10 differences between Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training. Know the advantages and precautions before considering them.

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

When considering accepting foreign workers, the options for "Specified Skills" and "Technical Intern Training" are considered.
Although the two are sometimes confused, they are actually completely different entities.

Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training differ greatly in their objectives and required skill levels.

This time, we will compare the differences between Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training.
Learn the strengths and points to watch out for in each and use them as tips for accepting foreign talent.

10 differences between Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training explained! Comparison of systems

"Specified Skills" and "Technical Intern Training" are one of the residence statuses for foreigners to operate in Japan.

Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training are easily confused, but they differ significantly in content and purpose, so care must be taken when accepting.
Here are 10 typical differences between Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training.

①Purpose

Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training are the same in terms of "accepting foreigners in the enterprise", but the purpose of acceptance is different.

Specified Skills is a system to compensate for the labor shortage in the Japan.
Technical Intern Training is a system for international contribution that allows students to bring the skills they have acquired in Japan back to their home countries and spread them.

② Work content

Specified Skills determines which tasks can be done by job category, while Technical Intern Training determines which jobs can be done by job type.

Specified Skills is a system designed to address Japan's labor shortage, allowing work within a relatively broad range of job categories.
In contrast, Technical Intern Training are here to learn highly specialized work, so they work in units of job type that match the skills they acquire.

③ Occupation

Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training have different accepted job titles.

The positions eligible for Specified Skills are 16 fields for Specified Skilled Worker (i) and 11 fields for Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
Technical Intern Training There are over 90 job types.
*All as of April 2026

④ Skill level

Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training require different skill levels.

Specified Skills For both Type 1 and Type 2, you must have at least a certain level of knowledge in the field where you will be employed.
In contrast, Technical Intern Training do not need to acquire any skills before entering the country.

⑤Exam

To be eligible for Specified Skills certification, you must pass the "The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam" and the "Japanese Language Proficiency Test."

Specified Skills aims to help people become "immediate assets" to address Japan's labor shortage, so only those who have reached the necessary skills and Japanese level for employment are eligible.

In the case of Technical Intern Training, only nursing care occupations Japanese required to be at the N4 level of the proficiency test, but there is no special exam for other occupations.

⑥Work style

Whether Specified Skills or Technical Intern Training, Japan's labor laws and regulations apply are the same.

However, overtime and late-night work are generally not permitted for Technical Intern Training.
As an exception, you may do so within the scope necessary to acquire skills.

On the other hand, Specified Skilled Worker System is a system for work, so overtime and late-night work can be performed within the scope of labor-related laws and regulations.

Also, in the case of Specified Skills, you can change jobs within the same job type.
On the other hand, in the case of Technical Intern Training, unless there are unavoidable circumstances, transferring is not possible.

⑦ Period of stay

Specified Skills The period of stay for Specified Skilled Worker (i) is a total of 5 years.
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) must be renewed every 3, 2, 1, and 6 years, but there is no upper limit.

Technical Intern Training is limited to 1 year for No. 1, 2 years for No. 2, and 2 years for No. 3 (up to 5 years in total).

⑧ Accompanying family members

Family members are not allowed to accompany Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker (i).
For Specified Skilled Worker (ii), if the requirements are met, family members (spouse, children) are allowed to accompany them.

⑨ Number of people accepted

Specified Skilled Worker System sets the number of people accepted by each industry field.

Within the limits mentioned above, since this system is "to compensate for labor shortages," there are basically no restrictions on the number of people each company can accept.
However, in the construction sector, the quota is set at the company level, and in the nursing care sector, it is set at the facility level.

The Specified Skills in the construction sector stipulates that "the total number of Specified Skilled Worker (i) and foreign construction workers must not exceed the number of full-time employees."

Technical Intern Training focuses on helping students acquire skills, so it is necessary to limit the number of people who can provide thorough instruction.
Therefore, each company size sets an upper limit on the number of employees and other factors to accept.

For the number of Specified Skills can be accommodated, please see here.
What is the quota for accepting Specified Skilled Worker? Is there a limit on the number of people in the construction sector?

⑩ Related organizations

Specified Skills is essentially completed between the two parties, since the company and Specified Skilled Worker have an "employment relationship."
* Registered Support Organizations may be involved to support living in Japan

In the case of Technical Intern Training, there are many organizations and stakeholders that come between companies and trainees, such as supervising organizations, Foreign Technical Intern Training Organization, and sending agencies.

What to think about in terms of the difference between Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training

Specified Skills provides immediate labor to compensate for labor shortages, but also requires high-level skills and Japanese, so the base size tends to be smaller.

However, in the case of Specified Skills "Type 2," there is no upper limit on the extension of the period of stay, and family members are allowed to accompany them, which is attractive because they can work in Japan for a long time.
Additionally, leveraging overseas expertise and cultural differences offers the potential to expand globally.

