特定技能（2号）

Specified Skilled Worker (ii)

WorkContent reviewed on 2026-10-23

What it allows

The higher level of the Specified Skilled Worker status, for workers with advanced skills in 11 of the designated fields (not nursing care, road transport, railways, forestry, wood industry, linen supply, logistics warehouse or resource recycling). It can be renewed without a total time limit, and a spouse and children may come as dependents.

Period of stay

3 years, 2 years, 1 year or 6 months, renewable without a limit on the number of renewals.

Requirements

Pass the No. 2 skills test for your field (only 11 fields offer it); from 1 April 2027, certificate applications also require Japanese at CEFR B1 or above · Confirm with the official source
A contract with an accepting organization in the field
Work that differs from that of interns and No. 1 workers, such as guiding or managing other workers or expert work on your own · Confirm with the official source

Where this can lead

Permanent Resident

Related rulebook entries

What it is

Under Enforcement Regulation Appended Table 4 (Article 6-2), the proxy who may file a COE for most work statuses is a staff member of the Japanese organisation that contracts with the foreign national or that the person is transferring to; for Business Manager it is staff of the business office, or the entrusted person when a new office is being set up.
出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則別表第四（第六条の二関係）（出入国在留管理庁掲載の抄録）別表第四（第6条の2関係） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Under Article 7-2(3) to (5), when the ministry in charge of a specified industrial field judges that the needed workforce has been secured it asks the Minister of Justice to suspend COE issuance temporarily, the Minister then suspends issuance, and issuance can be resumed the same way if workers become short.
出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索）第7条の2第3項〜第5項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is the status of residence for foreigners doing work in a designated industrial field that requires skilled (expert-level) ability.
制度説明資料「外国人労働者に関する制度概要」（出入国在留管理庁） slide 6 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The two statuses were created to take in workers with some expertise and immediate usability, only in fields that still cannot secure staff after productivity and domestic-hiring efforts; implementation began in April 2019.
制度説明資料「外国人労働者に関する制度概要」（出入国在留管理庁） slide 6 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2019-04-01
Field-specific operating policies for both Specified Skilled Worker and the new Employment for Skill Development system were decided by Cabinet on 23 January 2026 and replaced the earlier field-specific policies.
特定技能制度に係る制度の運用に関する基本方針・分野別運用方針・運用要領 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-01-23
As of end of June 2026 there were 11,456 registered support organisations, and as of December 2025 there were 62,996 accepting organisations.
制度説明資料「外国人労働者に関する制度概要」（出入国在留管理庁） slide 23 · Checked on 2026-10-22

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At end of June 2026 there were 425,961 Specified Skilled Worker (i) residents and 18,295 Specified Skilled Worker (ii) residents, 444,256 in total (preliminary).
制度説明資料「外国人労働者に関する制度概要」（出入国在留管理庁） slides 6, 23 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Bilateral memoranda of cooperation aimed at keeping out malicious brokers have been signed with 17 countries.
制度説明資料「外国人労働者に関する制度概要」（出入国在留管理庁） slide 19 · Checked on 2026-10-22
In the building cleaning field the Japanese evidence listed for SSW2 is JLPT N3 or above, accepted only where the result is judged to be at least CEFR B1 equivalent; the manual says B1 or above becomes the SSW2 requirement from 1 April 2027, with handling to be announced separately.
運用要領別冊特定の分野に係る特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（ビルクリーニング分野） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Aviation skills tests for both SSW1 and SSW2 are run under MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau implementation guidelines (ground handling: one guideline for both; aircraft maintenance: separate SSW1 and SSW2 guidelines), with test information published by the Japan Aeronautical Engineers' Association; the SSW2 tests need an extra form at application (a skills-progress sheet for ground handling, a pledge for aircraft maintenance).
特定技能制度（航空分野）（国土交通省航空局） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Shipbuilding and marine industry SSW1 and SSW2 tests follow MLIT implementation guidelines (the SSW2 one last revised in August 2024), and the schedule and application information is posted by the Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK).
特定技能制度（造船・舶用工業分野）（国土交通省海事局） · Checked on 2026-10-22

