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VISA REQUIREMENTS COMPARED —
Getting In: How Easy (or Hard) Is Each Country?
Earning potential means nothing if you can’t get the visa. Let’s compare how difficult it is for a Filipino to actually get into each country.
Japan — SSW Visa
Requirements:
- Age: 18+
- Language test: JLPT N4 or NAT-TEST Level 4 (basic conversational Japanese)
- Skills test: Industry-specific Prometric exam
- Job offer from a Japanese employer
- No college degree required
- Medical clearance
Difficulty level: Moderate
The language test is the main barrier, but JLPT N4 is achievable with 3-6 months of study. The skills tests are available in English in many cases. Once you pass both tests, getting matched with an employer through a DMW-accredited agency is relatively straightforward. Processing time from application to departure is typically 4-8 months.
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Maximum stay: 5 years (SSW Type 1), unlimited (SSW Type 2)
South Korea — EPS (E-9 Visa)
Requirements:
- Age: 18-38 years old (strict upper age limit)
- Language test: EPS-TOPIK (Korean language proficiency test)
- No specific skills test required
- Must NOT be color blind (this disqualifies many applicants)
- Medical clearance
- No college degree required
- Point-based selection system — higher TOPIK scores increase your chances
Difficulty level: Hard
The EPS-TOPIK is considered more difficult than Japan’s JLPT N4 because Korean is generally harder for Filipino speakers to learn than Japanese. Additionally, the selection process is competitive — even if you pass the test, you go into a roster and have to wait for a Korean employer to select you. This waiting period can be months or even over a year. The age limit of 38 also eliminates many applicants.
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Maximum stay: 4 years and 10 months, with possibility of re-entry after a 3-month cooling-off period
Canada — TFWP / LMIA
Requirements:
- Job offer from a Canadian employer who has obtained a positive LMIA
- Valid passport
- No specific language test for most low-wage positions (but English proficiency is expected)
- Medical clearance
- Security/background check
- May need to demonstrate relevant work experience
Difficulty level: Hard (but for different reasons)
The difficulty in Canada isn’t a language test — it’s that you’re dependent on a Canadian employer going through the LMIA process, which is expensive and bureaucratic for them. Many employers don’t want to deal with it. Additionally, the Canadian government has been tightening TFWP rules throughout 2025-2026, freezing low-wage LMIAs in high-unemployment areas and reducing the program’s scope.
For Express Entry (permanent residency), the requirements are much higher: education assessment, IELTS scores, work experience points, etc.
Maximum stay: Tied to work permit duration (typically 1-2 years, renewable)
Easiest to Get Into: Japan. The SSW program is specifically designed to be accessible, the tests are manageable, and Japan is actively trying to recruit 1.23 million foreign workers. Korea is competitive and has strict age limits. Canada’s TFWP is getting harder every year.
[NEXT PAGE: Long-Term Prospects — Which Country Offers the Best Future? →]
