The Nursing Care Industry

1) Employment Eligibility and Steps to Employment

As the aging population increases, individuals seeking employment opportunities in Japan's nursing care sector face a significant labor shortage. To address this challenge, the government has expanded the status of residence for foreign nationals, resulting in an increased number of foreign workers in the nursing care industry. Currently, there are four systems for accepting foreign workers, and we will outline the types of status of residence and the acceptance process.

①EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement)

　EPAs are designed to enhance economic cooperation between Japan and partner countries. Foreign nationals from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam are eligible under this agreement.

[Requirements for Each Country and Acceptance Process]

Individuals who have passed JLPT N2 or higher are exempt from Japanese language training.

For those who have achieved JLPT N3 or N4 within a specific timeframe, Japanese language training exemptions apply.

Re-entry to Japan with "Temporary Visitor" status is possible, allowing individuals to take the national examination upon their return.

Reference: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "Outline of Acceptance of Foreign Nurse and Care Worker Candidates under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)"

【Features】

• Opportunities to employ individuals with educational backgrounds and qualifications from their home countries are available.

• Permanent employment becomes a possibility if the applicant obtains a care worker certificate.

• JICWELS (Japan International Cooperation Center for Welfare Workers) serves as the exclusive coordinating agency, connecting foreign applicants with nursing care facilities.

②"Nursing Care" Status of Residence

Foreign students who complete care worker training schools in Japan can attain a "nursing care" status of residence upon graduation and certification. This opportunity arose following the 2009 revision of the Immigration Control Act.

[Entrance Requirements for Training Schools]

Admission to training schools requires the following: Passing JLPT N2 or higher, or studying at a Japanese language institute for at least 6 months and achieving N2 or higher on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.

Flow of Acceptance

If individuals pass the care worker examination while residing in Japan under another status of residence (such as EPA care candidate), they can switch their status of residence to "nursing care."

Reference: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "Outline of 'Nursing Care' Status of Residence."

※ 他の在留資格（EPA介護候補者等）で滞在中に介護福祉士試験に合格した場合も、在留資格「介護」に移行可能。

参考：厚生労働省「在留資格【介護】の概要」

【Characteristics】

• Expectation of becoming professional human resources due to the nursing care welfare qualification.

• Opportunity for the period of stay to be renewed repeatedly, allowing applicants to work in Japan permanently as desired. 

• Depending on the rules of caregiver training schools, students may work part-time while attending school. Since there is no coordinating organization for applicant acceptance, businesses must engage in recruitment activities, including collaboration with caregiver training schools.

Please click here for more information on residence status procedures.

③Technical Internship

The technical internship program aims to support individuals who have acquired skills, technology, and knowledge in Japan to contribute to economic development in their home countries. After entering Japan, technical intern trainees undergo Japanese language and basic nursing care training before being employed at nursing care facilities.

[Requirements for Acceptance]

Communication skills: N3 level is desirable upon entry, but N4 level is required. In the second year, N3 level is required, but specific conditions may allow N4 level to be sufficient until the end of the second year (3 years after entry).

Establishing the scope of appropriate practical training providers: Training must take place in establishments offering nursing care services.

Ensuring an appropriate apprenticeship system: The number of technical intern trainees accepted depends on the total number of full-time care workers at each business site, with at least one supervisor per five trainees.

【Features】

The maximum period of employment is five years. However, trainees who obtain a national qualification as a care worker during the technical internship period can change their status of residence to "nursing care" and work permanently in Japan.

Supervisory organizations provide support for training and coordination, taking responsibility for accepting trainees, providing training, and coordinating with nursing care facilities.

Reference: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "Employment Requirements for Technical Intern Training in the Nursing Care Industry."

④ "Specified Skill Workers 1" Status of Residence

The Specified Skill Workers System 1 aims to accept foreign nationals with expertise and skills in industries facing challenges in securing domestic human resources. The "Specified Skill Workers I" is a status of residence for employment purposes introduced in April 1991.

【Requirements】

Must be a foreign national who can work abroad.

The applicant must pass a proficiency test (Nursing Skills Evaluation Test) and a Japanese language test (Japanese Language Test) conducted in Japan or abroad.

Japanese language test (International Foundation Japanese Language Basic Test or JLPT N4 or higher).

Reference: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "Acceptance of Foreign Nationals with Specified Skills in the Nursing Care Field."

⑤「"Status of Residence Based on Permanent Residency」

The statuses of residence "Permanent Resident," "Spouse or Child of Japanese National," "Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident," and "Long-term Resident" have no restrictions on activities and offer unlimited validity. Consequently, individuals with these statuses can be employed in Japan just like Japanese nationals.

2)Points to Consider When Seeking Employment in Japan

Acknowledge and respect religious and cultural differences.

Seek comprehensive support, including assistance with daily living.

Minimize potential users' anxiety by ensuring that employees acquire the necessary level of Japanese, basic terminology, and nursing care-specific terms.