Who qualifies

Work experience gained only as a technical intern or Specified Skilled Worker is not counted as the "practical experience" required by the landing standard for the Engineer/Specialist status.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ４１ · Checked on 2026-10-22
MHLW states that holders of Nursing Care status who are certified care workers were already allowed to work in home-visit services, while technical interns and Specified Skilled Workers were not at that time.
外国人介護人材の訪問系サービスへの従事について（報告）（社保審ー介護給付費分科会第245回令和7年3月24日資料3）現行の取扱い · Checked on 2026-10-22
An EPA care-worker candidate who has worked and trained properly for four years is exempt from the skills test and the Japanese test when moving to Specified Skilled Worker (type 1), which is the feeder path for candidates who do not pass the national examination.
外国人介護人材の受入れの現状と今後の方向性について（厚生労働省、介護分野における特定技能協議会運営委員会令和７年３月28日）外国人介護人材受入れの仕組み（注２） · Checked on 2026-10-22
In industrial products manufacturing only three work categories - machine and metal processing, electrical and electronic equipment assembly, and metal surface treatment - can move to Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
制度説明資料「外国人労働者に関する制度概要」（出入国在留管理庁） slide 6 · Checked on 2026-10-23
For Specified Skilled Worker (ii), the applicant must prove the skilled ability required for the work by an exam or other evaluation method set in each field's operating policy.
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（令和8年10月、2026-10-19改正）第4章第2節（3）技能水準 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) cannot be reached automatically after (i); it requires passing the skill evaluation, but a person who passes can obtain (ii) without first holding (i).
特定技能制度に関するよくある質問（Q&A） Q12 · Checked on 2026-10-22

