of employment contract documents:<\/strong> When hiring, it is necessary to obtain the foreigner&#8217;s agreement by providing and explaining in advance a &#8220;terms of employment&#8221; that specifies the wage breakdown, holidays, overtime work rules, etc. in his or her native language, which the foreigner can fully understand.<\/li><li><strong>[Check 2] Ensure payment of social insurance and taxes:<\/strong> It is mandatory to enroll in social insurance and to deduct and pay resident tax and pension from your salary. If you are in arrears, your visa renewal application (usually every 1 or 3 years) will be rejected and you will not be able to continue working in Japan.<\/li><li><strong>[Check 3] Ensuring appropriate space in the living environment:<\/strong> The legal minimum area for the room in which a foreigner resides is 7.5 square meters or more (bedroom area) per person, and is subject to strict immigration screening.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Specific practical points and solutions<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are currently 12 occupations eligible for specific skill visas: These include food service industry (restaurants), food and beverage manufacturing industry (prepared food and bread making factories), building cleaning, nursing care (support for the elderly), construction, hotels and lodging, agriculture, shipbuilding and marine industry, molded materials, industrial machinery, electrical and electronic information related manufacturing, automobile maintenance, aviation, and fishing. Among these, the restaurant industry, food manufacturing industry, and building cleaning industry have a large number of job openings and are easy to start even with no experience, so they are very popular among many foreigners.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For detailed information and support plans for safely and effectively utilizing the Specified Skills System, please visit this page on our website.<a href=\"\/en\/worker\/jobs\/\">&#8220;Search for a job&#8221;<\/a>Please take a look at it and use it to create an appropriate plan.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"callout-box\"><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Pro Tip:<\/strong> What we place most importance on is &#8220;mental care in multiple languages&#8221; so that foreigners do not feel isolated in their lives or workplaces in Japan. Providing Japanese language learning opportunities and regular one-on-one interviews are the most effective solutions to prevent job turnover and maximize on-site performance.<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Summary and future prospects<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The specified skill visa allows you to work in Japan for up to 5 years, but if you pass the higher qualification of &#8220;Specified Skilled Worker No. 2&#8221;, the 5 year limit will be lifted, and it is not a dream to continue living in Japan for the rest of your life, or to invite your family (wife and children) from your home country to Japan to live with you. Take advantage of your skills and personality to start a great career and stable life in Japan!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Foreigners who want to go to Japan and earn a lot of money or find a stable job to help their families. There are several types of visas for working in Japan, but the one that is currently attracting the most attention is the &#8220;Specified Skilled Worker&#8221; visa (SSW). This visa is designed for foreigners [&hellip;]","protected":false},"featured_media":5854,"template":"","column_category":[13],"class_list":["post-6019","columns","type-columns","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","column_category-for-worker","en-US"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/columns\/6019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/columns"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/columns"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"column_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/column_category?post=6019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}