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Outline of the Specified Skilled Worker Program

This page explains the background to the establishment of the specified skilled worker program, its purpose, the specified skills jobs available in the construction industry, the program itself, as well as the support services that must be provided by the hiring companies.

Establishment of the Specified Skilled Worker Program and Job Types

On December 14, 2018, the Act for Partial Amendment of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and the Act for Establishment of the Ministry of Justice (Act No. 102 of 2018) was promulgated. As a result, a new status of residence, "specified skilled worker", was introduced. Consequently, non-Japanese workers are now allowed to work in 14 occupational fields which the government has acknowledged to be experiencing serious labor shortages.

One of these 14 is the construction industry, an industry that has been suffering from an increasingly acute shortage of labor. The number of workers in the construction industry peaked at 6.85 million in 1997 and declined to 5.05 million in November 2020. Despite efforts to improve productivity and to secure domestic human resources, the construction industry has been struggling to find workers. A program has been established in the industry to hire non-Japanese workers with a certain level of expertise and skills who can be effective immediately.

NotificationThe scope of work that foreigners with specific skills can be engaged in has been expanded!

All work related to the construction industry, including occupations subject to technical intern training, have been reorganized into 3major specific on-site job categories,
such as: Civil Engineering, Building, and Infrastructure & Equipment.

Due to the revised new system, it has enabled Specified Skilled Workers to take up a wider range of jobs and work in a more flexible way. (August 30, 2022)

[ Important ] Amendment of Job Categories in relation to Specified Skilled Workers in the Construction Industry
Establishment of the Specified Skilled Worker Program and Job Types

Types of specified skilled worker jobs (18 jobs)

Formwork construction Plastering Concrete pumping Tunnel and micro-tunneling* Construction machinery and
construction
Earthwork* Roofing Telecommunications* Reinforcement construction Reinforcing bar joints* Interior finishing Scaffolding Carpentry Plumbing Building sheet metal work Heat-retention and
cool-retention
Spray urethane insulation* Offshore civil engineering*

*For the six jobs marked with an asterisk (*), since there are no such jobs under the technical intern training program, workers must take and pass the Specified Skilled Worker (i) Evaluation Exam for the Construction Industry

What is the construction industry's specified skilled worker program?

The construction industry experiences more technical intern trainee disappearances than any other industry, and trainees who have disappeared are often found working illegally at other construction sites. Companies are also concerned that the hiring of foreigners as cheap labor by rival companies may distort the fair competition environment between construction companies, and the industry needs to develop firm rules on wages, social insurance, and health and safety, and to exclude companies that do not follow those rules.
To address such issues, companies hiring specified skilled workers in the construction industry are now required to prepare a plan for hiring workers and to have it approved by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) before workers acquire a status of residence from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. Once a plan has been approved, companies must undergo checks by the MLIT or the appropriate labor management organization regarding the implementation of the plan.
Unlike in the past, when a worker was not allowed to remain in Japan after completing Technical Intern Training (ii), etc., following the introduction of this program, workers are now allowed to continue to work for a company as part of the work force for a total of five years.
Companies are also now able to bring back non-Japanese workers, who have returned to their home country after completing technical intern training, and hire them directly.

Disappearing worker,illegal work,proper worker
[Construction companies]Construction industry license,CCUS(Construction Career Up System),10 forms of support,join JAC,hiring quidance,construction industry specified skilled workers hiring plan [Construction companies]Construction industry license,CCUS(Construction Career Up System),10 forms of support,join JAC,hiring quidance,construction industry specified skilled workers hiring plan

How to become a specified skilled worker

There are two routes to becoming a specified skilled worker.

Route 1: No technical intern training experience.1. Skills evaluation exam Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry or Trade Skills Test Level 3. 2. Japanese language test
Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese or Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (N4 or higher).Route 2: Technical intern training experience.Specified Skilled Worker (i). Period of stay: total of 5 years.Cannot be accompanied by family members.Certain amount of experience as a team leader + Passed the Specified Skills (ii) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry or Trade Skills Test Level 1.Specified Skilled Worker (ii).No restrictions on renewal of period of stay.Can be accompanied by family members (spouse/children) Route 1: No technical intern training experience.1. Skills evaluation exam Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry or Trade Skills Test Level 3. 2. Japanese language test
Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese or Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (N4 or higher).Route 2: Technical intern training experience.Specified Skilled Worker (i). Period of stay: total of 5 years.Cannot be accompanied by family members.Certain amount of experience as a team leader + Passed the Specified Skills (ii) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry or Trade Skills Test Level 1.Specified Skilled Worker (ii).No restrictions on renewal of period of stay.Can be accompanied by family members (spouse/children)

