Ways to Japan, compared
There are four legal routes. Which one fits you depends on your Japanese level, your skills, and whether you want to work now or study first. Everything below comes from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and DMW rules. Last checked: September 2026.
| Route | Test before leaving | Max stay | Family | Change employer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSW | Skills test + JFT-Basic / JLPT N4 | 5 yrs (i), unlimited (ii) | No (i) / Yes (ii) | Yes, same field |
| TITP | Usually none | 5 yrs | No | Very limited |
| Ikusei Shuro | Japanese A1 (planned) | 3 yrs, then SSW | No | After a set period |
| Student | School admission | Course length | Generally no | Part-time only |
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW / Tokutei Ginou)
Who it is for: Adults with basic Japanese and a skill in one of the designated fields (care, food service, construction, agriculture, food manufacturing, building cleaning, and more).
What you need
- Pass the skills test for your field
- Pass JFT-Basic (A2) or JLPT N4 or higher
- Go through a DMW-licensed agency
- Employer in Japan registered with the DMW
- How long
- SSW (i): up to 5 years total. SSW (ii): no upper limit and family may join.
- Family
- Not for SSW (i). Yes for SSW (ii).
- Pay
- Same as a Japanese worker doing the same job. Typical gross: JPY 180,000 to 250,000 per month before tax and deductions, depending on field and region.
The route most Filipinos use today. You can change employers within the same field.
Technical Intern Training (TITP / Ginou Jisshuu)
Who it is for: Workers accepted as trainees through a sending organization and a supervising organization in Japan.
What you need
- Selected by a DMW-licensed sending organization
- Pre-departure Japanese training
- No test required before departure in most fields
- How long
- Up to 5 years (Nos. 1 to 3). Changing employers is very restricted.
- Family
- No.
- Pay
- Minimum wage level. Often lower than SSW.
Being replaced by the Ikusei Shuro program from 2027. Good completion of TITP No. 2 lets you move to SSW without taking tests.
Employment for Skill Development (Ikusei Shuro)
Who it is for: The new program that replaces TITP. Designed as a 3-year path that leads into SSW.
What you need
- Japanese test before departure (A1 level planned)
- Skills evaluation at 1 year (basic) and 3 years (SSW-level)
- Licensed sending organization
- How long
- 3 years, then transition to SSW (i).
- Family
- No during the 3 years.
- Pay
- Same-work-same-pay rule applies. Details being finalized.
Starts in 2027. Allows changing employers after a period in the same field, which TITP did not allow.
Student Visa (Ryuugaku)
Who it is for: People who want to learn Japanese first at a language school, or study at a college or university in Japan.
What you need
- Admission from an ISA-recognized school
- Proof of funds for tuition and living costs
- Certificate of Eligibility issued via the school
- How long
- Length of the course (language schools: up to 2 years). Part-time work up to 28 hours per week with permission.
- Family
- Generally no.
- Pay
- Part-time only. Do not rely on part-time income to pay tuition.
Not a recruitment route, so DMW licensing does not apply. Beware of schools that promise a job after graduation as a selling point.
From application to arrival: the SSW steps
Simplified from the official flowchart published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan for Filipino SSW workers. Only four of these steps are yours to do.
- 1
Employer
The Japanese company signs a recruitment agreement with a DMW-licensed Philippine agency and registers with the DMW through the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Tokyo or Osaka. Employers already registered skip this.
- 2
You
You apply to the licensed agency. Not to a friend of a friend, not to a Facebook page, not to a fixer.
- 3
You
You pass the skills test for your field and JFT-Basic (or JLPT N4). You apply for the tests yourself, directly with the test organizer.
- 4
You + Employer
You sign an employment contract. The contract must match the template the DMW approved.
- 5
Employer
The employer applies for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at the Regional Immigration Bureau in Japan and sends the COE to you.
- 6
You
You apply for the visa at the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines with the COE.
- 7
You + Agency
The agency applies for your Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) with the DMW. You attend PDOS.
- 8
You
At the airport you present the OEC. Without it you will not be allowed to leave for work.
- 9
You
You arrive in Japan, receive your residence card, and your employer or a registered support organization helps you settle in.
Before you talk to any agency
Check the license. It takes one minute and it is free.
Official sources: ISA, Specified Skilled Worker, DMW, OTIT. Figures such as salaries are typical ranges, not guarantees.