Who this is for
- People considering a change from Technical Intern Training or Student status
- People who wish to enter Japan from overseas as Specified Skilled Workers
- Recruitment staff at accepting companies
- People considering a transition to (ii), a job change, or a renewal
Main application and consultation offices:Regional Immigration Services Bureau. For changes and renewals, check which bureau has jurisdiction over your place of residence. To enter Japan from overseas, apply for a visa at a Japanese diplomatic mission abroad after completing the Certificate of Eligibility procedure.
Eligible work and individual requirements
Category (i) covers work requiring a considerable degree of knowledge or experience, while category (ii) covers work requiring proficient skills. Eligibility cannot be determined by the company’s industry designation alone. Compare the actual job duties with the work categories for each field. Not all fields and work categories permitted under (i) are covered by (ii).
Workers must be at least 18 years old and in good enough health to work on an ongoing basis. Specified Skilled Worker status does not have a uniform educational requirement, such as a university degree. For category (i), ability is generally assessed through the field-specific skills test and Japanese-language test, among other requirements. Be sure to check field-specific conditions as well, such as additional tests for nursing care and the required Japanese-language level for bus and taxi drivers and railway transport staff.
Differences in periods of stay and transition between (i) and (ii)
The total period of stay under category (i) is generally limited to five years. The period granted in an individual case is separate from the total limit, and exceptions apply only under certain conditions. There is no limit on the number of renewals for category (ii), but the requirements must be met each time. Working for five years under category (i) does not automatically qualify someone for category (ii); check the category (ii) skills assessment and any work experience requirements for the relevant field.
If a person has satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii) and the occupation and tasks covered by the training are related to the work at the new employer, they may be exempt from proving their skills and Japanese ability for category (i). A skills test is required for unrelated work. Check exemptions from the general Japanese-language test separately from additional requirements for nursing care, driving work, and other fields.
Japanese-language ability equivalent to B1 or higher will be required for applications for a Certificate of Eligibility for category (ii) submitted on or after April 1, 2027. As of the confirmation made on November 13, 2026, the start date for applying this requirement to changes and renewals is still under consideration. Do not apply future requirements to all applications currently being filed.
Accepting companies and the support system for category (i)
Companies must meet employment contract standards, including paying wages at least equal to those of Japanese workers, and comply with laws concerning labor, taxes, and social insurance. For category (i), they must prepare a support plan covering matters such as pre-arrival explanations, securing housing, and responding to consultations, and establish a system capable of carrying it out.
The company may also entrust a Registered Support Organization with implementing all of the support plan. A Registered Support Organization is an institution under the system to which a company entrusts support; it is not a visa for the foreign national. Costs for mandatory support cannot be passed on to the worker, but these must be distinguished from actual expenses such as reasonable housing costs. Category (ii) is not covered by the category (i) support plan system.
Supporting materials:[2]
Separate documents for certification, changes, and renewals
For a new entry to Japan from overseas, consider applying for a Certificate of Eligibility; for a move from Student or Technical Intern Training status, or a change of affiliated organization, consider a change of status of residence; and to continue the same Specified Skilled Worker activities, consider a renewal. The Immigration Services Agency’s document checklists are divided into Table 1 for the worker, Table 2 for the affiliated organization, and Table 3 for the field. Table 2 is not required for renewals, but this does not mean that all materials the company prepares, such as contract documents, are uniformly unnecessary. There are also conditions for omitting documents for certification and changes, depending on factors such as the company’s acceptance record within the same fiscal year.
There are restrictions on accepting category (i) workers in the food service industry. According to the official guidance dated November 10, 2026, applications for a Certificate of Eligibility received on or after April 13 will generally not be granted. The treatment of changes differs depending on the previous status and the date the application was received; job changes within the food service industry and renewals are subject to ordinary examination. Check the latest guidance before hiring.
