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Japan SSW Visa After Passing the Skills Test
Japan SSW Visa After Passing the Skills Test: What to Do Next
Passed your Specified Skilled Worker exam? The next step is not automatically a work visa. This guide explains how foreign candidates and Japanese employers turn official exam results into a lawful SSW Type 1 application, including required Japanese evidence, employment contracts, support plans, municipal confirmations, COE procedures and changes of status in Japan.
Check the employer
The company and your job must meet field-specific requirements.
Submit immigration documents
COE overseas or change of status inside Japan, as applicable.
Published guidance checked against official information on October 28, 2026. Rules and government fees can change.
What Happens After Passing the SSW Skills Examination?
A pass result proves a skills requirement for the relevant SSW occupational field, but does not itself grant a visa, job or permission to work. The candidate and a qualified Japanese employer must check language requirements, sign an appropriate employment agreement and arrange the correct immigration filing.
Exam evidence
Check that the certificate is valid for the exact field and tasks, plus Japanese-language proof or an exemption.
Eligible employer
Confirm the receiving organization, appropriate compensation, field-specific conditions and lawful job duties.
Immigration permission
Outside Japan generally follows COE, then consular visa; inside Japan generally change of status when required.
Do not start the new SSW employment while your current residence status does not authorize it. Passing a CBT test is not legal permission to work.
The Complete Post-Test Timeline
Confirm your results and official certificate
Check the organizer's result or certificate issuance procedure, which can differ by exam.
Confirm Japanese evidence or exemption
Ordinarily JFT-Basic or JLPT N4+ for Type 1; identify any industry-specific add-on or technical-intern exemption.
Find an eligible employer and matching job
Confirm the company's activity, receiving-organization requirements and the actual tasks in the sector.
Agree on wages and employment terms
Sign the correct SSW contract and employment-conditions notice; wages must meet the relevant comparability rules.
Prepare the Type 1 support system
Use compliant in-house support or a registered support organization, and prepare the statutory support plan.
Submit municipal cooperation confirmation
Receiving organizations submit the prescribed cooperation confirmation to the relevant municipalities at the applicable time.
Assemble the immigration application
Gather individual records, company materials, field-specific council documents, health, tax and social-insurance records as applicable.
File COE or change-of-status and await the outcome
Use the legally appropriate procedure. For overseas hires, COE is followed by consular visa steps; for residents, obtain the required change before unauthorized work.
Already passed an SSW exam and received a job offer?
Send your field, test result, Japanese-language proof and employer name. We can review the immigration paperwork and Type 1 support needs.
Ask About SSW Immigration SupportDocuments for the Foreign Applicant
| Document category | Examples / point to check |
|---|---|
| Identity | Passport, prescribed photo and residence card if already in Japan. |
| Skill qualification | Official result and any required certificate, matching the SSW field and work category. |
| Japanese-language ability | JFT-Basic, JLPT N4+ or applicable recognized exemption; some fields have stronger requirements. |
| Medical | Individual health examination certificate when required. |
| Tax / pension / insurance | Applicable tax, pension and health-insurance records, especially for in-Japan status changes. |
| Current status and work history | Residence status, Technical Intern Training completion documents and work records if relying on an exemption. |
| Official forms / translations | Current forms, properly translated documents and prescribed annexes. |
Never apply the same checklist mechanically to everyone. COE versus change-of-status, employer category, exemption route and sector affect the current documents.
Use the correct official list: The Immigration Services Agency groups supporting documents into Table 1 (applicant), Table 2 (receiving organization), and Table 3 (sector-specific). The exact Table 2 variant differs for qualifying corporate or individual employers, and some prior submissions may allow omissions. The latest checklist controls.
Documents and Obligations for the Japanese Employer
✓Correct Type 1 SSW employment contract and working-conditions notice.
✓Japanese-worker-comparable pay and lawful terms; no prohibited deposits or penalties.
✓Company, business, tax and social-insurance materials under the current checklist.
✓Evidence of the relevant SSW field and actual job description.
✓Sector council membership, licenses and additional sector-specific requirements, if applicable.
