The new status of Residence
“Specified Skilled Worker”
has been created.
The New Status of Residence is aimed at addressing the serious labor shortage in Japan by accepting experienced foreign human resources with specific expertise and skills.
The Acceptance of and Coexistence with Foreign Human Resources
The Government of Japan determined the Basic Policy and Field-Specific Operation Policies on Operation of the system of the new Status of Residence, “Specified Skilled Worker,” to be introduced in April 2019 by the Cabinet Decision based on the amended Immigration Control Act. It also decided Comprehensive Measures for the Acceptance and Coexistence of Foreign nationals residing in Japan.
The Government of Japan takes initiative in improving the infrastructure such as providing multilingual services by public institutions and in the infrastructure of daily life in order to accept the rapidly increasing foreign nationals as “residents” in Japan.
For more details: https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000459527.pdf
Want a “Specified Skilled” visa
From April 1, 2019, there are more employment opportunities for foreigners who have N4 or higher Japanese language ability. Under the “Specified Skilled” visa, with a Japanese language ability of N4 level or higher, the applicant will be able to take on various jobs in 14 industries.
The N4 level is a level where one can understand the basic Japanese language. It is okay if a person can read and understand sentences written in basic words and kanji. With this level, you can largely understand the contents if you speak in basic words in day to day life. A new Japanese language proficiency test will also be conducted at this level. If you study for 300 hours at a Japanese language school, you will be able to reach this level. If you came to Japan as a foreign student and you are currently studying in Japan, it is a level that almost everyone can reach; hence it has opened up a great path to employment after graduation.
The following 14 industries can be changed to “Specified Skilled” visas from April 1, 2019.
Care worker
Building Cleaning Management
Machine Parts & Tooling Industry
Industrial Machinery Manufacturing Industry
Electric, Electronic and Information Industries
Construction Industry
Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry
Automobile Repair and Maintenance
Aviation Industry
Accommodation Industry
Agriculture
Fishery and Aquaculture
Food and Beverage production
Others occupations
In order to find a job in the above 14 industries, it is not enough to prove a Japanese language level of N4 or higher, but you must pass the Specified Skilled Evaluation Tests conducted in each industry.
How do overseas residents get a “Specified Skilled” visa?
“Specified Skilled No. 1” and “Specified Skilled No. 2”
However, foreigners who have worked for three years in the field of the relevant industry as “technical intern trainees” and have a certificate of completion regardless of whether they are residing in Japan or returning abroad will be able to work with a Japanese Specified Skilled visa if they find a sponsor company for themselves.
The difficulty level of Specified Skilled Evaluation Tests varies depending on the type of job. Relatively easy to pass tests are for Building Cleaning, Food & Beverage production, and other occupations.
In particular, if you have worked part-time in the restaurant business during your student life in Japan, you may be able to get a job immediately after graduating from school, which will not be difficult in terms of contents.
This “Specified Skilled” visa is ideal for foreigners who are motivated or dreaming of living in Japan, as long as they meet the requirements for Japanese language and technical standards, regardless of their educational background.
If a foreign student, who is having confidence in his/her Japanese language ability, passes an industry-vise “Specified Skilled Assessment Test” that he/she is interested in, he/she will be able to expand his/her chances of staying longer in Japan.
However, you can only stay in Japan for up to 5 years with a visa (residence status) called “Specified Skilled No. 1”.
Therefore, if you want to stay in Japan beyond that, you need to select an industry that has “Specified Skilled No. 2” or change to another visa.
You must pass the Japanese Proficiency Evaluation Test (JPET) or pass N4 or higher (N1, N2, N3, N4) of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
For foreigners under the status of residence for “Specified Skilled” in the field where they want to work, it is necessary to pass the Skill Evaluation Test in the category of 14 industries.
Currently, the following 14 industries can acquire the status of residence for “Specified Skilled”.
Japanese language examination
However, foreigners who have worked for three years in the field of the relevant industry as “technical intern trainees” and have a certificate of completion regardless of whether they are residing in Japan or returning abroad will be able to work with a Japanese Specified Skilled visa if they find a sponsor company for themselves.