Checking required documents and where to obtain them
The documents listed are representative examples. Required materials vary depending on the type of application, such as an application for a Certificate of Eligibility, change, or extension, as well as your current status of residence, affiliated organization, nationality, and family relationships. Additional materials may be requested for individual cases.
Identity, skills, and health documents to be prepared by the worker
Application form, photograph, passport, and other documents by procedure
- Purpose
- Confirm the worker’s identity and intended activities.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Application form: official Immigration Services Agency website; passport: issuing authority in the worker’s country of origin.
- Points to check
- Use the appropriate application form for certification, a change, or a renewal. For in-person change or renewal applications, present the passport and residence card. For certification, attach a copy of the passport if possible and check how the name is written.
Supporting materials:[1]
Certificates of examination results and evidence of completion of Technical Intern Training
- Purpose
- Show the skills and Japanese-language ability required for the work, and the grounds for any examination exemption.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Examination providers, Technical Intern Training implementing organizations, and others.
- Points to check
- For the examination route, provide the relevant certificate of passing. For the training-completion route, check practical skills test certificates or evaluation records, such as those for a skills test. Prepare evidence of work experience for category (ii) according to the requirements for the field; the same full set may not be required for a renewal.
Supporting materials:[2]
Individual health examination form and examinee’s declaration
- Purpose
- Confirm that the worker is in good enough health to work steadily.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The worker undergoes an examination at a medical institution and prepares the declaration.
- Points to check
- For certification, the examination must generally have been conducted within three months before the application. For a change from within Japan, an examination at a Japanese medical institution conducted within one year before the application may be used if the conditions are met. Check the required examination items and the doctor’s signature; determine whether these are required for a renewal by consulting the checklist.
Supporting materials:[2]
Tax payment and employment documents to organize with the worker and company
Resident tax certificates of taxation and tax payment, withholding tax statements, etc.
- Purpose
- Confirm income and fulfillment of tax obligations.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Municipal offices that issue certificates for the relevant fiscal year, and the employer. For national tax certificates, the tax office.
- Points to check
- These are prepared mainly for changes and renewals from within Japan, according to the person’s tax status in Japan. Ensure the fiscal years match, and if a tax return is required, also check national tax payment certificates and other relevant documents.
Supporting materials:[2]
Medical insurance eligibility information, proof of insurance premium payments, and pension records
- Purpose
- Confirm insurance enrollment and payment status.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Municipal offices, pension offices, the Japan Pension Service, My Number Portal, and other sources.
- Points to check
- For a change or renewal, select documents according to the person’s enrollment history. For National Health Insurance, check payment certificates; for National Pension, check receipts or payment records. For a deferral or exemption, attach documents that distinguish it from nonpayment, and mask the specified numbers.
Supporting materials:[2]
Specified Skilled Worker employment contract, statement of employment conditions, and documents explaining remuneration
- Purpose
- Show that the job duties, wages, working hours, and other terms meet the applicable standards.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Prepared by the accepting company and reviewed by the applicant.
- Points to check
- The terms are explained in a language the applicant can understand before the contract is concluded. The scope of documents differs for applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence, and extension of period of stay; there are also conditions under which materials such as remuneration explanations may be omitted.
Materials on the accepting company's systems and the relevant field
Overview of the affiliated organization, certificate of registered matters, and company tax-payment materials
- Purpose
- These show the company's actual operations and its eligibility as an accepting organization.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The company, Legal Affairs Bureau, tax office, pension office, and other relevant offices.
- Points to check
- Required materials vary for corporations and sole proprietors, and depending on omission conditions. Table 2 is not required for an extension. For applications for a Certificate of Eligibility or change of status of residence, the accepting organization's record for the same fiscal year is also checked.
Support Plan for Specified Skilled Worker (i) and materials on the support system
- Purpose
- These clarify the content of life and employment support and who will provide it.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Prepared by the accepting company. If support is outsourced, coordinate with the contractor.
