# Employment for Skill Development (育成就労): the system replacing technical intern training

URL: https://japanhow.com/visa/visas/employment-for-skill-development-japan/
Author: JapanHow editors
Updated: Oct 24, 2026

## Summary

As of October 2026, ikusei shuro (育成就労, Employment for Skill Development) starts on April 1, 2027 and replaces technical intern training. It lasts 3 years, plus up to 1 year if you fail the final tests, and aims to bring you to Specified Skilled Worker (i) level. You can change employer by your own choice after 1 or 2 years in the same work category. Family can't join in principle. Current interns can finish under the old rules.

## Key facts

- Starts: April 1, 2027
- Length: 3 years (+1 if a test is failed)
- Own-choice job change: After 1 or 2 years, by field
- Family: In principle not allowed

**Ikusei shuro (育成就労), Employment for Skill Development, starts on April 1, 2027** and replaces technical intern training (技能実習). You work **3 years** in a labor-shortage field and train to **Specified Skilled Worker (i) level**, then can switch to that status. Unlike the old system, you may **change employer by your own choice** after 1 or 2 years. This is the position as of October 2026, from the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁, ISA).

**Informational only:** This page explains rules ISA has published before the system starts. Some details are still to be announced. It is not advice on your case. Ask your regional immigration office, or a certified administrative scrivener (行政書士) for a specific situation.

## What is ikusei shuro, and why is technical intern training ending?

Technical intern training was meant as international contribution: foreigners learned skills in Japan to take home. ISA says it was criticized for the gap between that aim and reality, and for weak protection of workers' rights. The government is abolishing the Technical Intern Training status and creating a new status of residence, **育成就労**.

The new system has a different purpose: to **train and keep workers in fields with labor shortages**. It is linked directly to Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能), so you can build a career in Japan step by step.

**Start date:** April 1, 2027 (In-force date of the amended Immigration Control Act (Act No. 60 of 2024). Employers can accept 育成就労 workers only from this date (ISA Q&A).)

## How is 育成就労 different from technical intern training?

| | Technical intern training (技能実習) | Employment for Skill Development (育成就労) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | International contribution through skill transfer | Train and keep workers in shortage fields |
| Length | (i) 1 year, (ii) 2 years, (iii) 2 years: up to 5 years | **3 years**, plus up to 1 year to retake failed tests |
| Grades | Three, each with its own plan | None: one 3-year plan from the start |
| Changing employer | In principle not allowed | Allowed by your own choice under conditions |
| Japanese | No entry requirement (except nursing care) | A1 before work starts, A2.2 by the end |
| Middle organization | Supervising organization (監理団体) | Supervising and support organization (監理支援機関) |
| Previous-job rule | Required similar work experience abroad | Not required |

Sources: ISA Q&A and explanatory materials updated September 29, 2026.

Technical intern training also required you to plan to use the skills after going home. 育成就労 drops both that rule and the previous-job rule.

## Which fields are covered?

**17 fields**. These are the 19 Specified Skilled Worker fields minus **automobile transport and aviation**:

- nursing care, building cleaning, linen supply
- industrial product manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding and marine industry, automobile repair
- accommodation, railway, logistics warehousing, resource circulation
- agriculture, fishery, food and beverage manufacturing, food service, forestry, wood industry

You stay in one field. ISA says you can't, for example, farm in summer and fish in winter. Worker dispatch (派遣) is allowed only in agriculture and fishery. Logistics warehousing and resource circulation are new and start once preparations are complete.

Three technical intern job types have no 育成就労 equivalent: household laundry cleaning, airport ground handling and boiler maintenance.

Each field has a cap. The total for 育成就労 is **426,200 people** until the end of March 2029. The largest are construction (123,500), industrial product manufacturing (119,700) and food and beverage manufacturing (61,400).

## Can you change jobs on 育成就労?

Yes, and this is the biggest change. There are two routes, and both keep you **in the same work category (業務区分)**:

1. **Unavoidable reasons**, such as violence or power harassment by the employer. This was already possible under technical intern training.
2. **Your own choice (本人意向による転籍)**, which is new. You need all of these:
   - You worked longer than the field's **transfer restriction period** with your current employer.
   - You passed the field's skill test and a Japanese test at the field's level: **A2.1** or above in most fields (nursing care asks more).
   - You did **not** use a private job placement agency.
   - The new employer is rated "excellent" (優良) and stays within limits on how many transferred workers it takes.

| Restriction period | Fields |
|---|---|
| **2 years** | nursing care, construction, shipbuilding and marine industry, automobile repair, industrial product manufacturing, food and beverage manufacturing, food service, resource circulation |
| **1 year** | building cleaning, linen supply, accommodation, agriculture, fishery, forestry, wood industry, railway, logistics warehousing |

In 2-year fields, an employer may choose to shorten the period to 1 year. If it keeps 2 years, it must improve your conditions in ways the field policy sets. The new employer files a new training plan for you and pays the old employer part of its initial costs.

For job changes on other statuses, see [quitting a job in Japan and your visa](/work/jobs/quitting-job-japan-visa/).

