Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa for Japan

Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) — you are abroad, the employer is in Japan

Your employer in Japan files it — a staff member or, on its behalf, an administrative scrivener (行政書士). With the CoE you apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate and enter Japan. Some countries add their own exit procedures — see “Applying from abroad” on this page.

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Food service (外食業): the field’s cap has been reached. CoE applications received from 13 April 2026 are not granted, and changes to SSW (i) from other statuses received from that date are, in principle, not granted. Still processed: extensions, job changes within the field, SSW (ii), and changes from Technical Intern Training (給食製造) or from the preparatory Designated Activities status (ISA’s update of 10 September 2026 lists these two as processed for applications received by 31 August 2026). CoEs for applications received before 13 April 2026 are issued in order of receipt (on 10 September 2026 ISA had reached those received by 31 January 2026).

Documents

1. Application for a Certificate of Eligibility 在留資格認定証明書交付申請書ISA publishes this form only as an Excel file. When an agent files for several people at once, a list of applicants (申請人名簿) is needed too.list of applicants · Excel
2. Photo, 4 × 3 cm 写真
3. Document table about you — Table 1 (第1表) for SSW (i) 提出書類一覧表 第1表（申請人に関する必要書類）SSW (i) · 特定技能1号An ISA Excel table listing every document about you, with the numbers of the reference templates (参考様式). Tick what you attach and submit it with the documents. The main ones are below.Table 1 (SSW (i)) · Excel
4. Document table about you — Table 1 (第1表) for SSW (ii) 提出書類一覧表 第1表（申請人に関する必要書類）SSW (ii) · 特定技能2号SSW (ii) has its own table on the ISA page, section 特定技能2号. The main documents are below.
5. SSW employment contract and terms of employment — copies 特定技能雇用契約書・雇用条件書（写し）ISA templates 参考様式第1-5号 and 第1-6号. Signed by you and the employer.
6. Explanation of your pay 特定技能外国人の報酬に関する説明書Prepared by the employer, ISA template 参考様式第1-4号. Pay must be at least what a Japanese employee gets for the same work.
7. Medical check record 健康診断個人票ISA template 参考様式第1-3号.
8. Explanation of how you were hired 雇用の経緯に係る説明書ISA template 参考様式第1-16号: who found you and whether any intermediaries were involved.
9. Support plan for the foreign worker 1号特定技能外国人支援計画書SSW (i) · 特定技能1号Prepared by the employer or a registered support organization (登録支援機関), ISA template 参考様式第1-17号. You must not be charged for this support.
10. Pass certificates: skills test and Japanese (JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic A2) 技能測定試験・日本語試験の合格証明書SSW (i) · 特定技能1号Bus and taxi drivers and railway station and train crew (運輸係員) need Japanese at N3 (B1); other railway jobs N4. Care also needs the care Japanese test. If you completed Technical Intern Training (ii) in good standing, you skip the Japanese test, and the skills test too when the new job is related. From 1 April 2027 that exemption covers only trainees under the rules in force since 1 November 2017; earlier trainees then take both tests.
11. SSW (ii) skills test certificate and proof of experience 2号技能測定試験の合格証明書・実務経験を証する資料SSW (ii) · 特定技能2号The experience you need (for example leading a team) is set in your field’s rules (要領別冊).
12. Pledge on the content of SSW (ii) work 2号特定技能外国人の業務内容に関する誓約書SSW (ii) · 特定技能2号ISA template 参考様式第1-32号.
13. Documents about the employer — Table 2 (第2表) 第2表の1～3（所属機関に関する必要書類）SSW (i) · 特定技能1号Prepared by the employer. 第2表の1 — established organizations (listed companies, employers that withheld ¥10 million or more in income tax from salaries last year, companies on ISA’s list and others); 第2表の2 — other companies; 第2表の3 — sole proprietors. If the company has already hired SSW workers this financial year, Table 2 is not needed.Table 2-1 · ExcelTable 2-2, companies · ExcelTable 2-3, sole proprietors · Excellist of organizations for Table 2-1 · PDF
14. Documents about the employer — Table 2 (第2表) for SSW (ii) 第2表の1～3（所属機関に関する必要書類）SSW (ii) · 特定技能2号Prepared by the employer. SSW (ii) has its own tables on the ISA page, section 特定技能2号. If the company has already hired SSW workers this financial year, Table 2 is not needed.
15. Documents about your field — Table 3 (第3表) 第3表（分野に関する必要書類）Each field has its own table (17 for SSW (i), 11 for SSW (ii)). Find yours on the ISA page (link below the list). The field’s rules are in its 要領別冊 on the ISA website.

