🇯🇵 Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa (SSW)
Also known as: SSW visa, Tokutei Ginou
Last verified: September 2, 2026
What is the Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa?
Japan's main skilled-work route for non-degree holders, covering 16 sectors including caregiving, food service, construction, agriculture and manufacturing. You must be 18 or over, pass a sector skills test and a Japanese test (JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 and above), then be sponsored by a Japanese employer. Exams run four to six times a year in Indonesia. On the Indonesian side you also need IPKOL registration and a SISKOP2MI/E-KTKLN migrant worker record — skipping this is what stops otherwise-qualified candidates at departure. Type 1 lasts up to five years with no family; Type 2 removes the cap, allows family and leads to permanent residence, but is not offered in every sector, so check before you commit to one.
This overview is written for Indonesians. Fees and paperwork differ by nationality; see the comparison below.
Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa requirements, cost, and processing time
| Government fee | $20–$30 |
| Processing time | 8–20 weeks |
| Minimum annual income | No fixed threshold on record |
| Minimum savings | No fixed threshold on record |
| Job offer | Required |
| Degree | Not required |
| Family can join | No |
| Path to permanent residency | No |
Amounts are approximate US dollar equivalents of figures set in local currency, verified against official sources for Indonesians, Filipinos, and Vietnamese citizens.
Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa cost and processing time by nationality
| Applicants | Gov. fee | Processing | Min. income | Min. savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇩 Indonesians | $30 | 8–16 weeks | — | — |
| 🇵🇭 Filipinos | $20 | 8–20 weeks | — | — |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnamese citizens | $30 | 8–16 weeks | — | — |
Each row links to the full guide for that nationality, with the document checklist.
Documents needed for the Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa
- Choose your sector and confirm it is currently open
- Study for and pass the Japanese language test
- Pass the sector-specific skills evaluation test
- Register on IPKOL and in the SISKOP2MI system
- Verify any agency against the BP2MI licensed list
- Find a Japanese employer and sign the employment contract
- Complete health checks and prepare documents
- Employer applies for the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE)
- Apply for the visa at the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta or a consulate
- Complete E-KTKLN and pre-departure briefing
- Arrive, receive your residence card and register your address
- Plan your SSW Type 2 upgrade if your sector allows it
This list is the checklist for Indonesians. Other nationalities have their own steps, linked in the table above. The full ordered checklist, with timing, dependencies, and personalized due dates, is part of the plan.
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Check my eligibilityFrequently asked questions
- What are the requirements for the Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa?
- The requirements we have on record are: a job offer from an employer in Japan. Amounts are USD equivalents verified for Indonesians, Filipinos, and Vietnamese citizens; the official source lists the full document set.
- How much does the Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa cost?
- The government fee is about $30 for Indonesians and Vietnamese citizens and $20 for Filipinos (USD equivalent). Translations, apostilles, insurance, and courier costs come on top.
- What is the Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa processing time?
- Typical processing takes 8–16 weeks for Indonesians and Vietnamese citizens and 8–20 weeks for Filipinos after applying, plus the time needed to gather documents.
- Do I need a job offer for the Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa?
- Yes. A job offer from an employer in Japan is required before applying.
- Can family members join on the Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa?
- It does not directly cover accompanying family members.
- Does the Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa lead to permanent residency?
- No. On its own it does not lead to permanent residency.
- Is the SSW visa the same as the Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa?
- Yes. SSW visa and Tokutei Ginou are other names people use for the Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa.
Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa guides by nationality
Other Japan visas
Always confirm requirements with the official government sources: ssw.go.jp, isa.go.jp. This guide is general information, not legal advice.