Team of Boldvoices | 15 November 2026
Japan’s Immigration Services Agency published a late-October update to its Specified Skilled Worker test information. Candidates in India should open the timetable for the individual sector they want to work in. Test schedules differ by field and country, and seat availability can change as bookings fill.
Match the test to the job you want
Under the standard Specified Skilled Worker (i) route, choose the industry field first and take its skills exam. For Japanese, the usual options are JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or higher. Japan’s official guidance specifies N3 for taxi and bus drivers and for train operation work. Nursing care also has a separate Japanese-language assessment. Check the exact occupation and field requirements before paying for a course or booking an exam.
Check what your previous training covers
People who successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) generally have exemptions when moving into a corresponding field. A change of field can bring a new skills test requirement. Candidates applying from India without relevant Japanese technical intern training should plan for both the field exam and the applicable language tests. Save the official result notices and ensure your name matches your passport across registrations. For example, someone who passes a construction skills test and JLPT N4 should still check the requirements for a food-service role separately. The language result may be usable across fields, while the construction test covers a different set of skills. Check the provider for the current test fees, city and available appointments before making travel plans.
Follow the process from India to Japan
Find a role in the same field after meeting the testing requirements. Review and sign the written employment contract, then work with the employer on the Certificate of Eligibility process. When the certificate is available, use the appropriate Japanese visa application procedure in India. If someone promises travel before you have verified the contract, paperwork or permission to work, check directly with the employer and the responsible visa office.
Read the pay and support terms together
Ask for gross pay, hours, overtime, the expected deductions and any housing charges. Check that the promised duties match your tested field. Specified Skilled Worker (i) includes employer-provided or arranged support for settling in. Ask who will handle practical matters such as accommodation and orientation and whom you can contact in a language you understand.
What to ask if you plan to bring your family
Specified Skilled Worker (i) generally does not allow accompaniment by family and ordinarily has a cumulative five-year stay limit. Type (ii) is a separate status for eligible fields and advanced skills, with different rules. A person comparing offers should check the type named in the paperwork and what that means for a spouse or children before accepting the move.
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