Routes to Japan: skilled tradesperson
Per sources (unverified): Specified Skilled Worker is open in 19 fields (food service closed to new applications); the trainee system is replaced from 1 April 2027
The official SSW portal lists 19 fields for SSW (i) (up to 5 years, no family) and 11 for SSW (ii) (no upper stay limit, family may come). SSW (i) needs a Japanese test (JFT-Basic or JLPT) and a field skills test, unless you completed Technical Intern Training in the same field. Skills tests are also offered in India. Employment for Skill Development starts 1 April 2027 and in principle takes workers only from Memorandum of Cooperation countries (India: not verified). Fees, caps and the JLPT level were not stated.
Match an occupation and passport
Choose an occupation and a passport
0 trades are named in Japan's official demand list, ranked below.
What Japan wants, in its own order
This order is the official shortage analysis, not our opinion. The source is linked under the list.
The routes
Each route below is a separate permit with its own listed requirements. A requirement you do not meet can stop an application for that route, however strong the rest of the case is. A requirement we cannot confirm is shown as unknown, not as a failure.
Specified Skilled Worker (i) (特定技能1号)
Preview — under verificationOpen in 19 fields, though the portal says food service is not accepting new applications; up to 5 years in total, no family, Japanese and skills tests unless a technical intern graduate in the same field.
Who this is for
- Adults who pass the field skills exam and a Japanese test for daily life and work
- Completed Technical Intern Training (ii) graduates in a related job
You must have every one of these
- Pass JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or higher (JLPT N3 for automobile transportation and railway; nursing care also needs the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test) and the skills test of the field
- Completed Technical Intern Training in the same field: neither test is needed; a different field needs that field's skills test
- Tests are held in Japan and in 13 countries including India; not every field is offered in every country; confirm with the organiser
- Employment contract with written notice of conditions; certificate of eligibility applied for by the employer, processing stated as one to three months; you cannot move to a different industry field and must change status before starting at a new company
- Up to five years in total; family members cannot come
- Test fees are charged but amounts are not listed on the page
Source: Specified Skilled Worker official portal — What is the SSW status of residence? (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Specified Skilled Worker official portal — Information on tests (2026 schedules) (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) (特定技能2号)
Preview — under verificationExists in 11 fields with no upper stay limit and family allowed; requirements are per field and only construction was read (skills exam plus foreman experience); the other fields are NOT VERIFIED.
Who this is for
- Experienced Specified Skilled Worker (i) holders in eligible fields
You must have every one of these
- 11 fields, mostly overlapping with SSW (i), for managing the work rather than performing it
- No upper limit on stay; family members can come
- Requirements are per field. Construction example: pass the construction SSW (ii) test or a skill exam (level 1 or single grade) and have foreman experience supervising several workers. Other fields: NOT VERIFIED
Source: Specified Skilled Worker official portal — What is the SSW status of residence? (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Specified Skilled Worker official portal — Information on tests (2026 schedules) (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Specified Skilled Worker official portal — SSW (ii) construction field (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
Employment for Skill Development (育成就労)
Preview — under verificationOperation begins 1 April 2027, so it is not accepting workers yet; in principle only from countries with a signed Memorandum of Cooperation (India: NOT VERIFIED).
Who this is for
- Workers recruited from MOC partner countries for 17 fields, from April 2027
You must have every one of these
- From 1 April 2027 (law promulgated 21 June 2024)
- Recruited from a country with a signed Memorandum of Cooperation, in principle
- Japanese: A1 or higher at entry, A2.1 to change employer voluntarily, A2.2 at completion (basic fields)
- Advanced fields: A2.2 or higher at entry (e.g. JFT-Basic or JLPT N4)
- Three years of employment, then transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i) after tests; one extra year allowed to retake
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan — Outline of Employment for Skill Development Program (revised July 2026) (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
Technical Intern Training (技能実習)
Preview — under verificationBeing replaced by Employment for Skill Development from 1 April 2027; whether new entries are still accepted today was NOT VERIFIED.
Who this is for
- Existing trainees; completing Training (ii) exempts from SSW tests
You must have every one of these
- Current acceptance rules NOT VERIFIED — needs the ISA technical intern training page
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan — Outline of Employment for Skill Development Program (revised July 2026) (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan — Specified Skilled Worker (leaflet, undated) (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
What it costs
How long it takes
Timeline not published by the authority
Certificate of Eligibility processing is stated as one to three months on the SSW portal; no end-to-end timeline is published.
Published figures for this route
Published figures on how often this route is used, with their sources.
approximately 3.58 million persons
Foreign nationals staying in Japan (stock, end June 2024)
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan — Guidebook, 7th edition (Immigration Services Agency) (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
Documents, insurance, housing and money
These needs are the same whichever track you choose, so they are published once for Japan, with sources and check dates.
Quick answers
Which routes to Japan exist on the skilled tradesperson track?
Per sources (unverified): Specified Skilled Worker is open in 19 fields (food service closed to new applications); the trainee system is replaced from 1 April 2027
How long does it take?
Timeline not published by the authority. Certificate of Eligibility processing is stated as one to three months on the SSW portal; no end-to-end timeline is published.
How much does it cost?
The published costs on this page are in different currencies, so there is no single total. Items that are not in that total, such as proof of funds or later permit fees, are labelled on this page where our sources state them.