1. Can someone who has previously worked in Japan go again?
Is it true that those who have previously worked in Japan cannot participate in the program anymore? I have already worked in Japan before. Is there any way for me to go again?
Information on the new employment status:
Trainees in 14 specific industries who are currently working in Japan can switch directly to the new residence status “Specified Skilled Worker Type 1” (特定技能１号) after completing their 3-year internship. This visa allows a maximum stay of 5 years (renewable annually).
Trainees in 14 specific industries who are currently working in Japan can switch directly to the new residence status “Specified Skilled Worker Type 1” (特定技能１号) after completing their 3-year internship. This visa allows a maximum stay of 5 years (renewable annually).
The 14 industries are:
- Elderly care
- Building cleaning
- Material processing (wood, metal, plastic, stone, etc.)
- Machinery processing
- Electrical and electronics
- Construction
- Shipbuilding
- Automobile maintenance and repair
- Airport-related work
- Hospitality (hotels)
- Agriculture
- Fisheries
- Food processing
- Restaurant industry
Trainees who have returned to their home country can go back to Japan if they can prove that they have worked in the same industry for at least 6 months.
Due to the formalization of this new employment status, Technical Visa applications are now being reviewed much more strictly. Those who have applied through the Nagoya Immigration Bureau would know that while it previously took only 2 months, it now takes 5 to 6 months. If the job does not match the applicant’s field of study, there is a high risk of rejection.
The same applies to those switching jobs—immigration authorities may review applications from the beginning, and if they find that the job does not align with the applicant’s expertise, the visa may be denied.