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No educational background is required for Specified Skilled Worker (i), according to the operating manual.
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（令和8年10月、2026-10-19改正）第4章第1節（1）年齢留意事項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The passport must be issued by a government that cooperates in enforcing deportation orders; Iran is the only government currently excluded under the notice.
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（令和8年10月、2026-10-19改正）第4章第1節（5）退去強制令書 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Switching jobs is allowed within the same work category or between categories whose skill levels are confirmed as common by exams.
特定技能制度に関するよくある質問（Q&A） Q13 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The employer and its officers must not have committed improper acts concerning immigration or labour laws within five years before signing the contract.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第2条の5第4項 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
Dispatch employment is allowed only in agriculture and fishery, and employee-on-loan transfers only in aviation and railways.
制度説明資料「外国人労働者に関する制度概要」（出入国在留管理庁） slide 8 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Accepting organisations must join their field's council before filing residence applications.
特定技能制度に関するよくある質問（Q&A） Q14 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Family members may accompany a Specified Skilled Worker (ii) as dependants, but not a Specified Skilled Worker (i).
特定技能制度に関するよくある質問（Q&A） Q9 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Time as a Specified Skilled Worker (ii) counts toward the work-status years needed for permanent residence, but time as SSW1 or technical intern does not.
特定技能制度に関するよくある質問（Q&A） Q10 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is not subject to the support obligation.
制度説明資料「外国人労働者に関する制度概要」（出入国在留管理庁） slide 12 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A Specified Skilled Worker (ii) must do work different from interns and SSW1 workers, such as instruction, management or independent expert work, and normally guide at least the number of people set for each field.
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（令和8年10月、2026-10-19改正）第3章第2節留意事項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The contract must set the foreign worker's scheduled working hours equal to those of regular employees of the employer.
特定技能雇用契約及び一号特定技能外国人支援計画の基準等を定める省令第1条第2号 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
The employer must not treat the worker differently because of nationality in pay, training or use of welfare facilities.
特定技能雇用契約及び一号特定技能外国人支援計画の基準等を定める省令第1条第4号 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
Nursing care is not open to Specified Skilled Worker (ii): skilled care workers are expected to qualify as certified care workers and stay in the separate Nursing-care status instead.
運用要領別冊特定の分野に係る特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（介護分野） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Building cleaning has one work category (interior cleaning of buildings other than homes). SSW1 needs the building-cleaning SSW1 evaluation test; SSW2 needs the SSW2 test or Grade-1 skills certification plus at least two years as a site-managing supervisor of several cleaners; the employing business office must hold a prefectural building-cleaning registration.
運用要領別冊特定の分野に係る特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（ビルクリーニング分野） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Manufacturing SSW2 requires the manufacturing SSW2 evaluation test for the category (or the listed Grade-1 trade tests) together with Business Career Examination Grade 3 in production management, plus practical experience in a manufacturing workplace in Japan doing work that requires judging for oneself; Japanese must be B1 or above.
分野別運用方針（令和8年1月23日閣議決定）別紙4 工業製品製造業分野 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Construction has three work categories (civil engineering, building, lifeline and equipment); SSW1 is proved by the construction SSW1 test for the category or Grade-3 trade tests, SSW2 by the SSW2 test or Grade-1 trade tests plus experience as a team leader directing other construction workers; the employer needs a Construction Business Act licence.
分野別運用方針（令和8年1月23日閣議決定）別紙5 建設分野 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Shipbuilding and marine industry has three work categories (shipbuilding, marine machinery, marine electrical and electronic equipment), each with its own SSW1 test or Grade-3 trade tests; SSW2 needs the matching SSW2 test or Grade-1 tests plus experience as a supervisor directing several workers.
分野別運用方針（令和8年1月23日閣議決定）別紙6 造船・舶用工業分野 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Automobile maintenance has two work categories (vehicle maintenance, body repair); SSW1 uses the category SSW1 test or the Grade-3 mechanic certification, SSW2 uses the SSW2 test or Grade-2 mechanic certification plus experience at a certified garage (holders of the Grade-2 or body and electronic-control mechanic certificates are exempt from the experience requirement); the employer itself must be a certified garage under the Road Transport Vehicle Act.
分野別運用方針（令和8年1月23日閣議決定）別紙7 自動車整備分野 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Aviation has two work categories (airport ground handling, aircraft maintenance), each with its own aviation SSW1 evaluation test; the SSW2 skill level is the aviation SSW2 test for each category, and for aircraft maintenance the table also lists aviation mechanic licences (first- or second-class aircraft or line maintenance mechanic, aircraft workshop mechanic).
分野別運用方針（令和8年1月23日閣議決定）別紙8 航空分野 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Accommodation has one work category (front desk, planning and publicity, guest service, restaurant service); SSW1 and SSW2 each need the accommodation evaluation test, SSW2 also needs experience supervising staff, and the employer must hold a hotel or inn licence under the Inns and Hotels Act and must not use workers at establishments covered by the entertainment-business law or for hostess-type service.
分野別運用方針（令和8年1月23日閣議決定）別紙9 宿泊分野 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Agriculture has two work categories (crop farming, livestock farming), each with an agriculture SSW1 test; SSW2 needs the matching SSW2 test and either foreman experience directing staff or other farm work experience; direct hire and worker dispatch are both allowed, and a direct-hire employer needs six months of experience employing workers (or equivalent).
分野別運用方針（令和8年1月23日閣議決定）別紙13 農業分野 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Fishery has two work categories (fishing, aquaculture), each with its own SSW1 and SSW2 test; SSW2 needs experience as a deputy to the operation leader or as a supervisor on a registered fishing vessel or at an aquaculture site; direct hire and dispatch (including seafarer dispatch through approved intermediaries) are allowed.
分野別運用方針（令和8年1月23日閣議決定）別紙14 漁業分野 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Food and beverage manufacturing (alcohol excluded) has two work categories, food and beverage manufacturing and seafood processing, each with its own SSW1 and SSW2 test; SSW2 needs experience managing the process while directing several employees, and employers must give the worker a written career-plan image before the contract.
分野別運用方針（令和8年1月23日閣議決定）別紙15 飲食料品製造業分野 · Checked on 2026-10-23
Food service has one work category (cooking, customer service and store management); SSW1 needs the food-service SSW1 test (or the medical/welfare facility meal-production specialist exam), SSW2 needs the SSW2 test and recent experience as a sub-manager directing part-timers at a licensed restaurant; employers may not use workers at businesses under the entertainment-business law (except licensed hotels and inns), at sex-related businesses, or for hostess-type service.
分野別運用方針（令和8年1月23日閣議決定）別紙16 外食業分野 · Checked on 2026-10-23
The accepting organisation must not have dismissed workers who did the same kind of work as the foreign worker in the year before signing the employment contract, nor afterwards; exempt cases are retirement at the mandatory age, dismissal for the worker’s own serious fault, a fixed-term contract not renewed for justified reasons, and voluntary resignation.
特定技能雇用契約及び一号特定技能外国人支援計画の基準等を定める省令第2条第1項第2号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The employer must not have caused a foreign worker to go missing through its own fault, such as unpaid wages or a failure to carry out the support plan, in the year before the contract or at any time after it; a single case is enough to fail the standard, and missing technical interns are counted too.
特定技能雇用契約及び一号特定技能外国人支援計画の基準等を定める省令第2条第1項第3号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
If the foreign worker cannot afford the trip home after the employment contract ends, the employer must pay the travel cost and arrange a smooth departure; the manual adds that the employer may not build up a return-fare fund by deducting from wages.
特定技能雇用契約及び一号特定技能外国人支援計画の基準等を定める省令第1条第2項第1号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
When a foreign worker wants to go home temporarily, the employment contract must provide the necessary paid leave, and the manual treats refusing or penalising such leave as a possible breach of the standard unless the business truly cannot spare the worker.
特定技能雇用契約及び一号特定技能外国人支援計画の基準等を定める省令第1条第1項第5号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The organisation must obey labour, social insurance and tax laws, which in practice means paying labour insurance, health and pension insurance (or national health insurance and pension for sole proprietors) and national and local taxes; arrears can be cured by paying on ISA guidance, and arrears of resident tax withheld from the worker do not count as compliance.
特定技能雇用契約及び一号特定技能外国人支援計画の基準等を定める省令第2条第1項第1号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The spouse and children of a Specified Skilled Worker (ii) can stay under the Dependant status, which is granted for a period of up to five years; the status list on the ISA page does not include Specified Skilled Worker (i), so family of Specified Skilled Worker (i) holders cannot use it.
在留資格「家族滞在」（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-23

