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- What is Specified Skilled Worker (ii)? What is the difference with No. 1 and how to obtain it?
- Home
- JAC Magazine
- Specified Skilled Worker System Key Points
- What is Specified Skilled Worker (ii)? What is the difference with No. 1 and how to obtain it?
What is Specified Skilled Worker (ii)? What is the difference with No. 1 and how to obtain it?
I wrote the article!
Japan Association for Construction Human Resources
Chief of Research and Development Department / Administration Department / Public Relations Department
Motoko Kano
(Kano Motoko)
Hello, this is Kano from JAC (Japan Association for Construction Human Resources).
Currently, many accepting companies want their Specified Skilled Worker (i) foreigners to stay as long as possible.
In principle, you can work in Japan for five years under a Specified Skilled Worker (i) residence status, but by obtaining a Specified Skilled Worker (ii) residence status, you can work in Japan even longer.
So this time, we'll introduce the differences between Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii), as well as how to obtain Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
What is Specified Skilled Worker (ii)? Check the basics of Specified Skilled Worker System as well
To address labor shortages at construction sites, the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act was amended in the 2018 extraordinary Diet session, and a new residence status called "Specified Skills" was established.
Specified Skills is a system that accepts foreigners in Specified Industry Fields with serious labor shortages.
It is customary to accept foreigners with the same treatment as Japanese nationals.
Specified Skills have "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" and "Specified Skilled Worker (ii)."
As of April 2026, Specified Skilled Worker (i) can accept the following 16 fields.
- nursing care
- Building cleaning management
- Industrial product manufacturing industry (formerly: Basic materials, industrial machinery, and electrical, electronic, and information-related manufacturing industry)
- Automobile repair and maintenance
- Aviation
- stay
- Agriculture
- Fisheries
- Manufacture of food and beverages
- Food service industry
- construction
- Shipbuilding and ship machinery industry
- Automobile transportation business
- Railway
- forestry
- Wood industry
* In 2027, three new fields are planned: "Linen Supply," "Logistics Warehouse," and "Resource Circulation (Waste Disposal)."
Of these, the fields accepted by Specified Skilled Worker (ii) are 11 fields, excluding nursing care, Automobile transportation business, railways, forestry, and Wood industry.
Until now, Specified Skilled Worker (ii) only covered welding categories in the construction and Shipbuilding and ship machinery industry sectors.
However, the scope was expanded by a Cabinet decision in 2023.
The four sectors of "Automobile transportation business," "Railways," "Forestry," and "Wood industry" are newly added industrial sectors by the Cabinet decision in March 2024, and will first be accepted from Specified Skilled Worker (i).
Therefore, as of April 2026, Specified Skilled Worker (ii) cannot be accepted.
How is Specified Skilled Worker (ii) different from Specified Skilled Worker (i)?
What are the differences between Specified Skilled Worker (ii) and Specified Skilled Worker (i)?
We will compare the differences between Type 2 and Type 1 in terms of skill level, period of stay, and Japanese language proficiency.
| Specified Skilled Worker (ii) | Specified Skilled Worker (i) | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification Overview | For foreigners engaged in skilled and skilled work belonging to the Specified Industry Fields | For foreigners engaged in work that requires a considerable degree of knowledge or experience belonging to Specified Industry Fields |
| Period of stay | No upper limit *Renewal is required every 3 years, 2 years, 1 year, and 6 months. |
5 years in principle *Renewal is required within a period not exceeding 3 years. |
| Skill Level | Check through exams etc. | Confirmed through exams and other means * Foreigners who successfully complete Technical Intern Training (ii) are exempt from exams, etc. |
| Japanese language proficiency level | No verification through tests or other means is required. *Some fields require a Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N3 level or higher. |
Verify Japanese proficiency necessary for daily life and work through exams and other means. * Foreigners who successfully complete Technical Intern Training (ii) are exempt from exams, etc. |
| Bringing family members along | If the requirements are met, it is possible to bring your spouse and children along. | Basically not acceptable |
| Assistance with Accepting Organizations or Registered Support Organizations | Not applicable | subject |
[Specified Skilled Worker (ii) "Skilled Skills" 】
Acquired skilled skills through long-term practical experience, enabling them to act as leaders and supervise on-site workers.
Specifically, the following two requirements must be met.
- Certain practical experience as a team leader
- Passing or obtaining a Grade 1 of the National Trade Skill Test & Certification equivalent to the The Specified Skills (ii) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry level of Grade 1 of the National Trade Skill Test & Certification
[Specified Skilled Worker (i) "Skills requiring a considerable level of knowledge or experience"
A level of ability to perform a certain level of work without special training or other necessary training
You can also transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i) by successfully completing the Technical Intern Training (ii).
For a detailed explanation of the differences between Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training, please take a look here.
The 10 differences between Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training. Know the advantages and points to watch out for before considering
Introducing the requirements and methods for obtaining Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
To obtain Specified Skilled Worker (ii), you need to meet the following two conditions:
- Passing The Specified Skills (ii) Evaluation Exam or Grade 1 of the National Trade Skill Test & Certification
- ② Gain a certain amount of practical experience as a supervisor or coach.
The exam content and required practical experience vary depending on the field.
By the way, for Specified Skilled Worker (i), you must pass an exam to confirm your Japanese abilities along with the Specified Skills measurement test, but for Specified Skilled Worker (ii), except for some areas, you do not need to take the Japanese exam.
The Specified Skills (ii) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry (Implementing Body: JAC) For the implementation status, please refer to the "The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry Page."
The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry page
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) For companies considering accepting foreign workers
Specified Skilled Worker are increasingly transitioning from Specified Skilled Worker (i) to No. 2.
" Specified Skilled Worker (i) working at our own company, foreigners are scheduled to take the Type 2 evaluation exam, but the company doesn't know what preparations are needed."
"I don't know what tasks correspond to the 'team leader experience' required for Type 2."
If your company has these concerns or questions, please feel free to consult JAC.
At JAC, we hold "Online Individual Consultation Sessions" tailored to the circumstances of each company.
Online Individual Consultation Session
You can easily apply online, so please make use of it as a place to resolve your questions.
Summary: There are two requirements to acquire Specified Skilled Worker (ii) Know the differences with No. 1.
Specified Skills is a residence status created to address the shortage of human resources in Japan.
There are two types: Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
The difference between Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Type 2 lies in the level of technology required.
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) requires more advanced skills, but there is no limit on the length of stay, allowing you to work in Japan for a longer period.
To obtain Specified Skilled Worker (ii), you must meet two requirements: (1) passing either The Specified Skills (ii) Evaluation Exam or Grade 1 of the National Trade Skill Test & Certification, and (2) having a certain level of practical experience as a supervisor or instructor.
If you are a company in the construction industry considering accepting Specified Skilled Worker, please feel free to consult with JAC!
We also introduce Specified Skilled Worker.
*This article is based on information as of April 2026.
The author of this article
Japan Association for Construction Human Resources
Chief of Research and Development Department / Administration Department / Public Relations Department
Motoko Kano
(Kano Motoko)
Born in Aichi Prefecture.
He is in charge of public relations, research and investigation, and is the person behind social media.
We update our social media accounts daily with the desire to make people fall in love with Japan, to spread the appeal of construction from Japan to the world, and to ensure that Japan's construction industry continues to be the industry of choice around the world.
He is also engaged in research into the feasibility of implementing skills evaluation exam in Asian countries, and is conducting interviews with local organizations in each country.
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