日本語
Publicized on December 14, 2018, Japan has implemented a specified skills visa for the construction industry which was approved and revised in April 2019 by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and the Ministry of Justice Establishment Act. It would be an advantage if you consider working in Japan these times because this revision helps the foreign workers to easily apply for construction jobs in the country.
Another reason is to save the country’s economy as labor shortage continues which resulted in a workforce crisis. Which is why it would be best to grab the opportunity of working in Japan as this new law continues to execute.
As a matter of fact, Japan’s government has imposed employment advantages not just for local employees but for foreign workers, too. This means that the companies both in public and private sectors are expected to provide foreign employees a support plan which includes housing, and assistance towards mastery of the Japanese language and Japanese lifestyle.
If by chance the foreign worker got terminated by their current employer yet their employment is still under contract, the host employer should also relocate the foreign employee to a new company.
With this new law, foreign applicants who are eligible for the specified skills visa will also have a chance to be a resident in Japan together with their families.
Yes, a lot of job applications are waiting for foreign applicants with the new specific skills visa in Japan, and this might be your chance to work abroad – HOW? Learn more as you scroll.
Who Is The Accepting Organization Designated For The Specified Skills Visa In The Construction Industry?
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) – a ministry or agency of the Japanese government – has been assigned to establish the guidelines for the specified skills visa examinations. Thereafter, based on their required guidelines, the MLITT then selected the Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC HR) to set-up the needed examinations in 18 job categories under the construction industry.
These include carpentry, plumbing, machine operation, concrete foaming, plastering, roofing, concrete pumping, urethane spray foam insulation, scaffolding, marine civil work, tunnel and propulsion, steel reinforcement, thermal insulation, earthwork, reinforcing bar joints, electrical communication, surface, and interior finishing, and panel beating.
Therefore, JAC is an organization responsible for the foreign-specified skilled worker acceptance operation.
How does it work?
To be able to hire foreign workers, the accepting Japan-based companies must join and register to the JAC HR through the Business Operator of the Construction Career advancement System (CCUS). This is needed because JAC HR has established a free job recommendation page designed for foreign skilled workers who are interested to apply for the specified skills visa.
To be more specific, who are those qualified to apply? The targeted applicants for the specified skills visa in the construction industry are as follows:
- current foreign employees in Japan who want to continue their employment and have already completed the technical intern training Nos. 2 and 3 and gained experience in the construction work,
- foreigners with specific skills who are interested in getting a new job in Japan,
- foreign workers with specific skills who are currently in Japan whose employment contract has been canceled due to the employer’s liability, and
- applicants who passed both the specified skills evaluation test and the Japanese language test.
Good thing, MLITT in partnership with JAC HR and the Construction Skills and Human Resources Organization made the specified skills visa examination schedule available online. This arrangement is a huge convenience for foreign applicants who wanted to prepare for the exam ahead of time.
On which website can you check it? Please keep learning.
What Qualifying Exam Do You Need To Take?
Job categories under the construction industry have a certain specified skills evaluation test which consists of theoretical tests and practical skills tests in agreement with the implementation guidelines for the specified skills evaluation exam for the construction industry set by the MLITT through JAC HR.
1. Specified Skills Evaluation Test
The structure of the specified skills evaluation test consists of two types.
Theoretical Test
Also known as to examine an applicant’s intellectual skills, this test has 30 – true or false questions with 2 to 4 multiple-choice questions. Its passing score is at least 65%.
Practical Skills Test
The format and duration of the exam will depend on each job category. This test was not created to be a generalized question-and-answer exam since every job category has its different job descriptions.
2. Japanese Language Test
This is basically a Japanese language comprehension assessment and to certify that non-native language speaker is able to communicate with their Japanese employers, and to independently live in Japan.
The Japanese language proficiency test has levels N1 to N5, where N5 is the easiest and N1 to be the most challenging. The N4 level is the minimum requirement to qualify for a specified skills visa.
To know more about the definition of these levels, you may want to get further details here.
