In September 2026, the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) published two items on the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) system concerning 1 April 2027. The page on "training courses" (posted 14 September) covers the requirement for support managers (the persons responsible for support) to complete training, and the page posted on 30 September sets out when the Japanese-language level of "B1 equivalent or above" will be required.
- Training requirement for support managers: 「令和９年４月１日以降、支援責任者に対する支援能力向上のための講習（以下「養成講習」という。）の修了が義務付けられます」("From 1 April 2027, support managers will be required to complete a course to improve their support capability (hereinafter the 'training course')," the ISA states.) This follows amendments to the Enforcement Regulation of the Immigration Control Act and related rules, scheduled to take effect on 1 April 2027. The course is run by a training institution designated by public notice of the Minister of Justice, and covers the Immigration Control Act, labour-related laws and regulations, the SSW system and other subjects.
- Who is covered, and how often: The requirement applies to support managers. The host organisation (the organisation that employs the SSW holder) appoints at least one full-time officer or employee for each place of business. Where support is entrusted to a registered support organisation, at least one full-time officer or employee of that organisation is appointed for each place of business that carries out the support work, and that person is also covered. Support staff are not required to attend, but completion is recommended. After completion, the course must be retaken every three years.
- Transitional measure: 「この養成講習の修了義務は、経過措置により、当分の間、適用されないこととされています。経過措置の終了する時期は、おってお知らせします」("Under a transitional measure, the requirement to complete this training course will not apply for the time being. The date on which the transitional measure ends will be announced in due course," the ISA states.)
- Call for training institutions: The call runs from 7 December 2026 to 8 January 2027. Institutions that wish to apply must attend an online briefing on 14 October 2026, and must give notice by email by 17 on 6 October if they wish to attend. This is a call for institutions to run the courses, not for people to attend them.
- Japanese level for SSW (ii): A Japanese-language level of "B1 equivalent or above" will be required of SSW (ii) workers, and the date from which it will start to be checked has been announced. For Certificate of Eligibility applications, 「令和９年４月１日以降の申請について、日本語能力水準「Ｂ１相当以上」が必要です」("for applications made on or after 1 April 2027, a Japanese-language level of 'B1 equivalent or above' is required"). For applications for permission to change status of residence and to extend the period of stay, the position is 「現在検討中のため、おってお知らせいたします」("currently under consideration and will be announced in due course").
- Japanese level for SSW (i): In the road transport field (bus transport and taxi transport categories) and the railway field (transport staff category), the requirement has been changed from the "Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (N3 or above)" to "B1 equivalent or above". It is required for Certificate of Eligibility applications made on or after 1 April 2027; as with SSW (ii), changes and extensions are under consideration.
The training course is only at the start of the process of selecting institutions, and the completion requirement itself is not applied for the time being. When the transitional measure will end, and when the B1 level will be applied in screening for changes and extensions, are both undecided. For consultations on appointing support managers and on arrangements for entrusting support to a registered support organisation, see our registered support organisation services.
Source: Immigration Services Agency, "Training Courses under the Specified Skilled Worker System" / Immigration Services Agency, "Timing of the Start of Confirmation of the Japanese-Language Level 'B1 Equivalent or Above'"