Does completing Technical Intern Training (ii) guarantee transition to SSW?

Not necessarily. Beyond satisfactory completion, the training occupation/task must correspond to the target SSW field, and requirements such as the employment contract and support structure must be met. Moving into a non-corresponding field requires passing the skills and Japanese exams. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed; confirm the latest requirements with official sources.

When does the exam exemption apply?

When the person has satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii) and that occupation/task corresponds to the target SSW intake field, the skills and Japanese exams may be exempted. The occupation-to-field correspondence is set out in official tables that can be revised, so confirm the latest correspondence.

How far in advance should we prepare the transition?

To finish before the period of stay expires, it is safer to work backward from a few months before training ends. Confirming correspondence, contracting, drafting the support plan and preparing documents take time. Duration and approval cannot be guaranteed, so allow ample lead time.

How much does transition to SSW cost?

Costs center on the status-change application fees, application support if engaged, and support-outsourcing fees if you outsource support to a registered support organization, varying by field and structure. Check a rough estimate with our simulator.

From Technical Intern Training to SSW: transition guide (procedure, cost, exam exemption)

By: Watari Editorial Team·Last updated: 2026-07-01

Want to keep employing a worker you took on as a technical intern after their training ends? Transitioning to Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) status is one option. If the person has satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii) and their occupation corresponds to the target SSW field, the skills and Japanese-language exams may be exempted. This guide covers the overall picture, exam-exemption conditions, the status-change application flow and documents, timing, costs, the role of registered support organizations, and the planned reorganization into the Ikusei Shuro system, from an employer's perspective. Frameworks change, so always confirm the latest, accurate requirements with official sources such as the Immigration Services Agency.

The big picture (TITP (ii) → SSW (i))

A foreign national who has satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii) may, if certain conditions are met, change their status of residence to Specified Skilled Worker (i) and keep working in Japan. Whereas Technical Intern Training is framed as international contribution through skills transfer, SSW openly permits work in labor-shortage fields. Transition lets the worker continue without returning home and helps the employer retain talent it has trained. Eligibility depends on occupation-to-field correspondence and individual requirements, so check early.

→ What is SSW (basics)

Exam-exemption conditions and occupation-to-field correspondence

Obtaining SSW (i) normally requires passing a field-specific skills exam and a Japanese-language test (around JLPT N4 level). However, if the person satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii) and that occupation/task corresponds to the target SSW field, these exams may be exempted. Moving into a non-corresponding field generally requires passing the SSW skills and Japanese exams. Which occupations correspond to which fields is set out in official correspondence tables that can be revised, so always confirm the latest correspondence with official sources such as the Immigration Services Agency.

→ Check SSW fields and requirements

Status-change application flow and documents (overview)

Transition is filed as an Application for Change of Status of Residence at the regional immigration bureau. A typical flow is: confirm requirements and correspondence → conclude an SSW employment contract → prepare a support plan (Type 1 support) → prepare documents → file the change application → review → approval. Documents center on the application form, the person's residence card and passport, evaluation records showing completion of the training, the employment contract, the support plan, and documents about the employer, though additional documents may be requested by field or circumstance. Forms and scope can be revised, so prepare using the latest official templates. Review takes time, and neither the outcome nor the duration can be guaranteed.

Timing (period of stay and when to apply)

Timing deserves special care. Starting preparations only once the training period of stay is nearly up risks the review not finishing in time, leaving a gap in status. Confirming correspondence, concluding the contract, drafting the support plan and preparing documents all take time, so it is safer to work backward from a few months before the training ends. Cases involving a temporary return home during training, or field-specific SSW intake caps, can change the handling. Discuss concrete timing with the accepting organization, registered support organization or a specialist, and plan while confirming the latest practice through official sources.

Costs and the role of registered support organizations

Costs center on the actual fees for the status-change application, application-support fees if you engage an administrative scrivener, and support-outsourcing fees to a registered support organization if you outsource the daily-life and work support required under SSW (i). Amounts vary by field, support structure, and whether you support in-house or outsource. SSW (i) imposes broad support obligations on employers, and outsourcing to a registered support organization is common when in-house capacity is lacking. You can check a cost breakdown and rough estimate with our simulator. Note that this site's operator (COSTA LINK) does not conduct fee-charging job placement whereby employers pay a referral fee.

→ Cost & estimator

Reorganization into Ikusei Shuro (watch for future changes)

The Technical Intern Training system is being reviewed and is set to be reorganized into a new Ikusei Shuro (Employment for Skill Development) system (reportedly slated to take effect in 2027, though the timing and details may change). Ikusei Shuro is being designed to develop talent to SSW (i) level and enable smoother transition to SSW, so transition requirements and practice may differ from the current framework. Whether you are considering transition from Technical Intern Training now or looking ahead to future Ikusei Shuro, always confirm the finalized, latest requirements with official sources such as the Immigration Services Agency. We offer a free consultation on individual intake plans.

→ Free consultation for employers

FAQ

Does completing Technical Intern Training (ii) guarantee transition to SSW?: Not necessarily. Beyond satisfactory completion, the training occupation/task must correspond to the target SSW field, and requirements such as the employment contract and support structure must be met. Moving into a non-corresponding field requires passing the skills and Japanese exams. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed; confirm the latest requirements with official sources.
When does the exam exemption apply?: When the person has satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii) and that occupation/task corresponds to the target SSW intake field, the skills and Japanese exams may be exempted. The occupation-to-field correspondence is set out in official tables that can be revised, so confirm the latest correspondence.
How far in advance should we prepare the transition?: To finish before the period of stay expires, it is safer to work backward from a few months before training ends. Confirming correspondence, contracting, drafting the support plan and preparing documents take time. Duration and approval cannot be guaranteed, so allow ample lead time.
How much does transition to SSW cost?: Costs center on the status-change application fees, application support if engaged, and support-outsourcing fees if you outsource support to a registered support organization, varying by field and structure. Check a rough estimate with our simulator.

Free consultation for employers About SSW About Ikusei Shuro Cost & estimator Compare statuses & intake routes

General reference information. Frameworks, requirements, procedures, costs and effective dates may change, and review outcomes or durations are not guaranteed. Confirm the latest, accurate requirements with official sources such as the Immigration Services Agency.