- Points to check
- This applies to Specified Skilled Worker (i). Materials on the support coordinator and outsourcing agreement differ depending on whether the company provides support itself or outsources it. For extensions, the latest plan is also checked against the relevant list.
Supporting materials:[2]
Field-specific written pledges, council-related materials, and certifications
- Purpose
- These show that the field-specific acceptance standards are met.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The company, the ministry responsible for the field, the relevant field council, and others.
- Points to check
- Use the Table 3 that corresponds to the category, job classification, and application type. Where applicable, also check field-specific certifications for areas such as construction and materials relating to dispatch work in agriculture or fisheries.
Consultation and application preparation process
- 1
1. Determine the job duties and category
Compare the job duties with the job classifications for the relevant field and determine whether to pursue Specified Skilled Worker (i) or (ii). Also check the person's Technical Intern Training history, examination results, and total period of stay in Japan under Specified Skilled Worker (i).
- 2
2. Put the contract and support system in place
Confirm wages and working hours with the applicant and check the company's compliance with laws and regulations. For Specified Skilled Worker (i), specify the support plan and the coordinator or contractor.
Supporting materials:[2]
- 3
3. Gather documents using the applicable list
Select the list for an application for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence, or extension, and check the conditions for omitting documents and the field-specific materials. Align the fiscal years for tax and insurance records and the dates of health examinations, and attach Japanese translations to documents in other languages.
- 4
4. Submit the application and manage notifications after approval
Submit the application to the competent office and respond to requests for additional documents. Start work in a new workplace under the Specified Skilled Worker status of residence only after the required permission has been granted. Manage notifications concerning changes of address, affiliated organization, and other matters, as well as notifications required of the company.
Points to check before applying
- The materials listed are examples of principal documents, not a complete list of requirements applicable to every case. Passing an examination or submitting documents does not guarantee permission, and processing times and costs are not uniform.
- If you have overdue taxes or insurance premiums, or have missed a required notification, consult the relevant office as soon as possible. Explain circumstances such as deferred payment or exemption with supporting documents, and use the latest forms for the relevant procedure and field.
This page provides general information about the system and does not determine individual cases or guarantee permission or approval. Required documents and requirements vary depending on individual circumstances. When applying, check the latest official information and consult an administrative scrivener about the procedures suited to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my family to Japan?
As a general rule, family members cannot obtain Dependent status of residence on the basis of Specified Skilled Worker (i). For Specified Skilled Worker (ii), Dependent status of residence may be considered for a spouse or child who meets the requirements. In some cases, a Designated Activities status of residence may be granted on humanitarian grounds to family members already in Japan or to a child born in Japan; each case must be checked individually.
Supporting materials:[2]
If I change jobs within the same field, is a notification alone sufficient?
If you change your affiliated organization, you must apply for permission to change your status of residence. A notification alone is not sufficient. Check that you have the skills required for the new job, as well as the employment conditions and support system, and do not begin Specified Skilled Worker activities at the new workplace before permission for the change is granted.
Do I need the same company documents for an extension as I did initially?
For an extension, Table 2 for the affiliated organization is not required. However, check the applicable materials, including Table 1 for the applicant, Table 3 for the field, the employment contract, and the support plan for Specified Skilled Worker (i). The entire set of documents from the initial application is not simply resubmitted unchanged.
Official Immigration and Legal Affairs Sources
Check the following official pages for application forms and the latest required submission materials. Official materials are displayed in Japanese or other languages provided by each organization.
- [1] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Status of Residence “Specified Skilled Worker” (Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence, extensions, and lists of required documents)
- [2] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Operational Guidelines for Accepting Foreign Nationals with Specified Skilled Worker Status (updated October 19, 2026)
- [3] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: When confirmation of Japanese-language proficiency at “B1 level or higher” will begin
- [4] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Processing status of applications for various statuses of residence for Specified Skilled Worker (i) in the food service industry (published November 10, 2026)