*1 "Successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii)" means completing at least 2 years and 10 months of technical intern training and meeting one of the following requirements

1. Passed the Trade Skills Test Level 3 or the practical test of the Technical Intern Training Evaluation Exam (Professional Level)
2. Have not passed Trade Skills Test Level 3 or the practical test of the Technical Intern Training Evaluation Exam (Professional Level), but are recognized as having "successfully completed" Technical Intern Training (ii) based on an evaluation report prepared by the implementing organization, which details attendance, acquisition of skills, etc., and attitude during training

Procedures undertaken by the hiring company

Companies must undertake various procedures in order to hire specified skilled workers in the construction industry.
The main procedures to be undertaken are listed below.

Prior to hiring
1
Directly or indirectly join JAC
>>> Obtain proof of membership
How to join JAC (Japanese)
* Must apply for application for approval of the construction industry specified skilled workers hiring plan
2

Obtain a license as provided for in Article 3 of the Construction Business Act
(from regional development bureaus, etc. or each prefecture)

3
Register with the Construction Career Up System
(Fund for Construction Industry Promotion)
Fund for Construction
Industry Promotion website(Japanese)
4

Explanation of important matters concerning employment contracts for specified skilled workers

5

Conclude an Employment Contract for Specified Skilled Workers

6
Apply for application for approval of the construction industry specified skilled workers hiring plan
*Apply online (Regional Development Bureau, etc.)
Foreign Worker
Employment Management
System website (Japanese)
* Applications can be made from six months prior to the expiration date of the current status of residence (or planned date of entry)
7

Prepare a support plan for specified skilled worker (i)

8
Application for Change of Status of Residence or Application for Certificate of Eligibility
*Apply in person or online (Regional Immigration Services Bureau)
Immigration Services
Agency of Japan
Application for Change
of Status of Residence form
Immigration Services
Agency of Japan
Application for Certificate
of Eligibility form
* Applications for a Change of Status of Residence can be made from two months prior to the expiration date of the current status of residence * Applications for a Certificate of Eligibility can be made from three months prior to the intended date of entry
Post-hiring
9
Submit Specified Skilled Workers (i) Hiring Report
*Submit online (Regional Development Bureau, etc.)
Foreign Worker
Employment Management
System website (Japanese)
*Submit within one month of hiring
10
Participate in post-hiring training
(Foundation for International Transfer of Skills and Knowledge in Construction (FITS))
FITS website
*Participate in training within 6 months

Changing status of residence from Technical Intern Training, etc. to Specified Skilled Worker (i) Change of status of residence

Benefits of switching from technical intern training

1No need to take the skills evaluation exam or Japanese language test
Non-Japanese workers who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) and wish to transfer to specified skilled worker (i) receive exemption from the skills evaluation exam and Japanese language test. Note that exemption is limited to transfers within the same job type.
2Minimize initial costs
For example, if an intern trainee from Vietnam switches to being a specified skilled worker while they are in Japan, there is no need to pay to bring them to Japan, thereby reducing the initial cost outlay.
3If it takes time to change your status of residence,
you can change your status of residence to "Designated Activities (4 months, work permitted)"
"If you are unable to prepare the necessary documents to apply by the date of expiration of your period of stay, for example, or if you need more time to complete the procedures to change your status of residence, you can apply to change your status of residence to "Designated Activities" to give you time to prepare documentation while working at the company at which you plan to work.
*The period of stay under this status of residence is included in the total period of stay (maximum 5 years) for the under the "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" status of residence.
More information can be found on the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website."

Technical Intern Training (ii, iii).Designated Activities(Business hiring non-Japanese construction workers).If transfer preparations are incomplete.Designated Activities(4 months, work permitted).Screening.Specified Skilled Worker (i) Technical Intern Training (ii, iii).Designated Activities(Business hiring non-Japanese construction workers).If transfer preparations are incomplete.Designated Activities(4 months, work permitted).Screening.Specified Skilled Worker (i)

Immigration Services Agency of Japan