What Is the Specified Skilled Worker Visa?
Japan's Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa was introduced in April 2019 to address chronic labour shortages in sectors critical to the Japanese economy. Unlike the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), the SSW system is explicitly framed as a labour immigration pathway.
Two tiers exist: SSW Type 1 and SSW Type 2. Each tier has different residency rights, renewal limits, and pathways toward longer-term settlement.
SSW Type 1 vs Type 2
SSW Type 1 is available in all 16 designated industries. It is renewable in one-year increments up to a cumulative total of five years. Family members cannot accompany you. It is the entry-level tier and where most new applicants will start.
SSW Type 2 is available in 12 of the 16 industries following expansion in 2023. There is no cumulative time limit — the permit can be renewed indefinitely. Immediate family members may join you. SSW Type 2 is widely considered a de facto pathway to long-term resident status.
Language and Skills Test Requirements
All SSW Type 1 applicants must pass two tests: a Japanese language proficiency test at JLPT N4 level or the JFT-Basic; and a sector-specific skills evaluation test.
Workers who completed the TITP programme in the relevant sector are fully exempt from both tests — assumed to have demonstrated both language competency and occupational skills through their TITP experience.