In response to the growing shortage of labor, the Japanese government has taken steps to improve productivity and to secure domestic human resources.Only in industrial sectors where it is difficult to secure human resourcesTo accept foreign nationals with a certain level of expertise and skills who are ready to work immediately,The "Specified Technical Skills No. 1" and "Specified Technical Skills No. 2" residence statuses were established and implementation began in April 1991.
Then, on June 9, 2023, a cabinet decision was made to change the policy on the operation of the system pertaining to the status of residence for the specified skilled workers (operation policy by field), which greatly increased the quota for the acceptance of the status of residence for the specified skilled workers. In this column, we will explain the "Specified Technical Skills" status of residence.
What is the status of residence for specified skills?
Specified Technical Resident StatusHa,To accept foreign workers in industries where serious labor shortages are a problem in JapanThis is a new status of residence established in 2019 for This status is available to foreigners who have specific skills and wish to work in Japan using those skills, and allows them to work in a certain scope of work.
Even among the statuses of residence in Japan that allow work, only "specialists" requiring a specific high level of skill, etc. are allowed to work, so as not to deprive Japanese nationals of employment opportunities. Excluding permanent residents, permanent residents, spouses, and foreign students (up to 28 hours per week), "simple labor" is only permitted for these specified skills.
Unlike other work-related residence statuses, the specified technical skills visa requires passing a prescribed examination, but does not require any academic background or work experience in the applicant's home country. Therefore, it is relatively easier to obtain this status than other work-related statuses, and it is also easier to use for companies that need to secure human resources.
Target Industries and Main Points
Specified Skills 1
With a status of residence to compensate for the shortage of labor in Japan,Foreign nationals engaged in work that requires a considerable degree of knowledge, experience, or skills in a specific industrial field.can be obtained.
- Target Industry(As of April 1, 2024, including the plan to start acceptance after the revision of laws and regulations)
- Care: Engaged in physical care services in nursing homes and other facilities. Cannot engage in services such as home care.
- Industrial Product Manufacturing: Engaged in the field of industrial product manufacturing, including machine and metal processing.
- Ship and marine industry: shipbuilding, ship machinery, and electrical and electronic equipment for ships.
- Aviation: Engaged in airport ground handling operations, aircraft maintenance, etc.
- Automobile transportation: Engaged in transportation services by trucks, buses, and cabs.
- Agriculture: Harvesting, sorting, and managing crops, as well as manufacturing, processing, transporting, and displaying products that use agricultural products.
- Beverage Manufacturing: Food production, processing, and sanitation.
- Forestry: Engage in forestry operations such as forestry and material production related to forestry.
- Building Cleaning: Work on the interior cleaning of buildings and hotels.
- Construction: Engaged in plastering, earthwork, roofing, telecommunications, rebar enforcement, and construction equipment installation.
- Automobile maintenance: Engaged in maintenance and repair work to maintain the functionality of automobiles.
- Lodging: Engage in lodging service related activities at hotels, inns, and other lodging facilities.
- Railroads: railroad track maintenance, electrical equipment maintenance, and rolling stock maintenance.
- Fisheries: Engaged in the harvesting, processing, and storage of agricultural animals and plants.
- Food service: food and beverage preparation, customer service, store operations, and delivery.
- Lumber industry: Lumber and plywood manufacturing and other wood processing operations.
- Skill Level:
The applicant must have certain expertise and skills required for the job.
You must pass a proficiency test or Japanese Language Proficiency Test in your home country before entering Japan. - period of stayRenewal for a period not exceeding one year, as specified by the Minister of Justice for each individual foreigner (up to a maximum of five years in total).
- bringing one's family alongIn principle, family members are not allowed to accompany the student.
Specified Skills No. 2
Foreign nationals engaged in work requiring skilled skills in specific industrial fieldsThis is a qualification that can be obtained by It requires more specialized skills and experience than Specified Skills No. 1.
- Target Industry(As of April 1, 2024, including the plan to start acceptance after the revision of laws and regulations)
Until now, only the construction and welding categories in the shipbuilding and shipbuilding industry have been covered among the 12 specified industrial fields of Specified Skill 1, but on June 9, 2023, the Cabinet decided to add the following 9 additional fields.- building cleaning
- Materials, industrial machinery, electrical and electronic information-related manufacturing industry
- automobile maintenance
- aviation
- lodging
- agriculture
- fishing (industry)
- Food and beverage manufacturing
- restaurant industry
- construction
- Business category other than welding category in the ship and marine industry sector
- Skill Level:
The applicant must have certain expertise and skills required for the job.
In principle, verification by examination, etc., is not required, and in many cases, the transition from Specified Skills No. 1 to No. 2 is taking place. - period of stayRenewal: 3 years, 1 year or every 6 months (no limit on the number of renewals).
- bringing one's family along: Spouses and children are allowed to accompany their spouses and children if they meet the requirements.
Difference between Specified Skills No. 1 and No. 2
- Skill LevelThe first requires relatively basic skills, while the second requires more advanced and skilled skills.
