Japan · Work
Japan Skill Development work visa
First stay: 3 yrs
Employment for Skill Development (育成就労) — replaces Technical Intern Training
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Skill Development work visa is a work route for Japan. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Japan
- Family members can't join on this route
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- Before starting work the worker passes a Japanese test at A1 level or higher (for example JFT-Basic or JLPT N5) or takes Japanese classes equivalent to that level.
- Changing employer needs Japanese level A2.1 or higher and passing a skills exam.
Steps4
- The programme begins operating on 2027-04-01.
- It covers 17 industrial fields as of July 2026, all specified industrial fields except motor transport and aviation.
- A plan for each worker is accredited by the Employment for Skill Development Organization, with a term of up to 3 years.
- Changing employer is possible only after a field-set restriction period of 1 to 2 years.
After you arrive2
- Workers take tests for transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i).
- Those who fail may stay up to 1 further year to retake the tests.
When you become tax resident
How Japan decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 3 years at first
- Tax residence
Resident individuals are domiciled in Japan or have continuous residence of 1 year or more.
- Foreign-source income
Remittance basis
Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base.
- Special regime
Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment · Tax relief
All tax rules for Japan Tax records checked
Full official text
New work status that begins 1 April 2027: employment of up to 3 years in 17 designated industrial fields to develop workers to Specified Skilled Worker (i) level, with a skill development plan accredited by the Employment for Skill Development Organization. 1 2 3
Requirements
- Before starting work the worker passes a Japanese test at A1 level or higher (for example JFT-Basic or JLPT N5) or takes Japanese classes equivalent to that level. 1
- Changing employer needs Japanese level A2.1 or higher and passing a skills exam. 1
- The programme begins operating on 2027-04-01. 1
- It covers 17 industrial fields as of July 2026, all specified industrial fields except motor transport and aviation. 1
- A plan for each worker is accredited by the Employment for Skill Development Organization, with a term of up to 3 years. 1
- Changing employer is possible only after a field-set restriction period of 1 to 2 years. 1
- Workers take tests for transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i). 1
- Those who fail may stay up to 1 further year to retake the tests. 1
Stay
- Development plan term of up to 3 years; up to 1 additional year to retake transition tests.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
Work
Employment with the implementing organisation under the accredited plan.
Family
In principle family members cannot accompany a worker on this status.
Official sources
- Outline of Employment for Skill Development Program (Revised July 2026) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-07
- Employment for Skill Development system Q&A · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
- Employment for Skill Development programme Q&A (育成就労制度Q&A) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
Skill Development work visa and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill Development work visa | – | 3 yr | – |
| Engineer/Specialist visa | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Highly Skilled Professional | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Instructor visa | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Intra-company transfer | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Skill Development work visa?
Development plan term of up to 3 years; up to 1 additional year to retake transition tests.
Can I work on the Skill Development work visa?
Employment with the implementing organisation under the accredited plan.
Can I bring my family on the Skill Development work visa?
In principle family members cannot accompany a worker on this status.
Is there a tax break for Skill Development work visa holders in Japan?
Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment: Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment
Tax relief
Details
- Who: Resident: domicile or continuous residence in Japan for one year or more
Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base.
Taxed on
Income tax on all Japan-source income plus foreign-source income that is paid in Japan or remitted to Japan from abroad, at the progressive national rates of 5% to 45%.
Who it applies to
- Resident: domicile or continuous residence in Japan for one year or more.
- Non-Japanese nationality.
- Domicile or residence in Japan for an aggregate of five years or less within the preceding ten years.
Exclusions
- Japan-source income, including pay for work performed in Japan, is taxed in full.
- Residents who are not non-permanent residents are taxed on worldwide income.
Tax residence
Resident = domicile, or continuous residence of one year or more. Non-permanent resident = non-Japanese national resident for an aggregate of five years or less in the preceding ten years. Based on facts, not visa type.
Visas
No visa grants this treatment; it follows tax residence and nationality.
Other taxes
Consumption tax: standard rate 10% (7.8% national plus 2.2% local) and reduced rate 8% (6.24% national plus 1.76% local). Local inhabitant tax and social insurance are separate.
Checked against official sources on Change log
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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Outline of Employment for Skill Development Program (Revised July 2026) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
- Employment for Skill Development system Q&A · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
- Employment for Skill Development programme Q&A (育成就労制度Q&A) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.