SPECIFIED SKILLED WORKERAbout the Specified Skills scheme

What is the Specified Skills scheme?

  • A residence status allowing foreigners to work for 5 years
  • Allows work in 14 fields, including construction and restaurants, which was not previously possible
  • After completing his or her Technical Internship, foreigners can change to the Specified Skills visa and work for a further 5 years
  • Companies can also bring back former interns who have returned to his or her home country

Difference between Technical Internship Training Program
and Specified Skills Scheme

Technical Internship
Training Program
Specified
Skills Scheme (Type 1)
Residence Permit Type Type 1 – 1 year; Type 2 – 2 years; Type 3 – 3 years
(Maximum time in Japan – 5 years)
Total 5 years
(If the worker successfully continues onto a Type 2 visa, they can renew the visa an infinite amount of times)
Skills Examination None applicable Candidate must pass exam
(Former Technical Interns are exempt from examination for the field in which they were engaged)
Japanese Ability
Examination
None applicable N4 or higher
(Former Technical Interns are exempt from examination)
Management and Support Services Workers are managed as a group by a trade union Registered Support Organization, or alternatively, support services can be administered by the Accepting Organization
Number of Workers possible per Accepting Organization Total number is based on the total number of full time employees Total number is based on the total number of full time employees
Mid-term Change of Employer Not possible, in principle
(When changing between Types 2 and 3, change of employer is possible)
Possible
(Providing that the new employer is within the same industry as the original employer)

Customer Testimonials

Company A, a large player in the Food Manufacturing industry

At present, we are conducting the supervision activities of our Technical Interns on our own. We have a track record of management, application and reporting so we decided to take the management of workers under the Specified Skills scheme in-house. Since the Specified Skills scheme is a relatively new system, the requirements are frequently changing, but we were able to utilize our existing skills and experience to put in place the required documentation and reporting functions internally. We were able to implement a master schedule and liaise consistently with our Human Resource representative to support the conversion of our existing Technical Interns into Specified Skills workers.

Company B, a large player in the Hospitality industry

The company had hired foreigners in the past however, they have since decided to make Specified Skills workers their main focus going forward. Not limited to support with regard to visa applications, but Proud Partners also consulted on existing foreigner staff members’ visas and helped in translating the company’s HR documentation into various languages.
Prior to holding interviews, Company B holds seminars and branch tours to candidates – we took over this duty for the company.
After the company had to shut down temporarily due to the COVID 19 pandemic, our staff explained the situation in detail in various languages to the affected staff, and provided assistance under the Labor Standards Act and Immigration Control Act.