Part of 特定活動 (Designated Activities). The EPA Nurse / Caregiver visa spans multiple 特定活動 notices covering candidates and licensed holders from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam — several of 20+ sub-types under Japan's catch-all Designated Activities residence status. See the Designated Activities hub for the full list.
The EPA Nurse / Caregiver visa is Japan's bilaterally negotiated pathway for foreign healthcare workers from its Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) partner countries: Indonesia (since 2008), the Philippines (2009), and Vietnam (2014). It is administered under 特定活動 designations rather than the standard 看護・介護 visas and is operationally overseen by the Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services (JICWELS) in coordination with each country's labor ministry — POEA/DMW in the Philippines, BNP2TKI in Indonesia, and DOLAB in Vietnam. Individuals cannot apply directly; recruitment runs on annual cycles through these bilateral government channels.
The program has two phases. 候補者 (candidate) is the studying phase — after 6 months of intensive Japanese-language training in the home country and another 6 months in Japan, candidates begin on-the-job training at designated hospitals or elderly-care facilities while preparing for the Japanese national licensing exam. Candidates have 3 years (for nurses / 看護師国家試験) or 4 years (for caregivers / 介護福祉士国家試験) to pass. While in candidate status, they cannot bring family, and salaries are typically ¥180,000–¥220,000 per month with facility-provided housing. Failure to pass within the time limit means returning home, though a limited re-sit extension is available for near-misses.
The 資格取得後 (post-licensing) phase begins when candidates pass the national exam. The visa converts to a post-licensing 特定活動 with indefinite renewal, family accompaniment rights (spouse and children), full employment rights across Japan's healthcare system, and the ability to eventually pursue permanent residency. Licensed EPA nurses / caregivers typically earn ¥280,000–¥350,000 per month and are an increasingly important workforce in Japan's aging-society care sector. The post-licensing years count toward both the 10-year continuous residence and 5-year qualifying work subset for PR, making this one of the clearer long-term-settlement pathways among Designated Activities sub-types.
Who Is This For
- ✓Nurses and caregivers from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam recruited under their country\'s EPA with Japan
- ✓Candidates willing to study intensive Japanese (6 months minimum) and on-the-job train at designated Japanese hospitals or care facilities
- ✓Professionals aiming to pass Japan\'s 看護師国家試験 (nurse) or 介護福祉士国家試験 (caregiver) exam in Japanese
- ✓Licensed nurses / caregivers returning to Japan after passing the national exam overseas (rare pathway)
- ✓Healthcare professionals seeking long-term employment and family accompaniment in Japan
Requirements
- •Citizenship of Indonesia, the Philippines, or Vietnam (the only three EPA partner countries)
- •Recruited through the Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services (JICWELS) — Japan does not accept direct applications under EPA
- •For nurses: nursing qualification from your home country + 2 years of nursing practice experience
- •For caregivers: varies by country — e.g., Philippines requires caregiver certification + 4-year nursing degree OR 4-year university degree + home-country caregiver training
- •Pass the Japanese-language training (typically 6 months in home country + 6 months in Japan, target JLPT N3 for daily care work)
- •Acceptance by a Japanese hospital or care facility participating in the EPA program
- •Commitment to sit for and pass the Japanese national licensing exam within the time limit
Full breakdown of Immigration fees, scrivener rates, and all other costs for this visa type.
Required Documents
- EPA application through JICWELS and your home-country coordinating authority (POEA/DMW in the Philippines, BNP2TKI in Indonesia, DOLAB in Vietnam)
- Valid passport
- Home-country nursing / caregiver qualification certificate
- Work experience verification (nurses)
- University or vocational school diploma (depending on country and role)
- Medical fitness certificate and criminal background check
- Training completion certificates (pre-departure Japanese training)
- Employment contract with the Japanese hospital / care facility
Application Process
- 1Apply through your home country\'s labor deployment authority (POEA/DMW, BNP2TKI, or DOLAB) during the annual EPA recruitment cycle
- 2Pass screening and be matched with a Japanese hospital or care facility via JICWELS
- 3Complete 6 months of pre-departure Japanese language training in your home country
- 4Enter Japan and complete 6 additional months of Japanese + nursing / caregiving training
- 5Begin on-the-job training at your assigned hospital or care facility while studying for the national exam
- 6Sit the 看護師国家試験 (nurse, within 3 years) or 介護福祉士国家試験 (caregiver, within 4 years)
- 7After passing, your status converts to a post-licensing 特定活動, and you can work indefinitely, renew freely, and bring family
Apply for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
Once you've chosen your visa, your Japan-side sponsor (employer / school / family) files the COE with Immigration — then you exchange it for a visa at the embassy.