Overview
Skills Visa 2-SSV2 denotes the visa status for the second category of the Specified Skilled Worker program, officially called Specified Skilled Worker (ii). In practice, SSV2 is the same as the SSW-2 status (the terms SSW-2 and SSV2 are used interchangeably). As discussed in the SSW-2 entry, this status is reserved for foreign workers who have higher expertise in their field and have usually progressed from the SSW-1 status. The creation of SSV2 reflects Japan’s recognition that certain foreign workers become invaluable in their jobs and should be allowed to remain in Japan longer-term. Thus, SSV2 carries significant benefits: no predetermined limit on total stay, permission to bring family, and a route to longer-term residence . It represents a move from a strictly temporary labor model to a more settlement-friendly model for select skilled workers.
Advantages of SSV2
Holders of an SSV2 visa enjoy several key advantages over SSV1 (and over many other work visas in Japan as well):
• Indefinite Renewal: An SSV2 status can be renewed without an overall time cap . While each extension is typically granted in 1-year or multi-year increments, there is no 5-year ceiling as with SSV1. This means an SSV2 worker can effectively live and work in Japan for as long as they continue to meet the conditions (employment in the field, etc.). In labor terms, this provides continuity and job security akin to Japanese workers or other long-term foreign professionals.
• Family Reunion: SSV2 allows the visa holder to sponsor their immediate family (spouse and minor children) to live in Japan on dependent visas . These family members can reside in Japan as long as the SSV2 holder maintains their status. This is hugely important – it means SSV2 workers can have a normal family life in Japan, whereas SSV1 workers are mostly single or separated from family abroad. Family inclusion tends to improve the worker’s stability and commitment to staying in Japan.
• Eligibility for Permanent Residency: Time spent in Japan under SSV2 counts towards the requirements to apply for permanent residency (eijūken). Many SSV2 workers, after several years, may choose to apply for PR, especially if they intend to reside indefinitely. Japanese permanent residency would free them from visa renewals entirely and allow even more job flexibility. The fact that SSV2 is counted (while SSV1 time was not) is a policy choice to encourage skilled workers to transition to a more permanent status. In mid-2023, Japanese authorities explicitly noted that SSW-2 status holders would have the opportunity to eventually apply for permanent residence under the program’s framework .
• Better Career Opportunities: With SSV2, foreign workers are no longer seen as short-term interns or trainees but rather as quasi-permanent staff. They can be promoted, take on supervisory roles, or change employers for career growth more easily. Employers might invest more in training SSV2 workers (knowing they won’t “time out” after 5 years). Also, SSV2 holders have proven skills, so they are often treated on par with highly skilled domestic workers in terms of responsibilities and, potentially, pay scale.
Eligibility and Transition
To obtain Skills Visa 2 (SSV2), a foreign worker typically must already have substantial work experience in Japan under the SSV1 program or equivalent. In practice, the pathway is:
1. Complete SSW-1: The individual works for several years (up to 5) in Japan on an SSW-1 visa in a specific industry, gaining on-the-job experience and improving their abilities and language skills.
2. Pass SSW-2 Skill Exam: The government and industry bodies have established advanced skill exams for SSW-2 candidates. These tests are often more demanding than the entry-level SSW-1 tests and may require demonstrating leadership or specialized technical knowledge. For instance, in construction, an SSW-2 exam might test project management skills or advanced trade techniques.
3. Secure Employer Endorsement: While not always formally required, in practice a worker needs an employer who is willing to continue employing them in an SSW-2 capacity. The employer will file or sponsor the application to change status from SSW-1 to SSW-2 with Immigration. Many employers are eager to do this for good workers, since it means the worker can stay on.
4. Change of Status Application: The worker (through their employer or an immigration lawyer) applies to Immigration Services Agency to change from Specified Skilled Worker (i) to (ii). They must show proof of passing the relevant exam and a contract or job offer for SSW-2 level work. Upon approval, they receive SSW-2 status.
It’s important to note that not all industries immediately had SSW-2 options. Initially, only construction and shipbuilding had SSW-2 exams available. But as noted, by 2023 the government has moved to introduce SSW-2 exams in additional SSW-1 industries . For industries that eventually open SSW-2 (like agriculture, manufacturing, etc.), a pipeline is created: new workers come on SSW-1, and the best of them later graduate to SSW-2, while new SSW-1s continue to enter.
If an SSW-1 worker’s field does not offer SSW-2 (for example, if a field were to remain excluded from expansion), then that worker would have to leave Japan or find a different visa after five years. The expansion plan covering 11 fields for SSW-2 suggests most SSW-1 workers will have an avenue to stay if they qualify. Japan’s Cabinet and Immigration Bureau have highlighted that allowing these workers to continue working long-term helps address chronic labor shortfalls and retains talent that is already trained and assimilated .
Significance in Immigration Policy
The advent of SSV2 is a significant milestone in Japan’s immigration policy. Traditionally, Japan offered long-term work visas mainly to highly educated professionals (engineers, managers, etc.) and had strict frameworks for others (like the Technical Intern Training Program, which was not a real visa but a training arrangement). The SSW scheme, especially SSW-2, breaks new ground by essentially granting semi-permanent labor immigration for certain non-professional workers. This marks a pragmatic shift for Japan as it grapples with labor shortages: it is implicitly acknowledging that some foreign workers will become part of the core workforce.
From a regulatory standpoint, SSV2 status requires continuous monitoring (ensuring workers remain in the intended sector), but it also simplifies things as these workers integrate. The Personal Information Protection Commission in Japan even considered these SSW workers in their planning, as the government prepares to handle increasing foreign resident data.
For Japanese society, having SSW-2 workers means communities will see more foreign families settling, children in schools, etc., in areas like farming towns or industrial cities that host these industries. This is a new social dynamic that Japan is gradually adapting to.
For businesses, SSV2 is a relief and a competitive advantage. Those in eligible industries can hold on to skilled personnel and reduce the cycle of constantly retraining new people. It also helps in knowledge transfer: experienced foreign workers can train newer entrants or local colleagues, improving overall productivity.
On the flip side, businesses must now consider more long-term HR planning for foreign staff – including career development, raises, and inclusion – rather than treating them as short-term help.
In essence, Skills Visa 2-SSV2 symbolizes the opening of Japan’s labor market in a controlled yet progressive way. It provides a win-win: workers get stability and family life, industries get labor continuity, and Japan addresses demographic challenges. The success of SSV2 could influence future policy, potentially expanding to more sectors or leading to further liberalization. For now, SSV2 is limited to specific fields and requires effort to attain, but it stands out as a doorway for blue-collar foreign workers to establish themselves in Japan long-term .Sources: Immigration Services Agency – Specified Skilled Worker (ii) benefits ; EY Japan – Update on SSW-2 Expansion (June 2023) ; Fragomen – Specified Skilled Worker (ii) Expansion .
