EXCLUSIVE: Japan May Start to Issue New Renewable Work Visas Next April

December 20, 2018

Tokyo--The Japanese government may start to issue new work visas with de facto permanent residency as soon as the visa category, along with another that gives only limited residency, is introduced next April, Jiji Press learned on Wednesday.

The issuance of visas under the more preferential "type two" category, for higher-skilled workers, had been expected to start a few years after that of visas under the other category, "type one," for lower-skilled workers, amid conservative concerns that the new system could fully open the door for immigration to Japan.

But a government source said it may be possible for eligible foreign workers to obtain type-two visas in April next year at the earliest, adding that this will hopefully raise foreigners' motivation for working in Japan.

The government plans to grant visas under the two new categories to foreign workers in 14 certain industries, with the construction and shipbuilding sectors planning to accept workers with type-two visas.

The government may start to issue type-two visas to construction workers in April, albeit a limited number initially, and to shipbuilding workers later, while beginning the issuance of type-one visas in stages from April, according to informed sources.

Unlike type-one visa holders, type-two holders will be allowed to renew their residence indefinitely and bring their families to Japan.

Applicants for type-two visas for the construction sector will be required to pass certain skill tests and have experience of leading groups of coworkers for several years, according to the government's draft guidelines. Jiji Press