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Ikusei shuro (育成就労) replaces technical intern training on April 1, 2027: 3 years to reach SSW (i) level, job changes after 1 to 2 years, no family.
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.
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).
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).
| 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.
17 fields. These are the 19 Specified Skilled Worker fields minus automobile transport and aviation:
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).
Yes, and this is the biggest change. There are two routes, and both keep you in the same work category (業務区分):
| 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 and the minimum wage.
Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) · Certificate of eligibility · Change of status · Labor rights · Minimum wage
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.
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.
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.
In principle, no. ISA's Q&A says family accompaniment is not allowed. Family can join only later, on Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
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.
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