What is the SSW Visa?
The Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa allows foreign workers to work in Japan in industries that have labor shortages. It is mainly for people with practical job skills, not university degrees. The program started in 2019.
Types of SSW Visas
1️⃣ SSW Type 1 (SSW-1)
This is the most common type.
Key points:
- Stay: Up to 5 years (renewed yearly or periodically)
- Family: ❌ Cannot bring family
- Japanese level: Basic conversational Japanese
- Skills: Must pass skills + Japanese language tests
- Can change employers (within same industry)
2️⃣ SSW Type 2 (SSW-2)
More advanced and limited.
Key points:
- Stay: Unlimited renewals (can stay long-term)
- Family: ✅ Can bring spouse & children
- Skill level: Advanced / experienced
- Path to: Permanent Residency
- Only available in some industries
SSW-1 (16 fields)
Some major ones include:
- Nursing care
- Building cleaning
- Construction
- Agriculture
- Fishing
- Food & beverage manufacturing
- Restaurant / food service
- Hotel & accommodation
- Automobile maintenance
- Electronics & electrical equipment
- Industrial machinery
- Shipbuilding
- Aviation
SSW-2 (limited fields)
- Construction
- Shipbuilding & marine industry
(More fields may be added in the future)
Which Field Apply From Nepal
In Nepal, not all SSW fields are available, but several major ones can be applied for directly from Nepal through skills tests + Japanese language tests 🇳🇵➡🇯🇵
Below are the SSW fields commonly available for Nepali applicants:
1️⃣ Food Service Industry (Restaurant)
Most popular for Nepal
- Work in restaurants, hotels, kitchens
- Tasks: cooking help, serving, cleaning
- Skills test: ✅ Available in Nepal
- Good for beginners
2️⃣ Food & Beverage Manufacturing
- Factories: bento, bakery, meat/seafood processing
- Skills test: ✅ Available in Nepal
- No heavy Japanese needed at start
3️⃣ Agriculture
- Farming, greenhouse, livestock
- Skills test: ✅ Sometimes available
- Often rural jobs in Japan
4️⃣ Construction
- Basic construction work
- Skills test: ✅ Available
- Physically demanding
- Better salary than many other fields
5️⃣ Hotel / Accommodation
- Hotel cleaning, front desk support, housekeeping
- Skills test: ✅ Available (limited seats)
- Requires better Japanese communication
6️⃣ Caregiver (Nursing Care)
- Very high demand in Japan
- Elderly care work
- Skills test: ⚠️ Limited but possible
- Japanese requirement is higher