Japan’s government plans to expand specific skills visa for foreign workers

The Japanese government is looking to expand opportunities for foreigners with specific skills to stay in the country indefinitely. This is great news for those looking to work in Japan!

Currently, there are only two categories within the “specified skills” visa. Class I covers 12 industrial sectors and has a five-year limit. On the other hand, Class II allows holders to stay in the country indefinitely and bring their family members. Unfortunately, only the construction and shipbuilding sectors are currently covered by Class II. Only 10 foreigners with special skills had jobs in these areas as of the end of February.

The government is considering expanding Class II to include 11 more sectors, such as agriculture, fishing, and the hotel industry. This is great news for companies and ministries overseeing these sectors, as they hope more skilled foreign workers will decide to stay in Japan instead of returning to their home countries.

But there are some conservatives within the ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party, who are concerned about the expansion of Class II. They fear that this will allow more immigrants to enter to cover the labor shortage.

The government hopes to gain Cabinet approval for a revision of the ministerial order on the Class II visa by June. This would allow foreign workers to switch to Class II before the autumn review. However, the most conservative LDP members are expected to oppose this measure. In the past, they had called for strict standards to approve Class II.

If you’re looking to work in Japan, this is a great opportunity for you! Stay tuned for news on whether the revision is approved!