Skip to content
en
Menu
Back
JapanWork permitsLast checked October 16, 2026

Specified Skilled Worker (i) and (ii)

Tokutei Ginou 1-go / 2-go

Specified Skilled Worker is Japan's work status for sectors with labour shortages. Type (i) needs a skill test and basic Japanese (JFT-Basic or JLPT N4) and is capped at 5 years in total with no family. Type (ii) is for skilled workers in 11 fields, has no total cap, and allows family to join. Japan added linen supply, logistics warehousing and resource recycling fields in January 2026; the new Employment for Skill Development system replaces Technical Intern Training from 1 April 2027.

See requirements ↓

Life in Japan

Money

3

Currency

Japanese Yen

JPY

Japanese Yen

Cost of living

69

Price level · US = 100

World Bank price levels, 2025

Tax

5–45%

Income tax (national)

Consumption tax 10%

Plus 2.1% reconstruction surtax on national tax and about 10% local inhabitant tax; 45% applies above JPY 40 million.

Official rates, 2026 · headline only

Living

1

Happiness

6.1

#59 of 145 countries

World Happiness Report 2025

Your edge here Members

What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties

Get started

Who it’s for

Workers aged 18 or over with sector skills and basic Japanese who have a direct job offer from a Japanese employer in a designated field.

Eligibility

  • Age

    You must be 18 or older. No education requirement applies.

    18

    Minimum age

    Official wording

    The worker must be 18 or older. There is no education requirement.

  • Designated field (Type i)Type (i)

    Your work must be in one of 19 specified fields (Type i).

    19

    Number of fields (Type i)

    • Examples: nursing care, building cleaning, construction, shipbuilding, agriculture, fishery
    • Also: aviation, accommodation, food service, railway, forestry, resource recycling
    Official wording

    Work must be in one of 19 specified fields, such as nursing care, building cleaning, industrial product manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding, automobile maintenance, aviation, accommodation, automobile transport, railway, agriculture, fishery, food and beverage manufacturing, food service, forestry, wood industry, linen supply, logistics warehousing and resource recycling.

  • Designated field (Type ii)Type (ii)

    Type (ii) work must be in one of 11 fields, fewer than Type (i).

    11

    Number of fields (Type ii)

    • Excluded: nursing care, automobile transport, railway, forestry
    • Also excluded: wood industry, linen supply, logistics warehousing, resource recycling
    • Manufacturing is limited to three sub-categories
    Official wording

    Type (ii) covers 11 fields; nursing care, automobile transport, railway, forestry, wood industry, linen supply, logistics warehousing and resource recycling are excluded, and manufacturing is limited to three sub-categories.

A sneak peek at what's inside

  • Next requirementSkill test
  • Document checklistCertificate of Eligibility or change of status application form
  • FeesCertificate of Eligibility

The full requirements are for members

Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.

  • 7 more requirements
  • 11 documents
  • 5 fees
  • 8 steps
  • Processing times and conditions
Get started See plansSign in

Places to visit in Japan

Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.

Subscriber feature

Finding places for you…

Official sources

Was this page helpful? Helpful Report a concern

Other routes to Japan

All routes to Japan →

Work permits in other countries