SSW expansion to 16 sectors
2024 Cabinet decision expanded SSW from 12 to 16 sectors, adding transport (bus/taxi/truck), forestry, wood industry, and railway to the list.
Overseas Jobs · Asia-Pacific
🇯🇵 Jobs in Japan
for Indians · 2026 hiring desk.
SSW visa & Highly Skilled Professional — Japan's Indian hiring boom
Overview
Japan jobs for Indians — 2026 outlook
Japan is facing the most severe demographic labour shortage in the developed world — 11 million missing workers by 2040 — and has responded with the most Indian-friendly visa reforms in its history. The Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa, expanded to 16 sectors in 2024, plus the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities and Highly Skilled Professional visas, together offer clear routes for Indian IT professionals, care workers, hospitality staff, agriculture workers and skilled trades.
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) i visa: 5-year (non-renewable) work visa across 16 sectors — care work, food service, hospitality, agriculture, fisheries, construction, shipbuilding, automotive maintenance, aviation, accommodation, industrial machinery, electric/electronic/information industries, food & beverage manufacturing.
SSW ii visa: unlimited renewable with family reunification — for advanced skill holders in 11 of the 16 sectors.
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa: for university graduates in IT, engineering, translation, marketing, finance — the primary route for Indian IT professionals.
Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa: 5-year fast-track PR (1-3 years) for high-earners scored on the 70-point HSP framework.
Work visa route
SSW + Engineer + HSP visa routes
Multiple parallel routes: SSW for skilled trades/care/hospitality (5-year); Engineer for IT/tech graduates (5-year renewable); HSP for high-scoring professionals (fast-track PR).
Step 1
Japanese language JLPT N4/N5
SSW requires JLPT N4 + sector skill test; Engineer route can be English-first for IT.
Step 2
Employer offer + COE
Japanese employer files Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with Immigration Bureau.
Step 3
Visa stamping
COE issued, visa stamped at Japanese Consulate Mumbai.
Step 4
Landing + residence card
Enter Japan, receive residence card (zairyu card) at port of entry.
Step 5
Municipal registration + My Number
Register with local ward office, obtain My Number, enrol in health insurance.
In-demand occupations
Japan In-Demand Occupation List 2026 (SSW + Engineer routes)
16-sector SSW list plus Engineer/Specialist priority IT and technical roles.
| Occupation | Indicative salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer / IT Specialist | ¥4,500,000 – 9,000,000/yr | |
| AI / ML / Data Engineer | ¥6,000,000 – 12,000,000/yr | HSP eligible |
| Cybersecurity Engineer | ¥5,500,000 – 11,000,000/yr | |
| Care Worker (Kaigo — SSW) | ¥2,600,000 – 3,600,000/yr | |
| Nurse (Kangoshi — SSW + N2 Japanese) | ¥3,000,000 – 4,500,000/yr | |
| Chef / Restaurant Manager (SSW food service) | ¥2,800,000 – 4,500,000/yr | |
| Construction (rebar/scaffolding/carpentry — SSW) | ¥3,000,000 – 4,500,000/yr | |
| Automotive Maintenance Technician (SSW) | ¥2,800,000 – 4,200,000/yr | |
| Aviation Ground Handler (SSW) | ¥3,000,000 – 4,500,000/yr | |
| Hotel / Ryokan Staff (SSW accommodation) | ¥2,600,000 – 3,800,000/yr | |
| Agriculture / Fisheries Worker (SSW) | ¥2,500,000 – 3,600,000/yr |
Salary bands are indicative gross figures for 2026 hiring, subject to employer, experience and negotiation.
2026 policy desk
Latest Japan employment updates
SSW annual quota doubled
2024-2029 SSW intake quota raised to 820,000 workers — the largest expansion of foreign worker admission in Japanese history.
HSP fast-track PR
70+ points on HSP framework = PR in 3 years; 80+ points = PR in 1 year.
Salary & benefits
¥2,500,000 – 12,000,000/year. Cost of living: ¥120,000-180,000/month single in Tokyo (~INR 65,000-95,000).
- ✓SSW ii: unlimited renewal + family reunification
- ✓HSP: PR in 1-3 years fast-track
- ✓Universal healthcare
- ✓World-class safety and infrastructure
- ✓Path to permanent residence after 10 years (1-3 for HSP)
Documents, timeline & cost
Timeline: 5 – 9 months from initial engagement to Japan landing (language + skill test + COE).
Cost: Professional fees ₹1,20,000 – 2,50,000 (route-dependent). Japanese language coaching separately.
Documents required
- • Passport (min. 12 months validity)
- • Updated CV / resume (international format)
- • Educational certificates (attested)
- • Experience certificates from all past employers
- • Trade / skill test certificate (where applicable)
- • Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
- • Medical fitness report (GAMCA for Gulf; country-specific for others)
- • Language proficiency certificate (IELTS / TOEFL / German A2-B2 / other)
- • Recent photographs (white background, country spec)
- • Bank statement (6 months)
- • JLPT N4/N5 certificate (SSW)
- • Sector skill test pass certificate
- • COE (Certificate of Eligibility)
Why Japan for Indians in 2026
Japan's demographic crisis is now a genuine long-term hiring opportunity for Indian workers. The SSW expansion to 16 sectors and the doubled 2024-2029 intake quota mean Japan is actively pulling in 820,000 foreign workers over five years — Indians are now the second-largest SSW nationality after Vietnamese. For IT professionals, the Engineer visa is well-established at TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Rakuten, Line and Japanese tech majors. For care workers and hospitality, JLPT N4 investment (6-9 months) unlocks stable 5-year contracts with clear renewal paths.
Japan jobs — FAQs
How much Japanese do I need?
+
SSW: JLPT N4 minimum (some sectors N5). IT/Engineer visa: often English-first with N4-N3 preferred. HSP: N4-N2 depending on employer.
Can SSW workers bring family?
+
SSW i (5-year) does not allow family. SSW ii (advanced skill, unlimited renewal) allows spouse and children. HSP allows family from day one.
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