What are Specified Skills? A detailed explanation of the process for accepting foreigners and the support organizations

Hello, this is Kano from JAC (Japan Association for Construction Human Resources).

Japan as a whole is facing a labor shortage due to a declining birthrate and aging population, and it is expected that the labor shortage will continue to become more serious in the future.
In this situation, given the trend towards globalization, many companies are considering accepting foreign workers.

Additionally, hiring foreigners also has great benefits in that it allows you to incorporate knowledge from overseas and find talent that can serve as a liaison office with the rest of the world.

However, it is also true that accepting foreigners involves difficult requirements such as residence status and a complicated system.

This time, we will explain the "Specified Skills" system that was institutionalized in 2019.
Let's take a look at some basic information you need to know in order to accept foreigners, such as the types of Specified Skills, target fields, and the acceptance process.

What is the "Specified Skills" residence status for foreigners? Explanation of No. 1 and No. 2

Specified Skills is a new residence status that was established in April 2019.
This will lift the ban on foreigners working in industrial sectors where labor shortages are becoming serious in Japan.

In order for a foreigner to reside in Japan, they must apply to a regional immigration bureau, stating the purpose of their stay, and receive authorization for their status of residence.
There are several types of residence status, one of which is the newly established "Specified Skills."

There are two types of Specified Skills: "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" and "Specified Skilled Worker (ii)"

There are two types of "Specified Skills" residence status: Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
There are differences between them, so please be careful.

If you are applying for a status of residence with Specified Skills upon entry, there is a condition that you must be 18 years of age or older.
However, if you are already residing in Japan, your age will be determined based on the age at the time the change of residence status is approved.
*Timing when Specified Skills residence card is issued

There are no educational background restrictions for either Specified Skilled Worker (i) or No. 2.

In addition, to Specified Skilled Worker (i), a person must be able to perform a certain level of work without the need for special education or training, but they can work with support from a support organization.
In contrast, the condition for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) is that you must already have skilled skills in the field you wish to work in.

Specified Skilled Worker (ii) requires a high level of ability, such as being able to work smoothly without receiving training on the job, but there are benefits such as being able to bring family members with you if you meet the requirements and there being no limit on the period of stay.

What industries are eligible for Specified Skills?

As of May 2024, the industrial sectors that are eligible for Specified Skills are as follows:

• nursing care
• Building Cleaning
• Industrial product manufacturing industry (formerly: Basic materials, industrial machinery, and electrical, electronic, and information-related manufacturing industry)
• Automobile Maintenance
• Aviation
• stay
• Agriculture
• Fisheries
• Food and beverage manufacturing
• Foodservice
• construction
• Shipbuilding and Marine Industry
• Automobile transport industry
• Railway
• forestry
• Timber Industry

* Specified Skilled Worker (ii) can be accepted in fields other than nursing care, automobile transportation, railways, forestry, and lumber.

The labor shortage, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises, is becoming more serious, and there is a possibility that this will hinder the sustainability of the economic and social infrastructure. In response to this, the Specified Skilled Specified Skills to build a system for accepting foreign nationals who have a certain level of expertise and skills and can be immediately put to work in industrial fields where it is still difficult to secure human resources despite efforts to improve productivity and secure domestic human resources.

Also check out the difference between technical training and Specified Skills!

The term "technical intern training" is often mistaken for "Specified Skills."
Both Specified Skills and technical training visas are necessary residence statuses to stay in Japan, but they each have different purposes.

The purpose of Specified Skills is to work in Japan to "make up for the labor shortage," while the purpose of the Technical Intern Training Visa is to make an "international contribution" by acquiring Japanese skills through on-the-job training and spreading them in one's home country.

In addition, while there are no restrictions on nationality for Specified Skills, technical intern trainees can only be brought in from certain countries under an agreement between the nations.
*The only exception to Specified Skills requirement is that the country or region that does not cooperate with the smooth execution of the deportation order (Islamic Republic of Iran).

In addition, if you have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii), you can change your residence status to Specified Skills.

The process for accepting specified skilled workers and how to obtain qualifications

How can foreigners obtain "Specified Skills" qualifications?

In order to apply for a job as specified skilled workers, you need to acquire Specified Skills.
The way to acquire Specified Skills is to "pass The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam and the Japanese Language Proficiency Test" or "complete Technical Intern Training (ii)".

I will explain each one.

① Passing The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam and the Japanese Language Proficiency Test

The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam is a test that evaluates the skill level of a person for the industries in which they can work after acquiring Specified Skills.

Exam locations and dates vary by industry.
The difficulty of passing varies, and the exam methods and contents also vary, with some industries conducting both written and practical exams.

The eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Age 17 or older
• Hold a passport issued by a foreign government or a competent authority of a region that cooperates in the execution of a deportation order as specified by the Minister of Justice in a public notice.

Japanese language proficiency is assessed based on the Japan Foundation's Basic Japanese Test or the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
In the target industries, the expected level is N4, which allows for understanding basic Japanese.

② Completion of Technical Intern Training (ii)

Foreign nationals who have successfully completed technical training for two years and ten months or more may apply to change their residence status to "Specified Skills."
In this case, you will be deemed to meet the required skill and Japanese language proficiency standards and will be exempt from skill and Japanese language tests.

In order to "successfully complete" a course, the following two items must be met:

• Completed technical training for 2 years and 10 months or more
• Passed the Skill Test Level 3 or an equivalent technical intern training evaluation test, or have an evaluation record for the technical intern trainee

Understand Specified Skills affiliation organizations and registered support organizations

Specified Skills organization is a company or individual business owner that accepts and supports specified skilled workers.

The receiving organization, Specified Skills organization, must meet the following conditions to accept foreign nationals.

• The employment contract (Specified Skills employment contract) concluded with the foreign national is appropriate, such as providing the same or higher level of remuneration as Japanese nationals.
• The host organization itself is appropriate, with no violations of immigration or labor laws within the past five years.
• A support system must be in place, such as providing support in a language that foreigners can understand.
• The plan to support foreign nationals with Specified Skilled Worker (i) is appropriate

Specified Skills organizations are obligated to provide support to Specified Skilled Worker (i) foreign nationals.

The support provided includes providing life guidance before entering the country, transportation to and from the airport upon arrival, assistance with securing housing, life orientation including opening a savings account and using a mobile phone, and regular interviews.
We will support foreigners so that they can live and work in Japan without any problems, from general life in Japan to work-related matters.

However, it may be difficult for a single company to create such a support system.
In such cases, this support can also be outsourced to a "registered support organization."

Registered support organizations are commissioned by receiving organizations to develop plans to support foreign nationals with Specified Skilled Worker (i) and provide support.

You can find a registered support organization by searching the list of registered support organizations published by the Ministry of Justice, or by getting a recommendation from a business you know.

Summary: Specified Skills is a type of residence status for foreigners

Specified Skills is one of the residence statuses for foreigners.
It was established in April 2019 in Japan to make up for the labor shortage.

There are two types of Specified Skills, No. 1 and No. 2, and they require a high level of expertise, Japanese language proficiency, and knowledge needed to live in Japan.

Specified Skills are often mistaken for technical training, but they have different purposes.
Normally, an exam is required to acquire Specified Skills, but in some cases it is possible to change to Specified Skills upon completing Technical Intern Training (ii), so be sure to understand this.

In order to accept specified skilled workers, a support system is necessary on the accepting side.
When in-house support is difficult, assistance can also be outsourced.

​Please feel free to contact JAC for corporate support in hiring specified skilled workers in the construction industry!
We also introduce specified skilled workers.

*This column was written based on information from May 2024.