About Criteria
In order to obtain the “Specified Technical Skills” status of residence, certain requirements and criteria must be met.
1. Age
Under Japan’s labor laws, special protection provisions are provided for workers under the age of 18.
2. Health conditions
In order to ensure the stable and continuous performance of activities related to the specified skills by the foreign national, the health of the foreign national must be in good condition. The main confirmation documents include a health certificate and a declaration by the examinee.
3. Items related to skill level
１It is necessary to prove that the foreign national has the “skills requiring a considerable degree of knowledge or experience” necessary for the work in which he/she intends to engage, by means of a test or other evaluation method.
Tests and other evaluation methods are stipulated for each specific industrial field.
If the applicant has successfully completed Technical Internship No. 2, and if there is a connection between the work he/she intends to engage in and the type of work/operation of Technical Internship No. 2, he/she is exempted from certification of skill level through examination or other evaluation methods.
Those who have completed Technical Internship No. 2 may be considered as technical intern trainees who completed Technical Internship No. 2 before the Technical Internship Law came into effect, or technical intern trainees who stayed in Japan under the “specified activities” (technical internship) status before the establishment of the “technical internship” status (those who stayed under the “training” or “specified activities” status for a period of more than 2 years and 10 months). (limited to those who have stayed in Japan for more than 2 years and 10 months under the “training” and “specified activities” statuses). The “foreign nationals with a special skill” under No. 2 are also included in this category.
With regard to foreign nationals with the specified skills (No. 2), it is necessary to prove that they possess the “skilled skills” necessary for the work they intend to engage in by means of a test or other evaluation method.
Tests and other evaluation methods are specified for each specific industrial field.
4. Japanese Language Proficiency
A foreign national with the Japanese language skills specified in Item 1 must be certified through testing or other evaluation methods as having “the level of Japanese language proficiency required for work in each specified industrial field, based on the ability to engage in daily conversation to a certain extent and to live without hindrance.
Tests and other evaluation methods are specified for each specific industrial field.
If the applicant has successfully completed Technical Internship No. 2, he/she is not required to prove his/her level of Japanese-language proficiency through a test or other evaluation method.
Those who have completed Technical Internship No. 2 include technical intern trainees who completed Technical Internship No. 2 before the Technical Internship Law came into effect and technical intern trainees who stayed in Japan under the status of “Designated Activities” (technical internship) before the establishment of the “Technical Internship” status of residence (those who stayed under “Training” and “Designated Activities”). (limited to those who have stayed in Japan for more than 2 years and 10 months under the “training” and “specified activities” statuses). This also includes those who have been in Japan for more than 2 years and 10 months for “training” and “specified activities”.
5. Cooperation for Smooth Execution of Deportation Orders
Foreigners from countries or regions that do not cooperate in the smooth execution of the deportation order, such as by not fulfilling their obligation to pick up their own citizens, cannot be accepted as foreign nationals who should be deported after a deportation order is issued under the Immigration Control Act.
6. Items related to the total period of stay (only for Specified Technical Skill 1)
The total period of stay for “Specified Technical Skill 1” is 5 years. Can not stay in japan beyond that period.
7. Items related to the collection of security deposit, penalty contract, etc.
In cases where a foreign national with the specified skills or his/her relatives, etc. is forced to collect a security deposit, manage property, or conclude a penalty agreement, it is necessary that no agreement concerning the collection of such deposit, etc. has been concluded, nor is there any plan to conclude such an agreement, as it would impede proper activities for the specified skills.
8. Agreements on cost sharing
In order to prevent the collection of expenses incurred by foreigners before and during their stay in Japan against their will, it is necessary that the amount and breakdown of expenses to be borne by the foreigners are fully understood and agreed upon.
It is also a prerequisite that the collection of fees be conducted legally in accordance with the laws and regulations of each country.
9. Procedures to be complied with in the country where the foreign national has his/her nationality or domicile
Foreign nationals are required to comply with the necessary procedures, such as permission to travel overseas to work, in order to engage in activities related to the specified skills.
10. those related to the transfer to the home country of the skills, etc. acquired through technical internship (only for Specified Trade Skill No. 2)
In order for a person who has been engaged in technical training activities to obtain a permit for “Specified Trade Skill II,” he/she must be willing to transfer the skills, etc. acquired through technical training to the home country. This will be assessed based on the “Declaration Concerning Transfer of Skills” prepared by the organization receiving the technical intern trainees.
11. Items related to standards established in consideration of circumstances specific to each field of industry
The applicant must conform to the standards individually determined in light of the circumstances specific to each specific industrial field.
About changing job
Foreigners with the status of residence of “Specified Technical Skills” are able to change jobs.
In cases where the organization receiving the foreigner is providing all of the support for the specified skilled foreigner on its own, and there is a possibility that it will not be able to provide adequate support for the foreigner to change jobs due to bankruptcy or other reasons, the organization providing support on behalf of the receiving organization (such as a registered support organization or related company) must provide support for the foreigner’s activities to change jobs. This support for job change is possible.
This support for job change is required to be continued as much as possible until the next host family is found.
In addition, when job change assistance is provided in cases where the specified skilled employment contract is terminated due to reasons not attributable to the foreign national, the details of the job change assistance must be recorded in the notification form pertaining to the implementation status of the assistance for foreign nationals.
When job change assistance is provided, the following must be recorded.
- * Details of consultations and responses (interview records and response records)
- * Date and time of consultation with the Public Employment Security Office and the name of the Public Employment Security Office where the consultation was conducted
- * Name, location, and contact information of the potential company to which the interpreter will change jobs
- * Name and address of the person in charge of implementation (including interpreter)
There are certain requirements for specified skilled foreign nationals to change jobs.
Job transfer is only allowed “within the same job category or between job categories where the commonality of skill level has been confirmed through testing, etc”.
Within the same job category” means that the foreigner is assured of having the skills corresponding to the job in the field in which he/she is changing jobs.
Otherwise, the job change will be approved only when “the commonality of the skill level has been confirmed through testing, etc”.
Please note that if you wish to change your work placement or field of work, you must apply for a change of status of residence in the specified technical field.