The new specified skills visa (tokutei ginou, 特定技能ビザ) type 1 has been created for 14 sectors such as construction, industrial machinery, shipbuilding and marine, fisheries, nursing care, food service, and others. This new working visa status allows foreign nationals to stay in Japan a maximum of 5 years length.
The visa requires an applicant to pass the language proficiency exam, such as JLPT N4. To know more about JLPT N4, you can check this article, “Why Should You Take JLPT?” After passing the language proficiency exam, he or she can be able to take the technical skills exam.
To measure the foreign applicants’ requiring skills, the Government in Japan assigned an agency to every sector that will take charge for the evaluation process. For example, in the construction industry, the MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism) was assigned to conduct the computer-based exam while for the nursing care industry, it’s the MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare). You can refer to the table below for the full list of data.
Agency | Field | Skills Test |
MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) |
Care Worker | Nursing care skills evaluation test |
Building Cleaning Management | Building cleaning field specified skills no. 1 evaluation test | |
METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) |
Machine Parts and Tooling Industries | Manufacturing field specified skills no.1 evaluation test |
Industrial Machinery Industry | Manufacturing field specified skills no.1 evaluation test | |
Electric, Electronics and Information Industries | Manufacturing field specified skills no.1 evaluation test | |
MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism) |
Construction Industry | Construction field specified skills no.1 evaluation test |
Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry | Shipbuilding ship equipment field specified skills no. 1 evaluation test | |
Automobile repair and maintenance | Car maintenance field specified skills evaluation test | |
Aviation Industry | Aviation field specified skills evaluation test (airport ground handling or aircraft maintenance) | |
Accommodation Industry | Accommodation industry skills proficiency test | |
MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) |
Agriculture | Agriculture skills proficiency test (general crop farming or general livestock farming) |
Fishery and Aquaculture | Fishing industry skills proficiency test (fishery or aquaculture industry) | |
Manufacture of Food and Beverages | Food and beverage manufacturing industry skills proficiency test | |
Food Service Industry | Restaurant industry skills proficiency test |
The specified skilled workers will be supplied by developing countries. Therefore, the recruitment process will be handled by those countries with Japan deal to implement the new visa status. But be aware of bogus organizations or recruitment agencies. Make sure to choose an organization that is accredited by the Government agency who supervise overseas employment in your country.
For those who want to apply for the specified skilled worker (1) category, then check the qualifications below.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must possess the Japanese Language Proficiency or JLPT N4 certification.
- Must possess skills proven through examination or evaluation.
- Must possess a valid passport for at least six months prior to the intended date of departure.
*For those who have completed the “Technical Intern Training 2” will be exempted from the number 2 and 3 qualifications.
Skills Evaluation Test Schedule
Care Worker
For the application on this field, applicants will undergo one skills evaluation test and the other two language proficiency test. It has a total of 3 evaluation tests.
- Skill test: “Nursing Care Skills Evaluation Test”
- Japanese proficiency test: “Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese” and “Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test”
MHWL published that the “Nursing care skills evaluation test” and “Nursing care Japanese language evaluation test” will be held in the Philippines on the following scheduled dates.
Test schedule |
Philippines (Manila):
Cambodia (Phnompenh):
Nepal (Kathmandu):
|
Application period |
Philippines: July 22 (Mon) – August 14 (Wed) *On-sale date of voucher ticket: July 16 (Tue) Cambodia: August 21 (Wed) – September 3 (Tue) *On-sale date of voucher ticket: August 7 (Wed) |
Purchasing voucher, tickets, and application | Prometric Test Center |
Source: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_000117702_00004.html
Please note the voucher sales will be closed when the number of applicants reaches the quota. The additional test will be implemented after October.
Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industry
For the food and beverage manufacturing industry, OTAFF (Organization for Technical Skill Assessment of Foreign workers in the Food industry) was assigned by the Japan Food Service Association (JF) to conduct the exam. The first exam took place last April 25, and the current exam schedules will be as follows:
Test schedule |
Monday, October 16, 2019 |
Examination application acceptance period | September 2 (Mon) to September 6 (Fri) 2019 10:00 AM – 5: 00 PM |
Examination application acceptance period | The payment form will be mailed to the application address after the procedure is completed Payment Deadline: Please pay by September 30, 2019 (Monday) |
Payment of Examination Fee | The payment form will be mailed to the application address after the procedure is completed Payment Deadline: Please pay by September 30, 2019 (Monday) |
Sending the Examination Ticket | Examination tickets will be sent to the registered e-mail address after October 4, 2019 (Friday) |
Announcement of Result |
The end of October 2019, |
Source: https://otaff.or.jp/
Be sure you apply on time because they will not receive late applications and will close the reception desk once each venue is full.
To know more about the application and the guidelines of the second examination please visit OTAFF website here.
Restaurant Industry
Test schedule |
Friday, September 6, 2019 Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture), Takamatsu (Kagawa Prefecture), Naha (Okinawa Prefecture) |
Examination application acceptance period | July 30, 2019 (Tuesday) to August 2, 2019 (Friday) 10:00 AM-5:00 PM August 5, 2019 (Monday) to August 6, 2019 (Tuesday) 10:00 AM-5:00 PM |
Payment of Examination Fee | The payment form will be mailed to the application address after the procedure is completed Payment Deadline: Please pay by 23rd August 2019(Friday) |
Sending the Examination Ticket | Examination tickets will be sent to the registered e-mail address after August 27, 2019(Thursday). |
Announcement of Result |
The end of September 2019 Pass/Fail will be notified on the website of the registered e-mail address and organization. |
Source: https://otaff.or.jp/
*Visit OTTAF website to know more about the exam details.
Accommodation Industry
Test schedule |
October 6, 2019 |
Testing Venue |
Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Naha |
Exam time |
Japan time: 13:00 |
Exam registration period | September 3, 2019, 13:00- September 17, 2019 12:00 |
Payment of Examination Fee |
Within 5 days after application, transfer or credit card payment to the designated bank account. |
Release of Admission ticket |
After payment is confirmed. |
Announcement of Result |
November 1, 2019, 10:00 |
*You will not be able to take the exam without paying the exam fee.
* You will be notified by email about payment of the exam fee after application.
While waiting for the next updates of the skills test schedule, why not looking for part-time jobs in Japan. If you hold a valid visa with eligibility to work part-time, check “Part-time Jobs in Tokyo for Foreign Nationals“ article to learn the in-demand jobs in Tokyo for foreigners.
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Any job please help. Its really a big help.im here in philippines. Want to work in japan. GOD BLESS
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Hello..may i ask when will the skill test for hotel worker here in philippines?
Hi! There is no announcement yet about the schedule of the skills evaluation exam of the hotel business industry.
lookfor a job in japan
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Thank you!
when is the test for agriculture or for a factory worker? … does a housekeeper have test skills?
I need a job industry company factory and driving
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Can you please sent your resume to our email:
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I need a factory job or any job that make use of English
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may ask if the trainee who finish the 3 yrs and they already have skills 1 and skills 3 exam during the time of there trainee. Are they going to take exam skills test here in the philippines? or are they exempted already
another thing if i dont have skills exam 3 only skill exams 1? do i need to take skills exam here in the philipppines?
and last what is the purpose of this skills exams?
Unfortunately, Trainee visa is not allowed to transfer into Specified Skilled visa.
If you would like to take a Specified Skilled visa, you would have to take from beginning with Specified Skilled exam and Japanese Language Test (N4 and higher)
Thank you
Best,
I passed jht basic now hoe can i apply for working visa
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I passed jft basic how can i apply for working visa
Thank you very much for your comment!
What is the JLPT level have you passed on the exam.
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Hello there… im currently working here in japan now.. i have my jlpt n4 certificate. My job here is housekeeping services… any opportunities for me in this program?