In the case of Technical Intern Training, there are no exams, so the number of participants is large, making it easier for people to gather.
Since they are not particularly skilled in specific skills, instruction in Japanese is necessary, but beginners can expect adaptability and absorption abilities unique to them.

It also attracts young people because no experience is required and family members are not allowed.

Technical Intern Training can also be migrated to Specified Skills. How to do it?

One common concern for companies in Technical Intern Training is that even if they carefully teach the skills, they end up returning to their home country.

The purpose of this system is to "bring the skills you have learned back to your home country," but as you carefully teach from scratch through practical training, it is only natural to feel that "I want you to continue working here in the future."
Also, among Technical Intern Training students, many feel it would be a waste to return to their home country after they have just gotten used to Japan, or that they want to learn a bit more Japanese technology.

The solution to such concerns is the transition from Technical Intern Training to Specified Skills.

Technical Intern Training students who successfully complete the Technical Intern Training (ii) can transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i) within their respective fields of expertise.
To obtain Specified Skilled Worker (i), both a "skills test" and a "Japanese competency test" are required, but these are also exempted.

"Completion in good condition" means completing Technical Intern Training for at least 2 years and 10 months, and meeting one of the following:

• Passed the Level 3 Skills Test or the Technical Intern Training Evaluation Exam (Professional Level) practical test
• Although you have not passed the practical exam of the Level 3 Skills Test or the Technical Intern Training Evaluation Test (Professional Level), you are recognized as having 'successfully completed' Technical Intern Training (ii) based on an evaluation report prepared by the training implementer that describes your attendance during the training, skill acquisition, and lifestyle attitude.

How to transition from Technical Intern Training to Specified Skills

When transitioning from the Technical Intern Training residence status to the "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" residence status, an "Application for Change of Status of Residence" is submitted.
Before the expiration of the Technical Intern Training (ii) period of stay, submit the "Application for Change of Status of Residence" and the necessary documents for obtaining the "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau in jurisdiction.

When hiring Specified Skills in the construction sector, it is necessary to obtain prior certification for the acceptance plan.
Please note that you must complete the acceptance plan certification procedures before the above procedures.

For a detailed introduction to the process of accepting Specified Skilled Worker, please see here.
What is Specified Skills? A detailed explanation of the process for accepting foreigners and support organizations

For companies questioning the transition from Technical Intern Training to Specified Skills

If you want your current Technical Intern Training to work as a Specified Skilled Worker but don't know where to start, please feel free to consult JAC.

JAC offers online individual consultation sessions tailored to the specific needs of each company.
Online Individual Consultation Session

You can easily apply online, so please feel free to use this as a place to get your questions answered.

Understand the difference between Registered Support Organizations and supervising organization

Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training have related organizations called 'Registered Support Organizations' and 'supervising organizations,' which are also easily confused.

Registered Support Organizations is a support organization in Specified Skilled Worker System.
It is an organization that supports all aspects of life in the Japan, from life to work in Specified Skilled Worker, and corporations for profit such as corporations can also be Registered Support Organizations.

You are free to outsource or develop support services in-house.
If you are conducting support services in-house, you do not need to use Registered Support Organizations.

For more details about Registered Support Organizations, please take a look here.
What kind of place is Registered Support Organizations? We will clearly introduce the support provided.
What is the approximate cost to pay Registered Support Organizations? Check how to support your company yourself

A supervising organization is an organization that aims to "supervise the company where the trainee is conducted" by checking whether appropriate training is being conducted in the Technical Intern Training.
Supervising organizations are operated by cooperatives, etc., which are non-profit-making corporations, and corporations for profit such as corporations cannot be supervising organizations.

The supervising organization will audit the practical training period at least once every three months and provide guidance as necessary.

Summary: There are many differences between Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training! Consider migration as an option

In public perception, "Specified Skills" and "Technical Intern Training" tend to be lumped together.
However, the purposes and content of the system differ in many ways, and the two are completely different entities.

The purpose of Specified Skills is to enable people to become immediately effective in resolving Japan's labor shortage.
Therefore, they are required to meet a certain level of skill in a specific industrial field and also have a certain level of Japanese language proficiency.

In contrast, Technical Intern Training is a system aimed at bringing back techniques acquired in Japan to their home countries and spreading them.
Except for caregiving positions, there are no technical or Japanese-language exams, and since there are many accepted positions, it is easy for those who want to acquire skills to take on the challenge.

Technical Intern Training has a fixed duration, but you can move to Specified Skilled Worker (i) if the job title is the same.
If you become a Specified Skilled Worker (ii), there is no upper limit on the renewal of your period of stay, and you are allowed to bring your family along, so you can continue to work for a long time.

Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training are easy to mistake for related organizations, but they also have different purposes and obligations, and the organizations themselves are also different.

If you are a company that is considering accepting Specified Skilled Worker in the construction industry, please feel free to contact JAC!
We also introduce Specified Skilled Worker.

*This column is based on information from April 2026.