New Foreign National Acceptance System
Starts April 1, 2019!

A New Status of Residence“Speciﬁed Skilled Worker”

has been createdThis is a system to accept foreign nationals that have a certain level of expertise and skill
and can begin work immediately in response to circumstances of serious labor shortages.

Speciﬁed Skilled Worker (i)*This is a status of residence applicable to foreign nationals who work in jobs that
require considerable knowledge of or experience in Speciﬁed Industry Fields- Period of stay: Renewed annually, every 6 months or every 4 months, for a maximum stay of up
to 5 years in total- Skill Standards: Conﬁrmed by exams, etc. (those who have successfully completed TechnicalIntern Training (ii) are exempt from exams, etc.)- Japanese Language Level: Proﬁciency in Japanese language required in daily life and at workplaceneed to be conﬁrmed by exams, etc. (those who have successfully completed Technical Intern
Training (ii) are exempt from exams, etc.)- Accompanied by family members: Basically not permitted.
- Eligible for Support by Accepting Organizations or Registered Support Organizations* The “Speciﬁed Skilled Worker” has two types, Speciﬁed Skilled Worker (i) and Speciﬁed Skilled Worker(ii). Speciﬁed Skilled Worker (ii) is a status of residence for foreign nationals engaged in jobs that require
proﬁcient skills in Speciﬁed Industry Fields.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan

Overview of Procedure for Accepting Speciﬁed Skilled Workers (i)Foreign nationals coming to Japan
from overseas
Foreign nationals
newly entering Japan
Passed the skills
exam and theJapanese language
test

Foreign nationals residing in Japan(medium to long-term residents)

Foreign nationals who havesuccessfully completed
Technical Intern Training (ii)Foreign nationals who havesuccessfully completed
Technical Intern Training (ii)

Exempt from skills exam andthe Japanese language test

Foreign students
studying in Japan, etc.
Passed the skills
exam and theJapanese language
test[Signed an employment contract with an Accepting Organizations]Pre-departure orientation and medical checkup
implemented by Accepting Organizations
Application for
Certiﬁcate of Eligibility* Proxy application madeby an employee ofAccepting Organizations,etc.

Application for Changeof Status of Residence* In principle, theapplicant mustapply themselves.

Regional Immigration
Services Bureau

Issue ofCertiﬁcate of Eligibility

Visa application

Diplomaticestablishments
abroadIssue of Visa

Immigration

Permission to Change
Status of Residence[Requirements for Foreign nationals]- Is 18 years of age or older- Has passed the skills exam and Japanese language test (Foreign nationals
that have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) are exempted)- Has not resided in Japan for more than 5 years under Speciﬁed Skilled
Worker (i)- Has not paid a security deposit or concluded a contract with penalties- Where there are self-borne expenses, the details are fully understoodetc.
[Implemented without delay after entering Japan (orafter changing status of residence)]- Has attended orientation on daily life in Japan carriedout by Accepting Organizations- Has registered as a resident in the municipality inwhich they are residing- Has opened a bank account for receiving salary- Has secured housing
etc.

Start working at Accepting Organizations

Speciﬁed Industry Fields and Jobs
Speciﬁed IndustryFields

CompetentMinistry or Agencyof Industry Fields

Jobs to Engage in●

1Nursing care2

Building cleaning
management

3

Machine parts &tooling industries

4

Industrial
machineryindustry

5Electric, electronics and information industries

Ministry of Health,Labour andWelfare●In addition to Nursing care (assistance with bathing, feeding and excretion responding to
the physical and mental condition of the user), other related support services (assistancewith recreation and functional training, etc.)
Note: Visiting services are not included(1 test category)Interior building cleaning

Casting ● Metal press ● Finishing ● Welding
Forging ● Factory sheet metal work ● Machine inspection● Die casting ● Plating ● Machine maintenance● Machining ● Aluminum anodizing ● Painting(1 test category)●●Ministry of Economy, Trade andIndustry(13 test categories)

Casting ● Painting ● Finishing ● Electrical equipment assembling ● Welding● Forging ● Iron work ● Machine inspection ● Printed wiring board manufacturing● Industrial packaging ● Die casting ● Factory sheet metal work ● Machine maintenance● Plastic molding ● Machining ● Plating ● Electronic equipment assembling ● Metal press(18 test categories)●Machining ● Finishing ● Printed wiring board manufacturing ● Industrial packaging
Metal press ● Machine maintenance ● Plastic molding● Factory sheet metal work ● Electronic equipment assembling ● Painting● Plating ● Electric equipment assembling ● Welding(13 test categories)●●Formwork construction ● Earthwork ● Interior ﬁnishing/material mounting
Heat-retention and cool-retention ● Plastering ● Rooﬁng ● Scaﬀolding● Spray urethane insulation ● Concrete pumping ● Telecommunications● Carpentry ● Oﬀshore civil engineering ● Tunnel and Propulsion● Reinforcement construction ● Plumbing ● Construction machinery and construction● Reinforcing bar joints ● Building sheet metal work
(18 test categories)●6Construction
Industry

7

Shipbuilding andship machineryindustry

8

Automobile repair
and maintenance9

Aviation Industry

10

Accommodation
Industry●

Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure,
Transport, andTourism

Welding ● Finishing
Painting ● Machining● Iron work ● Electrical equipment assembling●●●(6 test categories)