Numbers and tests

For applications for certificates of eligibility filed from 1 April 2027, Specified Skilled Worker (ii) applicants must show Japanese at level B1 or higher.
日本語能力水準「Ｂ１相当以上」の確認開始時期について · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01
The applicant must be at least 18 years old; those under 18 may apply for the certificate of eligibility but must be 18 on landing.
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（令和8年10月、2026-10-19改正）第4章第1節（1）年齢 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The pay for a Specified Skilled Worker must be equal to or higher than what a Japanese person doing the same work would be paid.
特定技能雇用契約及び一号特定技能外国人支援計画の基準等を定める省令第1条第3号 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
For construction SSW2 the required leader experience is counted through the Construction Career Up System: working days as foreman plus team leader at the level-3 standard of the trade, or at least three years (645 working days) where no standard exists; a level-3 CCUS competence result notice can replace the evidence form.
運用要領別冊特定の分野に係る特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（建設分野） · Checked on 2026-10-23
The foreign worker’s scheduled hours must equal those of the organisation’s regular full-time employees, where full time means in principle five or more working days a week, at least 217 days a year and at least 30 hours a week; part-timers and casual workers are not the comparison group.
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（出入国在留管理庁）第5章第1節第1（2） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Permanent residence in general needs ten years of continuous stay including at least five years in a work or resident status, but technical intern and SSW1 time do not count as work status and SSW1 lasts five years at most, so PR from SSW1 is hard; time in SSW2 does count, so PR becomes possible from SSW2.
特定技能制度に関するＱ＆Ａ（出入国在留管理庁） Q10 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Periods

For COEs approved in August 2026 Business Manager took by far the longest at an average of 226.7 days, Specified Skilled Worker (i) took 62.7 days (food-service applications excluded from the figure), Specified Skilled Worker (ii) 58.3, Highly Skilled Professional (i)(a) 24.3 and (i)(c) 37.8.
在留審査処理期間（令和8年8月許可分）（出入国在留管理庁）在留資格認定証明書交付処分（交付）までの日数 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is granted a stay period of three years, two years, one year or six months, and renewals are unlimited in number.
出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則別表第二特定技能の項第二号 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
There is no cap on the cumulative stay in Specified Skilled Worker (ii), whereas for (i) the cumulative stay must in principle be within five years.
通算在留期間（特定技能制度） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Monitoring items for the memoranda: Nepal and Myanmar renewed for five years from 1 April 2024, while Indonesia’s memorandum was renewed for only six months from 25 June 2026, so its next expiry or renewal falls around late December 2026.
特定技能に関する二国間の協力覚書（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-06-25

