🇯🇵 Japan work visas for Filipinos 2026
Last verified: August 31, 2026
Filipinos moving to Japan from Philippines have 2 main visa routes: Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa and Engineer / Specialist in Humanities Visa. The fastest is the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities Visa at 8–16 weeks. Every requirement below links to the official government source.
Just visiting? Japan tourist visa for Filipinos covers tourism, family visits, conferences and business trips.
Compare Japan visas for Filipinos: cost, processing time, and requirements
| Visa | Processing | Gov. fee | Job offer | Family | PR path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visawork | 8–20 weeks | $20 | Required | No | No |
| Engineer / Specialist in Humanities Visawork | 8–16 weeks | $20 | Required | Yes | Yes |
Japan visa guides for Filipinos
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa
workFor designated sectors — caregiving, food service, construction, agriculture and more. Requires a sector skills test (offered at Philippine test sites) plus JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 Japanese; caregiving adds its own nursing-care language test. Type 1 allows up to 5 years without family; Type 2 renews indefinitely with family and a PR pathway. Pay must match Japanese workers in the role.
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities Visa
workThe main work visa for degree-holding professionals in IT, engineering, and business roles. The employer obtains a Certificate of Eligibility first (1–3 months, no fee); pay must be at parity with Japanese nationals. Visa fee about ¥3,000.
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Check my eligibilityFrequently asked questions
- Can Filipinos work in Japan without a degree?
- Yes, through the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa. It covers designated sectors such as caregiving, food service, construction and agriculture. You pass a sector skills test, which is offered at test sites in the Philippines, plus JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 Japanese; caregiving adds its own nursing-care language test. Pay must match Japanese workers in the same role.Source: Specified Skilled Worker portal (Government of Japan)
- Which Japan work visa lets Filipinos bring family?
- The Engineer / Specialist in Humanities visa, for degree holders in IT, engineering and business roles, allows family and leads toward permanent residence. SSW Type 1 lasts up to five years without family; SSW Type 2 renews indefinitely, allows family and has a path to permanent residence.Sources: Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Engineer / Specialist in Humanities; Specified Skilled Worker portal (Government of Japan)
- Can Philippines citizens move to Japan?
- Yes. Philippines citizens have 2 main routes into Japan: the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa and the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities Visa. Each has its own requirements, fees, and processing time, compared on this page.
- What is the fastest Japan visa for Filipinos?
- The Engineer / Specialist in Humanities Visa typically processes in 8–16 weeks, the shortest of the 2 routes we track. Add time for gathering documents, translations, and apostilles.
- Can Filipinos move to Japan without a job offer?
- Every Japan route we track for Filipinos currently requires a job offer from an employer in Japan.
- What is the cheapest Japan visa for Filipinos?
- The Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa has the lowest government fee at about $20. Translations, apostilles, insurance, and courier costs come on top of every route.
- Which Japan visas let Filipinos bring family?
- The Engineer / Specialist in Humanities Visa allows accompanying family members with additional documentation.
- Which Japan visas lead to permanent residency for Filipinos?
- The Engineer / Specialist in Humanities Visa offers a path to permanent residency after the qualifying period.
- How much does a Japan work visa cost for Filipinos?
- Government fees for Filipinos are about $20 for the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa and $20 for the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities Visa (USD equivalents). Translations, apostilles, medicals, insurance, and courier costs come on top of every route.
- How long does a Japan work visa take for Filipinos?
- Typical processing is 8–20 weeks for the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa and 8–16 weeks for the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities Visa, counted from the date you apply. Add time for gathering documents.