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For most adults who can pass a skills test and a basic Japanese test, the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) route is usually the better choice than the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP). SSW tends to pay more on average, lets you change employers with permission, and can lead to SSW Level 2, longer stays and even family accompaniment. TITP can still work for people who are not yet ready for SSW tests, but it is being phased out and replaced by a new system called Employment for Skill Development (Ikusei Shuro) from 1 April 2027.
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The right answer for you depends on your current skills, your Japanese, how much you can spend before departure and how long you want to stay. This guide compares both routes point by point so you can decide calmly instead of following whatever an agent recommends.
The Short Answer: Who Should Pick Which Route?
- Choose SSW if you can prepare for and pass a field skills test and a Japanese test at around A2 level, and you want more control over your employer and a possible long-term future in Japan.
- Consider a trainee route if you have no Japanese yet, no relevant skills, and want an employer-sponsored training period first. From 2027 this means Ikusei Shuro rather than TITP.
- Be careful with both if someone is asking you for large fees, promising a “guaranteed visa”, or cannot explain which field and employer you will join.
SSW vs Technical Intern: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Point | SSW Level 1 | Technical Intern (TITP) |
| Official purpose | Filling labour shortages with workers who already have basic skills | International cooperation through skills transfer |
| Maximum stay | 5 years in total | Up to 5 years (1 + 2 + 2) |
| Entry tests | Field skills test + Japanese test (around A2) | No SSW-style entry tests; training-based |
| Changing employer | Allowed, with a change of status permission | Basically not allowed except in unavoidable cases |
| Average monthly pay | Around ¥2.1 lakh including allowances | Around ¥1.8 lakh including allowances |
| Family | Not allowed on Level 1; allowed on Level 2 | Not allowed |
| Next step | SSW Level 2 in 11 fields | SSW Level 1, often with tests waived |
| Future | Continuing, with caps set to March 2029 | Replaced by Ikusei Shuro from April 2027 |
Pay: What the Averages Suggest
Survey figures quoted by placement firms suggest SSW workers earn about ¥205,000 to ¥210,000 per month on average including allowances, compared with about ¥178,000 for technical interns. That is a gap of roughly ¥30,000 per month, which adds up to more than ¥1 million over three years. Part of the reason is that SSW workers are hired as skilled staff and must be paid at least what a Japanese worker doing the same job earns.
| Position | Indicative Monthly Salary |
| SSW Worker (all-field average) | ¥210,000 |
| Technical Intern (average) | ¥180,000 |
| Welder | ¥260,000 |
| Plastic Moulding Operator | ¥230,000 |
| Food Factory Worker (day shift, hourly ¥1,196 – ¥1,500) | ¥200,000 |
Averages hide big differences between prefectures, employers and shifts. Night work, overtime and allowances can raise your pay, while dormitory charges, social insurance and tax reduce what you actually take home.
Freedom to Change Employer
This is the biggest practical difference. A technical intern is normally tied to one employer for the whole programme. If the workplace is unsafe, unfair or simply a bad fit, leaving is very difficult except in unavoidable situations.
An SSW worker can move to another employer. The process is not instant: you must apply for a change of status permission and wait for approval (often 1 to 3 months) before starting the new job. But the option itself gives SSW workers more bargaining power and a way out of a poor workplace.
Under Ikusei Shuro, voluntary transfer will be possible after 1 to 2 years with the same employer (the period depends on the field), as long as skill and Japanese conditions are met. That is an improvement on TITP but still more limited than SSW.
Entry Requirements and Tests
For SSW Level 1
- Pass the skills test for your chosen field (for example the manufacturing test run by JAIM or the construction test run by JAC).
- Pass a Japanese test at around A2 level, such as the JFT-Basic (200 out of 250 to pass) or JLPT N4.
- Care applicants also need the separate care Japanese test.
For the Trainee Route
- Under TITP there are no SSW-style entry tests; the employer and sending organisation select you for training.
- Under Ikusei Shuro from 2027, you will need Japanese at A1 level (JFT-Basic A1 or JLPT N5 equivalent, or 100+ hours of approved study).
