Japan Technical Skilled Jobs & Work Visas

Japan is aggressively welcoming into their soil the skilled Foreign Workers Japan to fight extreme labor shortages in the key industries. In case you have Japan Skilled Jobs knowledge, the knowledge of the correct Japan Work Visa Requirements is what will guarantee you a long-standing career in this technologically savvy country.

The Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa

In 2019, the Japan Tokutei Ginou (Specified Skilled Worker), a type of visa was introduced to overcome labor shortages in the blue-collar and technical workforces.2 It comes in two categories, depending on the level of skill and the duration.3

Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)

The SSW-1 visa is aimed at workers whose knowledge or experience in Specified Industry Fields.4 is relatively high. It is the major entry point to the Japanese labor-shortage sectors.

Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)

SSW-2 visa is the ultimate aspiration of most Foreign Workers Japan. It is targeted at accredited employees who have already gained professional qualifications and would like to live in the long term.

The Professional/Specialist Visa

To the professionals who have a university degree or have sufficient experience in a white-collar area, the Japan Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa is the standard Japan Work Visa.This visa includes IT Talent Japan, Engineering Jobs Japan, and international business jobs.

The major characteristics of the Professional Visa are as follows:

• Eligibility: University degree (Bachelors or equivalent) or 10 years work experience, in the field of the job scope.
• Engineer: IT Engineers (programmers, system engineers), Mechanical, Electrical Design, and R&D.

Humanities Specialist in Accounting, Marketing, Finance, HR and Sales

• International Services: International sales/trade operations, Translation, Interpretation, Language Instruction (e.g., ALT), and international sales/trade operations.
• Minimum Salary Japan Work Visa: There is no set minimum payment, though, it must be similar to or larger than the payment of a Japanese national in the same job in the same area.7 As a rule, a salary below 200,000 to 250,000 per month might sound alarms at the Japan Immigration Services Agency (ISA).

How to apply to Japan Visa

In spite of the visa type (SSW, Engineer, etc.), the basic Japan Visa Application Process is based on the Employer Sponsorship Japan and the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Japan.

Step-by-Step Guide

• Job Offer and Contract: Accept a Japanese offer (Accepting Organization).
• Pass Tests (SSW Only):  Pass the sector-specific Skills Assessment Test Japan and the Japanese language test (JFT-Basic or JLPT N4).
• COE Application: The employer will file the application of the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Japan to the Japan Immigration Services Agency (ISA) on their behalf.
• The COE ensures that you fulfill the skills, health and character requirements.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

The Foreign Workers Japan landscape is advancing fast and encompassing with evident pathways of both the technical and white-collar Japan Skilled Jobs. You either have the flexible and long term Japan Engineer/ Specialist in Humanities/ International Services Visa or will use the Japan Tokutei Ginou Visa (SSW) as a fast track to Permanent Residence Japan, however, the most important thing is to obtain Employer Sponsorship Japan and to fulfill the language/skill requirements.

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Disclosure

This paper is informative and educational. Before applying, please ensure to verify information on the official employer or government site (eg. the Immigration Services Agency of Japan) first.