Deadlines

Holders of Researcher, Engineer/Specialist, Nursing Care, Skilled Labor or Specified Skilled Worker status, Entertainers working under a contract, and some Highly Skilled Professional types must notify the agency within 14 days when the contracting organization changes its name or address, ceases to exist, ends the contract, or when a new contract is signed.
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一第十九条の十六第二号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The worker must also report the end of an employment contract to ISA within 14 days.
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（令和8年10月、2026-10-19改正）第7章第4節 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Employers file the annual notification on acceptance, activities and support by 31 May each year, covering the period from 1 April of the previous year to 31 March of the filing year.
出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則第19条の18第3項 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
An extension of stay can be filed up to the expiry date, and from three months before expiry when the current stay is six months or longer; earlier filing is accepted only in truly exceptional circumstances after consulting the immigration office.
在留期間更新許可申請（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-22
The worker personally must also notify ISA within 14 days when the employment contract ends and when a new contract is signed after changing jobs, through the electronic notification system, in person or by registered-type post, and no supporting documents are needed for the online route.
所属（契約）機関に関する届出（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-22

Fees

Applying for a certificate of eligibility is free of charge.
特定技能制度に関するよくある質問（Q&A） Q23 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Before 1 October 2026 the fee was 6,000 yen by revenue stamp for counter applications and 5,500 yen for online applications; applications received by 30 September 2026 still pay the old amount.
特定技能制度に関するよくある質問（Q&A） Q23 · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-09-30
From 1 October 2026 the fee for a status change or extension granting a stay of up to three months is 10,000 yen at the counter and 10,000 yen online.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等について（英語ポスター） · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
From 1 October 2026 the fee for a status change or extension granting a stay of more than three but not more than six months is 18,000 yen at the counter and 15,000 yen online.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等について（英語ポスター） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-10-01
From 1 October 2026 the fee for a status change or extension granting a stay of more than six months but less than one year is 25,000 yen at the counter and 21,000 yen online.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等について（英語ポスター） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-10-01
From 1 October 2026 the fee for a status change or extension granting a one-year stay is 33,000 yen at the counter and 27,000 yen online.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等について（英語ポスター） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-10-01

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From 1 October 2026 the fee for a status change or extension granting a stay of more than one year but less than three years is 48,000 yen at the counter and 42,000 yen online.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等について（英語ポスター） · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
From 1 October 2026 the fee for a status change or extension granting a stay of three years or more but less than five years is 64,000 yen at the counter and 56,000 yen online.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等について（英語ポスター） · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
The fee can be reduced to as little as 10,000 yen for a person granted more than three months who is both in hardship close to that of people needing public assistance and in need of humanitarian consideration.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等に関するQ&A · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-10-01
A re-entry permit costs 4,000 yen for a single trip and 7,000 yen for multiple trips at the counter (3,500 and 6,500 yen when applied online); these amounts date from 1 April 2025 and the page shows no change on 1 October 2026.
再入国許可申請（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-04-01
The permanent-residence permission fee rises from 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen from 1 October 2026, applies to applications received from that date, and online payers also pay a separate transaction fee on top of the stated amount.
在留許可手数料の改定ポスター（日本語版）（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-10-01
The reduced-fee scheme from 1 October 2026 lowers the actual payment to 10,000 yen for a status change or extension granting more than three months, and to 20,000 yen for permanent residence, for people living at about welfare-recipient level who also merit humanitarian consideration; permanent-residence reduction is limited to spouses and children of Japanese, permanent residents and special permanent residents.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等に関するＱ＆Ａ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
The period-based fee table from 1 October 2026 applies to status changes and extensions in general, with no status-specific rate, so a dependant of a Specified Skilled Worker (ii) pays the same fee for the length of stay granted; applications received up to 30 September 2026 keep the old fee even if approved later.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等について · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-10-01