- Ikusei Shuro accepts workers only from countries that have signed a bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation with Japan.
Costs, Fees and Agent Risks
Fees are where many Indian and other overseas workers lose money. Keep these points in mind:
- Under Japan’s Employment Security Act, workers should not be charged placement fees on the Japan side.
- Under TITP there was no cap on what a sending organisation could charge the worker, which led to heavy debts in some countries.
- Under Ikusei Shuro, the fee a worker pays to the sending organisation is capped at 2 months of base pay.
- For SSW, the Immigration Services Agency says Indian workers do not necessarily have to use a government-certified sending organisation, but all parties must follow Japan’s employment law.
Never pay an unlicensed agent. For Indian recruiters, check the licence on the government’s eMigrate portal, and contact NSDC, India’s official SSW contact point, if you are unsure. A job advert, an interview call or a training course certificate is not a visa guarantee.
TITP Is Ending: What Ikusei Shuro Changes
From 1 April 2027, Employment for Skill Development (Ikusei Shuro) replaces TITP. Its stated purpose is to train and secure workers up to SSW Level 1 standard in labour-shortage fields, rather than “skills transfer” to other countries.
- Duration: In principle 3 years, instead of up to 5.
- Job change: Voluntary transfer after 1 to 2 years, if conditions are met.
- Japanese: A1 on entry; A2 plus a skills test to move up to SSW Level 1.
- Fees: Worker-paid sending fees capped at 2 months’ base pay.
- Transition: TITP applications filed by 31 March 2027, with a start date by 30 June 2027, can continue under TITP.
The government has set an upper limit of 426,200 Ikusei Shuro workers for fiscal 2027 and 2028, alongside 805,700 for SSW through March 2029.
Moving from Technical Intern to SSW
Many SSW workers started as technical interns. If you complete TITP Level 2 in good standing, you are usually exempt from the skills test in the same field and from the general Japanese test. You can then switch to SSW Level 1 and continue working, often with better pay and the right to change employers.
The care field is an exception: the care Japanese test is not waived. And if you want to switch to a different field, you will need to pass that field’s skills test.
Which Route Fits Your Situation?
A 22-year-old ITI welder with some Japanese study
SSW in industrial product manufacturing or shipbuilding is likely the better fit. Spend a few months on JFT-Basic preparation and the welding-related skills test rather than entering as a trainee.
A 12th pass candidate with no skills and no Japanese
Start learning Japanese now. With focused study and preparation for a field test such as food manufacturing or building cleaning, SSW may be reachable. If not, the Ikusei Shuro route from 2027 may become an option.
A worker who wants to settle with family in the long run
Only SSW leads to SSW Level 2, where family can join. TITP years also do not count toward the work portion of permanent residence requirements, while SSW Level 2 years do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SSW always better than the technical intern route?
Not always, but for people who can pass the tests, SSW usually offers higher average pay, more freedom and a longer-term path.
Can I still apply for TITP in 2026?
TITP continues until Ikusei Shuro begins on 1 April 2027, with transition rules for applications filed by 31 March 2027. Ask the employer which system your contract will fall under.
Do technical interns get tests waived when moving to SSW?
Those who complete TITP Level 2 in good standing are usually exempt from the same-field skills test and the general Japanese test, but not from the care Japanese test.
Can a technical intern change companies?
Generally only in unavoidable cases. Ikusei Shuro will allow voluntary transfers after 1 to 2 years if conditions are met.
How much Japanese do I need for SSW?
Around A2 level, such as a JFT-Basic pass or JLPT N4. Some fields and roles expect more.
Should I pay an agent to get into either route?
Do not pay large fees, and never pay an unlicensed agent. Japan-side placement fees should not be charged to workers, and Ikusei Shuro caps sending fees at 2 months of base pay.
Final Words
SSW and the trainee route are not equal options. SSW asks more of you at the start, with a skills test and a Japanese test, but it usually gives back higher pay, more freedom and a path to Level 2. TITP is closing in 2027, and its replacement improves fees and job changes but is still a training route. Use official sources such as the Immigration Services Agency, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and NSDC to confirm the latest rules before you commit time or money.
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.