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You can bring your family to Japan only after you hold SSW Level 2 (SSW ii), not while you are on SSW Level 1. Once you are granted SSW Level 2, your spouse and children can apply to join you on the Dependent (Kazoku Taizai) residence status. For most workers, that means first spending a few years on SSW Level 1, gaining leader-level experience, passing the Level 2 test for your field and getting your status changed.
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This is one of the most common questions from married workers in India, Nepal, the Philippines and elsewhere who are thinking about Japan. Agents sometimes blur the line between the two levels, so it helps to know exactly what the rules say, which fields offer Level 2 and how long the journey realistically takes.
Why SSW Level 1 Holders Cannot Bring Family
SSW Level 1 was designed as a fixed-term route for workers with basic skills. The Immigration Services Agency’s SSW FAQ states two key limits: a maximum total stay of 5 years, and no accompanying family. This applies in every field, however long you have been working and however good your salary is.
Your family can still visit you on a short-term visitor visa if they qualify for one, but that is a different visa with its own conditions and it does not allow them to live with you in Japan.
SSW Level 1 vs Level 2: What Changes
| Point | SSW Level 1 | SSW Level 2 |
| Skill level | Basic, test-certified | Experienced, often leader or supervisor level |
| Total stay | Up to 5 years | No upper limit |
| Period granted | Set periods, total 5 years | 3 years, 1 year or 6 months, renewable |
| Spouse and children | Not allowed | Allowed on Dependent status |
| Counts toward permanent residence work years | No | Yes |
| Fields available | 16 established fields plus new 2026 fields | 11 fields |
SSW Level 2 holders are still a small group, but numbers are rising fast: 18,295 people held Level 2 at the end of June 2026, more than double the figure at the end of 2025.
Which Fields Offer SSW Level 2?
Level 2 exists in 11 fields:
- Building cleaning
- Industrial product manufacturing
- Construction
- Shipbuilding and ship machinery
- Automobile repair and maintenance
- Aviation
- Accommodation
- Agriculture
- Fishery and aquaculture
- Food and beverage manufacturing
- Food service
There is no Level 2 in automobile transportation, railway, forestry or the wood industry. If family life in Japan is your long-term goal, keep this in mind when choosing a field at the start.
What About Nursing Care?
Care has no SSW Level 2 because it already has its own long-term route. Care workers who pass Japan’s national care worker exam can move to the separate Care Worker (Kaigo) residence status, which is a renewable work status. Check the Immigration Services Agency’s guidance for the family rules that apply to that status.
Requirements to Move Up to SSW Level 2
Each field sets its own details, but the common requirements are:
- Pass the field’s Level 2 skills test, or in some fields a grade-1 technical skill test.
- Show practical leadership experience. For example, building cleaning asks for about 2 years or more as a team leader, and construction asks for experience as a site team leader or foreman.
- Meet the Japanese requirement. From 1 April 2027, a Japanese level of around B1 or higher is expected in principle for Level 2.
- Get an employer to support your application and file a change of status application with immigration.
The B1 change from 2027 is important. B1 is noticeably higher than the A2 level needed for Level 1, so serious study during your Level 1 years is not optional if you want your family to join you.
A Realistic Timeline: When Could Your Family Join?
There is no fixed answer, but a typical path for a worker who enters on SSW Level 1 might look like this:
- Year 1: Settle in, learn the job and keep studying Japanese beyond A2.
- Years 2 to 3: Take on more responsibility; ask your employer about becoming a team leader.
- Years 3 to 4: Build the leader experience your field requires, reach around B1 Japanese and sit the Level 2 test.
- After passing: Your employer supports your change of status application to SSW Level 2.
- After approval: Your spouse and children apply to join you on Dependent status, usually through a Certificate of Eligibility application.
Because SSW Level 1 has a 5-year total limit, you need to reach Level 2 within that window. Former technical interns who switched to SSW may already have years of experience, which can make the timeline shorter.
Who Counts as Family?
- Spouse: A legally married husband or wife. Marriage certificates and proof of a genuine relationship are usually needed.
- Children: Your dependent children.
- Parents and siblings: Generally not covered by the Dependent status.
