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Applicants targeting restaurant work should monitor the Immigration Services Agency support site for any reopening.",{"type":30,"tag":50,"props":224,"children":226},{"id":225},"eligibility-requirements",[227],{"type":35,"value":228},"Eligibility Requirements",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":230,"children":231},{},[232],{"type":35,"value":233},"To qualify for SSW Type 1, an applicant must:",{"type":30,"tag":62,"props":235,"children":236},{},[237,249,254,266,291],{"type":30,"tag":66,"props":238,"children":239},{},[240,242,247],{"type":35,"value":241},"Be ",{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":243,"children":244},{},[245],{"type":35,"value":246},"18 years of age or older",{"type":35,"value":248},".",{"type":30,"tag":66,"props":250,"children":251},{},[252],{"type":35,"value":253},"Be in good health.",{"type":30,"tag":66,"props":255,"children":256},{},[257,259,264],{"type":35,"value":258},"Pass a ",{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":260,"children":261},{},[262],{"type":35,"value":263},"sector-specific skills evaluation test",{"type":35,"value":265}," for the chosen field, typically administered by Prometric or by a sector body such as the Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC) for construction.",{"type":30,"tag":66,"props":267,"children":268},{},[269,270,275,277,282,284,289],{"type":35,"value":258},{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":271,"children":272},{},[273],{"type":35,"value":274},"Japanese language test",{"type":35,"value":276}," at ",{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":278,"children":279},{},[280],{"type":35,"value":281},"JLPT N4 level or higher",{"type":35,"value":283},", or the ",{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":285,"children":286},{},[287],{"type":35,"value":288},"JFT-Basic (A2)",{"type":35,"value":290}," test. 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If a contract pays less, immigration will reject the COE.",{"type":30,"tag":66,"props":764,"children":765},{},[766,771],{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":767,"children":768},{},[769],{"type":35,"value":770},"Relying on an unregistered support organization.",{"type":35,"value":772}," The accepting company must either run its own compliant support plan or contract a registered support organization. Verify the registration number.",{"type":30,"tag":50,"props":774,"children":776},{"id":775},"ssw-vs-other-japan-work-visas",[777],{"type":35,"value":778},"SSW vs. Other Japan Work Visas",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":780,"children":781},{},[782],{"type":35,"value":783},"The SSW is not the only route to working in Japan, and it is worth comparing before committing.",{"type":30,"tag":62,"props":785,"children":786},{},[787,809,823],{"type":30,"tag":66,"props":788,"children":789},{},[790,792,797,799,808],{"type":35,"value":791},"The ",{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":793,"children":794},{},[795],{"type":35,"value":796},"Highly Skilled Professional",{"type":35,"value":798}," visa uses a points-based system, leads to permanent residency faster, and is aimed at researchers, engineers, and business managers with degrees and higher salaries. See our guide to the ",{"type":30,"tag":800,"props":801,"children":805},"a",{"href":802,"rel":803},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Flanguage-fun\u002Fjapan-highly-skilled-professional-visa-how-the-points-system-works",[804],"nofollow",[806],{"type":35,"value":807},"Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa",{"type":35,"value":248},{"type":30,"tag":66,"props":810,"children":811},{},[812,814,821],{"type":35,"value":813},"If you want to come to Japan first and look for work, the ",{"type":30,"tag":800,"props":815,"children":818},{"href":816,"rel":817},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Flanguage-fun\u002Fjapan-job-seeker-designated-activities-visa-practical-guide",[804],[819],{"type":35,"value":820},"Job Seeker Designated Activities Visa",{"type":35,"value":822}," gives recent graduates and former workers time on the ground.",{"type":30,"tag":66,"props":824,"children":825},{},[826,828,835],{"type":35,"value":827},"For long-term planning, review the routes to ",{"type":30,"tag":800,"props":829,"children":832},{"href":830,"rel":831},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Flanguage-fun\u002Fgetting-permanent-residency-in-japan-faster-hsp-and-other-routes",[804],[833],{"type":35,"value":834},"Getting Permanent Residency in