SSW Sectors Overview

All sectors for SSW1 and SSW2

👴

Nursing Care

Salary: ¥18-25万

SSW1: Nursing Care Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1, or pass national Kaigo Fukushishi exam

🍖

Food Manufacturing

Salary: ¥17-24万

SSW1: Food Manufacturing Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

🚜

Agriculture

Salary: ¥17-23万

SSW1: Agriculture Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

🏭

Manufacturing

Salary: ¥18-26万

SSW1: Manufacturing Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

🏗️

Construction

Salary: ¥18-28万

SSW1: Construction Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass construction skills test level 1

🍽️

Restaurant

Salary: ¥17-24万

SSW1: Restaurant Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

🛏️

Hotel & Accommodation

Salary: ¥17-23万

SSW1: Accommodation Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

🧹

Building Cleaning

Salary: ¥17-22万

SSW1: Building Cleaning Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

🚢

Shipbuilding

Salary: ¥18-27万

SSW1: Shipbuilding Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

🔧

Automobile Maintenance

Salary: ¥18-25万

SSW1: Automobile Maintenance Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

✈️

Aviation

Salary: ¥18-25万

SSW1: Aviation Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

🐟

Fishery & Aquaculture

Salary: ¥17-24万

SSW1: Fishery Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

🍱

Food Service

Salary: ¥17-23万

SSW1: Related Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

🌲

Forestry

Salary: ¥17-23万

SSW1: Forestry Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

🚆

Railroad

Salary: ¥18-25万

SSW1: Railroad Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

🚌

Transportation

Salary: ¥20-30万

SSW1: Japanese driver's license + Skills Test + JLPT N4

SSW2: Pass skills test level 1

About Switching Sectors

You can change jobs within the same sector. To move to a different sector, you need to pass the skills test for the new sector.

SSW1 → SSW2 Step-Up — Start Preparing Now

SSW2 is a residence status for foreign workers with advanced skills. Starting April 2027, B1-level Japanese (JLPT N3 with 104+ points) will be required for all sectors.

SSW2 Benefits:

-No limit on length of stay
-Family members (spouse & children) can accompany
-Opens the path to permanent residency application

SSW2 Requirements:

-Pass the advanced skills test for your sector
-Japanese proficiency B1 level (N3 with 104+ points) (required from April 2027)
-Sufficient work experience

Currently, all 16 sectors accept SSW2. Only 1 year until B1 becomes mandatory. Start preparing now.

Test your skills now

SSW1 → SSW2 Step-Up — Start Preparing Now

SSW2 is a residence status for foreign workers with advanced skills. Starting April 2027, B1-level Japanese (JLPT N3 with 104+ points) will be required for all sectors.

SSW2 Benefits:

-No limit on length of stay
-Family members (spouse & children) can accompany
-Opens the path to permanent residency application

SSW2 Requirements:

-Pass the advanced skills test for your sector
-Japanese proficiency B1 level (N3 with 104+ points) (required from April 2027)
-Sufficient work experience

Currently, all 16 sectors accept SSW2. Only 1 year until B1 becomes mandatory. Start preparing now.