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply

The regional immigration services bureau for the employer’s location or your future address. Not accepted by post.

Fee

Free

Standard processing period

1–3 months

Online

Yes

Change of status — you are already in Japan: study, technical intern training or another employer

You file it yourself before your current status expires — or an approved staff member of the employer, or an administrative scrivener (行政書士), files for you. Moving to another SSW employer is also a change of status: you may start the new job only after approval.

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Food service (外食業): the field’s cap has been reached. CoE applications received from 13 April 2026 are not granted, and changes to SSW (i) from other statuses received from that date are, in principle, not granted. Still processed: extensions, job changes within the field, SSW (ii), and changes from Technical Intern Training (給食製造) or from the preparatory Designated Activities status (ISA’s update of 10 September 2026 lists these two as processed for applications received by 31 August 2026). CoEs for applications received before 13 April 2026 are issued in order of receipt (on 10 September 2026 ISA had reached those received by 31 January 2026).

Documents

1. Application for change of status of residence 在留資格変更許可申請書ISA publishes this form only as an Excel file. When an agent files for several people at once, a list of applicants (申請人名簿) is needed too.list of applicants · Excel
2. Photo, 4 × 3 cm 写真
3. Passport and residence card — to show パスポート及び在留カード（提示）
4. Document table about you — Table 1 (第1表) for SSW (i) 提出書類一覧表 第1表（申請人に関する必要書類）SSW (i) · 特定技能1号An ISA Excel table listing every document about you, with the numbers of the reference templates (参考様式). Tick what you attach and submit it with the documents. The main ones are below.Table 1 (SSW (i)) · Excel
5. Document table about you — Table 1 (第1表) for SSW (ii) 提出書類一覧表 第1表（申請人に関する必要書類）SSW (ii) · 特定技能2号SSW (ii) has its own table on the ISA page, section 特定技能2号. The main documents are below.
6. SSW employment contract and terms of employment — copies 特定技能雇用契約書・雇用条件書（写し）ISA templates 参考様式第1-5号 and 第1-6号. Signed by you and the employer.
7. Explanation of your pay 特定技能外国人の報酬に関する説明書Prepared by the employer, ISA template 参考様式第1-4号. Pay must be at least what a Japanese employee gets for the same work.
8. Medical check record 健康診断個人票ISA template 参考様式第1-3号.
9. Explanation of how you were hired 雇用の経緯に係る説明書ISA template 参考様式第1-16号: who found you and whether any intermediaries were involved.
10. Support plan for the foreign worker 1号特定技能外国人支援計画書SSW (i) · 特定技能1号Prepared by the employer or a registered support organization (登録支援機関), ISA template 参考様式第1-17号. You must not be charged for this support.
11. Pass certificates: skills test and Japanese (JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic A2) 技能測定試験・日本語試験の合格証明書SSW (i) · 特定技能1号Bus and taxi drivers and railway station and train crew (運輸係員) need Japanese at N3 (B1); other railway jobs N4. Care also needs the care Japanese test. If you completed Technical Intern Training (ii) in good standing, you skip the Japanese test, and the skills test too when the new job is related. From 1 April 2027 that exemption covers only trainees under the rules in force since 1 November 2017; earlier trainees then take both tests.
12. SSW (ii) skills test certificate and proof of experience 2号技能測定試験の合格証明書・実務経験を証する資料SSW (ii) · 特定技能2号The experience you need (for example leading a team) is set in your field’s rules (要領別冊).
13. Pledge on the content of SSW (ii) work 2号特定技能外国人の業務内容に関する誓約書SSW (ii) · 特定技能2号ISA template 参考様式第1-32号.
14. Documents about the employer — Table 2 (第2表) 第2表の1～3（所属機関に関する必要書類）SSW (i) · 特定技能1号Prepared by the employer. 第2表の1 — established organizations (listed companies, employers that withheld ¥10 million or more in income tax from salaries last year, companies on ISA’s list and others); 第2表の2 — other companies; 第2表の3 — sole proprietors. If the company has already hired SSW workers this financial year, Table 2 is not needed.Table 2-1 · ExcelTable 2-2, companies · ExcelTable 2-3, sole proprietors · Excellist of organizations for Table 2-1 · PDF
15. Documents about the employer — Table 2 (第2表) for SSW (ii) 第2表の1～3（所属機関に関する必要書類）SSW (ii) · 特定技能2号Prepared by the employer. SSW (ii) has its own tables on the ISA page, section 特定技能2号. If the company has already hired SSW workers this financial year, Table 2 is not needed.
16. Documents about your field — Table 3 (第3表) 第3表（分野に関する必要書類）Each field has its own table (17 for SSW (i), 11 for SSW (ii)). Find yours on the ISA page (link below the list). The field’s rules are in its 要領別冊 on the ISA website.