Automobile everyday inspection and maintenance, Regular inspection and maintenance,
Disassembly(1 test category)

Airport ground handling (ground driving support services, baggage and freight handlingservices)● Aircraft maintenance (maintenance of aircraft and equipment, etc.)(2 test categories)●●

Providing accommodation services, such as working at the front desk, planning/public
relations, hospitality, restaurant services(1 test category)

General crop farming (cultivation management, collection/shipping/sorting of agriculturalproducts, etc.)● General livestock farming (breed management, collection/shipping/sorting of livestock
products, etc.)(2 test categories)●11Agriculture

Fishery (production and repair of ﬁshing gear, search for marine animals and plants, operation of ﬁshing gear and machinery, capture of marine animals and plants, processing
and storage of catch, ensuring health and safety, etc.)● Aquaculture industry (production, repair and management of aquaculture materials,breed management, collection (harvesting) and processing of aquaculture animals andplants, ensuring health and safety, etc.)(2 test categories)●

12Fishery &aquaculture

13

Manufacture offood andbeverages

14

Food service
industry

Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry andFisheries●●General food and beverage manufacturing (manufacturing/processing and health andsafety of food and beverages (excluding liquor))(1 test category)
General restaurant industry (food and beverage processing, customer service, store management)(1 test category)

F A Q
●●●

Q Is educational background in the home country required?

A There are no particular requirements in regard to applicantsʼ educational backgrounds. However,there is a minimum age requirement for speciﬁed skilled workers ‒ they must be over 18 years of age.

Q What are the areas in which Speciﬁed Skilled Worker (ii) are recognized?

A This is recognized for the “Construction” and “Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery” industries

Q When transitioning from Technical Intern Training (ii) to Speciﬁed Skilled Worker (i), how much

relevance is required between the activities of the technical intern training and the activities ofthe speciﬁed skilled worker?

A The required relevance between Speciﬁed Skilled Worker activities in which foreign nationals areengaged and the Technical Intern Training (ii) activities is speciﬁed in the application guidelines foreach ﬁeld. Please check the guidelines.

Ministry ofJusticeInquire with the following for details about the general system, immigration
and residency procedures and registered support organizations, etc.
Oﬃce Names

Address

Contact Details

Public Relations Section, General Aﬀairs
Division, Immigration Services Agency ofthe Ministry of Justice1-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

03-3580-4111

General Aﬀairs Division
Sapporo Regional Immigration
Services Bureau

Sapporo Third Joint Government Bldg.,
12 Odori-Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City,
Hokkaido

011-261-7502 (main)

General Aﬀairs Division
Sendai Regional Immigration
Services Bureau

Sendai Second Legal Aﬀairs Joint Government Bldg.,
1-3-20 Gorin, Miyagino-ku, Sendai City,Miyagi

022-256-6076 (main)

Business and Employment Inspection
Department No. 3Tokyo Regional Immigration
Services Bureau

5-5-30 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo

0570-034-259（ext. 330）

General Aﬀairs Division
Yokohama District Immigration
Services Oﬃce, Tokyo Regional
Immigration Services Bureau

10-7 Torihama-cho, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa

045-769-1720 (main)

5-18, Shoho-cho, Minato-ku, Nagoya City,
Aichi

Inspection Management
Department052-559-2112
Business and EmploymentInspection Department
No. 2052-559-2110

General Aﬀairs Division
Osaka Regional Immigration
Services Bureau

1-29-53 Nankou Kita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka
City, Osaka

06-4703-2100 (main)

General Aﬀairs Division
Kobe District Immigration Services Oﬃce
Osaka Regional Immigration
Services Bureau

Kobe Local Joint Government Bldg.,
29 Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe City,
Hyogo

078-391-6377 (main)

Status Department
Hiroshima Regional Immigration Services
BureauHiroshima Legal Aﬀairs Government Bldg.,
2-31 Kami-hacchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima

082-221-4412

General Aﬀairs Division
Takamatsu Regional Immigration
Services Bureau

Takamatsu Legal Aﬀairs Joint Government Bldg.
1-1 Marunouchi, Takamatsu City, Kagawa

087-822-5852 (main)

General Aﬀairs Division
Fukuoka Regional Immigration
Services Bureau

Fukuoka Legal Aﬀairs Government
Complex No.1
3-5-25 Maizuru, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City,Fukuoka

092-717-5420 (main)

Status Division
Naha District Immigration Services Oﬃce
Fukuoka Regional Immigration
Services Bureau

Naha First Local Joint Government Bldg.,
1-15-15 Higawa, Naha City, Okinawa

098-832-4186

Nagoya Regional Immigration Services
Bureau- Acceptance/Social Integration related→ Inspection Management Department- “Speciﬁed Skilled Worker” Residential
Status related→ Business and Employment Inspection
Department No. 2- Please see the Ministry of Justice website for more information about the “Speciﬁed Skilled Worker”
Residential Status.

→ Search for “Ministry of Justice Speciﬁed Skilled Worker”

Please see the Ministry of Justice website
for information on Speciﬁed Industry Fields