VISA Information

VISA Information

 

Specified Skilled Worker Visa (SSW)

There are two types of SSW Visa: SSW (i) and (ii). 

SSW (i) is a status of residence for foreign nationals that requires considerable knowledge or experience in the specified industry.

SSW (ii) is a status of residence for foreign nationals that requires proficient skills in the specified industry.

 

SSW (i) & (ii) Key Differences:

 

SSW (i)

SSW (ii)

Eligible Industries

Available in 16 fields

Available in 11 fields

Duration of Stay

Up to 5 years total

No upper limit on total stay

Accompanied by Family/Dependants

Not allowed

Allowed (spouse & children) 

Japanese Language Level

Proof required

No proof required

Skill Exam 

Yes

Yes

 

Key Requirements

  1. The applicant must be at least 18 years old, in good health, and possess the necessary occupational skills to begin working right away without additional training.

 

  1. Must pass a Proficiency Test for the specific industry you wish to work in. 
  • For SSW (i): if Technical Intern Training (ii) is completed, in certain fields, some test requirements may be waived. Those who successfully complete the program may change their residence status to SSW (i) in the same field without needing to take occupational skills or Japanese language tests.



  1. Must pass a Japanese Language Test.
    1. For SSW (i) it is necessary to pass the A2 “Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic)”, or acquire the N4 certificate for the “Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)”. 
    2. SSW (ii) is exempted from a test.

 

Duration & Process

Visa duration:

  • SSW(i) Visa holders can stay in Japan for up to 5 years.
  • SSW (ii) Visa holders can renew their visa indefinitely, if the requirements are met. Those requirements depend on industry restrictions, skill level and other relevant factors. Renewal is possible every 1 year or 6 months.

Estimated time: 

  • The whole VISA process, including the gathering of documents, is estimated to take around 4 – 6 months.

Certificate of Eligibility (COE):

  • Required, the employer will usually apply for the employee.

 

Process

Pass a Japanese language test and a skill proficiency test

 

Sign a contract with a company

 

Submit a status of residence application to Immigration

 

Start working

 

Available Industries 

Industries marked with * are only available for SSW (i) Visa type.

  1. Nursing Care (介護)*
  • Assisting residents with daily activities (eating, bathing, dressing, toileting)
  • Supporting mobility and exercise
  • Helping with recreational activities
  • Maintaining records of care
  1. Building Cleaning Management (ビルクリーニング)
  • Cleaning offices, hotels, commercial facilities
  • Floor care (vacuuming, waxing, polishing)
  • Window and glass cleaning
  • Waste collection and disposal
  1. Manufacture of Industrial Products (工業製品製造業)
  • Operating casting and forging equipment
  • Machining and assembling industrial machinery parts
  • Manufacturing electrical / electronic components
  • Quality inspection and packaging
  1. Automobile Repair and Maintenance (自動車整備)
  • Vehicle inspection and routine maintenance
  • Engine, brake, transmission repair
  • Tire and oil changes
  • Diagnosing mechanical/electrical problems
  1. Aviation Industry (航空)
  • Aircraft maintenance support (checking parts, cleaning)
  • Baggage handling and loading/unloading
  • Ground support (marshalling, towing aircraft)
  • Cabin cleaning and preparation
  1. Accommodation Industry (宿泊業)
  • Front desk / reception work
  • Housekeeping (room cleaning, bed-making)
  • Food and beverage service inside hotels/inns
  • Guest support and tourism guidance
  1. Agriculture (農業)
  • Planting, growing, and harvesting crops
  • Operating agricultural machinery
  • Sorting, packing, and shipping produce
  • Greenhouse work
  1. Fishery and Aquaculture Industry (漁業)
  • Fish/shellfish farming and feeding
  • Net handling, setting and retrieving
  • Sorting and processing catch
  • Maintenance of aquaculture equipment
  1. Food & Beverage Manufacturing (飲食料品製造業)
  • Processing and packaging of food products (meat, seafood, dairy, confectionery, etc.)
  • Operating food production machinery
  • Quality inspection
  • Labelling and shipping preparation
  1. Food Service Industry (外食業)
  • Kitchen support (preparing ingredients, cooking assistance)
  • Serving food and drinks
  • Dishwashing and cleaning
  • Cashiering and customer service
  1. Construction Industry (建設業)
  • Scaffolding and concrete work
  • Carpentry and building framework
  • Plumbing and electrical installation
  • Civil engineering (roads, bridges, tunnels)
  1. Shipbuilding / Ship Machinery Industry (造船・舶用工業)
  • Welding and cutting steel plates
  • Assembling ship components
  • Installing ship machinery and equipment
  • Painting and maintenance of ships
  1. Automobile Transportation Industry (自動車輸送業)
  • Driving trucks or buses for cargo and passengers
  • Loading and unloading cargo
  • Vehicle safety checks
  • Delivery and logistics support
  1. Railway Industry (鉄道業)*
  • Train inspection and maintenance
  • Rail track construction and repair
  • Station assistance and train operations support
  • Electrical systems maintenance for trains/rail
  1. Forestry (林業)*
  • Logging and cutting trees
  • Transporting logs from forests
  • Replanting and forest management
  • Operating chainsaws, harvesters, skidders
  1. Wood Industry (木材産業)*
  • Processing logs into lumber and wood products
  • Operating sawmills and wood-cutting machines
  • Drying, treating, and finishing wood
  • Inspecting and shipping wood materials

 

Business Manager Visa

The Business Manager Visa is designed for foreign nationals who wish to start or manage a business in Japan.