How it works

A Specified Skilled Worker who changes the accepting organisation or the designated field must obtain permission to change status of residence under the Immigration Control Act.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第20条第1項 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
While a change-of-status application is pending, working at the new employer is not permitted.
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（令和8年10月、2026-10-19改正）第3章第1節留意事項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
When first accepting a Specified Skilled Worker, the employer submits a 'cooperation confirmation' to the municipality of the work site and housing after signing the contract and before applying for a certificate or change of status.
制度説明資料「外国人労働者に関する制度概要」（出入国在留管理庁） slide 14 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A certificate of eligibility is valid for three months from issue.
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（令和8年10月、2026-10-19改正）第4章第1節（1）年齢留意事項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Standard processing times are one to three months for a certificate of eligibility, one to two months for a change of status and two weeks to one month for an extension.
特定技能制度に関するよくある質問（Q&A） Q24 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Postal applications are not accepted: change and extension applications must normally be filed in person at the immigration office or online.
特定技能制度に関するよくある質問（Q&A） Q22 · Checked on 2026-10-22

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A certificate-of-eligibility application is filed by a staff member of the employer as agent, whereas change-of-status and extension applications are filed in person by the worker or an authorised agent (or online).
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（令和8年10月、2026-10-19改正）第2章第3節 · Checked on 2026-10-22
A job offer may be made before the exams are passed and the exams may be taken after signing the contract, but permission is granted only once all required exams are passed.
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（令和8年10月、2026-10-19改正）第2章第3節 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Pay must be made by transfer to a bank account the worker designates, or by another method that lets the amount actually received be verified; any other method needs objective proof of payment submitted to ISA, in practice with the annual notification.
特定技能雇用契約及び一号特定技能外国人支援計画の基準等を定める省令第2条第1項第12号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The organisation must keep records of the foreign worker’s activities, including a roster, the work place and duties, employment status, insurance coverage, costs of acceptance and support, leave and any administrative guidance, at the workplace, and the support records must be kept for at least one year after the employment contract ends.
特定技能雇用契約及び一号特定技能外国人支援計画の基準等を定める省令第2条 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Moving to a new accepting organisation, or to a different field, requires permission to change status of residence, not just a notification; working for the new employer is not allowed until the new residence card is received, while a change of work category inside the same field and employer is handled by a contract-change notification with the new skills test certificate.
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（出入国在留管理庁）第5章第1節第1（1）／第3章 · Checked on 2026-10-22
For a dependant application the family must show the relationship (family register, marriage or birth certificate or equivalent) and the supporter’s occupation and income through an employment certificate with resident-tax and tax-payment certificates, or savings proof if not employed; ISA publishes no fixed income threshold for the dependant’s maintenance.
在留資格「家族滞在」（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Some partner countries require their own document with the Japanese application: Cambodia a registration certificate (from 5 August 2019), Thailand an employment contract certified by the Thai embassy's labour attache office for Thai nationals in Japan who completed TITP No. 2 or 3 and apply to switch to SSW1 (from 27 July 2020), and Vietnam an approved recommendation list (from 15 February 2021).
特定技能に関する二国間の協力覚書（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-23
In Vietnam the employer must sign a labour-supply contract with an accredited sending organisation and obtain approval of the recommendation list (form 1 from DOLAB for new entrants, form 2 from the Vietnamese embassy in Japan for status changes); since 27 June 2024 people already in Japan need the list only if they are TITP No. 2 or 3 completers or students with at least two years of study.
特定技能に関する二国間の協力覚書（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2024-06-27
The Philippine side requires the employer to register with the Migrant Workers Office in Tokyo or Osaka and the Department of Migrant Workers, and the worker to obtain an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) to leave the Philippines; the former POEA has merged into the DMW, and ISA lists no fee amounts for these steps.
特定技能に関する二国間の協力覚書（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Indonesia: employers are urged to register on the national job-matching system IPKOL, a worker with a certificate must register on SISKOP2MI before applying for the visa and receives an E-PMI migrant worker card after pre-departure orientation, registration is free, and using a licensed P3MI agency is optional.
特定技能に関する二国間の協力覚書（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-22
Other partner-country steps listed by ISA include Nepal’s overseas labour permit and Myanmar’s Overseas Worker Identification Card for workers, a bilateral recruitment contract with GOLWS for Mongolia, employer demand-letter attestation and an emigration clearance card for Bangladesh, embassy approval and protector-of-emigrants registration for Pakistan, mandatory accredited agencies for Laos, and optional accredited agencies for Kyrgyzstan, Thailand and Bangladesh.
特定技能に関する二国間の協力覚書（出入国在留管理庁）各国における手続 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Penalties

