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THE SSW VISA EXPLAINED

The Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa — Your Golden Ticket to Japan

If you’ve been researching how to work in Japan, you’ve probably come across a lot of confusing visa types. Let us simplify it for you.

The Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa is the single most important program for Filipinos who want to work in Japan legally, earn a competitive salary, and potentially build a long-term career there.

Introduced in 2019, the SSW program was created specifically because Japan’s labor shortage became too severe to ignore. The government needed a fast, efficient way to bring in skilled foreign workers — and the SSW visa was the answer.

There are two types:

SSW Type 1 (Specified Skilled Worker i)

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This is the entry-level pathway. Here’s what you get:

  • You can work in Japan for up to 5 years
  • You receive the same salary as Japanese workers doing the same job
  • Your employer is required to provide support services including Japanese language training, help with daily life, and assistance with government paperwork
  • Many employers provide free or heavily subsidized housing
  • You do NOT need a college degree to qualify

The main limitation: you cannot bring your family with you under Type 1.

SSW Type 2 (Specified Skilled Worker ii)

This is the advanced pathway for workers who have already gained experience and passed higher-level skill tests. The benefits are significantly better:

  • No limit on how long you can stay in Japan
  • You can bring your spouse and children to live with you
  • It can lead to permanent residency in Japan
  • Higher salary potential due to advanced skill classification

Think of it this way: SSW Type 1 gets your foot in the door. SSW Type 2 lets you build your life there.

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As of the end of 2024, there were already 28,234 Filipinos working in Japan under the SSW program — making the Philippines the third largest source of SSW workers after Vietnam and Indonesia. That number is growing rapidly every single month.

But to get in, you need to meet specific requirements. And this is where most applicants either succeed or fail.

[NEXT PAGE: The Exact Requirements — What You Need to Qualify →]

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