The recent foreign national acceptance launched last April 1, 2019 called the Specified Skill Worker is a system to accept foreign nationals that have a certain level of expertise and skill and can begin to work immediately in response to circumstances of serious labor shortages in Japan.
The “Specified Skilled Worker” visa has two types:
- Specified Skilled Worker 1 – status of residence applicable to foreign nationals to work in jobs that require considerable knowledge of or experience in Specified Industry Fields. Can only stay up to 5 years maximum and cannot bring family members with them.
- Specified Skilled Worker 2 – status of residence applicable to foreign nationals engaged in jobs that require proficient skills in Specified Industry fields such as in Construction and Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery can stay indefinitely and can also bring family members in Japan.
The 14 Specified Industry Fields under SSW:
- Care worker
- Building cleaning management
- Machine parts & tooling industries
- Industrial machinery industry
- Electric, electronic, and information industries
- Construction industry
- Shipbuilding and ship machinery industry
- Automobile repair and maintenance
- Aviation industry
- Accommodation industry
- Agriculture
- Fishery and aquaculture
- Manufacture of food and beverages
- Food service industry
During its launch, only those under Specified Skilled Worker 2 can stay indefinitely and bring their family members with them.
With the current plan to modify the Specified Skilled Worker visa, those under Specified Skilled Worker 1 may already be given the privilege to stay indefinitely and bring family members with them as well.
There is also a chance that a permanent residency will be granted after living in Japan for 10 years once certain requirements are met by the skilled worker.
The immigration Services Agency estimated about 345,000 workers shortage by FY2023. Currently, around 3,000 people are admitted under this visa status on a monthly basis.
It was reported that if the policy change is implemented and the 5-year cap is removed, it is estimated that the number of foreign workers would already reach 300,000 by the late half of the decade.
An official decision is expected to come by March 2022 and would be announced by ministerial ordinance.
