Transition from the Technical Internship System

The transition is from Technical Internship No. 2 to Specified Technical Training No. 1.
However, not all technical intern trainees can transition unconditionally.
The following requirements must be met in order to transfer to a specified skilled visa.

Have successfully completed Technical Internship No. 2

Completion of at least 2 years and 10 months of technical internship

• ・Transfer from Technical Internship No. 1 to the specified skills is not allowed.
• ・In the case of Technical Internship No. 3, the requirement is to complete the training plan.

The applicant must have passed the practical skill test of the Trade Skill Test Level 3 or its equivalent, which is the target of the No. 2 Technical Training Plan.

• ・This is not required if the training provider who has been conducting the technical training recognizes that the foreign national has successfully completed the technical training No. 2 based on a written evaluation that describes the foreign national’s attendance during the training, acquisition of skills, etc., and attitude toward life, etc.

When there is a connection between the work in which the trainee intends to engage and the type of job/operation of the technical internship No. 2.

If the applicant meets the above requirements, a “certification of skill level by examination or other evaluation method” and “Japanese language proficiency necessary for living in Japan and for the work in which the applicant intends to engage” for the specified technical internship No. 1 will be required. In this case, the applicant is exempted from the examination, etc.

Exemption from the skills test is limited to cases where there is a connection between the “work done during the period of technical internship” and the “work to be performed under the specified skills”.
Also, please note that it is not possible to employ a foreigner who is currently undergoing technical internship with the status of residence of specified skilled worker.

Transition from College Student

Points to note

When applying for permission to change your status of residence to “Designated Technical Worker,” you will be required to submit documents that can confirm your tax payment status.

• ・National tax
• ・Local taxes, National Health Insurance (tax), and National Pension premiums

If it is found that the tax payment has not been made at the time of application, the applicant will receive guidance and advice from the regional immigration office regarding the tax payment. To ensure a smoother application, please make sure to fulfill your tax and payment obligations in advance.

Those who have more than one part-time job are required to file a tax return and also submit a tax payment certificate (No. 3) issued by the tax office at the time of application. Please note that those who have lost the Certificate of Withholding Tax for the year corresponding to the contents of the taxation certificate to be submitted will be required to have the Certificate of Withholding Tax reissued by their part-time employer in advance.

However, if a foreign student becomes a Category 1 Specially Designated Foreign National, the “Family Resident” who is residing in Japan as a dependent family member of the foreign student is not allowed to continue to reside in Japan under the “Specially Designated Activities” status. In this case, the foreign student may not be able to continue to stay in Japan under the “Specially Designated Activities” visa status. In this case, family members receiving support will need to change their status of residence to “Specially Designated Activities”, so please do not forget to take the necessary procedures to change your status of residence.