Sakura Network

Examples of the resident status and career path for long-term stay

As of June 2021, there are 29 types of residence statuses for overseas human resources in Japan, but most levels have limitations. If you wish to stay in Japan for the long term, the current resident status must be renewed or changed. This page will introduce examples of future career paths for resident status, which is often acquired among 29 types of resident status, and examples of career paths for specific skills, which is a status of residence newly established in April 2019.

Study abroad

Item Contents
Purpose International contribution between Japan and the origin country of overseas human resources
Eligible person Overseas human resources studying at Japanese universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, technical schools, and Japanese language schools
Period of stay Up to four years and three months
Restrictions on work You cannot work basically, but if you have permission from the Immigration Bureau for activities outside the qualification status, you can work part-time within 28 hours a week.
* However, please note that many cases in which the residence status could not be changed due to this violation because the actual working hours exceeding the time limit were confirmed when renewing the residence status.
Accompanying family members Cases with restrictions
Acquisition method (Procedure method)
  • Obtain a passport in your own country
  • Take and pass the entrance examination of your desired university or Japanese language school
    * Refer to the school website you wish to enroll in for the cost (including tuition). You should also take the Japanese language test.
  • If the school has a dormitory, apply for a dormitory. If not, ask the school to introduce you to a private facility.
  • Complete the admission procedure
  • Obtain Certificate of Eligibility
     The following persons can apply for the Certificate of Eligibility.
    1. The applicant
    2. The staff of the school where the international students study
    3. Relatives living in Japan (friends and acquaintances are not allowed)
    4. Other persons specified by the Ministry of Justice (administrative scrivener, lawyer, etc.)
  • Obtain a Study Abroad visa
    After you are ready for the Certificate of Eligibility, apply at the Japanese embassy abroad or the Immigration Bureau in Japan.
  • Arrange flights
    Check the schedule for the school and arrange the flight by the school, the study abroad agency in your own country, or yourself.
    Get a health check (when instructed by the school)
  • Come to Japan
  • Perform admission procedures on campus
  • Open an account such as resident registration and withdrawal at the government office
  • Start studying at school
Examples of career path
Study abroad
(Up to four years and three months)
Specified Skilled Worker (i)
(up to 5 years)
Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
(no duration limit as long as the employment contract continues)
Permanent resident
(no restrictions for work and period)

<Caution>
When you come to Japan, the amount of money you pay may fluctuate depending on the sending agency in your country. In some cases, the expenditure is more than necessary.

Technical intern training

Item Contents
Purpose International contribution and international skills transfer between Japan and the origin country of overseas human resources
Eligible person Overseas human resources (many apprentices and inexperienced person) approved by the sending agency in their own country and the Japanese supervising organization (the host company to work is under the umbrella)
Period of stay Up to 5 years
  1. (1) Activities to acquire skills in the first year after entering Japan (Technical Intern Training (i))
  2. (2) Activities to familiarize yourself with skills in the second and third years (Technical Intern Training (ii))
  3. (3) Activities to master the skills of the 4th and 5th years (Technical Intern Training (iii))
<Examples of non-approval for residence status>
  1. (1) If you fail the skill evaluation test (i) or (ii), writing and practical skill.
    The passing score is 60 to 65 points or more out of 100 points. You can take only one reexamination.
  2. (2) If you fail the skill evaluation test (ii) or (iii), only practical skills.
    The passing score is 60 to 65 points or more out of 100 points. You can take only one reexamination.
Restrictions on work Comply with Japanese Labor Standards Law (working style is available similar to Japanese)
Accompanying family members Impossible
Acquisition method (Procedure method) For person selected in their own country
  • Application for Technical intern training plan (By accepting company)
  • Authorization for Technical intern training plan (By organization for foreign training workers)
  • Issuance of Certificate of Eligibility (Supervising organization sends to the regional Immigration Bureau)
  • Issuance of Certificate of Eligibility (Supervising organization sends to technical intern trainees)
  • Technical intern trainee prepares to obtain a passport in their own country
  • echnical intern trainee applies for intern training visas at the Japanese diplomatic missions abroad and is issued.
  • Arrange flights (Generally, done by the sending agency in your own country)
  • Visit Japan (Supported by supervising organizations and host companies)
  • Procedures for joining the company in the host company
  • Register as a resident at the government office and open a salary account
  • Start working at the host company
    * Practice plan follow-up (Management organization (* 1) and host company)
Start working at the host company
* Practice plan follow-up (Management organization (* 1) and host company)

