Specified Skilled Worker 1 — 5-Year Cap Exit Strategy
Actions to take before hitting 5 years and what visa options come next
Specified Skilled Worker 1 has a cumulative 5-year (60-month) stay limit. Once reached, the only options are to return home or change to a different residence status. It is important to start planning an exit strategy from the 2nd or 3rd year. Main options are: ① transition to SSW 2, ② change to Engineer/Humanities or another visa, or ③ return home / re-enter.
Who this is for: Foreign nationals currently on Specified Skilled Worker 1 who have been in Japan for 2 or more cumulative years and want to consider options for continued residence.
Latest Law Amendments
Significantly expanded from the previous 2 fields (construction and shipbuilding) to 11 fields including accommodation and food service. The nursing care field remains under consideration. Workers in eligible fields can now stay longer and bring family members.
Case-by-Case Review Points & Strategies
Case 1: Transition to SSW 2 in an Eligible Field (Construction, Shipbuilding, etc.)
ModerateSituation
3 cumulative years in Specified Skilled Worker 1 in the construction field. Wants to take the SSW 2 exam and obtain the higher-level status
Strategy
① Pass the SSW 2 skills evaluation test (tests exist for construction and shipbuilding). ② Confirm that the current employer can accept SSW 2. ③ After passing the test, apply for a status change. SSW 2 has no limit on renewal of stay period and allows bringing family members.
Key Point: SSW 2 was expanded to 11 fields in September 2023 (excluding nursing care; discussion on including all 12 fields is ongoing). Since test difficulty and frequency vary by field, gather exam information early.
Case 2: Switching to Engineer/Humanities or Another Visa (Before 5 Years)
High RiskSituation
4 years of work as Specified Skilled Worker 1 in food manufacturing. The 5-year limit is approaching and wants to continue working in Japan
Strategy
① Check if changing to Engineer/Humanities is possible: verify connection between major studied at university or vocational school and current job duties. There may be an associated transfer from factory line worker to specialist roles such as quality control or process management. ② Negotiate with the employer in advance whether they can switch to hiring under Engineer/Humanities. ③ If difficult, returning home temporarily and re-entering is also an option — though note the cumulative stay period does not reset after returning home.
Key Point: The cumulative stay period under Specified Skilled Worker does not reset when returning home — it continues to accumulate. Many people mistakenly believe 'going home resets the count,' so beware. The 5-year limit is the 'total period of stay in Japan,' and temporary returns home do not reduce the day count.
Common Mistakes & Pitfalls
For fields where SSW 2 is not yet available (food manufacturing, food service, accommodation, etc.), the only path to continue working after 5 years is to change to Engineer/Humanities. If educational, major, and job content requirements cannot be met, options are extremely limited — consult a specialist from the 3rd year onwards and build an exit strategy.
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