Japan Immigration News

Japan eyes capping foreign workers at 426,000 under new training system

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Release Date: 2025-12-23
Media: NIKKEI Asia
Summary: Japan is considering capping the number of foreign workers accepted under its new Employment for Skill Development program at about 426,000 in the first two years after its launch in fiscal 2027. The move comes as the government, under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, tightens policies on foreign residents amid growing public concern over visa overstays, while still addressing severe labor shortages caused by an aging population.

The new program will replace the criticized Technical Intern Training Program and is designed to encourage workers to transition after three years to Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) status, which allows longer stays. A draft plan also lowers the target number of SSWs to about 805,000 through March 2029, down from 820,000, citing productivity gains through digitalization.

Combined, Japan would accept around 1.23 million foreign workers under the existing SSW system and the new program. The Cabinet aims to approve the plan in January. The new training system will cover 17 sectors, compared with 19 sectors under the SSW program. In principle, only SSW Type I workers—who can stay up to five years—will be subject to the cap, while SSW Type II offers unlimited renewals and a path to permanent residency.

As of late June, there were about 333,000 SSW Type I workers and 449,000 technical interns in Japan, according to the Immigration Services Agency.
Tags: Specified Skilled Worker,Technical Intern Training,Training employment

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