## What Japanese do you need?

Some fields ask for more. Nursing care requires A2.2 at entry, and railway transport staff (運輸係員) need A1 at entry and higher levels later. Your employer must give you the chance to take at least 100 hours of an A2-level course during the 3 years. The employer or the supervising and support organization pays for these courses, but course time does not have to count as working hours.

If you fail the final tests, you may be allowed to stay **up to 1 more year** to retake them.

## Who pays the fees?

Under 育成就労, a sending agency in your home country can charge you **at most 2 months' wages**. Anything above that must be paid by the Japanese employer or the supervising and support organization.

In principle, workers come only from countries that have signed a cooperation agreement (MOC) with Japan. As of October 2026, ISA lists agreements with **Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste and Laos**. Others are being negotiated, but ISA doesn't name them.

ISA also says 育成就労 pay is in principle **not tax-exempt** under tax treaties, unlike some technical interns. Income tax and resident tax apply. Ask the tax office (税務署) if you are unsure.

## What happens to current technical interns?

**If you are a technical intern now:** - You can **continue** your certified plan after April 1, 2027, and renew your status.
- Intern (i) can still move to **(ii)**.
- To move to **(iii)**, you must have done intern (ii) for **1 year or more on April 1, 2027**, counted from your change of status date. In practice, (ii) must have started by April 1, 2026.
- You **cannot change** from Technical Intern Training to 育成就労.
- If you complete intern (ii) in good standing, you can still move to **Specified Skilled Worker (i)** for the time being, if the new job is related to your intern job.

New interns can start only if their plan was applied for by March 31, 2027 and they start by **June 30, 2027**. No new technical intern plans can be filed from April 1, 2027. ISA's timeline shows only 育成就労 remaining after about March 31, 2030.

If you leave the Technical Intern Training status for another status after April 1, 2027, you can't go back to it. Past intern time counts as 育成就労 time. Someone with 2 years or more of intern training basically can't return on 育成就労 in a different field.

## Can family come with you?

**In principle, no.** ISA's Q&A says family accompaniment is not allowed on 育成就労, the same as Specified Skilled Worker (i). The route to bring a spouse and children is Specified Skilled Worker (ii), using the [dependent visa](/visa/visas/dependent-visa-japan/).

Short trips home for holidays (for example summer or New Year) count toward your 3 years. Time away for pregnancy and childbirth, reported by the employer, does not. The employer must explain that you can resume afterwards, and tell you about childbirth and maternity benefits. See [maternity and childcare leave](/work/leave/maternity-childcare-leave-japan/).

## What are your rights as a worker?

ISA says the new system is designed to protect you better as a worker. The technical intern act is renamed the Act on the Proper Implementation of Employment for Skill Development and the Protection of Foreign Workers in It (育成就労法). The supervising and support organizations that replace the old supervising organizations need a new permit and an external auditor. A new Organization for Employment for Skill Development (外国人育成就労機構) takes over from the technical intern organization and adds help with job changes.

For pay and working conditions, read our guides on [labor rights for foreign workers](/work/rights/labor-rights-foreign-workers-japan/) and the [minimum wage](/work/rights/minimum-wage-japan/).

## More guides

[Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能)](/visa/visas/specified-skilled-worker-japan/) · [Certificate of eligibility](/visa/visas/certificate-of-eligibility-japan/) · [Change of status](/visa/visas/change-of-status-of-residence-japan/) · [Labor rights](/work/rights/labor-rights-foreign-workers-japan/) · [Minimum wage](/work/rights/minimum-wage-japan/)

## Questions people ask

### When does ikusei shuro start?

On April 1, 2027, the date the amended Immigration Control Act takes effect. Employers can only accept workers on the new status from that date.

### Is technical intern training abolished?

Yes. The Technical Intern Training status of residence is abolished and replaced by Employment for Skill Development. Interns already in Japan on April 1, 2027 can continue their certified plans under the old rules.

### Can I change jobs on ikusei shuro?

Yes, within the same work category. By your own choice, you must first work 1 or 2 years (set by field) with your current employer and pass set skill and Japanese tests. You can also move for unavoidable reasons such as violence or harassment.

### Can I bring my family on ikusei shuro?

In principle, no. ISA's Q&A says family accompaniment is not allowed. Family can join only later, on Specified Skilled Worker (ii).

### What Japanese level do I need for ikusei shuro?

In general, none to enter (nursing care asks A2.2). Before you start work, you pass an A1-level test or take at least 100 hours of an A1 course. The goal by the end is A2.2, about JFT-Basic A2.2 or JLPT N4.

## Sources

- [育成就労制度Ｑ＆Ａ](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/faq/ikusei_qa_00002.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [特定技能制度・育成就労制度 制度説明資料（令和8年9月29日更新）](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001335263.pdf), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [分野別運用方針の主要な記載事項](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001457603.pdf), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [育成就労制度の施行に伴う技能実習の経過措置について](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001456036.pdf), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [技能実習３号移行リーフレット](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001456037.pdf), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [育成就労に関する二国間の協力覚書](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/ssw/nyuukokukanri05_00002.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [改正法の概要（育成就労制度の創設等）](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12000000/001231483.pdf), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (accessed Oct 24, 2026)