✓Type 1 support plan with qualified in-house capacity or a registered support organization.
✓Required municipal cooperation confirmation at the correct timing and place.
✓Eligibility of any labor or recruitment intermediaries and source-country procedures.
✓Evidence of fair hiring, costs explained to the candidate and direct employment where sector rules require it.
✓Appropriate staff responsible for immigration filings and required follow-up notifications.
In the accommodation sector, the hotel or ryokan operating license, direct employment and sector council conditions require particular attention. An exam pass cannot cure an ineligible employer.
Recruitment costs and financial compliance: Confirm no prohibited deposits or penalty contracts; check social insurance, labor compliance, statutory payments and relevant recruitment-country procedures. A registered support organization does not replace employer responsibility for lawful employment and immigration notifications.
COE Outside Japan vs Change of Status Inside Japan
| Situation | Procedure and important distinction |
|---|---|
| Applicant lives overseas | Japan-side COE application through a qualified receiving arrangement, then consular visa application and landing permission as applicable. |
| International student in Japan | Apply to change to SSW before starting work beyond the present status; examine graduation, current Student status and lawful timing. |
| Technical Intern Training (ii) completed satisfactorily | Check the applicable skills and Japanese-test exemptions and whether occupational duties match. |
| Current SSW Type 1 changes employer or field | A new receiving organization requires an appropriate change-of-status procedure; changing fields also requires checking the relevant qualifications. |
| Application pending | Submitting an application alone does not authorize new tasks contrary to the current residence status. |
Certain nationalities may need additional home-country procedures under bilateral arrangements. Confirm the applicant's nationality, present location and intended recruiting route.
Important Municipal Cooperation Confirmation Requirements
Since April 1, 2025, SSW receiving organizations have been required to submit a prescribed cooperation confirmation to the municipality of the business workplace and of the worker's residence, at the timing set out in the Immigration Services Agency Q&A.
For a first-time receiving organization, this is generally after signing the SSW employment contract and before the initial COE or change-of-status application. An organization already accepting SSW workers must check whether its first relevant application after the new rules triggered the obligation.
The confirmation goes to the relevant municipality, not the prefecture or immigration bureau. If both workplace and residence are in the same municipality, one submission may suffice. It is generally a one-time company submission for the applicable premises unless relevant details change.
The organization should also reflect local coexistence initiatives when preparing its Type 1 support plan.
Type 1 Support Plan and Registered Support Organization
SSW Type 1 employers must arrange legally required support for foreign workers. They can carry out compliant support themselves or outsource it to a registered support organization under the statutory arrangements.
Employer duties
Employment, immigration eligibility, wage conditions, records and statutory notifications remain important.
Support plan implementation
Choose qualified internal staff or a registered support organization for required Type 1 assistance.
Our office
A registered support organization, 25登-012295, with separate immigration-document and support engagements.
The SSW Type 2 status has a different support framework. Do not copy Type 1 support duties into Type 2 without checking the law.
| Mandatory support | Typical duty |
|---|---|
| 1. Advance guidance | Explain employment terms, immigration matters and prohibited security deposits before COE or status-change filing. |
| 2. Airport transfer | Provide required arrival and departure transport assistance. |
| 3. Housing and essential contracts | Help obtain housing and arrange bank, phone and utility services. |
| 4. Living orientation | Explain Japanese rules, emergency access, healthcare and daily life. |
| 5. Public procedures | Accompany the worker for necessary local-government, tax and social-insurance procedures. |
| 6. Japanese learning | Provide information on language-learning opportunities. |
| 7. Consultation and complaints | Respond in a language understood by the worker. |
| 8. Community engagement | Support interactions and local events with Japanese residents. |
| 9. Job change when dismissal is not the worker's fault | Give legally required assistance with finding new employment. |
| 10. Regular interviews | Interview the worker and supervisor at least once every three months; report violations when required. |
Who pays? The receiving organization bears the cost of legally mandatory Type 1 support; it must not shift these support costs to the foreign worker.