 

Key Requirements

  1. Business Office
    • Must have a physical office in Japan. If business has not started yet, premises need to be secured under a formal lease. 
    • The space must have the appropriate equipment to qualify as an office.
  2. Business Scale
    • Either employ at least 2 full-time staff in Japan, 
    • Or have capital / investment of at least ¥5 million.
    • Propose a business plan that shows stability, continuity and feasibility. 
  3. Relevant Experience / Remuneration
    • Must have at least 3 years of experience in business management or administration.
    • Must receive a salary / compensation comparable to what a Japanese national would receive for similar work. 

 

Duration & Process

  • Visa duration: 3 years, 5 years, 1 year, 4 months, or 3 months depending on business stability and other factors. New businesses can expect a 1 year period initially. 
  • Estimated time: It can take several months until the necessary visa procedures are completed. Expect at least 4 – 6months until issuance.
  • Certificate of Eligibility (COE): Required, unless changing resident status within Japan.






Process

Secure an office in Japan

 

Register the company at relevant government offices and acquire licenses

 

Prepare a business plan and apply for business manager visa

 

Obtain the visa and start your business.




Note: on recent / upcoming changes

  • There are proposed stricter rules (~ October 2025) like raising capital requirements (e.g. from ¥5 million up to about ¥30 million) and mandating at least one full‐time employee. These are draft proposals but likely relevant. 














Startup Visa

The Startup Visa is designed for foreign nationals working toward eligibility for the Business Manager Visa.

The visa is only available in certain municipalities that support the Startup Visa program.*

 

Key Requirements

  1. A business plan must be submitted to a local municipality or government office that supports the Startup Visa program.
  2. The eligibility criteria depending on the industry or type of business must be fulfilled. 
  3. Must show how the Business Manager Visa requirements will be met within the Startup Visa period. 

 

Duration & Process

  • Visa duration: Generally 6 months to 1 year. During this period, the full Business Manager visa requirements may be waived temporarily. 
  • Estimated time: It can take several months until the necessary visa procedures are completed. Expect at least 5 – 6months until issuance.
  • Certificate of Eligibility (COE): Initially not required, but will be for the transition to Business Manager Visa.

 

Process

Chose a Startup Visa program and prepare necessary documents

 

Submit your application and obtain a visa

 

Prepare necessary steps to transition to a Business Manager Visa

 

Change to Business Manager Visa



* The Startup Visa program is currently available in Japanese municipalities, including: Tokyo, Fukuoka, Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, Sendai, Hiroshima, Kumamoto, Niigata, Yokohama, Hokkaido, Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Toyama, Hyogo, and Oita.




Recent Updates

  • The grace period to meet the business scale and office requirements can been extended to a maximum of 2 years in some cases. 





















Working Holiday Visa

This visa is intended to enable young people from partner countries to travel in Japan, immerse themselves in local life, and offset their expenses by engaging in part-time or short-term work.

 

Key Requirements

  1. Eligibility is limited to citizens of countries that maintain a working holiday agreement with Japan and hold a valid passport.*
  2. Applicants must fall within the designated age range. In most cases, eligibility is restricted to individuals between 18 and 30 years of age (subject to variation by country).
  3. Applicants are generally required to demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves at the outset of their stay.
  4. Applicants are usually asked to submit a letter of motivation and detailed travel plan.
  5. Employment must be incidental to the holiday; the primary purpose of stay is tourism and cultural exchange.
  6. Applicants must not have previously been granted a Japanese Working Holiday Visa.
  7. Certain types of employment are prohibited, particularly those deemed detrimental to public morals (e.g., work in bars, cabarets, or nightclubs).

 

For specific requirements like age range, expected funds and other requirements, please visit the website of the Japanese embassy in your country.

 

Duration & Process

  • Visa duration: Generally 1 year. Some countries have options for two years or repeats.
  • Estimated time: Issuance can usually be expected within 5 – 10 working days, dependend on the country and their embassy. It is advised to apply about 3 months in advance.
  • Certificate of Eligibility (COE): Not required, applications are submitted to the local embassy.

 

After acquiring a Working Holiday Visa, we will be able to help you with finding a suitable part-time job to support your stay in Japan!

 

* Japan currently has working holiday agreements with: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Iceland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia, the Netherlands, Uruguay, Finland, Latvia, and Luxembourg.