* 1) What is a supervising organization?
It is a non-profit organization that accepts technical intern trainees and supports their activities and host companies.
At the company's request, this organization will recruit technical intern trainees, carry out procedures until acceptance, and conduct on-site interviews. After a company accepts technical intern trainees, it audits and guides whether each company is conducting proper specialized intern training.
 【Specific working】
  ・Regular audit, extraordinary audit
  ・Visit guidance
  ・Business related to accepting trainees
    > Selection and contract for sending agency
    > Accompanying an interview in the sending country
    > Guidance for planning a technical intern training for the host company
    > Immigration procedures for technical intern trainees
    > Training post-entering Japan
  ・Protection and support for technical intern trainees
Examples of career path
Technical intern training
(up to 5 years)
Specified Skilled Worker (i)
(up to 5 years)
Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
(no duration limit as long as the employment contract continues)
Permanent resident
(no restrictions for work and period)

<Caution>
When you come to Japan, the amount of money you pay may fluctuate depending on the sending agency in your country. In some cases, the expenditure is more than necessary.

Specified Skilled Worker

Item Contents
Purpose Working to solve the labor shortage in Japan
Eligible person Working to solve the labor shortage in Japan
Overseas human resources who have passed the examination of the industry you want to work in (technical/Japanese)
* The following industries are eligible for employment: (i-14 and ii-2)
Period of stay Up to 5 years (Specified Skilled Worker (i))
No upper limit on the period of stay (Specified Skilled Worker (ii))
* The transition from (i) to (ii) is only possible
Restrictions on work Comply with Japanese Labor Standards Law (working style is available similar to Japanese)
Registered support organization It is possible only (i) without (ii).
Accompanying family members It is not possible to get only (ii) without (i).
Acquisition method (Procedure method) Overseas human resources coming to Japan
  • Pass the proficiency test and Japanese language test in the field you wish to work in (exempt for the person who has completed technical intern training (ii))
  • Conclude an employment contract with the host company
  • Attend advance guidance by the host company and receive a medical examination
  • Application for Certificate of Eligibility (to Regional Immigration Bureau)
    * In many cases, the host company asks an administrative scrivener to apply on behalf of the company.
  • Issuance of the Certificate of Eligibility (The host company sends to the person)
  • Applying for and issuing a visa for Specific Skilled (i) at a Japanese diplomatic missions abroad
  • Arrange flights (Generally, done by the sending agency in your own country)
  • Visit Japan (Supported by registration support organizations and host companies)
  • Register as a resident at the government office and open a salary account
  • Start working at the host company
Overseas human resources residing in Japan
  • Pass the proficiency test and Japanese language test in the industry you wish to work in (exempt for person completed technical intern training (ii))
  • Conclude an employment contract with the host company
  • Attend advance guidance provided by the host company and receive a medical examination.
  • Application for permission to change the residence status (to the Regional Immigration Bureau)
    * In many cases, the person or the host company asks an administrative scrivener to apply.
  • Issuance of permission to change the residence status (sent to the person)
  • Start working at the host company.
The residence statuses (i) and (ii) were newly established in April 2019 to improve the labor shortage in Japan.

Specified Skilled Worker (i)
Activities that require skills with considerable knowledge or experience in a specific industrial field
* You can change your current residence status from the Technical Intern Training or the Study Abroad.