Special Cases: Care, Construction, Transport and Accommodation
| Industry / situation | Additional checks |
|---|---|
| Caregiving | In addition to ordinary Japanese-level proof, the Caregiving Japanese Language Evaluation Test and other qualifying conditions can apply. |
| Construction | Construction-specific accepting plans, industry systems and documentation need review. |
| Automobile transport | Driving licences, qualifications and higher language requirements may apply depending on the activity and current rules. |
| Accommodation | Hotel or ryokan permit, sector council membership, direct employment and the skill-exam certificate process. |
| Food services / manufacturing | Confirm exact occupational category, exam provider and current sector-specific receiving restrictions. |
Passing a test for one sector does not automatically qualify a person for a job in another sector.
Common Reasons a Candidate Cannot Start Work Immediately
Wrong or missing certificate
The exam result or Japanese proof is incomplete, not valid under provider rules, or for a different sector.
Employer not eligible
The receiving organization lacks the required license, field registration or suitable support capacity.
No immigration permission yet
A candidate holds Student, Temporary Visitor or another status that does not permit the planned new work.
Other issues can include wage comparability, inaccurate previous employment records, required national procedures, missing health documents and public-payment compliance records. Avoid arrangements requiring unlawful recruitment deposits or penalty clauses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start working immediately after passing?
No. The skills test is separate from an eligible employer contract, Japanese qualification and the necessary immigration permission.
Do I need a job offer?
A qualifying SSW employment contract with an eligible receiving organization is generally needed for the residence application.
Do I need JLPT N4?
Usually JFT-Basic or JLPT N4+ for Type 1, except lawful exemptions or sector-specific alternatives; certain sectors require higher or additional qualifications.
Can I use JFT-Basic instead?
For many Type 1 fields, yes. Check the sector and specific work category.
Is JFT-Basic the same as a skills exam?
No. JFT-Basic tests Japanese language; the field-specific skills exam assesses occupational abilities.
What if I completed Technical Intern Training (ii)?
An exemption may apply. Skills-test exemption depends on recognized occupational relevance; Japanese-test exemption follows the applicable rules.
Can a student in Japan change to SSW?
Potentially, after meeting the individual and company requirements and receiving an appropriate change of status.
Can a Temporary Visitor start SSW employment?
Do not assume so. Temporary Visitor generally does not allow paid SSW work. Check the proper lawful entry and status procedure.
What is a COE?
A Certificate of Eligibility supports the normal overseas long-term entry process; it does not itself guarantee visa issuance or admission.
Is the SSW employer required to pay at Japanese levels?
SSW pay must be equivalent to or higher than for comparable Japanese workers under the applicable rules.
Does every applicant need a support plan?
SSW Type 1 requires an appropriate support plan and its implementation by the receiving organization itself or under a lawful registered-support-organization arrangement. SSW Type 2 has separate rules.
Does the employer have to use a registered support organization?
Not always. An eligible employer can provide compliant Type 1 support in-house or outsource it to a registered support organization.
Who submits the municipal cooperation confirmation?
The receiving organization does so to the relevant municipality under the Immigration Services Agency rules, usually before the initial applicable filing.
Can I use a result from another industry?
Not automatically. The skills standard must match the intended occupational field.
Can I work for two Japanese employers under Type 1?
SSW full-time work is based on the relevant qualifying receiving organization and contract; simultaneous multiple-company work is not the ordinary authorized arrangement.
What documents do hotels need?
Accommodation employers need the required hotel or ryokan business permission, sector council compliance and proper SSW work arrangements.
Are exam fees included in visa professional fees?
No. Exam organizers charge their own fees. Our immigration and Type 1 support services are separately quoted.
Can I bring my spouse and children under Type 1?
Type 1 generally does not offer ordinary family accompaniment; Type 2 has different provisions.
Can your office help after I already passed in India or Nepal?
We accept overseas enquiries, subject to the applicant, employer, documents and Japan-side filing arrangement.
Does an application guarantee a visa?
No. The competent immigration and consular authorities make their decisions independently.
How much is the immigration fee for a one-year SSW status change in October 2026?
