Skip to main content

Expanding Opportunities: Japan's Visa Program Opens Doors for Skilled Foreign Workers

visa program, foreign workers, specified skills, residency, Japan, industries, expansion, cabinet approval, Class II visa, permanent residency, construction, shipbuilding, food and beverage manufacturing, industrial machinery, agriculture, business community, skilled labor shortage, Class I visa, family members, Justice Ministry, manpower shortage

On June 9th, cabinet ministers approved a comprehensive plan to expand the coverage of a visa program aimed at foreign workers with specified skills. This program effectively allows visa holders to reside in Japan for an indefinite period. Presently, workers under the Class II visa are limited to two industries: construction and shipbuilding.

However, the newly approved plan by the Cabinet significantly broadens the scope of eligible industries from two to eleven. These additional industries include food and beverage manufacturing, industrial machinery, and agriculture. The decision to expand the visa program was driven by requests from the business community and aims to facilitate permanent residency for foreign workers across various sectors.

 

Currently, there are two categories for the "specified skills" visas. Workers with a Class I visa can live in Japan for a maximum of five years but are not permitted to bring their families with them. On the other hand, the Class II visa requires proficient skills, and holders of this visa can live in the country indefinitely by renewing their status. Additionally, they have the privilege of bringing their family members with them.


On June 9th, cabinet ministers approved a comprehensive plan to expand the coverage of a visa program aimed at foreign workers with specified skills. This program effectively allows visa holders to reside in Japan for an indefinite period. Presently, workers under the Class II visa are limited to two industries: construction and shipbuilding.  However, the newly approved plan by the Cabinet significantly broadens the scope of eligible industries from two to eleven. These additional industries include food and beverage manufacturing, industrial machinery, and agriculture. The decision to expand the visa program was driven by requests from the business community and aims to facilitate permanent residency for foreign workers across various sectors.  Currently, there are two categories for the "specified skills" visas. Workers with a Class I visa can live in Japan for a maximum of five years but are not permitted to bring their families with them. On the other hand, the Class II visa requires proficient skills, and holders of this visa can live in the country indefinitely by renewing their status. Additionally, they have the privilege of bringing their family members with them.  Japan introduced this program in April 2019 to address the shortage of domestic manpower by granting residency to skilled foreign workers. As of the end of March, the number of Class I visa holders exceeded 150,000, while the number of Class II visa workers remained at only 11.  Japan's decision to expand the visa program for foreign workers with specified skills marks a significant step towards addressing the country's labor shortage and embracing a more inclusive society. By widening the scope to include additional industries, such as food and beverage manufacturing, industrial machinery, and agriculture, Japan is opening its doors to a diverse range of talent from around the world. This move not only offers new opportunities for foreign workers to establish themselves in Japan but also reflects the nation's commitment to harnessing global expertise and fostering long-term economic growth. As the program continues to evolve, it will be interesting to witness the transformative impact of these skilled individuals on Japan's industries, culture, and society.


Japan introduced this program in April 2019 to address the shortage of domestic manpower by granting residency to skilled foreign workers. As of the end of March, the number of Class I visa holders exceeded 150,000, while the number of Class II visa workers remained at only 11.

 

Japan's decision to expand the visa program for foreign workers with specified skills marks a significant step towards addressing the country's labor shortage and embracing a more inclusive society. By widening the scope to include additional industries, such as food and beverage manufacturing, industrial machinery, and agriculture, Japan is opening its doors to a diverse range of talent from around the world. This move not only offers new opportunities for foreign workers to establish themselves in Japan but also reflects the nation's commitment to harnessing global expertise and fostering long-term economic growth. As the program continues to evolve, it will be interesting to witness the transformative impact of these skilled individuals on Japan's industries, culture, and society.


visa program, foreign workers, specified skills, residency, Japan, industries, expansion, cabinet approval, Class II visa, permanent residency, construction, shipbuilding, food and beverage manufacturing, industrial machinery, agriculture, business community, skilled labor shortage, Class I visa, family members, Justice Ministry, manpower shortage


Related Articles:


Japan's Action Plan to Transform Tourism and Global Engagement


Japan's Nomad Welcome: Attracting Digital Nomads and Foreign Investment to Secure Economic Future


Renewing Your Visa for Japan: What You Need to Know


Hiring a Law Firm For Immigrating to Japan


Is Immigration The Best Solution For Japan's Population Woes?


You Have Your Visa For Japan-What about Your Pets?


How to move to Japan: 17 Ways You Can Get A Visa


6 Visas For Doing Business In Japan


Investor Visa For Japan


Business Start-Up Visa For Japan


4-Month Business Manager Visa


Acquiring A Business Manager Visa For Japan

Comments

Popular Posts

Exploring Society 5.0: Toyota Motor Corp Drives the Future of AI and Smart Cities

From the mesmerizing sway of her hair to the subtle blinking of her eyes, the girl on the screen looks so incredibly lifelike that it's almost impossible to believe she's not a real person. But in a world where artificial intelligence continues to break boundaries, the line between what's real and what's not may become increasingly blurry, and that's where Saya comes in. Saya is what experts call a multimodal agent, equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and AI technology that can analyze various types of input data like images, voice, and movement. This cutting-edge system allows Saya to understand people's intentions and respond accordingly. It's all part of Japan's grand vision of Society 5.0, a concept that blurs the boundaries between cyberspace and the physical world, where everything that can run itself does.   You see, Society 5.0 builds upon the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a term coined by Germany to describe the integration of advanced

Unveiling the Future: AI Digital Clones Redefine Human Connections and Toy Possibilities

A Tokyo-based toy company has introduced an innovative AI device called the "coemo" storytelling speaker, which goes beyond being a mere toy and is capable of evoking emotions from its users. The coemo is one of the latest AI products that can learn and replicate human voices and thoughts, allowing family members or friends to interact with a representation of their deceased loved ones. Tomy Co., the company behind the coemo, released this speaker last year, and it has garnered significant attention for its unique capabilities. By using the coemo, individuals can listen to children's stories spoken in the exact voice of their family members or friends. To achieve this, users need to teach the coemo their loved one's voice by utilizing an accompanying app. Through the app, the person must read out sample sentences, such as "The bill is $350 per person," for approximately 15 minutes. This process enables the coemo to reproduce the characteristics of their lo

Revving Towards the Hydrogen Revolution: Japan's Motorcycle Makers Join Forces for Green Power

Four of Japan's leading motorcycle manufacturers announced on Wednesday their collaboration in the development of hydrogen-powered engines. Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha will establish a dedicated research and development organization next month, aligning with Japan's commitment to promoting hydrogen as a clean energy source. The aim is to introduce these engines in two-wheelers and other forms of transportation in the future, responding to increasingly stringent regulations on gasoline-powered vehicles and the global trend towards electric vehicles. Unlike all-electric models, Japanese motorcycle makers are keen on exploring hydrogen as an alternative option that can be integrated into their existing engines. The potential of hydrogen as a next-generation clean energy source is enormous, according to Yamaha President Yoshihiro Hidaka, who expressed his optimism during a press conference. In addition to the four motorcycle manufacturers, Toyota Motor Corp., which has be