<Specified Skilled Work (i) 14 industries>
  1. (1) Nursing care industry. WING STAFF Co., Ltd. is good at this industry.
  2. (2) Building cleaning business
  3. (3) Formed and fabricated materials industries
  4. (4) Industrial machinery manufacturing
  5. (5) Electrical and electronic information related industries
  6. (6) Construction industry
  7. (7) Shipbuilding/marine industry
  8. (8) Car maintenance industry
  9. (9) Aviation industry
  10. (10) Accommodation business
  11. (11) Agriculture
  12. (12) Fishing
  13. (13) Food and beverage manufacturing industry
  14. (14) Restaurant business. SQUARE Planning Co., Ltd. is the specialty in this industry.
Specified Skilled Work (ii)
Activities that require specified skills in the specific industrial field
* Only the transition from Specified Skilled (i) to (ii) is available.

<Specified Skilled Work (ii), two industries>
(1) Construction industry
(2) Shipbuilding/marine industry

As of 2021, the Specified Skilled Workers are only those who have acquired type (i), and there are no overseas human resources who have received the specified skilled worker type (ii).
In the future, Japan schedules to expand the Specified Skilled Workers (i) other than 14 industries and is focusing on this residence status. In addition, Japan plans to expand the application of the Specified Skilled Workers (ii).
・If you meet the following acquisition conditions, you will carry out the qualification change.
・Pass the proficiency test of the industry you want to work for
・Obtain N4 level or above of the Japanese Language Exam
・Conclude an employment contract with the employer
Examples of career path
Specified Skilled Worker (i)
(up to 5 years)
Specified Skilled Worker (ii)
(no duration limit as long as the employment contract continues)
Permanent resident
(no restrictions for work and period)

<Caution>
When you come to Japan, the amount of money you pay may fluctuate depending on the sending agency in your country. In some cases, the expenditure is more than necessary.

Residence status with no activity restrictions

An example of the residence status and career path with no activity restrictions
Permanent resident
Eligible person Overseas human resources allowed by the Minister of Justice to live in Japan permanently
Period of stay No restrictions (valid for seven years and required to be renewed)
Restrictions on work No limits (working is possible like Japanese people)
Acquisition conditions The permitted conditions are good behavior, independent livelihood, and people who meet the national interests of Japan and have lived in Japan for more than ten years. The applicant applies for permission to change the residence status to the Immigration Bureau and is issued.
Japanese spouse
Eligible person A person who married a person with Japanese nationality, or a child born as a Japanese nationality
Period of stay Up to 5 years, but it will become virtually no limit with repeating updates
Restrictions on work No limits (working is possible like Japanese people)
Acquisition conditions Submit and issue an application to the Immigration Bureau for permission to change your residence status or your period of stay.
Spouse of a permanent resident
Eligible person The spouse of a permanent resident or a foreign settler born as a permanent resident and continually resides in Japan
Period of stay Up to 5 years, but it will become virtually no limit with repeating updates
Restrictions on work No limits (working is possible like Japanese people)
Acquisition conditions Submit and issue an application to the Immigration Bureau for permission to change your residence status or your period of stay.
Foreign settlers
Eligible person A person permitted residence in a certain period in Japan by the Japanese Minister of Justice considering specified reasons
Ex) Sansei of Japanese descent, Japanese remaining in China
Period of stay Up to 5 years, but it will become virtually no limit with repeating updates
Restrictions on work No limits (working is possible like Japanese people)
Acquisition conditions Submit and issue an application to the Immigration Bureau for permission to change your residence status or your period of stay.
Career path for the person with no activity restrictions

In principle, you are possible to work in any industry and occupation like Japanese people. Suppose you want to work in our specialty industry, such as cooking or nursing care site, and you are not confident in Japanese ability (other than N1). In that case, we will support your Japanese language education. Please aim to improve your skills