For applications received on or after October 1, 2026, approval for one year costs ¥33,000 at an immigration counter or ¥27,000 online, plus an online processing charge of ¥330 (total ¥27,330). This is separate from our professional fee.
Does the employer have to pay for mandatory Type 1 support?
Yes. The receiving organization must bear expenses for mandatory support items and cannot transfer these expenses to the worker.
Which municipality receives the cooperation confirmation?
The workplace municipality and the municipality of the worker's residence. If both are the same, one submission may suffice. Check prior submissions and any changes before filing.
Do I need Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3 documents?
The official SSW filing checklists divide evidence into applicant documents, receiving-organization documents and sector-specific documents. Depending on the employer category and prior filings, a document can be omitted under an official rule.
Our Immigration Application and Type 1 Support Fees
| Service | Professional fee (including tax) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SSW COE / change-of-status application | From ¥110,000 | Government fees, translations, document costs and disbursements additional as applicable. |
| Additional employee in the same simultaneous application | From ¥55,000 each | Conditions and case grouping must be confirmed. |
| Registered support organization: Type 1 support | From ¥22,000 per person per month | Separate engagement; actual scope and field requirements are checked. |
| Multiple applicants and unusual documents | Individual quotation | A written scope and fee estimate are provided before paid engagement. |
| Municipal cooperation confirmation, separately commissioned | From ¥11,000 per municipality | Additional municipality from ¥5,500; subject to written quotation. |
Test fees are paid to the authorized testing provider and are not included in our immigration professional fee. A COE application itself ordinarily has no government filing charge. No examination or immigration outcome can be guaranteed.
Government Immigration Fees From October 1, 2026
A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application is free of an immigration application fee. For a change of residence status or extension application received on or after October 1, 2026, the fee on approval now depends on the period actually granted and whether the application was submitted at a counter or online. Our professional fee is separate.
| Period granted | At immigration counter | Online fee + processing |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3 months | ¥10,000 | ¥10,000 + ¥330 |
| More than 3 up to 6 months | ¥18,000 | ¥15,000 + ¥330 |
| More than 6 months and under 1 year | ¥25,000 | ¥21,000 + ¥330 |
| 1 year | ¥33,000 | ¥27,000 + ¥330 = ¥27,330 |
| More than 1 year and under 3 years | ¥48,000 | ¥42,000 + ¥330 |
| 3 years and under 5 years | ¥64,000 | ¥56,000 + ¥550 |
Online applicants now pay through approved convenience-store or bank payment arrangements after receiving a separate payment instruction; credit cards and QR payments are not offered under the announced procedure. Counter applicants use revenue stamps. Applications received by September 30, 2026 remain subject to the previous fees (¥6,000 at counter / ¥5,500 online), even if decided later. Check the exact period and payment notice before paying.
Immigration Support by Kawagoe Masanobu Administrative Scrivener Office
Our office in Sagae, Yamagata helps foreign workers and Japanese employers with the appropriate SSW residence procedure. We are a registered support organization (registration 25登-012295) and an immigration application intermediary. Exam registration and immigration filing are distinct processes.
Masanobu Kawagoe
Sagae, Yamagata, Japan
Registration: 25登-012295
Telephone +81 237-86-7198 (9:00–18:00 JST)
Related SSW and Company Services
Official Sources and Document Checklists
Always check the current instructions of the Immigration Services Agency and the relevant industry's authorities, especially immediately before filing.
Immigration Services Agency — Steps to Work in Japan ISA — SSW Residence Applications and Document Tables ISA — SSW Questions and Test Exemptions ISA — Municipal Cooperation Confirmations ISA — Accommodation-Sector Requirements ISA — Official SSW Exam Information ISA — Type 1 Mandatory Support and Registered Support Organizations ISA — October 2026 Residence Fee Revision ISA — Online Immigration Fee Payments
Passed Your SSW Exam? Prepare Your Visa Application Correctly.
Tell us your nationality, current country and residence status, SSW field, language and skills results, intended employer and previous Technical Intern Training history. We can review the immigration requirements, employer documents and scope of professional assistance.
Support from Yamagata and online · Registered Support Organization 25登-012295 · No approval guarantee