Status of Residence:
Technical Intern Training II a

The "Status of Residence: Technical Intern Training (ii) - Category A (イ)" refers to the second stage of Japan's Technical Intern Training Program, under the company-based acceptance model. This residency status is granted to foreign nationals who have successfully completed "Technical Intern Training (i) - Category A" and wish to continue their stay in Japan to acquire more advanced and practical skills. During this second stage, the training period can be extended for up to two additional years, allowing interns to deepen their expertise in their field.

The main differences between Technical Intern Training (i) and (ii) lie in the level of skills targeted, the content of the training, and the allowed period of stay. While Training (i) focuses on basic skills, Training (ii) requires the intern to learn more specialized and practical techniques. In order to transition to Training (ii), the intern must complete the first stage satisfactorily and pass designated technical and academic evaluations. In this stage, interns may also be eligible for benefits such as re-entry and, under certain conditions, bringing family members.

As for the distinction between "Category A (イ)" and "Category B (ロ)", Category A refers to the company-based model, where the host company directly hires and trains the intern. In contrast, Category B refers to the organization-based or supervised model, where a supervising organization manages the training and assigns the intern to one or more host companies. Therefore, "Technical Intern Training (ii) - Category A" means that the intern is directly employed by a specific company and continues their training at that company, focusing on acquiring higher-level skills. This system also plays an important role for companies in developing human resources who can contribute as immediate assets.

A period designated by the Minister of Justice (not to exceed two years)