Meridian Migration

Japan work permit: the process, step by step

The usual route from India is the Specified Skilled Worker (i) (SSW (i)), in 6 steps. Who applies: your employer applies. Official decision time: COE: '1 month to 3 months' (ISA standard processing period). Visa at the Embassy of Japan in India: at least 4 working days after submission; the Embassy says times 'can vary significantly'.

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Open with skills and Japanese tests

No deposits, no penalty contracts

Japanese rules forbid employers from hiring Specified Skilled Workers who have paid a deposit or signed a contract with penalties for leaving, and workers never pay for their support in Japan. We never take a deposit or any money “for security”. A team member gives you our charge in writing before you pay anything, and we accept payment only digitally, with a receipt.

japaneselawtranslation.go.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026mofa.go.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026

What are the steps for a Japan work permit?

  1. 1

    Pass the skills evaluation test for the field and a Japanese test (JFT-Basic or JLPT N4; nursing care also needs the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test). Some tests run in India (see 'Applying from India').

  2. 2

    Find an employer in Japan (directly or through a private employment agency) and sign an employment contract that meets the SSW criteria.

  3. 3

    The employer prepares a support plan (pre-entry guidance, airport pick-up, housing, life orientation, Japanese learning, consultations), or entrusts all of it to a Registered Support Organisation.

  4. 4

    The employer's staff, or another authorised proxy, applies to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Standard processing: 1–3 months.

  5. 5

    The worker applies for the visa with the COE through the Japan Visa Application Centre (VFS) in India.

  6. 6

    Enter Japan, attend the life orientation, register your address at the municipal office and start work.

mofa.go.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026mofa.go.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026in.emb-japan.go.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026fpcj.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026

How long does a Japan work permit take?

Only the times the government publishes. Where it publishes none, we say so.

Official decision times for Japan
RouteOfficial decision time
Specified Skilled Worker (i) (SSW (i))COE: '1 month to 3 months' (ISA standard processing period). Visa at the Embassy of Japan in India: at least 4 working days after submission; the Embassy says times 'can vary significantly'.
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) (SSW (ii))Not confirmed for change of status to SSW (ii). COE route: 1–3 months (ISA).
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International ServicesCOE: 1–3 months (ISA). Visa: minimum 4 working days (Embassy of Japan in India).
Highly Skilled Professional (points-based) and J-SkipCOE: 1–3 months standard (ISA); HSP applications get 'priority entry and residence processing' (JETRO); exact time not confirmed.
Employment for Skill Development (ESD), from 1 April 2027 (replaces Technical Intern Training)Not confirmed (system starts 1 Apr 2027).

Not confirmed yet

  • Periods of stay granted for SSW (i) and Engineer/Humanities, and processing time for SSW (ii) changes of status.

How do appointments work for Japan in India?

The Japanese employer gets the Certificate of Eligibility in Japan. The worker then applies for the visa through the Japan Visa Application Centre run by VFS Global (no appointment needed, per the Embassy). The Embassy of Japan in New Delhi and the consulates in India decide by area of residence. Fee for Indian nationals: INR 500 from 1 Jul 2026, plus the VFS service fee. The Embassy needs at least 4 working days.

Tests in India: JFT-Basic (Japan Foundation, run by Prometric) was held in Gurugram, Bengaluru and Guwahati in Dec 2025–Jan 2026; 522 Indians sat it in Jun–Jul 2026 and 189 reached the pass mark. The JLPT runs in New Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Karur (July and December) and Santiniketan (July only). Prometric has announced SSW skills tests in India for nursing care, construction, accommodation and food service. Which other field tests run in India changes often: check Prometric's India page before advising. India's competent authorities under the 2021 SSW MoC are the MEA (Overseas Indian Affairs Division-I) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Technical Intern Training from India goes only through NSDC-empanelled sending organisations (20 in Dec 2025). The Embassy says the only payments it asks for are the visa fee and VFS charge, and it never asks for money by phone or email.

in.emb-japan.go.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026in.emb-japan.go.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026vfsglobal.comchecked 24 Oct 2026jpf.go.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026jpf.go.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026jlpt.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026prometric-jp.comchecked 24 Oct 2026mofa.go.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026nsdcindia.orgchecked 24 Oct 2026

Can an agent get you an appointment or a decision faster?

No. Not us, not anyone.

  • Your employer, or a proxy it authorises in Japan, applies for the Certificate of Eligibility, and Japan’s immigration authorities decide it. The Embassy of Japan in India says the only payments it asks for are the visa fee and the VFS charge. in.emb-japan.go.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026
  • Under Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker rules, an employer must not hire you if you or your family paid a deposit or signed a contract with penalties for leaving, and you must not be made to pay for your support. No one can sell you a place. mofa.go.jpchecked 24 Oct 2026
  • The destination authorities decide every application. Anyone who offers to influence that is a reason to walk away.

