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Japan · work sponsored

Specified Skilled Worker (ii): SSW-2

By · Last reviewed:

Guidance updated 15 November 2026. Full-review date shown above.

Advanced skilled employment in one of the 11 eligible SSW(ii) fields, with the required advanced examinations, actual work and host evidence. Renewable grants have no overall cumulative stay cap; eligible family members apply separately.

Eligible SSW(ii) host and advanced work category, required tests/experience, comparable pay and current duties evidenceConditional PR application pathwayThree, two or one year, or six months, as granted. Renew while eligible; there is no SSW(ii) aggregate stay limit.
Processing time
The ordinary COE standard is one to three months. Missing evidence, sector restrictions and the separate consular stage can add time; there is no guaranteed end-to-end travel date.
Government fees
COE application: free. For overseas visa applications accepted from 1 July 2026, MOFA gives approximate single-entry JPY 15,000 and multiple-entry JPY 30,000 fees, payable in local currency. Nationality, purpose and reciprocal exemptions can change the amount; no visa-issuance fee is charged if no visa is issued. Documents, translations, agents and tests are separate costs. For status changes or renewals received from 1 October 2026, office fees by granted period are: up to three months JPY 10,000; over three to six months JPY 18,000; over six months to under one year JPY 25,000; one year JPY 33,000; over one to under three years JPY 48,000; three to under five years JPY 64,000; five years or more JPY 75,000. Online totals including the processing charge are respectively JPY 10,330, 15,330, 21,330, 27,330, 42,330, 56,550 and 65,550. Receipts by 30 September 2026 retain the old office JPY 6,000 / online JPY 5,500 regime. Actual exemptions, reductions and special card charges require the authority assessment; concession requests use the office procedure. Advanced examination and professional-licensing charges depend on the actual field and provider.
Typical duration
Three, two or one year, or six months, as granted. Renew while eligible; there is no SSW(ii) aggregate stay limit.
Required support
Eligible SSW(ii) host and advanced work category, required tests/experience, comparable pay and current duties evidence
Leads to permanent residency
Conditional — separate application
Reviewed Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗

In short

Advanced skilled employment in one of the 11 eligible SSW(ii) fields, with the required advanced examinations, actual work and host evidence. Renewable grants have no overall cumulative stay cap; eligible family members apply separately. Guidance updated 15 November 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/japan/specified-skilled-worker-2#answer

What is the Specified Skilled Worker (ii): SSW-2 in Japan?

Eligible SSW(ii) host and advanced work category, required tests/experience, comparable pay and current duties evidence. Follow the actual entry, status-change or renewal procedure and issued activity conditions. Indicative government fees are COE application: free. For overseas visa applications accepted from 1 July 2026, MOFA gives approximate single-entry JPY 15,000 and multiple-entry JPY 30,000 fees, payable in local currency. Nationality, purpose and reciprocal exemptions can change the amount; no visa-issuance fee is charged if no visa is issued. Documents, translations, agents and tests are separate costs. For status changes or renewals received from 1 October 2026, office fees by granted period are: up to three months JPY 10,000; over three to six months JPY 18,000; over six months to under one year JPY 25,000; one year JPY 33,000; over one to under three years JPY 48,000; three to under five years JPY 64,000; five years or more JPY 75,000. Online totals including the processing charge are respectively JPY 10,330, 15,330, 21,330, 27,330, 42,330, 56,550 and 65,550. Receipts by 30 September 2026 retain the old office JPY 6,000 / online JPY 5,500 regime. Actual exemptions, reductions and special card charges require the authority assessment; concession requests use the office procedure. Advanced examination and professional-licensing charges depend on the actual field and provider; indicative processing time is The ordinary COE standard is one to three months. Missing evidence, sector restrictions and the separate consular stage can add time; there is no guaranteed end-to-end travel date; typical duration is Three, two or one year, or six months, as granted. Renew while eligible; there is no SSW(ii) aggregate stay limit. SSW(ii) is renewable work permission, not permanent residence. Its time can count as qualifying work for the ordinary PR guideline, which generally requires ten continuous years in Japan including five on qualifying work or residence statuses, together with livelihood, good conduct, timely taxes/pension/health insurance/notifications and the applicable maximum-period condition. SSW(i) and Technical Intern time are excluded from those five qualifying work years. The October 2026 household-income assessment and its commencement rules must be checked separately from the provisions generally starting April 2027. A separate PR application and decision remain necessary.

Primary guidance checked with Japan Immigration Services Agency on 15 November 2026.

Overview

SSW(ii) requires higher skills than SSW(i), established through the actual field's tests and requirements. It is not automatic promotion after five SSW(i) years, and a sufficiently qualified applicant need not first hold SSW(i). The eligible fields are building cleaning, the specified industrial-manufacturing categories, construction, shipbuilding, automobile maintenance, aviation, accommodation, agriculture, fisheries, food/beverage manufacturing and food service. Nursing care, transport, railway, forestry, wood, linen, logistics warehouses and resource recycling are not currently included in the 11-field SSW(ii) list. Food-service SSW(i) restrictions do not themselves close SSW(ii).