Neither the worker nor his or her family may be made to pay a deposit or sign a contract with a penalty for breach of the employment contract.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令（上陸基準省令）第1号二 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-04-01
Failing to file or filing false notifications is subject to penalties for accepting organisations; ISA can also order improvements.
制度説明資料「外国人労働者に関する制度概要」（出入国在留管理庁） slide 16 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Commissioner of ISA can order an accepting organisation to take corrective measures within a set time when the required standards are not being kept.
出入国管理及び難民認定法第19条の21 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-10-01
Signing an employment contract and accepting a worker while aware that the worker or relatives have been charged a deposit, had their assets managed or been put under a penalty-for-breach contract counts as an improper act, which bars the organisation from accepting workers for five years; the employer must check this carefully at contract signing.
特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領（出入国在留管理庁）第5章第2節第1（10） · Checked on 2026-10-23

Lists and tables

In industrial product manufacturing only the machinery and metal processing, electrical and electronic equipment assembly and metal surface treatment categories can lead on to Specified Skilled Worker type 2.
育成就労制度の概要（令和８年７月改訂） p.4 注記 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2024-06-21
Holders of Highly Skilled Professional 1(a)/(b) and 2(a)/(b), Researcher, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Nursing Care, Entertainer (when working under a contract with a domestic organization), Skilled Labor and Specified Skilled Worker status report changes of their contracting organization (group B).
所属機関等に関する届出・所属機関による届出Ｑ＆Ａ（出入国在留管理庁） Bグループ · Checked on 2026-10-22
The Immigration Services Agency lists these statuses as work-permitted: Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist, Highly Skilled Professional, Business Manager, Legal/Accounting, Medical, Researcher, Instructor, Engineer/Specialist, Intra-company Transferee, Nursing Care, Entertainer, Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker and Technical Intern Training.
就労資格の在留諸申請に関連してお問い合わせの多い事項について（Ｑ＆Ａ）令和８年７月Ｑ１就労資格 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is limited to 11 fields: building cleaning, industrial products manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding and marine industry, automobile maintenance, aviation, accommodation, agriculture, fishery, food and beverage manufacturing and food service; nursing care is excluded (it has its own 'Nursing care' status).
出入国管理及び難民認定法別表第一の二の表の特定技能の項の下欄に規定する産業上の分野等を定める省令本文 · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-04-01
By nationality, Vietnam (176,915), Indonesia (108,367), Myanmar (53,441), the Philippines (38,630), China (23,524), Nepal (15,646), Cambodia (9,816) and Thailand (7,116) lead among residents at end of June 2026.
制度説明資料「外国人労働者に関する制度概要」（出入国在留管理庁） slide 23 · Checked on 2026-10-22
The eight fields without SSW2 are nursing care, road transport, railways, forestry, wood industry, linen supply, logistics warehouse and resource recycling; the other eleven accept SSW2 (industrial products manufacturing only in its machinery-metal, electrical-electronic assembly and metal surface treatment categories), and a worker can reach SSW2 directly by passing the SSW2 tests without first holding SSW1.
特定技能制度に関するＱ＆Ａ（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-22

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ISA publishes a document checklist for each SSW application (certificate of eligibility, change of status, extension), made of Table 1 for the applicant, Table 2 for the accepting organisation and Table 3 for field-specific documents (18 field sheets for SSW1, 11 for SSW2); an extension needs only Table 1 and Table 3.
在留資格「特定技能」（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-22
ISA lists memoranda of cooperation on SSW with 17 countries: the Philippines, Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Laos, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan; people from other countries can still be accepted.
特定技能に関する二国間の協力覚書（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-22

