Hello, this is Takeuchi from IMS Legal Professional Corporation.
In recent years, Japan has been facing a serious challenge with its aging population. The nursing care industry, in particular, is said to be struggling with a significant labor shortage. For foreign nationals residing in Japan, there are several different types of qualifications related to care work.
In this blog, I would like to introduce and explain the main “care work” qualifications and the systems behind them.
① Status of Residence: “Care Worker”
This status of residence, Kaigo (“Care Worker”), requires obtaining the national qualification of Certified Care Worker (kaigo fukushi-shi). In the past, this qualification could only be obtained through a caregiver training school, but nowadays, it is also possible to qualify by passing the national exam directly, without going through a training institution.
Once obtained, this is treated as a standard work visa status, meaning that applicants can continuously reside in Japan by applying for extensions of stay, and they may also live together with their spouse and children under the “Dependent” status of residence. Another key point is that, among the various residence statuses related to caregiving, this is the only one that allows dispatch (haken) employment.
In addition, this status counts toward the residency requirements for applying for permanent residence in the future. Although no specific Japanese-language ability requirement is set by law, because the qualification requires passing the national caregiver exam, those entering a training school are generally expected to have at least JLPT N2 level proficiency—meaning they can understand Japanese used in everyday situations as well as in a broader range of contexts.
② Technical Intern Training: “Care Work”
The Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) is designed to allow foreign nationals residing in Japan to acquire knowledge and skills and then return to their home countries to contribute to their nation’s development. Therefore, this is fundamentally a temporary program, and residency is permitted for a maximum of five years.
While trainees can engage in physical caregiving tasks and support work at nursing care sites, the scope of work is more limited compared to those under the “Specified Skilled Worker” status. For example, night shifts must always be performed with multiple staff members, not independently.
Holders of this status are not allowed to change jobs, so if they wish to continue living in Japan after completing their internship, they must switch to the Specified Skilled Worker (Caregiver) status.
Furthermore, it has been decided that by 2027, a new system called “Development Employment (ikusei shūrō)” will replace the Technical Intern Training Program.
③ Specified Skilled Worker: “Caregiver”
Introduced in April 2019, the Specified Skilled Worker (Tokutei Ginō) program was created to bring in foreign workers with a certain level of knowledge and experience in industries where securing manpower within Japan is difficult, enabling them to work immediately as part of the workforce.
As a requirement of the program—whether in caregiving or other fields—applicants must pass both the Skills Evaluation Test and the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. For the caregiving field, the Japanese ability required is JLPT N4 level, which means the ability to understand basic Japanese.
Unlike the Technical Intern Training Program, workers under this status can perform a wide range of caregiving duties, including physical care such as bathing and feeding, as well as general support services. This makes their role broader and more versatile compared to the limited tasks permitted under Technical Intern Training.
Other notable features include clear obligations placed on the employer (facility) to provide support for specified skilled workers, and the requirement that their wages must be equal to those of Japanese employees—ensuring they are not treated disadvantageously.
However, this status allows residence in Japan for a maximum of five years only, and that period does not count toward the residency requirement for permanent residence. For those wishing to stay in Japan longer, there is usually the option to transfer to Specified Skilled Worker (Type 2) in other fields—but in caregiving, that pathway does not exist. Instead, the available route is to obtain Status of Residence: “Care Worker” (Kaigo) (see section ① above).
④ EPA Certified Care Worker (Candidate)
This pathway is based on an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Japan and certain countries (Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia). Under this framework, foreign nationals who have received a certain level of training in their home countries can come to Japan to work in care facilities while undergoing further training, with the goal of obtaining the Certified Care Worker (kaigo fukushi-shi) qualification.
Initially, they enter Japan under the status of “Designated Activities (EPA Certified Care Worker Candidate)” and may stay for up to four years while working toward passing the national exam. Once they obtain the qualification, they may then either continue under “Designated Activities (EPA Certified Care Worker)” or change to the formal Status of Residence: “Care Worker”.
Conclusion
As you can see, even within the category of “care work,” there are several different types of statuses, each with its own conditions and pathways. In practice, individuals holding different statuses may find themselves working side by side in the same facilities.
If you have questions about procedures such as applying for a change of status after obtaining the Certified Care Worker qualification, please feel free to consult with us.
Please note: The information in this blog is current as of today. For the latest updates, applicants should confirm details directly on official government websites.
For more information, please contact us below ↓
https://imsvisa.support/en/contact/