- bringing one's family alongThe first type does not allow family members to be brought to Japan, but the second type does if the requirements are met.
- period of stayThe first is for a maximum of five years, but the second has no restrictions on renewal and allows for a longer stay.
Operation of the Specified Technical Skills System
While the effects of the Corona disaster are subsiding,Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreigners is increasing.Many companies are taking advantage of this system to secure immediate workforce, especially in the fields of construction, shipbuilding, and automobile maintenance, where human resources are in short supply.
Flow of acquiring specific skill qualifications
This section describes the general flow of procedures for foreigners residing outside of Japan to acquire the status of Specified Technical Skills 1 and enter Japan. The necessary procedures differ depending on the country of destination, whether it has its own procedures or the foreigner is already residing in Japan under a different status, etc. Foreigners who wish to obtain the status of residence of Specified Technical Skills and Japanese companies who wish to employ foreign nationals with the status of residence of Specified Technical Skills are requested to follow the following procedures,Professional assistance should be obtained at an early stage.
As of September 2024, there are 16 different categories of Specified Technical Skills I status of residence.This field changes frequently depending on social conditions, social influences, and demands of the time.
You should consult with a specialist at an early stage to determine if your desired field is covered by the specified skills.
How to qualify for a specific skill,You must take and pass the specific skills assessment test corresponding to your desired field of study.Also, to prove basic Japanese language proficiency.The applicant is required to pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
The examinations are held in Japan and abroad, and the dates and locations of the examinations should be confirmed in advance.
In order to work in a specific skill after passing the exam,You must sign an employment contract with a Japanese company or organization that provides services.This agreement will be part of the documents required to apply for a specific skilled visa.
You can apply directly to job openings or use job search mediation by private employment agencies.
Criteria to be met by the host institution itself
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Compliance with labor, social insurance, and tax laws and regulations
- No involuntary separation of workers engaged in the same type of work as the specified skilled foreign national within one year.
- No missing persons due to reasons attributable to the host institution within one year.
- Not fall under any of the disqualifying circumstances (e.g., no immigration or labor law violations within 5 years)
- Documents related to the activities of the specified skilled foreigner must be prepared and kept for at least one year from the date of termination of the employment contract.
- The employment contract is not concluded with the host institution knowing that the foreigner is required to pay a security deposit.
- The host institution has not entered into a contract or other agreement that provides for a penalty fee.
- Not to have the foreigner bear directly or indirectly the cost of the support.
- In the case of worker dispatching, the dispatching agency must be a person who is deemed appropriate, such as a person who is engaged in work related to the field in question, and the client must meet the criteria in (1) to (4).
- (iii) Measures such as notification of the establishment of workers' compensation insurance relationship, etc.
- Appropriate systems are in place to ensure the continued performance of the employment contract.
- Payment of remuneration by transfer to a savings account, etc.
- Conform to the standards specific to the field (*Specified in a public notice issued by the ministry or agency with jurisdiction over the field).
Requirements for foreign nationals themselves (excerpts)
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must be in good health
- Possession of a passport issued by a foreign government that will assist in the smooth enforcement of deportation
- Must have passed the proficiency test and the Japanese language test.
- Not to have stayed in Japan for a total of 5 years or more as a Specified Technical Skills 1.
- No security deposit has been collected or a contract that provides for a penalty fee has been entered into.
- If there are expenses to be borne by the applicant, the applicant must fully understand the details.
When a company hires a foreign national with specified skills, the company applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). This application is made to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Agency.
The Immigration and Immigration Control Agency will examine the application and if there are no problemsCertificate of Eligibility for Resident Statuswill be issued. Take this certificate with you to the next step.
After receiving the Certificate of Eligibility, if the foreign worker is outside of Japan, he/she should contact the nearestJapanese Embassy or ConsulateThe visa application is made at If your application is successful, you will be issued a Specified Technical Visa.
Once the visa is issued, enter Japan and go to the airport.resident cardThe applicant will then receive a "Certificate of Eligibility for Specified Technical Residency in Japan" from the Immigration Bureau of Japan. This officially grants you the status of residence for the specified technical skills in Japan.
After obtaining a Specified Technical Visa, you can start working for a company with which you have a contract.
summary
How was it?
The "Specified Technical Resident Status" is a special status of residence established to accept foreign workers in fields where there is a serious shortage of labor in Japan. It is one of the few statuses that allow "simple labor",At the time this eligibility system was established, it was historically referred to as a "de facto immigration policy.
However, both Specified Technical Skill No. 1 and Specified Technical Skill No. 2 require a test of skills in the field and Japanese language proficiency, which is somewhat different from the acceptance of simple laborers in the simplest sense.
Japan is facing a rapidly declining birthrate, aging population, and a serious shortage of workers in many industries,We feel that the acceptance of foreign workers is an inevitable part of the maintenance and development of Japanese society.As many Western countries continue to develop their economies by accepting immigrants, it is imperative that this system be properly implemented in Japan as well.
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