On December 23, 2019, an agreement has been signed between Japanese and Pakistani representatives regarding sending of Pakistani skilled workers to Japan. Through the Memorandum of Cooperation signed on December 23, 2019, Japan opened its Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program to Pakistani skilled workers. The Federal Secretary of Ministry of Overseas of Pakistan signed MOU with Japanese ambassador in Islamabad. Earlier in October 2019, an announcement was made that Japan would be getting work force from Pakistan and an MOU would be signed very soon; That MOU was signed on December 23, 2019. Thousands of Pakistani workers now would be able to work in Japan in legal way.
What type of Visa will be given to Pakistanis:
Japan launched the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program in April 2019 to address labor shortages. In the beginning, Only 9 countries were eligible for this visa excluding Pakistan. Through the recent agreement, Japan has included Pakistan in Specified Skills work visa eligible countries’ list. Therefore, Pakistani citizens will get Specified Skills work visa under newly signed MOU. Click to Read about Japan Specified Skills work Visa.
Are TITP Visa and Specified Skills Visa Same?
Pakistanis may also know about the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), which was different from the Specified Skilled Worker visa; trainees already in Japan could transition to SSW status. Note: Japan decided in 2024 to abolish TITP and replace it with a new Employment for Skill Development system from April 2027.
Occupations Under New MOU:
Under the 2019 MOU, Pakistanis became able to get SSW work visas in 14 industries (the list below is as of 2019; the program’s field list has since been expanded — see Japan’s Immigration Services Agency for the current list). In fact Japan needs a big number of workers in these industries. The list of industries is as follows:
- Restaurants
2. Hotels
3. nursing care
4. building cleaning
5. agriculture
6. fishery
7. food and beverage
8. materials processing
9. industrial machinery
10. electronics and electric machinery
11. construction
12. shipbuilding
13. vehicle maintenance
14. airport ground handling & aircraft maintenance
Zulfi Bukhari, the special assistant to Pakistani prime minister said that Pakistanis should get more skills in Information Technology as there is a huge demand of skilled workers in this field.
Requirements for Specified Skills Work Visa:
- Applicants need to have some skills in any of 14 occupations listed under specified skills work visa.
- Candidates must know basic Japanese language. Centers for Japanese language course will be set up in many areas of Pakistan where Pakistan can do 3-6 months Japanese language course.
SSW requirements are now published by Japan’s Immigration Services Agency: applicants pass a Japanese-language test and a skills test for their field, plus other document requirements.
How to Apply This Work Visa?
Details regarding the requirements and application process of the Specified Skilled Worker visa have since been announced. Candidates complete the required skills tests, Japanese-language tests, interview, medical test and police clearance; apply only through officially designated organizations.
Readers are highly advised to stay away from fake agents. No private agents are authorized to issue SSW visas — apply only through the officially designated organizations.