How To Apply For The Specified Skills Visa For Construction?
To qualify for the visa application, you need to take and pass the specified skills evaluation test and the Japanese language test.
To do that, you need to go to the JAC HR official website to register as an applicant and of course to check the examination schedule. Or apply online through the Foreign Employment Management System.
For Online Application:
- You will be asked to create a temporary user registration where you need to input your active email address and make your own login ID.
- After creating your temporary registration, you will receive an email regarding a system generated password which you will use in completing the main registration found on the home page of the same website.
- You have to click the official registration tab where you need to enter your login ID, the system generated password sent on your email (temporary password), and your new password.
After completing these steps, you will have access to the construction specific skill acceptance plan menu. You simply need to provide the needed information on that page for your successful application.
After that, the Regional Development Bureau, Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, or Okinawa General Bureau (in charge to examine the construction specific skill acceptance plan set by the applicant) will be the one to review your submitted application. Once eligible to work in Japan, you will be notified for visa issuance.
Important Details Before Applying For This Visa
Learn and gain mastery of the Japanese language. You need to have a basic Japanese language skill that will help you pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
Educational background is not a standard requirement. As long as you are 18 years old and above, your knowledge of a specific skill is much important to pass the required skills-evaluation exam.
Check your submitted documents. For online applications: Make sure to scan your documents and convert it to a PDF file, and the required pictures should be converted to a JPEG format.
No guarantee deposits nor monetary penalties required. Foreign applicants for specified skills-visa are not required to pay for guarantee deposits, even their family members who are qualified to have residency in Japan. Private agencies, brokers and other third parties are also forbidden to collect monetary penalties in not completed employment contracts.
Beware of Fraud. In your application process, make sure to reach out only on the legitimate sectors or agencies. If you have already submitted an application and are still under process, please note to only wait for the response of the Regional Development Bureau, Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, or Okinawa General Bureau before proceeding on applying for the visa. They will absolutely contact you once you are qualified for the specified skilled worker residency in Japan.
Make sure to apply for a specific job category that suits your knowledge, expertise and skills for a guaranteed employment in Japan.
Attainable Application Steps
As a summary, here are the trouble-free steps in applying for the specified skills visa for construction work in Japan:
- Register as an applicant. Monitor your application on the applicant’s page tab on the homepage. It will ask for your registered email address and password for privacy and security purposes.
- Create a specific skill acceptance plan application. Register as a temporary user before creating an official registration to receive a temporary password via email. Once officially registered, input the needed details for the smooth and successful process of application.
- After taking the specified skills evaluation test and the Japanese language test, wait for the notice from the Regional Development Bureau, Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, or Okinawa General Bureau. Once eligible to work in Japan, you will be receiving a guide for your visa issuance.
Aside from the construction industry, Japan’s labor shortage also applies to the following industries:
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- Agriculture
- Food and Beverage
- Food Service Industry
- Fishery
- Accommodation Services
- Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery
- Aviation
- Automobile
- Electronics
- Industrial machinery
- Machine Parts and Tooling Industries
- Caregiving
- Building Cleaning Management
Yes, Japan’s economy is indeed in need of laborers to suffice the need of additional workers in the country. Besides, during this implementation, Japan will check its effects and if there will be economic growth as early as this upcoming year 2021.
With this, Japan will be able to determine if this newly revised implementation can resolve the ongoing issue of labor shortages. This means that the specified skills visa may be stopped if in case there are no longer labor shortages in a specific sector, but might resume whenever labor shortage hits again.
Yet even supposing that the coronavirus disease pandemic is still ongoing, rest assured that the Japanese government is always taking safety measures to local employers and employees, including those in the assigned organizations and agencies who are working for the new implementation of the revised specified skills visa.
Grab the opportunity of stable WORK in Japan. Have the chance to be a Japanese resident!
I need a Japan work visa
Unfortunately, we do not process any working visas. Please refer to Japan’s immigration website for accurate info. Thanks!