Where can you check a Japan application?

On the official systems and pages below. Government pages come first; secondary sources are marked.

  1. 1.MOFA — Specified Skilled Worker: 'Visa' and 'Status of Residence' overview (fields, SSW (i)/(ii), family) mofa.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  2. 2.MOFA — Specified Skilled Worker: general process for applicants from overseas (no deposit, no penalty contract) mofa.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  3. 3.Embassy of Japan in India — ISA flyer: SSW information seminars (SSW (i) 16 fields, SSW (ii) 11 fields; Oct 2025/Jan 2026 sessions) in.emb-japan.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  4. 4.ISA briefing material 'Accepting foreign talent — towards the start of the Employment for Skill Development system' (hosted by Foreign Press Center Japan, Mar 2026; cites Cabinet decision of 23 Jan 2026) fpcj.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  5. 5.Ministerial Order on Criteria for the Employment Contract for SSWs and Support Plan for SSW (i) (MOJ Order No. 5 of 2019, Japanese Law Translation) japaneselawtranslation.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  6. 6.ISA — Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised 24 Feb 2026) moj.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  7. 7.ISA — Certificate of Eligibility application (在留資格認定証明書交付申請): standard processing 1–3 months, no fee moj.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  8. 8.Embassy of Japan in India — Long-term visa (COE needed; minimum 4 working days) in.emb-japan.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  9. 9.Embassy of Japan in India — Visa page (apply through VFS; fee for Indian nationals INR 500 from 1 Jul 2026; fraud notice) in.emb-japan.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  10. 10.VFS Global (Japan Visa Application Centre, Delhi) — checklist: long-term visa with COE vfsglobal.com, checked 24 Oct 2026
  11. 11.ISA — Revision of residence permit fee amounts (在留許可手数料の額の改定について) moj.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  12. 12.ISA press release — Foreign residents at end of June 2026 (4,281,026; by status and nationality) moj.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  13. 13.ISA — Outline of the 'Employment for Skill Development' Program (with SSW pathway) moj.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  14. 14.Prometric Japan — Nursing care skills evaluation test and Nursing care Japanese language evaluation test prometric-jp.com, checked 24 Oct 2026
  15. 15.JETRO — 2.4 Types of working statuses (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services) (page dated 13 Aug 2026) jetro.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  16. 16.JETRO — 2.11 Highly Skilled Professional, J-Skip and J-Find (page dated 13 Aug 2026) jetro.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  17. 17.ISA — Employment for Skill Development (育成就労) system page: Act No. 60 of 2024, in force 1 April 2027 moj.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  18. 18.ISA — Employment for Skill Development Program summary (English, revised July 2026) moj.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  19. 19.Japan–Uzbekistan Memorandum of Cooperation on the Employment for Skill Development Program (in effect 29 Jun 2026; worker fees to sending organisations capped at 2 months' pay) moj.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  20. 20.ISA press release, 4 Jun 2026 — ESD Memorandum of Cooperation signed with Thailand (2 Jun 2026) moj.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  21. 21.Japan–India Memorandum of Cooperation on the Technical Intern Training Program (17 Oct 2017) mhlw.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  22. 22.NSDC — Guidelines for Japan's Technical Intern Training Program (Jan 2026; 20 empanelled sending organisations as of Dec 2025) nsdcindia.org, checked 24 Oct 2026
  23. 23.Japan Foundation — JFT-Basic test report Dec 2025–Jan 2026 (India venues: Gurugram, Bengaluru, Guwahati) jpf.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  24. 24.Japan Foundation — JFT-Basic test report Jun–Jul 2026 (India: 522 examinees, 189 reached the pass mark) jpf.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  25. 25.JLPT — overseas test cities (India: New Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Santiniketan, Karur; list as of 11 Sep 2026) jlpt.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  26. 26.Prometric Japan — SSW test announcements for India (nursing care, construction, accommodation, food service; JFT-Basic Guwahati) prometric-jp.com, checked 24 Oct 2026
  27. 27.Text of the Japan–India Memorandum of Cooperation on Specified Skilled Worker (18 Jan 2021) mofa.go.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  28. 28.One Asia Lawyers — New fields added to the SSW system (Aug 2026) (secondary) oneasia.legal, checked 24 Oct 2026
  29. 29.Office Tree — residence fee increase confirmed, in force 1 Oct 2026 (updated 14 Oct 2026) (secondary) office-tree.jp, checked 24 Oct 2026
  30. 30.EIG Law — Japan to enforce 5-year visa requirement for permanent residence from 1 Apr 2027 (27 Feb 2026) (secondary) eiglaw.com, checked 24 Oct 2026

The full rules for every Japan route, documents and FAQs are on the Japan work permit page.