Recent changes

The basic policy for the Specified Skilled Worker and new employment systems was approved by the cabinet and ministerial conference on 11 March 2025, and it set B1-level Japanese for Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
日本語能力水準「Ｂ１相当以上」の確認開始時期について · Checked on 2026-10-22
From April 2025 an MHLW notice lets technical interns and Specified Skilled Workers in care work in some home-visit services, in principle only with one or more years of care-facility experience and the employer meeting training, accompaniment, career, harassment and ICT conditions.
外国人介護人材の訪問系サービス従事における留意点について本文・四① · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-04-01
Road transport, railways, forestry and wood industry were added as fields in March 2024, and linen supply, logistics warehouse and resource recycling were added in January 2026.
制度説明資料「外国人労働者に関する制度概要」（出入国在留管理庁） slide 6 · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-01-23
From 1 April 2027, certificate-of-eligibility applications for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) will require Japanese at B1 or above; the timing for change-of-status and renewal applications is still under study.
日本語能力水準「Ｂ１相当以上」の確認開始時期について · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2027-04-01
The amended Immigration Control Act and Technical Intern Training Act (Act No. 60 of 2024), which sets up the Employment for Skill Development system, takes effect on 1 April 2027.
技能実習法施行以前の「技能実習」等を修了した者が「特定技能１号」に移行しようとする場合の取扱いについて · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2027-04-01
From 1 October 2026, status-change and extension fees depend on the length of the stay granted, ranging from 10,000 yen for up to three months to 75,000 yen for five years or more at the counter.
令和８年１０月１日付け在留許可手数料の額の改定等について（英語ポスター） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-10-01

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From 20 August 2026, applications for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) must include a pledge on the work content (an ISA reference form) showing how the work differs from that of interns and SSW1 workers and who is being guided.
２号特定技能外国人の業務内容について（令和８年８月５日） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-08-20
A common exam policy for Specified Skilled Worker and Employment for Skill Development was decided on 11 March 2025 and replaced the earlier SSW-only exam policy.
試験関係（特定技能制度） · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-03-11
ISA has not yet announced when the B1 Japanese requirement for SSW2 will also apply to applications for change of status and for extension (still under consideration); for certificate-of-eligibility applications the B1 level is required from 1 April 2027.
日本語能力水準「Ｂ１相当以上」の確認開始時期について（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2027-04-01
In the 19 October 2026 revision of the operating manual, the SSW2 note on instructed persons was reworded: persons working at a different site are still excluded in principle but are treated flexibly where reasonable, persons instructed by other SSW2 holders count when reasonable, a temporary shortfall is tolerated when the people to instruct are still being recruited, and the old explicit exclusion of non-full-time staff no longer appears; the pledge Form 1-32 was amended too.
「特定技能外国人受入れに関する運用要領」の一部改正について（令和８年１０月１９日） · Checked on 2026-10-23 · In force from 2026-10-19
Since 2025 the ISA operating manual was revised on 1 April 2025, 1 June 2025, 30 September 2025, 24 March 2026, 1 April 2026, 20 August 2026 and 19 October 2026, each with an old-and-new comparison table published on the ISA page.
特定技能運用要領（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-23
ISA's 2026 update list shows operating booklets (field-specific manuals) revised for industrial products manufacturing (25 June), aviation (17 July), building cleaning, railways and food and beverage manufacturing (28 August), road transport (9 October) and fishery (15 October).
特定技能制度（出入国在留管理庁）更新情報 · Checked on 2026-10-23
ISA's 2026 update list shows the field-specific criteria notices ('standards set in view of circumstances specific to the field') revised for railways (1 April), road transport (10 April), food and beverage manufacturing (15 April), accommodation (22 April), forestry (23 April), industrial products manufacturing (8 May), automobile maintenance (22 May), construction (23 June) and shipbuilding (2 July).
特定技能制度（出入国在留管理庁）更新情報 · Checked on 2026-10-23

Open the official page ↗ · As of 2026-10-23

Information only. Not legal advice and not an official service. Check the official source and consult the Immigration Services Agency or a licensed administrative scrivener (行政書士) before you decide.