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply

The regional immigration services bureau for your address

Fee

Paid only after approval. Applications received by 30 September 2026: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500), even if the decision comes later. Received from 1 October 2026: the fee depends on the period granted — from ¥10,000 (up to 3 months) to ¥75,000 (5 years or more); online is cheaper except for periods up to 3 months. It can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued with the permission. Full fee table

Standard processing period

1–2 months

Online

Yes

Extension of SSW status with the same employer

You file it yourself from 3 months before your period of stay ends. SSW (i) is granted for up to 3 years at a time and 5 years in total.

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Documents

1. Application for extension of period of stay 在留期間更新許可申請書ISA publishes this form only as an Excel file. When an agent files for several people at once, a list of applicants (申請人名簿) is needed too.list of applicants · Excel
2. Photo, 4 × 3 cm 写真Not needed for an extension of up to 3 months.
3. Passport and residence card — to show パスポート及び在留カード（提示）
4. Document table about you — Table 1 (第1表) for SSW (i) 提出書類一覧表 第1表（申請人に関する必要書類）SSW (i) · 特定技能1号An ISA Excel table with every document for the extension. Table 2 about the employer is not needed for an extension.Table 1 (SSW (i)) · Excel
5. Document table about you — Table 1 (第1表) for SSW (ii) 提出書類一覧表 第1表（申請人に関する必要書類）SSW (ii) · 特定技能2号SSW (ii) has its own table on the ISA page, section 特定技能2号. Table 2 about the employer is not needed for an extension.
6. Documents about your field — Table 3 (第3表) 第3表（分野に関する必要書類）SSW (i) · 特定技能1号For extensions one table covers every field except agriculture and fishery; their tables are on the ISA page.all fields except agriculture and fishery · Excel
7. Documents about your field — Table 3 (第3表) 第3表（分野に関する必要書類）SSW (ii) · 特定技能2号SSW (ii) has its own tables on the ISA page: one for every field except agriculture and fishery, and separate ones for those two.

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply

The regional immigration services bureau for your address

Fee

Paid only after approval. Applications received by 30 September 2026: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500), even if the decision comes later. Received from 1 October 2026: the fee depends on the period granted — from ¥10,000 (up to 3 months) to ¥75,000 (5 years or more); online is cheaper except for periods up to 3 months. It can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued with the permission. Full fee table

Standard processing period

2 weeks – 1 month

Online

Yes