Overview
Skills Visa 1-SSV1 refers to the visa status for the first category of Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker program, known in Japanese as 特定技能１号 (Tokutei Ginō Ichi-gō). In English, this status is often called Specified Skilled Worker (i) or simply SSW-1. It was introduced in April 2019 as a new type of work visa to allow foreign nationals with certain vocational skills to work in Japan’s labor-short industries. Prior to this, Japan had very limited pathways for non-professional (i.e. non-degree-holding) workers to come on work visas, relying mostly on trainee programs. SSW-1/SSV1 changed that by creating a formal visa category for “specified skills.” An SSV1 visa holder can work in Japan for up to 5 years in total (typically in renewable one-year increments) . However, SSV1 is non-extendable beyond five years and does not permit the worker to bring family dependents to Japan. Despite these limitations, the visa offers a much-needed legal route for sectors desperately needing workers.
The Japanese government identified 14 industries eligible for SSW-1 when the program launched. The goal was to recruit tens of thousands of foreign workers over several years to fill gaps in these sectors.
Eligible Industries
The Specified Skilled Worker (i) visa covers jobs that require at least a basic level of training or experience, but not necessarily a college degree. As of launch, the approved SSW-1 industries were:
• Nursing Care (介護) – e.g. caregiving staff in elder care facilities.
• Building Cleaning Management (ビルクリーニング) – e.g. janitorial and building cleaning services.
• Manufacturing Industries: This was subdivided into several categories, such as Machine Parts & Tooling, Industrial Machinery, and Electrical/Electronic Information manufacturing, but broadly covers factory workers in manufacturing .
• Construction (建設) – various construction trades (carpentry, formwork, etc.) on construction sites.
• Shipbuilding and Marine Industry (造船・舶用工業) – welding, pipe-fitting, and other skills in shipbuilding yards.
• Automobile Repair and Maintenance (自動車整備) – auto mechanics.
• Aviation (航空) – airport ground handling and aircraft maintenance roles.
• Lodging (宿泊) – hotel and hospitality workers (front desk, guest relations, etc.) .
• Agriculture (農業) – farm work (crop cultivation, dairy and livestock farming) .
• Fishery & Aquaculture (漁業) – fishing crew, aquaculture farm workers .
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing (飲食料品製造業) – food processing factory workers (e.g. seafood processing, bread/pastry factories) .
• Food Service Industry (外食業) – restaurant workers (kitchen prep, serving) in eateries facing labor shortages .
These 14 fields cover a wide range of Japan’s blue-collar and service economy. In late 2022, the government added two more categories: Automobile Driving (trucking) and Railway – bringing the total to 16 fields . (Automobile driving and railway jobs under SSW-1 began in 2024 to address shortages of truck drivers and railway staff.) Each specified industry has detailed definitions of the job scopes included.
Requirements and Conditions
To be granted an SSW-1 (SSV1) visa, a foreign applicant must pass a skills exam and a Japanese language exam relevant to the industry, unless they have completed a Japanese Technical Intern Training Program at level 2 in the same field (in which case the exams may be waived) . For instance, an aspiring SSW-1 in agriculture must pass a test on farming skills, and also show basic Japanese proficiency (usually the Japan Foundation’s JFT-Basic test or JLPT N4 level, which signifies the ability to handle everyday conversation) . These exams are held in various countries and in Japan. The language requirement is set so that workers can live safely and communicate at a basic level on the job; the skills test ensures they can perform core tasks without extensive training from scratch.
Once the individual passes the tests and finds a job offer from a Japanese employer, the employer (or accepting organization) sponsors their Certificate of Eligibility and visa application for Specified Skilled Worker (i). Employers must be approved to hire SSW workers and are obligated to provide support to those workers. Under the law, employers hiring SSW-1 holders must offer equal pay to foreign workers as to Japanese workers in the same job , and they must assist the foreign employee with certain matters. This support includes help with finding housing, registering for utilities and government services, orientation on work rules and Japanese life, Japanese language training opportunities, etc. . These measures are to facilitate a smooth integration and prevent exploitation, given many SSW-1 workers are young and new to Japan.
The SSW-1 visa is typically granted for renewable periods of 4 months to 1 year at a time (often 1 year by default). A worker can renew and continue working as long as the cumulative total does not exceed 5 years. Importantly, SSW-1 workers cannot bring their spouse or children on dependent visas – they generally come alone. They are free to change employers within the same industry category if necessary (with notification to immigration), but cannot work in a different sector unless they pass that sector’s exam and change their status.
SSW-1 workers also do not have a direct path to permanent residency or other long-term status because of the 5-year cap. However, as mentioned in the SSW-2 section, the program envisions that some will transition to SSW-2 in industries where it’s available. If an SSW-1 worker doesn’t move to SSW-2, after 5 years they are expected to leave Japan (or switch to another visa type if eligible through some other route).
Role and Impact
The SSV1 visa program represents a significant shift in Japan’s approach to foreign labor. It formally acknowledges that sectors like caregiving, construction, farming, food service, etc., need foreign workers to sustain themselves. By 2022, thousands of SSW-1 workers had entered Japan despite initial delays and the impact of COVID-19 on international travel. This influx is helping to fill jobs that have gone unstaffed due to Japan’s aging workforce and declining youth population. For example, nursing homes have welcomed caregivers from countries like Vietnam and Indonesia under SSW-1 to care for Japan’s elderly – a role with huge demand. Similarly, factories and food producers have gained much-needed staff.
For employers, SSW-1 provides a legal and structured way to hire mid-level foreign workers. Many of these employers had been relying on technical trainees or informal part-time students; SSW-1 allows them to recruit workers who intend to focus on the job and stay for a few years. Employers must follow regulations and provide support, which incurs some cost and effort, but in return they get a stable workforce for up to five years. The equal pay requirement means SSW-1 workers are not “cheap labor” – they must be paid the same as a Japanese doing the job – so the incentive is truly to fill genuine shortages, not to undercut local wages .
For the foreign workers, SSW-1 is an opportunity to gain experience and income. The wages they earn in Japan can be quite attractive compared to wages in their home countries for similar work. They also can improve their skills and Japanese ability, which might open doors to SSW-2 or other paths. However, they have to uproot themselves without family and commit to hard work often in strenuous jobs. The program has built-in support and oversight to ensure they are treated fairly. In an HR context, managing SSW-1 employees involves ensuring compliance with all support plans, monitoring their well-being, and aiding their training and language growth.
In summary, the Skills Visa 1-SSV1 (Specified Skilled Worker i) is a time-limited work visa for specified industries that has enabled Japan to welcome new cohorts of foreign workers at a skill level above basic trainees. It comes with strict rules (5-year max, no family) but also rights (fair wages, employment support) that mark an improvement over prior schemes . As Japan continues to face demographic pressures, SSV1 workers play a key role in keeping industries functioning. From an HR and business standpoint, SSV1 is both a solution to labor shortages and a responsibility, as companies integrate these workers into their operations ethically and effectively.Sources: Immigration Services Agency – Overview of Specified Skilled Worker (i) ; JITCO – Specified Skilled Worker fields and tests ; Official Specified Skilled Worker Program Website (ssw.go.jp) .