Currently, the following 14 industries can acquire the status of residence for “Specified Skilled”.
Skill Evaluation Tests will be held in each field after April 2019, so please challenge the fields you have studied so far, the fields you are good at, and the fields of work you have done in your home country.
The N4 level of Japanese is a level that can be reached after 300 hours of study by a foreigner who has never studied Japanese. If you do your best and study 7 hours a day, you can reach it in a month and a half.
You can understand the content of the Japanese language examination by accessing the following link to see the difficulty.
https://www.jlpt.jp/samples/n4/index.html
From April 2019, the Japanese Proficiency Evaluation Test (JPET) will be conducted with the Japan Foundation, an independent administrative agency. Implementation is scheduled six times a year and is scheduled to be conducted in nine countries in addition to Japan.
Vietnam
Philippines
Cambodia
China
Indonesia
Thailand
Myanmar
Nepal
Mongolia
Foreigners residing in other countries have to prove their Japanese language ability bypassing it in Japan or in the host country or prove their ability to be N4 or higher in the more widely conducted Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
The following steps are required to obtain a “Specified Skilled” visa.
Pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
In order to work in Japan, take the necessary Skill Evaluation Test, and pass it.
Find a sponsor company (employer) who will hire you directly in Japan.
A Japanese Sponsor Company applies for a Certificate of Eligibility. In that case, passing certificates of 1. and 2. are required.
A Certificate of Eligibility will arrive from the Japanese Sponsor Company.
Apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country.
With a visa and Certificate of Eligibility, you will undergo Immigration in Japan and will be issued a Residence Card.
Labor starts under the Sponsor Company. You can reside up to 5 years (in the case of “Specified skilled No. 1”).
If the job category falls under the category of “Specified Skilled No. 2”, an application for visa change can be made after working for 5 years. It opens the way to permanent residence.
What services can I get when I get a “Specified Skilled” visa?
Life guidance before entering Japan.
Airport pick-up and drop-off services at the time of entering to and returning from Japan.
Support such as getting a guarantor and securing housing for foreigners.
Life support such as contracts for opening a savings account and using a mobile phone.
Support for learning the Japanese language for daily life.
Consultation about life and work, complaint requests, etc.
Providing Information and support for various administrative procedures in Japan.
Participation in exchange meetings between foreigners and Japanese.
Support to search for other employers in case an employment contract is canceled due to the circumstances of the employer.
In this way, a generous service is to be received from the employer or an external organization (Registered Support Organization).
Suragadai Gakuen announces JPET, their new Japanese proficiency test
Surugadai Gakuen, a school corporation known for the Sundai preparatory school, announced their new Japanese Proficiency Evaluation Test (JPET) on February 12th, to start from May this year. The JPET is a new certification test to evaluate the Japanese language abilities of non-native Japanese speakers.
Surugadai Gakuen, who has developed this new test, has carried out Japanese language education for foreigners, particularly those working or studying in Japanese, for 31 years.
The exam will be a point-based test, as opposed to a pass or fail type, and the score will range from 0 to 1000 points. Participants will be assessed on their ability to use real-world vocabulary and expressions, as well as testing grammar and other areas of language ability, from basic hiragana reading skills, all the way to expert level kanji capability.
Since candidates will be able to take the test up to 11 times throughout the year, it will prove useful for higher education or job applications.
Furthermore, it will also be possible to use your JPET score as an entrance examination for businesses and schools, and it is also effective as a kind of mock test for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) at Japanese language schools, vocational schools, and universities.
Japanese ability is often an essential skill to get a job in a Japanese company, and if you can objectively show that you have a high level of Japanese proficiency the chances of finding employment will greatly increase.
Currently, there are only two times a year that you can sit the JLPT, whereas, with a lot more times throughout the year that you can sit the JPET, you can take it in preparation to apply for a new job or a promotion at a shorter notice. You can also use it to test your improvement in Japanese language learning at more regular intervals.
If you are interested, why not apply to take a test from May this year?
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