Family members on Dependent status are expected to live mainly on your income. They may work only limited part-time hours, and only after getting separate permission from immigration.
Money Planning for a Family in Japan
Immigration will want to see that you can support your family. Level 2 workers tend to be experienced tradespeople, so pay is usually above the SSW average. Typical job-offer levels in Level 2 fields include:
| Position | Indicative Monthly Salary |
| Rebar Worker (Construction) | ¥290,000 |
| Plumber / Pipe Fitter (Construction) | ¥290,000 |
| Auto Body Painter (Automobile Repair) | ¥270,000 |
| Shipbuilding Welder / Fitter | ¥260,000 |
| Machine Assembly Worker (Industrial Products) | ¥250,000 |
Moving a family also brings new costs. Many single workers live in company dormitories, but a family usually needs a private flat. Initial costs for renting in Japan are commonly 3 to 6 months’ rent once you add deposit, key money, agency fee, guarantor company fee and insurance. Also plan for health insurance for each family member, school costs and higher living expenses in big cities like Tokyo compared with regional areas.
Preparing Your Family’s Application
Once you hold SSW Level 2, the usual route is for you, as the person in Japan, to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for your spouse and children. After the certificate is issued, they take it to the Japanese embassy or consulate in their home country to apply for the visa. Start collecting documents while you are still preparing for your Level 2 test, because some papers take time to obtain abroad.
- Marriage certificate, and birth certificates for each child, with translations where needed.
- Passports for every family member, valid well beyond the planned travel date.
- Your residence card and proof of your SSW Level 2 status.
- Your employment certificate and recent payslips.
- Resident tax certificates and tax payment certificates showing your income and on-time payment.
- Proof of your housing in Japan, such as a lease for a flat large enough for the family.
- Photos in the size and format immigration requests.
Requirements can change and vary by case, so follow the current checklist from the Immigration Services Agency rather than one passed around on social media.
Daily Life with a Family in Japan
Living as a family is very different from dormitory life. Children of foreign residents can attend local public schools, and many cities offer some Japanese language support, though the level of help varies widely by area. Your family will need to register their address at the city office after arrival and join health insurance. Hospitals and city offices mostly work in Japanese, which is another reason your own B1-level Japanese will be valuable. Many families find regional cities more affordable than Tokyo, and some employers in Level 2 fields help with finding family housing, so ask before you sign a renewal.
Protect Yourself from False Family Visa Promises
- Anyone who says your family can join you on SSW Level 1 is wrong.
- No agent can guarantee a Level 2 pass or a Dependent visa. Immigration decides every application.
- Never pay an unlicensed agent. Indian recruiters should hold a licence you can check on the government’s eMigrate portal, and NSDC is India’s official SSW contact point.
- A job advert, even one that mentions “family support”, is not a visa guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my wife come with me on SSW Level 1?
No. SSW Level 1 does not allow family accompaniment. Your spouse can join only after you move to SSW Level 2.
How many years does it take to reach SSW Level 2?
It varies by field and person, but most workers need a few years of experience, including leader experience, plus a Level 2 test pass.
Is SSW Level 2 available in every field?
No. It is available in 11 fields. Automobile transport, railway, forestry and the wood industry have no Level 2, and care uses the separate Care Worker status.
What Japanese level do I need for Level 2?
From 1 April 2027, around B1 or higher is expected in principle, which is higher than the A2 level for Level 1.
Can my parents live with me on SSW Level 2?
The Dependent status generally covers a spouse and children, not parents.
Does SSW Level 2 lead to permanent residence?
It can help. SSW Level 2 years count toward the work-status years needed for permanent residence, while SSW Level 1 years do not.
Final Words
Bringing your family to Japan through SSW is possible, but only after the jump to Level 2. Choose a field that offers Level 2, build leader experience, study Japanese toward B1 and keep your taxes and insurance in order. Confirm every step with the Immigration Services Agency, and ignore anyone who promises a family visa without the proper process.
Disclaimer: All salary figures mentioned in this article are indicative estimates based on published job listings and industry data and may vary by employer, location, experience, and contract terms. They do not represent a guaranteed salary, job offer, or visa approval.