{"id":6052,"date":"2026-07-29T19:28:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T10:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/?post_type=columns&#038;p=6052"},"modified":"2026-07-29T19:28:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T10:28:16","slug":"worker-ssw-level1-to-level2-transition","status":"publish","type":"columns","link":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/en\/columns\/worker-ssw-level1-to-level2-transition\/","title":{"rendered":"Conditions for transitioning from specific skill No. 1 to No. 2 and test difficulty level"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa is a great visa for foreigners working in Japan, but the only drawback is that you can only work in Japan for a total of 5 years. After five years, my visa expired and I had to return to my home country. However, the number of occupations eligible for the new &#8220;Specified Skilled Worker No. 2&#8221; visa has increased significantly, and if you pass the exam, you can now continue working in Japan forever without the 5-year deadline, even in places such as restaurants and food manufacturing. This time, we will explain the conditions for moving from No. 1 to No. 2 and the difficulty level of the exam.<\/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 biggest advantage of the Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 visa is that there are no restrictions on how long you can live in Japan. You can renew and continue living in Japan for as many years as you like, and in the future you can also apply for permanent residence and the right to live in Japan permanently. You are also allowed to bring your spouse (husband or wife) and children from your home country to Japan and start a new life with them.<\/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> In order 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 education on industry terminology and work safety is effective for smoothly communicating instructions 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\">The first condition required to transition is to pass the &#8220;Specified Skills No. 2 Evaluation Test (Skills Test)&#8221;. The difficulty level of this test is much higher than the No. 1 exam. Tests not only test your ability to perform the work, but also your advanced knowledge as a &#8220;hygiene manager&#8221; or &#8220;work safety manager&#8221; on-site, how to maintain machinery, and your managerial ability to deal with problems when they occur. A high level of understanding of Japanese is also required as there are many technical terms. However, you can pass the exam if you study the text and past questions many times beforehand.<\/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\">The second requirement is &#8220;leadership\/management (leadership) experience&#8221; in an actual workplace. In any field, such as the construction industry or restaurant industry, you will need to have several years of experience working in a role (foreman, foreman, leader) that brings together several Japanese and foreign workers and issues work instructions. Therefore, the most important thing is to have a daily attitude that will make the store manager or president of the company recognize that you have the qualities of a leader, such as not just waiting for instructions during your daily work, but also working seriously and willingly taking care of other staff members.<\/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\/step\/\">\u201cHow to work in Japan\/Steps\u201d<\/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 transition from No. 1 to No. 2 is not easy, but the &#8220;stability of life&#8221; and &#8220;happiness of living in Japan with your family&#8221; that you will gain once you overcome it and pass the exam will be a lifelong asset. Even while working at No. 1, keep making efforts to improve your Japanese language skills (N3 or N2 level, etc.), grow into a trusted leader in the workplace, and work hard toward the ultimate goal of getting a No. 2 visa!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa is a great visa for foreigners working in Japan, but the only drawback is that you can only work in Japan for a total of 5 years. After five years, my visa expired and I had to return to my home country. However, the number of occupations eligible [&hellip;]","protected":false},"featured_media":5855,"template":"","column_category":[13],"class_list":["post-6052","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\/6052","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\/5855"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"column_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/column_category?post=6052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}