Japan",{"type":35,"value":836},", including how SSW Type 2 time can count toward PR eligibility.",{"type":30,"tag":50,"props":838,"children":840},{"id":839},"faqs",[841],{"type":35,"value":842},"FAQs",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":844,"children":845},{},[846,851,855],{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":847,"children":848},{},[849],{"type":35,"value":850},"Can I switch employers on an SSW visa?",{"type":30,"tag":852,"props":853,"children":854},"br",{},[],{"type":35,"value":856},"\nYes. Unlike the old Technical Intern program, SSW workers may change employers within the same industrial field. You must notify the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days of the change and file a new support plan with the new employer.",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":858,"children":859},{},[860,865,868],{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":861,"children":862},{},[863],{"type":35,"value":864},"Does my SSW Type 1 time count toward permanent residency?",{"type":30,"tag":852,"props":866,"children":867},{},[],{"type":35,"value":869},"\nNo. Time on SSW Type 1 does not count toward the standard 10-year residency requirement for PR. SSW Type 2 time does count.",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":871,"children":872},{},[873,878,881,883,888,890,894],{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":874,"children":875},{},[876],{"type":35,"value":877},"What Japanese level do I really need?",{"type":30,"tag":852,"props":879,"children":880},{},[],{"type":35,"value":882},"\nThe minimum is ",{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":884,"children":885},{},[886],{"type":35,"value":887},"JLPT N4",{"type":35,"value":889}," or ",{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":891,"children":892},{},[893],{"type":35,"value":288},{"type":35,"value":895},". In practice, employers strongly prefer N3, especially in care work and customer-facing service jobs. Construction and manufacturing sites can often operate at the N4 minimum.",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":897,"children":898},{},[899,904,907],{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":900,"children":901},{},[902],{"type":35,"value":903},"Can I bring my spouse on SSW Type 1?",{"type":30,"tag":852,"props":905,"children":906},{},[],{"type":35,"value":908},"\nNo. Only SSW Type 2 holders may bring a spouse and children on a Dependent visa.",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":910,"children":911},{},[912,917,920],{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":913,"children":914},{},[915],{"type":35,"value":916},"Where do I take the skills test?",{"type":30,"tag":852,"props":918,"children":919},{},[],{"type":35,"value":921},"\nPrometric administers most SSW skills tests in major cities across Asia. The construction sector uses tests administered by JAC. Check each sector body's website for the test calendar.",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":923,"children":924},{},[925,930,933],{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":926,"children":927},{},[928],{"type":35,"value":929},"What happens at the 5-year limit on Type 1?",{"type":30,"tag":852,"props":931,"children":932},{},[],{"type":35,"value":934},"\nYou must either move to SSW Type 2 (by passing the higher-level skills test) or leave Japan. There is no extension beyond the 5-year cap on Type 1.",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":936,"children":937},{},[938,943,946],{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":939,"children":940},{},[941],{"type":35,"value":942},"Is the COE really free?",{"type":30,"tag":852,"props":944,"children":945},{},[],{"type":35,"value":947},"\nYes. The COE issued by the Minister of Justice is free of charge. The visa sticker fee at the embassy is separate and varies slightly by country.",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":949,"children":950},{},[951,956,959],{"type":30,"tag":70,"props":952,"children":953},{},[954],{"type":35,"value":955},"Can I apply without an employer?",{"type":30,"tag":852,"props":957,"children":958},{},[],{"type":35,"value":960},"\nNo. SSW requires a signed employment contract with a Japanese accepting organization before the COE can be filed.",{"type":30,"tag":31,"props":962,"children":963},{},[964],{"type":35,"value":965},"If you're heading to Japan on an SSW visa, getting comfortable with everyday Japanese (especially the workplace vocabulary specific to your field) will make settling in much smoother. 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