What the SSW visa is
The Specified Skilled Worker (Tokutei Ginou) visa lets foreign nationals work in designated Japanese sectors — care work, food service, construction, agriculture, manufacturing and more. Nepal is one of the partner countries with a signed cooperation memorandum.
The steps, in order
1. Pass a Japanese language test
Either JFT-Basic (200/250) or JLPT N4 or above. This is the step you control entirely, and the one worth starting today.
2. Pass the sector skill test
Each sector runs its own skills evaluation test — care work, food service and so on. Test content and schedule depend on the sector you choose.
3. Find a Japanese employer
Through a registered recruitment agency or a direct offer. Verify that the agency is licensed before paying anything.
4. Sign the employment contract
The contract must state wages equal to or above those of a Japanese worker in the same role, along with working hours and support arrangements.
5. Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
Your employer applies to Japanese immigration on your behalf. Processing typically takes one to three months.
6. Visa application and departure
Apply at the Japanese embassy with your COE, then complete pre-departure orientation and government clearance in Nepal.
Where students lose the most time
Not at immigration — at step one. Repeated JFT-Basic attempts push the whole timeline back by months and cost the exam fee each time.
Begin with a free JFT-Basic mock test and clear the language step on your first attempt.