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

  • ✓Meet the advanced skills, examinations, experience and actual duties required by the specific eligible field, with an eligible SSW contract, host and comparable remuneration. Prior SSW(i) is not a universal prerequisite, and prior SSW(i) does not waive the advanced assessment.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗
  • ✓Use the actual 11-field scope. Industrial manufacturing is limited to the specified machine/metal processing, electrical/electronic assembly and metal-surface-treatment categories. A field being available under SSW(i) does not establish SSW(ii) availability.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗
  • ✓Document the actual advanced job and required supervisory arrangements using the current SSW(ii) duties undertaking. The 19 October 2026 handling allows a documented temporary shortage of the required supervised workers, such as recruitment, departure or leave, to be explained in the form. This does not remove the sector requirements or turn a nominal advanced position into qualifying work.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗

Common blockers

  • !A field or work category outside SSW(ii), an unsupported advanced test/experience claim, non-comparable pay or an ineligible host can prevent approval. Check field-specific language or licensing requirements rather than assuming that one generic N4 test covers every advanced occupation.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗
  • !The current duties undertaking and actual workplace arrangements matter. Supervisory workers normally share the workplace and department, but actual appropriate supervision across locations/departments can be assessed flexibly. The October handling also covers relevant applications submitted under the previous form from 20 August 2026, with the stated replacement-form exception.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗

Typical evidence

  • ·Use the current application form, passport, specified photograph and actual activity checklist; an in-country applicant also provides the current residence card. Supply Japanese translations where the checklist requires them and respond to additional evidence requests. A COE or appointment alone is not the granted residence status.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗
  • ·Submit the advanced examination and required experience evidence, contract, duties, comparable-pay and host/sector-council records, current applicant and host checklists, and the actual SSW(ii) duties undertaking. Applicable medical, tax, pension and health-insurance documents follow the current filing branch.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗
  • ·For a change from SSW(i), document the new advanced activity and qualification basis and obtain the SSW(ii) change decision. For overseas entry use the appropriate SSW(ii) COE procedure. The SSW(i) support-plan regime is distinct from the SSW(ii) application checklist.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗

Application pathway

  1. Establish the advanced sector and work-category basis

    Check the actual SSW(ii) field, advanced tests, experience and any supervisory, language or licensing conditions. Confirm the real duties and eligible host; do not assume that completing SSW(i) automatically qualifies.

  2. Prepare the current contract and advanced-work evidence

    Worker and host assemble the applicant, organisation and sector documents, including the current duties undertaking and actual supervision. Explain any temporary staffing shortfall through the specified October 2026 handling rather than omitting the requirement.

  3. Obtain the COE/entry or in-country change decision

    An overseas applicant follows the COE, competent consular visa and landing stages. An eligible resident obtains the change to SSW(ii) before relying on its new conditions. A test pass or a pending application is not the issued status.

  4. Maintain employment and renew the granted permission

    Keep the qualifying advanced activity, host and public-obligation compliance and apply for renewal before expiry. The absence of an aggregate cap does not remove individual expiry dates. A change of host or field needs the actual status-change procedure and eligibility.

  5. Use the separate family or PR procedure where eligible

    A supported spouse or child can apply for Dependent residence with relationship and funding evidence. Any PR application needs the applicant's own qualifying history and current conditions; SSW(ii) itself remains work permission.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Specified Skilled Worker (ii): SSW-2, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Specified Skilled Worker (ii): SSW-2 instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Japan

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Japan. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Prepare the SSW(ii) application checklist ↗

    Worker and host use the Type II COE, change or renewal sections and actual field documents.

    Japan Immigration Services Agency · verified

  2. Official guidanceApplicant
    Check current duties and supervision guidance ↗

    Read the advanced criteria and current Q102–105 handling with the actual sector and duties undertaking.

    Japan Immigration Services Agency · verified

  3. Official guidanceApplicant
    Prepare a separate Dependent application ↗

    Confirm each spouse or child's relationship, principal status and support evidence rather than assuming automatic family permission.

    Japan Immigration Services Agency · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Must I first spend five years on SSW(i)?+

No. A person meeting the advanced skills and other criteria can qualify without first holding SSW(i). Conversely, completing SSW(i) does not automatically establish advanced skills or guarantee conversion.

Is SSW(ii) permanent residence?+

No. It has renewable time-limited grants without an overall cumulative cap. Its qualifying work time can support a later separate PR application, but livelihood, residence history, conduct and public-obligation conditions still apply.

Does the food-service restriction also bar SSW(ii)?+

MAFF states that the SSW(i) intake restriction does not cover SSW(ii), which is examined under its own conditions. The advanced test and actual work requirements still apply.

Can my spouse and children join?+

SSW(ii) is among the principal statuses supporting Dependent spouse/child residence. Each relative needs a separate qualifying application and sufficient support evidence. Dependent residence is not automatic full-time work permission.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Japan Immigration Services Agency

Last checked: 15 November 2026

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